Lovely Runner (2024)

well done story, could have been better!

Let me preface by saying I did enjoy this. I think the time travel bit was interesting, more than the other one we had earlier this year (forgot the name). But there are many parts I did not understand and don't wish to bother researching.

I think the acting was on-point. All the actors did super good in that department.

What I think could have been better is having the writer not rely on the cliche points that are ever so present in every single kdrama. Those little things that drive me mad. For example, the male lead not waking up the female lead when she is sleeping in the bus because idk why...she getting almost kidnapped as a result (why wouldn't you wake her up or keep a serious eye out for her when you can see it's bloody dark outside and you're both far away from home????), the female lead running bang in the middle of the road while the kidnapper is chasing her. These little things are just plain lazy writing. Doing away with such stupid moments would have elevated my viewing experience.

let's come back to the good parts. And not trying to be contrarian but the writer did a good job overall making the time travel plot interesting. I really liked the little twists in their cute love story. It was enjoyable to see him be so in love with her. It was not so enjoyable to see her torture him (okay, that isn't fair, she wasn't doing that deliberately). I loved the 10CM Spring Snow!! The best part of this drama was the little moments of cute romance between the leads and this OST really worked in their favour and made it so much better.

All in all, it's the best tropey-over-the-top-cliche Korean drama I've watched in a minute.

While you are here, I'd urge you to watch The Atypical Family on Netflix. If you want something different, not so cliche, this one's for you!!

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that chemistry...

Sometimes it happens to find a gem: this show is one. Just finished after a 20hours marathon to watch it in one shot, because after the first episode I just could not stop watching it. Literally. I waited for the last episode to be published on May 28 and I made a good choice. I was fully involved, and felt a lot of emotions, from amusement to sadness, from laughs to sobs. Great story. Great cast. Nice plot. Nice direction.
The two leads were simply adorable. I didn't know a lot Kim Hye Yoon. And she was a nice surprise to me: charismatic, talented, expressive, fascinating and what's about her stunning smile? While I had already chances to appreciate Ryu Seon Jae, who's not just a tall giant, but he's able to show charisma and scenic presence, from the comic till the dramatic scenes. But what I liked a lot was the chemistry between them: simply unbelievable, intense, moving, sparkling. Time has passed since the last time I found something similar. And I can even say when: watching Crash Landing on You and those Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin (who were also mentioned at a certain point). I guess that who wrote that there is not chemistry, well: he/she apparently watched something else.
I liked the plot and how the stories were presented, the personalities of each character, and also the way the other lead and support roles were developed, which often are overlooked. And among them I appreciated a lot the figure of Kim Tae Sung and the loyal relationship he shares with the leads.
Actually the structure of the story do not bring anything very new: this is not the first show seeing the leads wrappend around a story, which happens along an extended timeframe and enriched by fantasy elements. But who developed the plot did a very nice work in making it so intense keeping the spectator literally glued to the screen.
Well done!!

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An addictive, super-romantic drama with a superb OTP

There is a lot of hype for this show. As a romantic comedy/drama this show hits out of the park and deserves that hype. It's addicting, fun, hilarious, melodramatic, romantic, and has writing that if inconsistent still attempts to be somewhat thought-provoking and character-driven. And the main pairing is one for drama history.

If you're expecting anything other than that, this will fall very flat for you.

Watch this immediately if you are looking for:
- Painfully dreamy ML
- Heart-fluttering romance, high chemistry, sweet and touching love story
- Humor, fun, something to binge/be addicted to

Skip this or save it for a slump if prefer stories that have:
- Plots that are super coherent/tight
- Engrossing/realistic character arcs
- Though-provoking explorations of ideas/ themes

Here are the elements broken down:

SUPERB----

MALE LEAD: The absolute highlight of this show. Sun Jae is the ultimate "lovable loser." On the outside he pretends to be cool, logical, and independent, but on the inside he is a clingy, cringy, dork. He will steal your entire heart. Played pitch perfectly by Byeon Woo Seok.

SECOND MALE LEAD: Tae Sung re-invents the definition of second male lead syndrome. In any other drama I would have been rooting for him over the ML. I expect to see Song Geon-lee leading a drama soon, he stood out in every single scene he was in.

