Lovely Runner

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).

Read More

Lovely Runner Delivers from Start to Finish

The Korean series Lovely Runner stands out among countless others for its exceptional storytelling. Every scene is crafted with purpose, and each character, no matter how minor, contributes meaningfully to the plot. There are no wasted moments; every storyline is resolved, and the execution is so seamless that it avoids any cringe-worthy moments. This series is a testament to masterful direction and thoughtful writing.
The series is packed with humor that will keep you laughing from the very first episode to the last. It never loses its charm and is crafted so well that it truly engages your emotions and takes you on an unforgettable journey.
The screenwriters and director of Lovely Runner were clearly in perfect harmony, as evidenced by the seamless execution of the series. The actors were perfectly cast and did full justice to the characters they portrayed, bringing the well-written script to life in a compelling and engaging way.
This is a show that I'd travel across time just to see.

Read More

One of the best Kdrama

Oh where do I start? I’ve been seeing this show in my recommendation since this show started. I really wanted to watch this since Kim Hye Yoon is the female lead I liked her from Extraordinary You and I was really hooked with that drama. I was expecting that Lovely Runner will give me the same feeling but I hold back because this is on-going I didn’t want to experience the agony of waiting. But then yesterday I can’t help but binge watch and finish all fourteen episodes. All I can say is that Lovely Runner is perfection. It gave me nostalgic feeling. The OST is so good it keeps playing in my head over and over. The cast is perfect. They are all versatile. This show gave me a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Kim Hye Yoon never disappoints she act so well that you can’t feel she’s acting at all. It was so natural. She can make me laugh then cry after a moment. Byeon Woo Seok also matches the female lead’s versatility. I really love his character in this drama. He portrayed his role so well. He looked like a real swimmer, actor and an idol. I just found out that he actually sang the song ‘Sonagi (Sudden Shower)’ like damn he’s so talented what else can’t he do? The concert part where he sang Sonagi is full of emotions the last time I got carried away with a song like this was Jung Yong Hwa’s ‘Because I missed you’ in Heartstrings and to think he also sang it live?! How I wish there will be a real concert for Eclipse. They even have their own YT channel with all the OST of Eclipse. Byeon Woo Seok is a gem. His character is the greenest flag male lead I’ve ever seen in a drama. I hope they work again together in the future. The only thing I’m sad about is that this show has to end and I’m gonna miss my happy pill. Kudos to everyone who made this show a success. 💕

Read More

tell me why this has to end?

Now that we have two remaining episodes left I'm already feeling sepanxx over this and will surely feel this way for few weeks. The last time I got hooked by Kdramas is the year 2016 - 2017 where Kdramas are truly perfection you can binge watch one after another. It's the time when Kdrama is at it's peak.

Nowadays it's really hard to finish one I have so many pending Kdramas in my list and I can't seem to find my motivation to finish them but this came along and Lovely Runner ended my longing for a really damn good Kdrama. This drama gave me the same feeling once again, the thrill and excitement that I feel in every episode made me want to watch this in just one day. It's a masterpiece that I've been craving for so long. This is a romcom heartfelt drama with a mix-up of thriller, nostalgic coming-of-age story.

I am so happy that I finally watch this after ignoring this from my recommendation for so long and to every person who haven't watch this yet, you are missing out a lot. Lovely Runner may not be on Netflix and does not have the highest ratings on Television but you can clearly see it's popularity and how well-received it is by the fans like me. If ever they decide to hold a concert for the fictional band Eclipse, I bet the tickets would be sold out. The OST and cinematography is exquisite. This drama is not overrated at all, it even deserves more than a 10 rating. I'm not yet ready to let this go. I will surely miss SolJae dimple couple <3

Read More

I love this drama like Seonjae loves Sol

Sorry for my English. Lovely Runner is the best drama I have seen so far this year, each episode made me feel like I was on a roller coaster, sometimes I laughed, other times I cried. The best thing is that each chapter left me wanting to see more, it didn't become tedious or boring as it usually happens in other dramas that I already finished in the last chapters out of obligation. But it didn't happen to me with this drama. What's more, I feel empty now that it's over. The chemistry, the acting, the script, the ost everything was perfectly executed. That's why this drama deserves all the love it's receiving, I don't think it's overrated when it didn't have adequate promotion from the beginning. This drama will have a place in my heart forever.

Read More

One of The Best Romantic Comedy Drama

I really enjoy this drama, so many plot twist storyline with Comedy on all characters, Haha. The drama is light and the storyline is easy to understand. Don't miss all the episodes and if necessary, re-watch them so you can understand the storyline.

In my opinion, there are not many time travel dramas that are easy to understand, full of sadness and comedy that can carry viewers away in a very coherent and good story. Thank you to the producers, actors and actresses as well as all the supporting roles for their excellent acting. There is a lot of inspiration that can be taken from this drama.

