Lovely Runner

Very good

I just finished watching Lovely Runner, and I'm still reeling from the emotional rollercoaster! This underdog drama stole my heart with its poignant storytelling, memorable characters, and heartfelt performances.

The narrative expertly weaves together themes of perseverance, self-discovery, and the power of human connection. Our protagonist's journey from a struggling athlete to a confident individual is genuinely inspiring.

The cast delivers impressive performances, bringing depth and nuance to their characters. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable, making their romance a joy to watch.

While some plot twists felt a bit predictable, the show's emotional resonance and well-developed characters more than make up for it.

Overall, Lovely Runner is a beautiful, uplifting drama that will leave you smiling through tears. If you're a fan of character-driven stories, sports dramas, or just looking for a heartwarming watch, add Lovely Runner to your list!

Highly recommend!

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Replay Time Slip to Love.

An Interesting time slip replay to win true love.
Time slips and meta-relpays can be so challenging to sort out let alone maintain charater growths in only 16 episodes. Hut Lovely Runner has skillfully done so with all its overlaping charater plays and links.

The main leads- Im Sol & Ryu Seon Jae battle through their twisted fates across 15yrs of overlaps and redos. Im Sol wants to protect & save him. Ryue Seon Jae wants to protect & save her. The chemistry is so good for the leads. And the hemistry & banter amongst the secondary characters and couples. I love truely enjoyed the jealous bromance between RSJ & KTS. I absolutely love all the work and growth of Kim Tae Song ( by Seon Geon Hee). KTS starts as the typical angsty teen boy and grows to the strong best friend for both along their time limes, quietly suporting and sheltering their love bc he wants her happiness and long life more. Yes, some firendships are stonger in the begining, while others grew stronger after a few retries. but that actually pushes the growth arcs.

SeonJae noticed her Sol long before she realized, as she was his mystery call from the opening scene.
The start of his love and missed chances is always palpable...but the time slips begin when Im Sol initiates the sequence to correct the tragedy of losing someone she didnt know she needed.
Sol's Grandmother is truely, the voice of the fates reminding and nudging them to grab on to love, enjoy life, and live through the challenges in all its stages. Reminding them that the Soul needs true love to live just as we need oxygen to breath.

Irony -this is the second kdrama "rewrite my life" series i have wathched with Kim Hye-Yoon cast as acting FL . She pulls off the mature and omniscent protaganist very well here, while maintaining the distinct differences in charater between innocent young Sol and the experieced older Sol.

Lovely Runner does a wonderful job of differentiating the story line from other kdrama tropes. Soo much symbolism at play through out the series. Important foundations of the time slips are credible and mystical enough to be successful. After just 2 episodes you are hooked and you need the rest to follow through...ASAP. Binge and rewind and replay soo many good scenes!

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Second chances don't come often.

A journey of life, love, and a little silliness.

Focusing on Im Sol, this drama follows her from the middle of her story and travels through time as she gets a new chance to save the person who saved her.

Lovely Runner was incredibly refreshing. Everything was balanced really well, the romance was sweet and angsty. If you're a sucker for leads who have complete loyalty to each other bordering on a (healthy) obsession like I am, then this has it in heaps, fits of laughter, and tears. All the side characters meshed well with the story, and there was neither too little nor too much of them. I loved watching the relationships grow and coincide with the story as it progressed, but this drama is about Im Sol and Sun Jae and they kept that focus for the most part throughout.

There was also enough plot to give everything in this meaning, and I really enjoyed how they paced it enough that with every change, it still kept us on the edge of our toes without being overbearing. Im Sol does get annoying at times with how sacrificial she is, but honestly both the leads share the burden of this mindset and it only helped to enhance how much they cared about each other. The humor in this was an absolute delight as well. If my heart wasn't hurting, I was laughing and it was a great pallet cleanser from more serious dramas.

All in all, I recommend this if you're looking for something refreshing, light but with plot, a great love story, and a little cringe in the best ways possible. This was a great watch and one I was unable to stop thinking about the entire time it aired.

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One of the most well-rounded and enjoyable watches EVER

I considered writing a well thought out review for like a total of five minutes, but I can't. So, allow me to just yap.

This drama had very quickly made it obvious to me that it would become my all time favourite. There are so many core reasons as to why, I'm not sure how to list them all. First off, the casting was splendid. I wouldn't change a single thing. The acting was impeccable. The emotions were so real. I adored that this drama started out with a focus on high school life, giving me that cute high school romance that I love so much. The fantasy undertones were the root, yet they did not take away from the sweetness of their youth. There were so many times when I genuinely forgot that this was a story of Im Sol going back and forth. It feels like she lived so many lives and we got to witness so much of it. I am also so glad that it wasn't a situation in which Sun jae's feelings were hidden for an unnecessary amount of time. You know how sometimes it'll be that the female lead likes the male lead and then you find out later that he liked her all along, but they tell you rather than showing you? I loved that this drama showed us his perspective so early on. There may have been some back and forth with him and Im Sol about their feelings, but we knew. However, I believe the miscommunication was just the right amount. It wasn't like they were going crazy trying to hide their feelings... Even in the last few episodes as Im Sol tried to stay away, it was obvious that Sun jae was just ignoring her completely because he could see through her efforts.

