Lovely Runner

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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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.

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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. 💕

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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