Very interesting plot only for it to breakdown halfway towards the end
Just for disclaimer i was both of the leads fans, but being a fan doesn't mean i can't critic their work ok.I already watched this drama before it became the hot topic over the neighborhood lol, it was because i like the fl and the ml previous work (sky castle and 20th century girl). I was so crazy about it when episode 2 was dropped, i was gagged and it got more exciting.
But the disappointment hits me at 10ish episode, because there was no character or even plot development at all. The plot losed it focus when they started to date i think. I know the main point in this drama is to save sunjae, and this drama is a romcom, but i really really hope that the fl and ml could have more bond with other characters too. I think it got to the point that other characters are pointless(?) and written just to fill the void. The ml's world is only imsol, he will do anything just to be with imsol, it's like he has no character at all because his decisions are easily influenced by his loved ones (imsol) (i know it's a romcom but come on... you can be lovey dovey while doing other things too). Same goes for the fl... It's like their character couldn't care less about other people if it's not about their gf/bf.
And the fl character is bad written imo, thank god hyeyoon saves it with her acting. She's supposed to be 30s yo woman trapped in higschooler body, but she even acts more childish than the highschooler could be. I know sol's character main purpose is to save sunjae, but she's too careless, has no plan, and just couldn't think straight (and i can't relate to it maybe that's why i can't empathize with her character).
Overall the acting was good enough, and the chemistry was fire. But there were probably some parts that's not really enjoyable to watch. Idk if it's because sol character is bad written or whatever it's, but sometimes the "i'm shocked" in sol's face kinda unnatural and i could tell that she's trying to act there, but other than that it was just great.
It's just my opinion, yall could try to watch it if you're interested, because i swear the few early episodes was dope tho ngl.
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1Heart fluttering rom-com quickly moved downhill with another murder mystery *tsk tsk*
Finally, FINALLY I finished Lovely Runner.Phew! That was a damn loooong ride. It should have ended with min 8ep max 12eps. But no, they exaggerated it untillll they couldn't. (─.─||）
Plot:
# It was good, funny, cute, lovely until the murder mystery emerged out of nowhere. I properly watched until ep 12, after that I skipped a lot and watched only the important scenes.
# Lovey-dovey sweet scenes felt really monotonous and full of cringe.
# The amount of tears FL cried, she completed her quota of crying for a year.
# The number of times she said "Sun jae-ya⁸⁹; Oh Sun jae-ya.⁹⁹" is unhealthy.
Acting: 8/10, -1 for Im sol's occasional overacting, and -1 for dumb killer. (٥↼_↼)
OST: 100/10! The best OST of the year goes to Lovely Runner. Woo seok's voice was really soothing and on top of that 10cm, ah, no words for him, just brilliant! ( ◜‿◝ )♡
Re-watch:
Idk if I can. I mean idk if I can watch the thrill part, all the crying and bullshit melodramatic scenes all over again. But yes I do have my favourite parts that I will be replaying a few more times (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)
Opinion about the characters:
Im sol: Girl! you can't change someone's entire life even if you change it thousand times. Learn your lesson, don't fuss, don't be oversmart and just move forward ┗(•ˇ_ˇ•)―→
Tae-sung: Idk if you know this, this character only existed in the drama version cuz in webtoon there's no Tae-sung. But man he stole my heart with his charming appearance. He's a best buddy you can have in your life. But one thing I would say is stop obsessing over other people's girlfriend, especially if she's your ex. (*_*)
Sun-jae: Ah...the heartthrob. His dimple. I'll stop here. But man was he stupid? No, he was extra stupid! He was straight up obsessed with Sol. Why would you remember a girl you met 15 yrs ago, who didn't even bat her eyes at you and keep messing up your head thinking about her?! (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ
The killer: Dude, ahjussi find a better job in next life, it ain't worth it. What a crackhead dumb killer, do your research first, watch some crime documentaries and then think about doing something new ¯\_( ͠° ͟ʖ °͠ )_/¯
My Rating: 7/10 (5 for overall, 0.5 for OST and 0.5+0.5+0.5 for Tae-sung, Sun-Jae and Im-sol's dimples) ♡(ӦｖӦ｡)
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If I got to be that guy so be it. SADLY RUNNER is more like it
Lovely runner started off as a show that seems to show promise. I love the fact that they have two great cast and probably an exceptional storyline. However, it's get too draggy and boring real quick. The show tries to show multiple ways that indicates how the story plays out. It doesn't help if the FL keeps messing up and tries to keep it a secret. Messing up does unlock a lot of potential plot twist or surprising moments. With poor execution and pretty predictable, it wasn't gonna work. I say this show had everything and just could deliver. At least make the bad guy better since he wasn't even feared at all.Was this review helpful to you?