Read More

The only series I ever Rewatched !! SciFi Romance has never been better <3

Don't overthink, JUST WATCH IT!!
I Don't know why people are hating it rn, but it's only of the hidden gem series of the year. I might be slightly biased for some reason to give it a 10, but even if I am being my usual self ( i.r being critical) I can find any reason to give this series less than 9 stars.
The acting, the pacing, the songs, the consistent attention that the series grabbed is what I love the most. I can't find a single significant flaw which I could point. Ofc some people could have their pet peeves or might dislikes the leads for some reason, which could be their reason for the low stars, but I would definitely recommend you to watch the series. Even if one doesn't fall in absolute love with it, still you would enjoy the series and appreciate it, in my humble opinion.

Read More

A DRAMA THAT NEVER FORGETS IT'S A ROMCOM, IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE!

It's so typical to see a drama toward the end getting boring or having an unsatisfying ending, but "Lovely Runner" managed not to go down that road. This drama was perfect from start to finish, never forgetting that it's a rom-com, even in its most dramatic moments. It was really great to follow Sol and Sunjae's love for each other, Taesung being one of the best second male leads, and the addictive OST.

I'm gonna miss waiting every Monday and Tuesday for new episodes and coming up with thousands of theories about what would happen next, but even with a simple and uncomplicated ending (and using the truck of doom in the best way possible), it managed to be satisfying and beautifully conclude this story.

Read More

Happy Pill

It’s hard to put perfectly into words just how amazing Lovely Runner is, but it is without a doubt, one of the best ones out there. Aside from the fiery chemistry of the leads. The storyline and narrative itself is just top notch. The way it could just make viewers like me feel so giddy in one second and fearful and stressed on the next is just perfect. I also loved how the ending unfolded. How it stressed that memories are etched in the heart. I just wish we had more time to uncover if and how is Grandma connected to the time traveling that’s happened. Speaking of Grandma, big kudos as well to the great family dynamics of this show. Within all the timelines all the family interactions where great. The love showcased within was truly heartwarming. Ahh~ would definitely rewatch this again.

Read More

LOVE IN TIME

My SolJae.. What will I do now every Monday and Tuesday? As much as I have loved other dramas, I think this might just be in my top five all time. With the love story that I have been following between these two, and have been watching since basically the beginning, I don't know how quickly I can let them go. These two either brought a smile to my face or tears with each episode.

The acting within this project is phenomenal. I felt as if I was genuinely a character in the show with how much emotion and attachment I've grown upon these characters. The chemistry made me feel as if they were actually together. I love both of these actors so much, and I will continue to love them, but Lovely Runner will forever hold a place in my heart.

The story follows Im Sol, a girl who's a fangirl of a K-Pop group called Eclipse. She had bought a watch at an auction that once belonged to her favorite member, Ryu Sunjae. Once 2023 begins, that Sunjae passes away, but there's nothing she could do from stopping his death, right? Things began to go into a spiral when she clicks the watch and she goes back 15 years into the past. While there, she meets her favorite member when he was a high schooler. Now she's in her 2008 body and finds that she lived across from him. What will she do now that she is trying to correct time and keep him from his "unfixable" fate?

I just want to say that this romance is one of a kind. My favorite part about this story is the fact that Sunjae is a loser in love. No matter if he is a singer, an actor, or just a regular highschool boy, he still acts out in front of his crush. He may have lost his memories throughout each lifetime, but he will always find his way back to Sol. It didn't matter what universe or weird time jumps occurred, he always found his way back to the one he loved. His destiny was to be with her, even if he were to have died.

This drama deserves all of the hype!! I'm so sad to see them go but I'm also so happy that I got to experience such a wonderful story. This marks an end of a chapter, but there will always be more to come.

ALSO!! I loved the fact that even when the future changed, Sunjae was always meant to be some sort of famous person in South Korea. He was a singer whose group sold out tickets, but he was also an actor who had successful dramas. But his occupation didn't matter, he was still Sol's.

Read More

BEAUTIFUL, FLUFFY AND TRULY LOVELY DRAMA!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I just love how it was a simple drama that wasn't too complicated, and I love that they didn't waste time and focus on creating some backstory for the villain; he is just a bad guy who happens to be present. This is the first time in a while where a drama didn't lose me because I felt the storyline was getting weaker. The drama stayed true to what it was meant to be, a cheesy rom-com with all the cliches and I love when a rom-com is unapologetically exactly that. It was simply full of fluff and I don't remember any product placements being shoved in my face, which was nice. I'm glad everyone had a beautiful and fulfilling ending, and this is definitely a drama I would rewatch.

Everyone worked so hard on this drama after having so many setbacks. I'm glad it got popular, and I really hope more dramas like this will be produced. It truly is nice to simply watch a lighthearted drama. I was giggling and grinning from episode one all the the way to the last episode, even when the last timeline began and Sunjae didn't remember Sol, his personality didn't change and the couple still managed to make me laugh. The music in the drama was also so beautifully done, spring snow in particular might just be one of my favourite OSTs of all time. Thank you to everyone who worked on this and thank you for letting me experience such a wonderful drama. <3

Read More