ROMANCE/CHEMISTRY: The main couple oozed chemistry out of every pore. The longing looks, the cute interactions, the sexual tension. Your heart will flutter, then it will break. you'll scream, you'll cry, you'll jump for joy and throw things at the screen for them.

BROMANCE: The ML with is various homies (including Tae Sung) had such natural, fun chemistry. Just as engaging as the main couple romance. I loved every scene he had with his bros.

HUMOR: 10/10: I laughed out loud more times than I can count. The writer put them all in such ridiculous situations, played by a cast of actors who all had fantastic comedic timing. So many memorably funny moments.

MUSIC: The sountrack is top notch, including the songs sung from the band in the show.

GOOD---

FEMALE LEAD: For most of the drama she is funny, quirky, cute, fiesty and compassionate. But there are a few eps where she is so frustratingly stubborn and clueless in service of a poorly executed plotline that I came to dislike her for a while. I adore the actress on the whole and think she captures the soul of Im Sol well, she has to cry almost every episodes and cries so convincingly and with such heart. But there were times when she pulled the same facial expression over and over (she had a very overused wide-eyed look of clueless surprise quite often, for example).

MEH---

SIDE CHARACTERS/PLOTS: There were some funny moments involving the MCs families, but for the most part they had nothing to do with the main plot and seemed like filler, I had no real connection to any of the family. I started fast-forwarding through most of them by the end. The acting was serviceable but none of them stood out especially.

CHARACTER ARCS: While they went through a lot, I didn't see that the characters actually grew or changed much in any particular way. 2ML had a small arc, but it was glossed over and he was not used as much as he could have been. The characters have the same exact personalities and tendencies in the beginning as in the end, although there were many touching moments of realization and character moments throughout. Just no strong overall arcs.

MIXED---

PLOT
- EPS 1-8 (9/10) - The first 8 eps are full of intriguing twists and turns and raise a host of questions about the meaning of memory and fate.
- EPS 9-13 (5/10) - The middle episodes are dominated by an unnecessary and repetitive almost wholly unrelated crime storyline that drags and makes the characters act in uncharacteristic and frustrating ways. There are some cute and funny moments, but the romantic plotline became fluffy filler and the story completely loses its thematic center and meanders sloppily along.
- EPS 14-16 (7/10) - The story finds its footing again towards the end, but never really pays off the questions or ideas raised in the theme at the beginning of the show, even if it does somewhat try and close that loop. The romance tension fires back up at this point as well, and the ending is satisfying if nothing spectacular.

100% worth a watch if romantic comedies are your jam.

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Please give it a shot

I am SO surprised by the reviews about Lovely Runner on this website. I LOVED the show and I was obsessed a really long time by the storyline and the character. This story shows what unconditionnal love is and that's so nice to watch. I wasn't bored a second in the story and the romance is amazing to watch, the chemistery and the humor is on point : I laughed and I cried, A LOT.

The musics are amazing, even people who dislike the show said so, that you can trust, but it litterally broke my heart seing so many bad review, maybe that's juste taste because that show wasn't bad at all for me and is easily on my top 3 of kdrama. Even if I haven't watch a lot of them, I'm not an expert but I had a really really really great time watching this, it made me feel so great and I hope it'll work for you too.

Props to the actor for their amazing delivery of the story and for making my heart so happy while I was watching this.

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Rom-Com Fantasy at its best!

For me, Watching Lovely Runner brought back memories of watching kdramas way back 2000s.

It has the right amount of romance, comedy and the acting was very good. I started watching because I'm a fan of the Female Lead. As expected, Kim Hye Yoon nailed the role. Surprisingly, Byeon Woo Suk is a hidden gem. From Swimming to Singing and Acting. Both of them complemented each other. Their chemistry is on fire!

Moving on to the supporting cast, they did also a great job. They have strengthened and cemented more the story. This is the first K-drama wherein i wasn't annoyed with the villain (aka taxi driver) hahaha.

I have watched the drama for the 2nd time and now repeating eps 13,14,15 and 16.