copied dráma true beauty with second lead syndróme
it's quite ok, but I'm giving a lower rating because it's a copycat with (true beauty) second ml. I don't care about this drama at all, I don't care about him anymore, I would like it better if there were no secon lead syndróme because this one can't be compared to True Brauty lol it's the only one. , he is the best king. of lead syndrome of all times.. everything is copied here... I don't even like the main woman, she is so annoying, she was the same in the (extraodrynarny you) drama. , which I immediately turned off because of her, she was less annoying here, but I'm already used to bad badass female main characters in Korean dramas .. I only like strong women, not spoiled ones that don't fit in Korean dramas, it's more . in chinese dramas e movie, they like spoiled women, but Koreans are always strong.. that's why I give this rating..... the main actor is very handsome, green flags, I loved him, but everything else seemed very useless to me, all the characters , as for the story, i love time travel.. i love the drama (time called you) it's still the best time travel i've ever seen, it felt a bit similar, i was expecting a lot from this drama when i saw it everywhere. .but I'm probably the only one who has a different opinion because I'm different, I don't like things that everyone likesWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I really don't know what exact feeling am I giving to this drama...
The story is nice and understandable, though I was kinda annoyed by how it goes because she kept coming back and forth through all the episodes. Like I was very confused and was about to drop this drama on episode 4 or something because I was so confused and I felt kinda sorry to Sol too. Like if I was her I'd end my life right away due to confusion that leds to depression....... anyway!Actually if someone I liked told me that they are annoyed by my existence I'd never show up infront of them ever like EVER.. but this Sunjae mf still insist to follow her anywhere which is very annoying like...
I somehow don't really like the OSTs except 4 songs. ..
But the feeling when they reunited with the memories they had is so heart warming, I didn't cry the whole season but that scene made me very emotional.
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Ratings and the series quality are opposite to each other
How can this have such high rating!!!For the first time, I can't understand how Lovely Runner has a rating above 6 stars. The story is incredibly repetitive, making it a chore to watch. The acting feels forced and often grates on the nerves. Even though the drama involves time travel, it frequently abandons basic everyday logic and common sense whenever it suits the plot. This lack of consistency ruins the immersion, making the experience more frustrating than enjoyable. I expected much more.
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Average writing but watchable because of leads chemistry
I enjoyed watching this, but it wasn't what I expect. I first realized this when they revealed Sunjae actually liked Sol after all that time. It was a bit unrealistic, and it felt too orchestrated. The part I most enjoyed was watching the time they were in high school since that's when we see the most development. But most of all, I really enjoyed the chemistry of the leads. Even though the writing was lacking, this made it entertaining. Onto the things I disliked, the back and forth between the present and the past started to drag, and I feel like it impacted the story a lot. I also didn't like the murder storyline and like in most romance kdramas, it just didn't fit. The change of tones was too drastic. One minute we have comedy and romance and then we have thriller and suspense. Doing this successfully is a task but this drama is another one that failed at it. After episode 12, I just started to skip scenes and I was just too impatient to see something with substance and finally know if destiny was going to favor Sunjae and Sol.Was this review helpful to you?
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You Guys Gave This A 9.1?
This review is for those who've already seen it. You may enjoy it as it's just a compilation of notes I made watching this drama.Let me start off by saying this drama is like Twinkling Watermelon meets W. W is one of my favorite dramas and Twinkling Watermelon was amazing. This, however, is really hard to watch. Like really hard. I'm sticking with it, but fast-forwarding quite a bit. I've only quit one drama before because I couldn't stand the FL and I'm trying not to have a repeat of Kill Me, Heal Me.
