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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EVERY TOUNGE RISE AGAINSE SOL AND HYEYOON WILL FALL.

Some of you watchers are very weird cause the storyline is honestly very easy to understand but i saw some of yall are actually being really ...
- Saying Sol is lack of regard to other ppl cause she is too into Sunjae?? now let's ignore the fact that the series has 16 episodes, each with nearly 1 hour, also the fact that yall beloved Sunjae died. Sol actually saved her house from being on fire, leading to her mother getting burned in her hand. Sol care about her mother you can actually see that through Hyeyoon's outstanding acting when the mother was in the hospital. Sol spent her days with her family, going to the market with her mom, doing chores, helping her grandma, bickering with her brother, literally told him the lottery numbers so he and her best friend will be comfortable in the future... and more than that, she stayed friends and gave advice to Taesung. Her reason is savng Sunjae but she also had times with her loved family and friends. Moreover yall are hypocrite because when yall criticize Sol for neglecting her family, Sunjae did literally the same but guess what, it's somehow cute and for the comedy.

- Now move to the main plot of the show, saving Sunjae. yall just never get tired of hating and blaming Sol for everything she did cause when she tried her best saving the ml, all you care is "omg this hurt sunjae fvck sol". only care about the ml feelings but never put yourself in sol shoes cause Sol literally sacrifice her happiness just for him to be alive and yall still criticize her. She's happy yall will freaking scream saying how about Sunjae, she's desperated saving him yall will still blame her cause your fragile ml is sad. At the end of the day, yall just watch this show for the visual but not for the plot cause everything Sol did is so understandable and empathic.

- The reason why Sol did not use time stop or whatever it's called is literally so easy to understand but yall chose to be dumb. SHE CAME BACK TO SAVE SUNJAE AND IF SHE KEEPS PAUSING THE TIME, THE TAXI DRIVER WILL STILL BE FREE ROAMING AND HARM SOL IN THE PAST, LEADING TO SUNJAE SAVING SOL IN THE PAST AND SUNJAE WILL DIE IN THE FUTURE. So what's the point of coming back? Also everytime she screams for the time to stop, there's always a person to listen to her story. One scream to stop the time then keep screaming while running to escape the taxi drivers who has a fcking car to drive, with the panic she is having. Yeah let's get yall in that damn story to see if it's gonna freaking work.

- And about Kim Hyeyoon, i swear i will really raise hand if i see anyone downplaying her cause the muse of Im Sol, the Blue Dragon, Grand Bell, Baeksang awardee is not something to be joked about. Not to mention the male lead, and many actors in the show said SHE made them acting and expressing emotions better because SHE acted so well. Her acting skills, her acting range, her diction is praised by not only the crew but also film critics, experts. Pay some respect to her name.

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Calibrate Your Expectations

If you don't like fluffy rom-coms with mild fantasy/sci-fi elements which sometimes lean into staple rom-com (for some, cringey or cheesy) humor, and prefer dramas with super tight writing that is plot-focused rather than character-driven, then you will probably find the gushing on this thread misplaced.

Do yourself a favor and reset your expectations so you don't come out the other side thinking, "That was overrated/overhyped." A lot of people like this kind of drama, hence the gushing. You may not be one of them, but that doesn't make everyone who loves this "wrong" or "a teenage fangirl."

This drama is not an artistic "masterpiece," but it is a very fun drama with strong chemistry between the leads that leans heavily into the concept of fate and true love with a dash of that old-timey romantic Kdrama nostalgia.

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Unusual at its BEST

What a lovely run that was...

Thank you for this rough gem. It has been forever for a youth drama to shine in this era. I’ve experienced from the huge fandom and crazy buzz over Meteor Garden, Itazura Na Kiss, Goong, Coffee Prince, Boys Over Flowers to name a few, and now I’ve found another in Lovely Runner (LR). It’s a masterpiece to me but maybe trash for others, and it's OK. They can enjoy their high tea-scones coz I like to eat my greasy street food.

Although there are certain poorly written fillers/ subplot, borderline unnecessary and annoying, it can be overlooked as the leads are just amazing; Yes, you may say that both leads carried and aced the show. The spotlight is on them and I'm not going to complain. The writer/director did an awesome job of telling their journey of overcoming an ill-fated love story.

Sometimes people just forget that some of us just like to watch a drama/ movie as a way to escape from reality. If you like to be a realist then this drama isn't for you. BUT having said that, if I have to be picky, I wished that the depression part for both leads were explored and explained further.

Plot
Story wise at the beginning suffers a bit of incoherent flow as we deal with a time slip theme however as the story progresses, it builds up a steady momentum of our curiosity, love and anticipation in rooting the leads and where would they take us. The twists and turns in this one are unexpected, thus creating opportunities of endless parallels or reverse perspectives which then were being used to the max. I’m amazed at how beautifully it was being executed, from the cinematography, the ambience and colour grading, the music and how naturally I was to be sucked in and stuck in LR’s Lalaland.

BUT what I love most about LR is that I was being blindsided, multiple times by the unexpected perspectives of SJ and the others. The iconic moment of SJ blowing his kisses remains forever and imprinted in my mind, added with his best friend’s reaction, it was truly unexpected. From here on, I knew that LR is not going to be your typical average rom-com drama.