Happy watching <3

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Romance and comedy

Lately, the recent wave of Kdramas left me feeling a bit underwhelmed, but this particular drama managed to capture my attention in a way that others haven't. It truly hit the mark for me. I found myself drawn into the storyline, enjoying every moment of the captivating romance unfolding between the main leads. The chemistry between the male lead (ML) and female lead (FL) was simply enchanting, tugging at my heartstrings and leaving me eagerly anticipating their every interaction. Even the second male lead (2ML) added an extra layer of charm to the drama.

What stood out the most for me was the perfect balance struck between humor and romance. While some recent releases may have veered too far into melodrama or relied on tired clichés, this series managed to keep things fresh and engaging. The genuine moments of laughter and heartfelt connection between the characters brought a sense of authenticity to the story, making it easy for viewers to get invested in their journey.

The dynamic between the ML and FL was a true highlight of the series. Their on-screen chemistry was palpable, radiating a genuine warmth and affection that made their relationship feel incredibly relatable and endearing. From their sweetest moments to their playful banter, every scene they shared was filled with undeniable passion and emotion. It was impossible not to root for them ❤️

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An Emotional Roller Coaster Ride

I enjoyed watching this drama from start to finish. The storyline revolved around the time-travel concept, but it gave a refreshing feel with how well it was executed. The idol-fan plot adds color to its storyline, along with the unexpected twists and turns of fate.

The chemistry between the leads had exceeded my expectations. The characters, especially the male lead is exceptionally the biggest green flag and ultimately fictional.

The acting of each actors here is great. Especially the emotional scenes that also got me in the verge of tears. Overall, despite some flaws in its storyline, it has been nothing but fun and worth the watch.

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10********** because IT made me HAPPY

- 10* because during watching and after, just like the song: "...I said to myself/ What a wonderful world!"
- 10* because IT made me watch without judgement/critique and just enjoy the ride
- 10* because my world transformed (If only for a moment): the sun îs brighter, the heart îs warmer and all people are beautiful
- 10* because this show is being home again, is singing in the rain, is a Smile in a dreary day, a lovely run under the sun
- 10* because it made me happy to feel and share the excitement and positive energy with so many people
- 10* because I felt captivated and lost in the moment
- 10* because the music spoke to me and made me sing and listen over and over again and IT still does
- 10* because I felt so much excitement and joy and satisfaction and fulfillment and cared so much for the characters
- SO: "BECAUSE I'M HAPPY
Clap along If you feel like that's what you wanna do" because of Lovely Runner ?

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PERFECT EXAMPLE OF ROMCOM!

Lovely Runner is definitely going to become a classic drama in the years to come - it is reminiscent of classic early 2010 romcom tropes executed flawlessly alongside more modern themes which have gained popularity in recent years like time travel and idol romances.

I will go through each of my ratings in this review to explain why I have rated them as such.

Story -
The story rating has been split into 5 stars for characters and 4.5 stars for the actual plot. I do still believe on the whole it is a perfect example of a romcom but there is one episode which was a bit jarring as an ONGOING viewer (was resolved very quickly) but it doesn't harm the plot in the grand scheme of things.

The plot of this drama is not a brand new concept or full of jaw dropping plot twists and turns (for the most part), it is easy to follow and understand and to some may seem as very simple and overrated as a result. The reason why the story of Lovely Runner is so engaging and has captured such a large audience is due to how they take this run-of-the-mill romcom storyline and implement it in a near perfect manner. The story is less so about creating a more unique piece of art but more so about understanding their audience and creating a more enjoyable experience for them. Many dramas try to tackle multiple genres and fail as they try to keep all of the genres in the forefront and end up confusing the watcher more than anything. Lovely Runner is definitely at its' core a ROMCOM so if you are looking for a Sci-Fi/Murder Mystery drama, although this drama contains elements of it - this is NOT the prime example you are looking for. The drama has been crafted in a way where it superbly balances the emotional depth of the connection between the main leads with the comedic antics in which they fall into - in this way, viewers have rarely felt either was excessive or taking away from the plot.

