best k-drama of 2024
Lovely Runner is honestly the best K-drama of 2024, at least in my opinion. I loved each and every single episode and the chemistry between Kim Hye Yoon )KHY) and Byeon Woo Seok (BWS) was ON FIRE. Other than the main leads and their superb acting, the supporting characters acted well and the OSTs were fantastic. Here's a breakdown of the ratings for each part of the drama:Story:
Im Sol is a fangirl who is disabled and during her toughest times, her Idol Ryu Sun Jae gives her the motivation to live. However, one day her idol dies and she has 3 chances to save her idol by traveling to the past. During this time, she finds herself falling in love with him. However, twists and turns cause obstacles between them. The story was amazing! The writer combined mystery, comedy, and romance very well. I LOVE time travel dramas when they are done well, and this one was one of those!
Cast/Acting:
The main leads' acting was everything! I've only watched 2-3 dramas of Kim Hye Yoon but I can't imagine any actress playing Im Sol other than Hye Yoon. I loved her character in Extraordinary You which was another fantasy drama, and her character here reminds me of Dan Oh too, but she portrayed Im Sol's character amazingly and brought her character to life.
Byeon Woo Seok did a great job in playing Ryu Sun Jae, who's a loser boy in love in all the timelines LOL. Additionally, his versatile acting from 20th Century Girl to Strong Girl Nam Soon, in this drama, he played different characters and portrayed all of them well.
Kim Tae Sung, played by Song Geon Hee, is one of my favorite second leads. he's one of those characters where I wished he didn't get the main girl but he gets his happy ending. Initially, I didn't like his character but he grew on me later and in the college timeline and the present timeline, he became one of my favorite characters ever. he's one of my favorite second leads because he respected Im Sol's boundaries and never made her uncomfortable, which is a HUGE GREEN FLAG. I loved that!
Music:
The OSTs were a 10 out of 10! The OSTs make the drama more memorable but one fact I loved was that Byeon Woo Seok himself sang some of the songs and one of my favorites was Sudden Shower! Here is a list of some of my favorite songs in the drama:
"Sudden Shower" - Eclipse (Byeon Woo Seok)
"Like A Dream" - MINNIE
"Star" - N.Flying
- Another one of my favorite supporting characters was Baek In Hyuk played by Lee Seung Hyub - the leader of N.Flying
"A Day" - Jong Ho
"Spring Snow "- 10CM
Rewatch value:
I've rewatched episode 8 a LOT, especially that scene (iykyk hahah) because of their incredible chemistry!!! I've also rewatched up to episode 13 while waiting for the other episodes and I'll definitely rewatch this drama if I need something to watch. I'd definitely rewatch it as I feel like I'd find many details that I had missed out on before. overall, I'd PAY to watch Lovely Runner for the first time again 😭
Overall:
This was one of the best dramas of 2024 if not the BEST. It deserves the high ratings it's receiving and even higher ratings, especially on MDL. Lovely Runner was everything to me, and I wanted to share my review because I completely enjoyed every episode, and the acting and OSTs to the story were OUTSTANDING!
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BEST K DRAMA 2024
I loved everything about this drama, the actors, the music, the side characters. The last episode was perfection, that's how a rom-com should end, full of lovely moments and focused on the leads relationship. I will re-watch it for sure. The chemistry was there, I laughed and cried, not a lot of dramas will make me laugh, but this one did. Lost of funny moments, ML relationship with the FL family, his friends, the SML was great, not forced. Best kdrama I have watched this yearWas this review helpful to you?
The Hilarious, Angsty, Romantic and yet Non-Toxic Drama of this Decade
This drama is no short of getting 10s in every aspect!Firstly, a huge round of applause and immense appreciation for Kim Bbang, author of the book Tomorrow’s Best. Thank you writer-nim for bringing this beautiful novel into existence because who knows if there would be a loose adaption of this book if you hadn’t written this.
Secondly, the director, scriptwriter, actors, and team, take a bow for stringing together an amazing and enchanting yet detailed narrative that blended romcom, angst, and thriller so beautifully that it managed to always keep the audience on the edge in every episode.
Things that I loved the most in this show [because I don’t have any dislikes for LR!]:
- RSJ was just a boy next door who IS ignored in her original timeline, which made this show instantly different from others. For once I was glad here the guy wasn’t the school/college hunk whom every girl fawned over. It was a coincidence how many of us subeoms never noticed BWS playing insignificant characters[I didn’t notice him until 20th Century Girl!]