Cast
Both leads has an amazing-out-of-this-world chemistry and we could feel their love for one another. Their energy genuinely bring warmth and charmed many of us into a fan. And I fell hard on both characters especially in SJ’s part. He is honestly not-your-usual boy who fell head over heels for Sol. His type is really rare to non-existent and only exist in dramaland ^^.

Byeon Woo-Seok as SJ is shining so bright that I went blind. I mean whenever he is on-screen I could not help but to smile whenever he smiles, cry whenever he’s sad, and scream whenever he did those silly little things that could make him look like a fool. Yes, a lovely fool in love. THANK YOU for bringing Seon-jae into life. Let’s just sums it all up as SJ the adorable silly guy in love, whether as a high-schooler, college student or famous star, he just can’t help himself from his destiny. His portrayal for each version of himself are superb and differ from one another yet share the same silliness traits except the one where he was in despair in the beginning; which sets him apart from your typical rom-com leads and I couldn't picture anyone else portraying SJ.

Kim Hye-Yoon as Im Sol is like reminiscing her portrayal in Extraordinary You but it's an upgraded one as she dealt with multiple version of herself. As a girl who originally suffers hardship and trauma, she grows into the adult Sol as a bright yellow sun just like she was when she was in high-school; full of drive, hope and desire. Her portrayals are commendable and I just love her for being able to make each portrayal distinct from one another yet share the same strong concern and anxiety in ensuring SJ's wellbeing. Although this is a rom-com, her dramatic portrayal was actually her strongest points, especially when she was depressed for being paralysed or yelling ungratefully at SJ for saving her; and of course in the final part where she reunites with her lost and forgotten love. Her wailing is full of relief, yearning and sadness mixed with happiness. Her journey throughout the show is definitely not one dimensional.

Other Cast (Overall)
Sol's family n best friend - Mixture of good and bad; Funny but can be annoying at times.
SJ's father and friends - Epic and never enough.
Kim Tae-Sung - Mixed; Funny but can be ignored at some point. Sorry if I'm not a fan LOL.

3 Favourite Scenes;
1) The iconic yellow umbrella, their first meeting.
2) The reunion, after SJ remembers everything.
3) The finale, wishing cherry blossom and its parallel.
3+1) Grandma’s blessing to SJ, I just need to add this one coz BWS is such a damn good actor.

Music
Awesome. It helps to create the mood of hope, youth, love and yearning. My top 3 favourites are Sonagi, Like A Dream and Spring Snow. For me they are truly LR's anthems that complete the story as a whole.

Would I watch this again?
Definitely YES YES YES!

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WHY ARE YOU FINDING LOW RATED REVIEW THERE IS NONE !!

Let’s take a moment to thank the cast and team behind this amazing show, which has managed to win our hearts for the past eight weeks. After everything this show went through to reach us, its success is even sweeter.

Im Sol and Sun-jae finally got their happy ending. It was a good call for the writers to make the last episode solely about their happiness. There were no eleventh-hour villain stories. They allowed us to see SolJae thrive in their couple era and gave us a glimpse of their wedding. It was the perfect way to end this iconic show.

Everyone got their happy ending and our never-ending theories can finally be put to rest. Let us know what are some of your favorite moments from the show. We now officially bid a bittersweet farewell to our beloved characters as Lovely Runner takes its final bow, receiving a well-deserved standing ovation.


Lovely Runner: The positives
What a remarkable journey Lovely Runner has been! Each moment of the show feels like a blessing on our screens. From its humble beginnings as an idol-fan romance time-slip series, it has taken us through a myriad of tropes and timelines, imparting lessons on love, grief, healing, fate, and so much more.

Let's pause to express our gratitude to the cast and crew behind this incredible show, which has captured our hearts over the past eight weeks. Despite the challenges it faced in reaching us, given its production and casting issues, its success is all the more rewarding.

Each and every character in the show was amazing, from Sol and Sun Jae to their families, friends, Tae Sung, and even our villain. Each character received a well-deserved ending, and each character with their plots brought a perfect balance to the show.

The decision not to drag out the villain's plot and to resolve it within the 15th episode added to the excitement of the finale, allowing us to focus more on witnessing SolJae as a couple.

Their antics as they attempted to date in secret, Sun Jae's unwavering supportiveness as a boyfriend, and Sol finally achieving her dream were all highlights of the series. Additionally, Tae Sung deserves the 'Best Second Lead' trophy of the year for his portrayal as the perfect friend and Im Sol's second lead. From saving Sun Jae to catching Young Soo, he truly did it all!


Lovely Runner: The negatives
The show delivered a multitude of tropes and stories all at once, offering a refreshing break from the tired clichés often seen on screen. However, now that the series has come to an end, fans are left with bittersweet goodbyes.

While we were never fully enlightened on the true reason behind Young Soo's persistent interference in Sol and Sun Jae's destiny, it's perhaps a blessing in disguise that the show wrapped up swiftly without unnecessary dragging.

The ambiguity surrounding Sol's grandmother, whether she is a time traveler or not, too is a drawback as it was never resolved. Her possession of the watch and the meaningful conversation she had with Sun Jae suggest she may indeed have a role in their story. Despite a few unresolved elements and minor loopholes, the series couldn't have been more perfect, making farewells all the more difficult.

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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 likes

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