FL, Im Sol (Kim Hye-Yoon) was really cute and sweet in the first episode. Then when she travelled back in time she became really annoying and kind of ditzy/stupid. ML, Ryu Sun-Jae (Byeon Woo-Seok) was weirdly nice in episode one, despite his clear depression, but past him was a bit odd. In his defense, Im Sol was being a creep and a half.
Someone in the comments (on Viki) said that Kim Tae-Sun (Song Geon-Hee) was the 2nd ML, but when searching the names, I see a different male billed above him. Never seen this guy in any drama before but he looks too old for high school.
Okay, now it's just annoying. He keeps trying to confess, and she's either the world's biggest moron, or she's deaf. Maybe both.
This whole her rushing home to stop the fire, whilst dumb and dumber, her best friend, Lee Hyun-Joo (Seo Hye-Won), and brother, Im Geum (Song Ji-Ho), is not only stupid, it's infuriating.
Her teenage self took over? Ugh. This is going to be exhausting and drawn out for no reason, I can tell.
I feel really bad for 2nd ML. She needs to end it with that poor guy. Also, harsh take but maybe she didn't deserve working legs because the amount of times this girl falls, trips, gets knocked over, etc is annoying.
Omg. He keeps saying "I like you" and she keeps running away. What even is this plot and how on earth was it rated so highly on this site?
Oh good. And now we're at the "I can't accept your feelings." dumb *#&@^$(#& crap.
Baek In Hyuk (Lee Seung Hyub) is completely right. It's been like 15 years and suddenly he just falls for her all over again? Especially after how ungrateful and shitty she was the last time they met in the past.
Her losing her mind about the watch and screaming, "I should have died instead!" like he's not even dead. Go be with him in hospital instead of doing all this nonsense.
"I can't die before I save him!" proceeds to close her eyes and make no attempt to save herself. God she's infuriating.
2ML is definitely my favorite character. He's keeping me hanging on. Much like the bromance in Goblin was the only thing keeping going through that because that girl was obnoxious and acted like a child.
"Hey my dad said the killer is stalking you, shouldn't you tell your family and move everyone somewhere safer?" No. That would be intelligent, why would I do that?
So they both learn the killer has escaped, she breaks down to Tae Sung's dad about catching him and then her boyfriend is cautious about everything and she's like "What's up with you?". Good god she's insufferable.
I struggled to get through this drama and the only reason I did was because I skipped a lot. I'm glad we got the happy ending for everyone. The last episode was pretty sweet. And I will say, unlike other dramas, it wasn't a super rushed happy ending so I will give them that.
Justice for my man Tae Sung though. lol
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So Sweet that made me Nauseous.
For those who likes romantic dramas where the FL and the ML are constantly in contact with each other and shows everytime time that they like each other but won't confess their feelings... Like seeing two people being in love and having very very very sweet moments together... So this show is just for you, but... definitely not for me.I like shows where both ML and Fl takes a long time to have a proper relationship, I'm more into when the ML doesn't like the FL at all but then eventually he fells in love with her, what doesn't happen here. Here the ML right from the start likes the FL, so... Nhe, only that fact made me do not enjoy the drama.
Also, the FL, way too annoying for me. Her childish voice, her attitude, the way that she doesn't realize his feelings, nhe. I really didn't like her at all.
And, the serial killer plot... AGAIN!!!!! gosh I'm so done with this plot already, I mean, again a crazy man as the main villain? What kinda lazy plot is that. I only watched this show until episode 8 and then I started skipping all the scenes until I got tired and decided to watch the final episode ignoring the past ones. I kinda understood the final but it didn't get my attention to make me watch this drama properly.
Although it's basically a "perfect" drama with a perfect OST, a perfect acting, a perfect storyline, a perfect ending... For me it wasn't perfect at all. I got hocked up in the first episodes but it got so boring after some episodes. I think it wasn't necessary 16 episodes, 12 at least could work perfectly.
Anyway, this drama may be perfect for most of ppl since it has a 9.0 of good reviews but fot me is at least a 7.0. It's not my kind of drama, I'd rather enjoy it when the main couple doesn't have so many romantic scenes together, I feel nauseous for some reason. Am I a bitter person? Maybe, but in terms of couples, I'd rather like dramas like, Bulgasal, my suspicious partner, secret, kill me heal me, that winter the wind blows, W two worlds, the legend of the blue sea, the go back couple... anyway! all these dramas the ML takes some time to like the FL, he doesn't like her until he slowly starts to falling in love with her. I like these kinds story, so this is basically the main reason why I didn't like "lovely runner" and didn't even finish it.