- The show proves that audience are craving for non-toxic, positive male leads who don’t just shout and act like they don’t care but then suddenly there’s a change in their character midway. I love the Green Forest RSJ and wish to see more MLs like him. BWS is effortlessly funny and pulls every version of SJ from a school going kid, to a college-goer, to an idol and an actor flawlessly
- KHY did a wonderful job of portraying a fan girl and a lover. I was skeptical about how they would portray IS once she fell in love with SJ, but the transition was beautiful. I loved how KHY brought out the side a fangirl has, the madness, the need to keep up with their idol’s life, and then the devastation of seeing their idol pass away prematurely. Her powerful acting made the transition easy, and when IS lost SJ as her lover, the emotions were completely different.
- The lewserism that SJ oozed is such a treat. It’s not cringey or overdone but done in the right amount. Oh, he is MinMin’s descendant I tell you lol.
- The supporting actors were equally good, especially Baek Inhyuk. I am glad they managed to squeeze in his backstory. Actually, despite less screen time, almost all characters have a good backstory [IDC about taxi driver]
- Special thanks to Gonghee, he is one of the BEST SMLs there is. He wasn’t clingy or even someone who wanted to create misunderstanding. He was there as a supportive friend to the FL even when she was time traveling.
- This show has little to zero misunderstandings and I loved it. I am so glad that there were no severe arguments or fallouts. This show managed to squeeze as many tropes in romcom as can be and still managed to balance them out to not overwhelm the audience.
- The parallels that were shown were so beautifully and seamlessly blended, different yet the same but never boring.
I am so so glad to be a part of this drama while it was on-air. While I am sad, I am also happy that it just pulled off so well. I will miss the madness and obsession I had with this show. Never have I ever been this unhinged over a drama. The theories, the comments, and everything, I will miss this! This show is even more special because of its organic success! The way fate aligned the stars to make this happen is sometimes astonishing. From it being shelved for 3 years because actors rejected the script, BWS taking it up, to no PPL because no one had hope for this drama, not even TvN, and YET this drama emerges victorious, delivering top-notch content from excellent acting to direction to cinematography. Everyone associated with the drama deserves the praise and fame they are getting. Thank you, LR for giving me a wonderful 2 months. Thank you for keeping me hopeful when my life had suddenly gone haywire. I am going to rewatch this show again.
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It's like you are are watching 2016-2017 era of kdrama. The ML actors & FL actress had a perfect chemistry in off cam/on cam. The cinematography and the OST is perfect.
They deserve the recognition and blessings because they worked hard for this drama. Also the directors, writers and staffs big applause for them.
P.s anyway we have different opinions, so should respect each other☺️
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This review may contain spoilers
pretty good
A cute Korean drama that blends romance and time travel. Kim Hye-Yoon absolutely steals the show as Im Sol. Her performance is captivating, and she effortlessly switches between comedy and drama. Her portrayal of Im Sol's emotional journey is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, making her a standout in the series.The series also explores themes of love, loss, and, the power of second chances.
The chemistry between Kim Hye-Yoon and Byeon Woo-Seok is pretty good and I think that the pair add a lot to the show.
The show starts off strong, but it loses steam as it goes on. Some of the supporting characters feel underutilized, and their storylines don't contribute much to the overall plot. They just feel a bit pointless at times. I really enjoy good side characters, and I am not sure there is a single notable one in the entire show.
Despite these shortcomings, the show does remain an enjoyable watch. I think Kim Hye-Yoon is amazing here! Her performance is what really makes this show stand out.
However, it's important to note that the series is not without its flaws. The time-travel mechanics, while intriguing, can sometimes feel inconsistent and unexplained. The resolution of some plot points may feel rushed or unsatisfying.
All around, I think it is a solid show, offering a blend of romance, comedy, and a touch of fantasy.
**Pros:**
* Kim Hye-Yoon is amazing!
* Cute romance
* Interesting time-travel twist
**Cons:**
* Drags on a bit
* Time-travel stuff can be confusing
* Some side characters are weak
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Overall a good drama, I can’t watch it again tho my patience could never.
I want to love this so bad. Spoilers ahead. I was waiting for a different result with the many chances the main character was given to change things. However, with the exception of the first back in time, it was a repeat of almost the same thing every time after. It’s not that I didn’t like it, but it was hard watching Im Sol keep making the same mistakes trying to push Sun Jae away just to get the same result . It got tiring after the second time, buy the third time it was just annoying that she could treat him so bad. Sun Jae kept choosing her and again and again. Im Sol kept breaking his heart, acting as though she didn’t care. I was hoping at some point she would just say something! I was screaming at the tv if she would just communicate what she was doing or trying to do especially the last time around. I understand that she was trying to protect him, but she left him in the dark which could’ve saved them both some heartache. She missed the fate part of it & he would keep choosing her. I’d hoped for more romance between the two verses the bits and pieces throughout the episodes only when she let down her guard. Overall it was a good watch, I rooted for them and it paid off with happy ending. The two had great chemistry, there was plenty of humor, but I probably would not watch again, the storyline was frustrating until the last episode when it all worked out.Was this review helpful to you?