There have been some issues viewers have had with the plot such as repetition, Sols' depression and the accident plotline.
Each of these issues are integral to the plot and once understood make more sense - repetition is going to happen in any sort of time travel plot because time travel is the repetition of past events; Sol is time travelling on her OWN to prevent her loved ones death and she does everything in her power to prevent it even when she has limited resources as a student whilst also juggling her own impending accident that she has to prevent which completely contextualizes her disarray of emotions; the accident that Sol suffers is something which begins her journey as a fan of Sunjae and holds value as something that connects both of them across timelines.

This drama does fall under the time-travel genre, however, it doesn't focus predominantly on the different mechanics that come with time-travelling - it is more so focused on fate and destiny between lovers. What I really enjoy about this drama is that it is able to take the time-travel genre and deliver such a light hearted simpler approach to a usually heavy topic. That being said, it is definitely not catered towards people who like to focus on the specific details of time travel - I do not think there are any plot holes personally but there are a lot of points which are left more ambiguous than some would like, but I do think this fits the story much better.

The characters in this drama, in particular the main leads of Sunjae and Sol, are incredibly likable and the audience truly fall in love with them as the episodes progress. There is NO frustrating love triangle, it is very much evident from the beginning that the main leads priority has always and only will be each other. While there are other interests which present themselves in the show, they are mainly comedic relief and are supportive and even encouraging of the romance between the leads and just as likable for the most part. Sunjae is one of the funniest male leads in K-drama history - he is a true LOSER in love which gives you so much second-hand embarrassment but he is also so sincere that it melts your heart. Sol is so smart and focuses so intently on fixing the future and how much she selflessly cares for her friends and family makes her so adored by the audience. Taesung and Inhyuk bring so much comedic value with their characters but also are shown as very good friends to these main leads but also follow their own unique paths which are independent to the leads and don't exist solely for the couple.

This drama is also based upon a web novel “The Best of Tomorrow” (내일의 으뜸) by Kim Bbang (김빵) and I have not read the source material personally so this rating for the story and characters is purely based on the drama as a standalone. I have been told that the drama is very different from the source material so I am not sure how the original readers view this adaptation but as a standalone, it is very entertaining.

Acting/Cast -
There is not a lot to say for the acting and casting because it was PERFECT! The character of Sunjae had taken a long time to be properly casted and I am glad it had taken such a time because Byeon Wooseok was made for this role and I hope he wins many awards for his performance because it took the world by storm. His embodiment of the first-love nervousness and adoration tugged at your heartstrings and you couldn't help but wish the best for him. Kim Hyeyoon also gave so much dimension to Sols' role, her expressions with only her eyes were so powerful that could bring every viewer to tears and I couldn't imagine her as anyone else. Same goes for all other characters, the acting was impeccable and never a dull moment, they all took the script and brought so much life to the characters.

Music -
As this drama is centralized around an idol star, music is a very important aspect of this show and even drives several plot points. The lyricism in songs often depicts the journeys of the characters (Sudden Shower), and the songs are so catchy that the fans of this show probably know the lyrics just as well as the fans of the fiction boygroup in the show. The OST is very well produced and all the ECLIPSE songs are actually sung by the male lead himself, Byeon Wooseok! Not only is his singing wonderful but the songs are really good and I think everyone would find a song they love in this soundtrack. A fan favourite song is definitely the 10cm - Spring Snow which I honestly believe will be one of the future hallmarks of romantic soundtracks because it genuinely sounds like falling in love.

Rewatch Value -
As with most time-travel genre dramas, the rewatch value on this drama is very high as it can lead you to notice new details about characters that you were not initially aware of especially from RSJ. But in addition to this, due to the characters likability and the beautiful cinematography, so many fans couldn't help but rewatch even as the show was airing. I do think it is a show which really does make you fall in love with characters and fall in love with LOVE, because it was truly an adorable emotional rollercoaster that you wish you could go on again and you probably WILL!

All in all, I would 100% recommend this drama to every romcom lover out there, I guarantee that you will fall in love with the characters from day one. If you are not a romcom lover, I wouldn't recommend this drama as it is definitely tailormade for romcom fans but don't be shy to give it a try because it is truly a perfect romcom drama.

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