But as I said, if you like sweet couples that love each other right from the start, so this show is just for you, I'm going to the next one :v
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Who can rewatch this ???
Sure, here is the revised review using ML (Male Lead) and FL (Female Lead):---
I feel that the plot is good, but the story development is quite poor, especially due to the FL's foolishness which prolongs the story. There are many things that don't make sense, particularly her overpowered magical abilities that she doesn't use.
After that, the story relies on plot twists instead. I won't spoil the content, and yes, I couldn't predict it, but it wasn't very impressive. I have to say it's a drama where the characters are extremely foolish. Watching it, I felt frustrated with both the FL and the police; it was very illogical.
I was very attached to the ML, feeling warmth from his expressions of love and intelligence, which made the ending satisfying.
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it has more fantasy then story
it was satisfying to watch. The character build up, there struggles you feel sorry for female mc. and don't like the fact that its taken as Idol and his fangirl, they tried to hide this fact by she was his first love which made it worst.they could have shown him as a saviour and owe her, her life. i mean she was suicidal, and his words and his presents even as an idol in her life made her want to live again... which was it self a big plot. yeah the drama version wasn't bad but it made the situation comedic, whatever it was really fun. i think they didn't want to make it serious...
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but the last episode felt like a rushed one ... they were like doesn't matter what is it just make a happy ending ??
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I Feel unsatisfied
The storyline started off great for the first 5 episodes. I was thinking "Wow this is great, I am invested in this" Then for some reason, it took a nose dive and I ended up fast-forwarding from episodes 8- 16.Reasons:
1) I saw and felt ML love and obsession for FL. He was too into her if you ask me. Every time he saw her name, saw her, she called him or she seemed to be in trouble he would drop everything and go with her or stalk her.
Kind of weird how a cute/attractive teenager and adult never likes or has a crush on another woman in all that time.
Anyway, I felt his love for the FL. He portrayed the love, obsession, and angst very well.
2) The FL lead did not portray the love nor I don't think she said it ( as far as I can recall from all the fast-forwarding I did) that she loved the ML. She said she liked him a lot during the college time frame I believe and he said " I love you" but I never heard her say she loved him.
She treated him as if she was still just a fan, just like him as a fan, and wanted to, of course, save him from being killed. The FL portrayed the crying emotions, worry, teenage crush on that 2nd ML, and anxiousness to find the killer very well. But, to my eye and feeling she did not seem to portray the love it seems they were trying to portray she should feel even in the present time frame.
She did not show angst/yearning for ML when they could not be together or were apart. It was like they have cutesy moments, she gets distracted with a shiny ball/interest, and then she puts him out of her mind. It is the ML who is constantly making an effort to contact her to stay in her orbit.
3) Also why does she still seem like she has only the thoughts/experiences of a teenager when she went back in time as a late 20's/30 year old. I know she was in a wheelchair for a while etc.. but her hearing/seeing and experience of human experiences should not still be of a teenager. Romantic relationships yes, she did not have those experiences in the present time. I don't know. It frustrated me how they wrote the FL lead lines and how she acted it out. Did she put her " savior" ML on a pedestal as an adult when she was a fan and did not have romantic fantasies about him? I know she was in a wheelchair and did not think it was possible to date anyone, but most female fans still have romantic notions about male celebrities. That is where her " liking' him should have a head start in the feelings moving on to love when she goes back in time with all her memories and feelings intact.
4) Also are they trying to say that teenage FL and adult FL switch places in the same time frame when the adult version goes back to being a teenager? Like the same day? That is why she dated and still has a soft spot for 2ML? They could have kept that just as friendship and developed her feelings for ML even more. It just made it weird/icky that she kept hanging around ML, while dating 2ML and ML did not mind ( actually sought her out ) doing activities together knowing she was dating 2ML.
Anyway, it was okay, I don't get the hype. I am waiting for the ML to have a costar who complements him well as his partner and gives their all. Strong Girl Book Soon (or whatever it is called) and this one, did not have a good FL chemistry and or storyline.
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