TOP NOTCH CHEMISTRY
Okay, let’s get one thing straight—this romance? INSANE. Like, Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok ATE. Their chemistry?? Off. The. Charts. I was screaming at my screen every time they even LOOKED at each other. I swear, they could be standing five feet apart, and I’d still feel the tension.Tbh, I almost didn’t watch this because of Kim Hye-yoon (nothing against her, just wasn’t drawn in, watched Extraordinary You because of Rowoon too), but THANK GOD I did. Because this was romance gold. The way their moments felt so raw, so natural, so everything?? Nothing less the peak.
Now, onto the crime plot... meh. Most of the time, crime/mystery subplots in romance K-dramas don’t do it for me, and this one was no exception. But I will admit, the stalker gave me chills. Like, when he appeared infront of Sol or when he kidnapped Im Sol? Instant shivers. Creepy dude aside, though, the crime aspect wasn’t the selling point.
Now, here’s where my rant kicks in—FOUR TIMELINES. I love a good time-travel twist, but did we really need FOUR?! At some point, it started feeling repetitive. And don’t even get me started on the "power of love" suddenly making Sun-jae remember everything—like huh??? That was kinda weird, ngl. But whatever, I was too busy swooning over their romance to care.
Up until Episode 10 or 12? PEAK. Literally flawless. But after Ep 13... yeah, I checked out. Not even gonna lie, I don’t even remember what happened in Ep 14 or 15. Did they get together? Probably. Did I care? Not really, because the high point had already passed for me. I might have to rewatch those episodes just to fill in the gaps.
Now, let’s talk about the Twinkling Watermelon comparisons. I keep seeing people compare Lovely Runner to Twinkling Watermelon, and honestly, it makes NO sense. These two shows are completely different in their execution. Lovely Runner is a pure romance (and it ATE—like 12/10, no, 20/10 romance, not saying that TW was any less than this, I was OBSESSED w TW couples and still am), while Twinkling Watermelon is much more layered, focusing on three different families and developing each of them deeply. TW isn't just about romance—it’s about family dynamics, growth, and multiple perspectives. You can’t just throw them into the same box because they both have time travel. They’re not the same, period.
Final thoughts: Even with the timeline chaos, this drama DELIVERED on romance. Every single scene between Im Sol and Sunjae? Perfection. If you’re watching for romance, you’ll be FED.
Would I rewatch it? Maybe just the first 12 episodes and the last one. Would I recommend it? 100%. Just be prepared for some timeline exhaustion.
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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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This review may contain spoilers
They are so adorable but what the fuck is going on with that killer!
Lets talk about the positive cause the ROMANCE is ROMANCING! I love the couple so much and everything about them! I was blushing and kicking my feet every scene the ml and fl showed up!!! The back in time thing was so interesting as well, filled with comedy and romance was so fun to watch!HOWEVER what the fuck was going on with the mystery side cause it would have been interesting if we actually found out the motive behind the killer/kidnapper! Cause we know nothing about him apart from the fact that he is a killer on the lose... It really ruined the show cause the whole purpose of the show was to catch the killer and live happily ever after but we got nothing out of him apart from plot. It felt really dry and annoying and the ending irritated me and lowkey ruined the whole show for me...
BUT the ml and fl are so adorable and definitely raised my standards!
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This review may contain spoilers
emotional rollercoaster
firstly, I rlly liked how they capture the moment very well. I could experience how the characters felt, in certain heartfelt moments. this drama felt like I could just turn off my brain and just absorb all the emotions. there were a few loopholes, but I don't rlly care too much about them as it is to be expected. their explanation on the concept about time travel felt a little ambiguous, I think they purposely did so , so that they would be able to make certain scenes happen. the story felt long winded and sometimes predictable. I hated how at the end of like ep 3 ( I can't remember whether is it 2 3 or 4) they used time travel as the excused to Im sol not hearing seon jae's confession on the recording. couldn't u at least make up a better excuse? it was quite frustrating. the chemistry between the leads... um I am a sucker for romance so my opinion is very biased. the acting to the create the different characters was done well. what do y'all think?Was this review helpful to you?
Lovely Runner Review - ZyKuu
"A relationship that defies time" - Masterpiece. Story is excellent and there is a unique display in regards to the concept of time travelling. Whether it was a heartwarming or saddening moment, I shed a couple tears as this series drew out a variety of emotions from within. Im Sol and Sun-jae perfectly played their roles, I loved the relationship and chemistry both leads had. The supporting cast was phenomenal especially Tae-sung and In-hyuk. The soundtrack is incredible. The romance and comedy in this series was nothing short of perfection. Not only did this work of art entertain me, but it gave me hope, and I am genuinely sad that it is over :(Was this review helpful to you?