I loved seeing their youth, it just gave me butterflies the whole time. I'm glad we spent time in the past, seeing them all build bonds and grow together. Everyone's story was touched on well, we got see how In Hyuk, Tae sung, Sun jae, and Im Sol had come together as well.

Tae Sung became a very beloved character and somehow one of the most sensible of them all. I appreciate how his intellect was something present even in his youth and he learned how to better channel it as he grew older.

Sun Jae was just a green flag all around. I have so much to say but my mind can't pinpoint a single thing. He was great.

All in all, this drama really touched my heart. It truly was about making sacrifices and learning to sometimes be selfish and give yourself a happy ending. I think the saddest part was knowing that even though Sun Jae and Im Sol have their memories, those experiences that all the characters shared in the past are no longer part of their timeline. It's unfortunate to know that in some ways, they missed out on a very pretty life filled with sweet moments. That's why episode 13 was definitely the saddest for me.

Anyways, this was a 10/10 kdrama with amazing romance, beautiful moments of the past, and really makes you appreciate the privilege of time.

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WE NEED MORE K-DRAMAS LIKE LOVELY RUNNER

**This is purely just my opinion and you are entitled to have your own opinion! :)**
If you're in the k-drama community, there's going to be hidden gems that you discover. These dramas are often underrated and not talked about. Many people's faves could be completely unknown to others but that's not the case for Lovely Runner. If you're in the community that watches k-dramas, you have most certaintly heard about Lovely Runner. I'd say the two biggest, most talked about k-dramas of 2024 are Queen of Tears and Lovely Runner. Literally 95% of k-drama watchers enjoyed atleast one of the two, if not both. Lovely Runner is going to become a name that everyone learns about, a drama that's going to be recommended to newbies. a drama that won't be forgotten for a long time.

Lovely Runner managed to pull many watchers out of their k-drama slumps, it managed to pull new people into k-dramas and it's probably the biggest loss for Netflix. People just can't get enough of Lovely Runner because each episode was beautifully crafted. We just need more. I hope writers and directors are taking notes..

Of course, there's going to be some people that don't like Lovely Runner and that's perfectly fine. I don't get why the community is hating towards these people? People have opinions and that's okay. This drama is not a 10/10 FOR ME, still very high up at a 9.5 but the majority enjoyed this and it has gone down as an all-time fave for many. Therefore, if someone wishes
create a drama that is successful in the eyes of the MAJORITY, they should produce it to have the same effect as LR. That's what I'm trying to say.

Anyway, onto my ACTUAL review.

The first episode was really cute and it kept me engaged which is why I watched the next episode straight after LOL. But I will say, I got second-hand embarrassment from sol's actions SO MANY TIMES. She really went up to a random ass man (technically), hugged him when he's half-naked and told him she loves him.

Also I don't get why people are dragging KHY for her looks, she's drop dead gorg?

I really enjoyed episodes 10-16, the comedy was PERFECT and I had a constant smile on my face. It was cliche yes but it was perfectly placed so it wasn't cringe, but funny.

Also I could have a whole drama of just sol and taesung. THE CHEMISTRY??? Their friendship dynamics are amazing and honestly he's a green flag.

DISLIKES (all fairly mild):
- i feel bad for taesung (SML), he really did love sol and even after everything had changed, he cared for her as a friend. it was unfortunate they didn't let him meet a nice woman in ep 16
- after time travelling multiple times, you'd think sol gets smarter, well she doesnt. she kept making stupid decisions when the obvious smart answer was right there!

i also noticed, idk if this was done on purpose as a sort of easter egg, but LR has a lot of similarities to 20th century girl. it's most likely because of BWS playing the lead role in both.
SIMILARITIES:
- female lead's family owns a movie/tape store
- female lead blames cramps to get out of class
- female lead holds item above head at school bc she's in trouble and BWS comes and takes it from her.

anyway, overall it's a 9.5 for me because it was insanely good but IDK it just didn't feel like a 10? but please, some of you need to stop harrassing others who didn't enjoy the show and STOP HATING ON KIM HYEYOONS LOOKSSSSS. she's gorgeous!! just as a reminder, this review is my opinion and you can have your own! you may hate this or really love it, it's up to you :)

if you watch lovely runner, i hope you enjoy it !

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Mesmerizing, emotional time travel drama

I’m adding my review because that’s one of the dramas that I have loved this year. English not being my maternal language, please accept the mistakes in this review.

Describing "Lovely Runner" as a rom-com is simplistic : this is a romantic drama, using time travel to tell a love story spanning 5 timelines. Kind of a « variation on the same theme ».

So it allows the viewers to follow the same story, but at the same time, not the same story. Like a « what if » drama with the same characters. What if one turns left instead of right ? But at the same time, fate plays a part because no matter what the changes brought by the different decisions taken by the characters, they are always a victim of it.

Add a mix of mystery, thriller and boulevard comedy, and voila, you have "Lovely Runner".
So the mystery is how the time travel is possible. Not going to answer that one, viewers will discover the answer quite soon, but at the same time, the mystery remains as to why, even if it’s easy to guess if you follow the drama.

The thriller is the dangerous part of this drama, one that unfortunately, can strike everyone at anytime, anywhere, leaving broken characters. The two main characters are emotionally impacted by the consequences of the thriller part : depression, suicidal thoughts, loneliness, handicap (I admire how the FL overcame that one !)… That doesn’t make LR a depressing watch : the FL is one of those excentric characters, always on the move and always causing catastrophes and humiliating moments, mostly for her but sometimes also for the ML. It made the drama hilarious, at least for me.

That was the comedic boulevard part I mentioned, although it’s even more accentuated with the FL’s brother and sister-in-law : those characters are clearly portrayed as actors in a comedy on stage, or in sitcoms. Their facial expressions are exagerated. I suppose it’s a directing decision. So don’t expect them to be more serious characters. But they don’t have a too large part in the drama.

I found the actors to have chemistry and to fully embrace the story, with all the twists and turns it brought. Kim Hye Yoon portrays in a wonderful way the FL, radiating warmth and « joie de vivre », despite everything and her impulsiveness. That's part of her charm.

The ML is more reserved, and so easily… enthralled by the FL, because she is so different from him, embracing life, always running right and left (hence the title). I was surprised at how easily Byeon Woo Seok's played the role of a fool in love. But I guess that’s because I had seen him in more serious roles before. Here, he doesn't hesitate to appear weak or an idiot to his entourage, leading to some funny scenes.

I was sad to see this drama end, because I had grown attached to it. I had watched it twice so far and I will rewatch it in the future. I will recommand to watch it in a few days, to enjoy it and to brainstorm about what could happen in the next episodes : it’s always fun to think about theories when watching a drama.

Plus, the OST is magnificent.

"Lovely Runner" was a huge success in South Korea despite the fact that the drama wasn’t heavily promoted and the success a surprise one ; and also a success with international audience judging by the well deserved rating on MDL.

To end this review, I would say that "Lovely Runner" is a succesful mix of different genres and I wouldn’t put it in the rom-com section because that would be misleading to compare it to a rom-com like « Business Proposal » (I loved that one, and it had a little of boulevard comedy in it).

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best kdrama ive ever seen

i love this drama so much. from the plot, to the characters, the acting and the music, visuals.. honestly everything was perfect.
i will rewatch this for sure. its so well written. I LOVE IT and enjoyed watching every single episode which is rare for me.

the fact sun-jae liked it sol from the start gets me everytime and his love for her?!
and i love how its not one-sided at all because sol shows how shes selfless as well and sacrisfies their love for his life although she missed him so much. i love how you can see how she went from fan to a lover. soo so so well written.
annnd honestly sun-jae is the standard. ill never get over him as ML. his love for sol is insane and made me giggle sm. mans loved her in every single lifetime and waited for her. and the things he does for her WOW. ill die alone.

the music as well WOOW. every time spring snow by 10cm played i got goosenbumps. it resonates so well to their love and dont get me started on their amazing acting and the actor's chemistry. i rlly enjoyed watching the BTS. both kim hyee-yoon and byeon woo-seok worked so hard you can tell by the outcome of this masterpiece. :)
i could write sm more but my fingers r getting tired... in conclusion ill def rewatch this kdrama!!!

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Best drama of 2024

This was an amazing drama which brought out all the butterflies of kdramas 🥰🥰🥰. love the main leads and the music. loved the story as well even though there were some loopholes. I rewatched this like thrice already and can’t recommend this more!

whatever I was missing in the recent kdramas, I got it all on this one. this was the first drama of both the leads that I watched and it didn’t disappoint. this had everything - story, romance, laughs, heartbreaks… u name it…

What I don’t understand is the comparison between LR and one other drama which was a totally different story altogether! I guess some fans are salty because of the success of LR!

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Good Enough

Korean Drama '' Lovely Runner '' is a fantasy romantic melodrama.

The story has a light mood throughout its length, though there is a lot of drama and tragedy in the story. However, the comedy parts were plenty and just enough to keep things entertaining, and the main character was fun and energetic which aided a lot.

Also, the romance was cute and it worked well with the nostalgia that the school and youthful past storyline had to offer.

In addition, the drama did a good job handling the fantasy element and blending it well with the criminal case.

Finally, the performances were all great by every actor and actress in the cast.

So, overall, nine out of ten.

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