This review may contain spoilers
I WANTED TO PUNCH HER SOOO BAD....
It's just me that I found the FL annoying, unbearable, and extremely hard to watch?She is sooooooooooooooo annoying that it almost ruined the whole show for me.
It has good aspects and bad as well but because of her, I wanted to punch her every episode. The lying and the stupid actions made me soooooo angry... right right I get it, she did that to protect him, but even when it wasn't needed anymore, she still tried to act as a stupid and ridiculous little girl...
Anyways, he's perfect! That alone its enough to watch the show hahaha.
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Didn’t like the female cast.Kim Hye-yoon looks like a old hag
Finished Lovely Runner yesterday. Good enough as a rom-com. The love chemistry between the hero and heroine was very strong and the romance was there. I mean, it has all the sweet romance a viewer wants. In short, it lives up to the name "Lovely".Now let's talk about the main plot. I am a fan of dramas such as personal time travel, body switch (Hollywood, Bollywood, Anime, K drama all). Looking at the depth of the story, it seems a little weak. Like other dramas, it could not hold intense, suspense. 4 - What I was predicting in episode 5 happened in the drama plot twist.
Kim Hye-yoon is only 27 years old. The school dress looks older for some unknown reason. It doesn't suit her very well.Her acting is so poor and over acted in every scenes.
Overall it was an enjoyable drama.
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Good, humourous drama, full of ups and downs.
From start to finish, you'll feel invested in the characters story and want to see it come to an end. I appreciate that the male lead is actually the one who likes her first even though she's the one who's his fan in the future. Often with these stories the female fan is in love and absolutely idolises and worships the male idol (similar to female fans in real life), but I liked that they didn't go down that path and instead she was grateful to him for bringing her into the light and seeing that life is still worth living.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
don’t think it needed 16 episodes but it's definitely worth your time
really enjoyed this drama, but i don’t think it needed 16 episodes, it could’ve ended just fine at 12, since some parts felt a bit repetitive. I loved the destiny theme, every time they met again it gave me such a warm feeling. The way Sungjae looks at Sol is so sweet and comforting! I did feel a bit sorry for Tae Sung, but it was nice how Sol cared for him too. And the final plot twist, where the story turns into a movie script, was just amazing, i loved it so much.//
pt//br ୨୧
Eu realmente gostei muito desse drama, mas não acho que precisava de 16 episódios, poderia ter terminado tranquilamente com 12, já que algumas partes pareceram um pouco repetitivas. Ainda assim, eu amei o tema sobre destino, cada vez que eles se reencontravam era reconfortante. O jeito que o Sungjae olha para a Sol é encantador! Eu fiquei com um pouco de pena do Tae Sung, mas foi bonito ver como a Sol cuidou dele também. E o plot final, que a história se transforma em um roteiro de filme, foi simplesmente incrível, eu amei demais.
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Started off well , ended up a cliched mess
I guess i am also one of the very few who cannot rave about this show and this review will not be liked by most of the current (young) audiences but well since i watched i will provide my thoughtsI was attracted by clips of first few episodes and story line thinking it will be "we. will cross all hurdles including time and space" type of love story which i am up for watching anytime but i was disappointed big time.
First two episodes was gripping. First wave of disappointment came in when there was fire in Im Sol's house . What was it ! why that sequence which did not make sense and its utterly annoying to see such stupidity. Its not comedy if it does not fit into the flow of the sequence. Randomly these sequences are integrated. There are some comic scenes which is really good but most just falls flat and importantly it does not contribute to the story in any way.
But what really doused my interest is ML already liking her and with just one look and no interaction in original timeline .Liking her to the point where he cares nothing but her. That just destroyed the premise for me .
ML cares about swimming for first few episodes then he doesnt give a damn. After that its like a list of cute scenes or crying scenes but really what is their relationship if we dont see them sit and talk and discuss other than saying they are happy !. He was a student who worked hard for it and now he is just a romantic goof .
If only their relationship was built with more substance where she comes back to save him , bcs she saw him as a person who gave back her spirit of life but then slowly turns into something more and the same with him but no.. it all stays in a very superficial level.
Even FL does not show any maturity when she is supposed to be 34 year old in the body of 20 year old and that too for a person who has gone through so much and when she remembers all of that! Being full of life is not same as acting all teenage like!
Psycho story line is a mess as well. A criminal attacked police officers and how come he is still roaming around and police officers are listening to a teenage girl what to do!! No wonder they could not keep a criminal in hand cuffs in place lol.
And then later he also manages to come to a 5 star hotel to attack the ML. wow! thats hell of a security and policy system this world has!
Same with SML and ML's friend . ML did not even know where his friend lived. And SML one day became buddies with them and enjoying in the beach ( another beach scene cliche thats a must i suppose) when he had his own gang which disappeared ?
Point is none of this characters or the relationship is built up on a solid base that you care about them (Cant help but think of SOOD here)
Only good thing is the leads and the actors who do have a good comic timing ( but sadly all are over the top or out of place)
This plot had the potential to be as good as Someday or one day. Sigh ..
PS : i am still giving ratings more than what i think it deserves
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loved it
Hye Yoon and Woo Seok have acted in this series so naturally and have cried so beautifully that everytime they cried it made me cry. Woo Seok definitely needs to get a lot of male lead roles after this. he has reached to the top of my favorite actors list.So happy to be ending 2024 with this beautiful series. Time travel kind of a story is generally not my cup of tea as it is very confusing. but that was not the case with this. looking forward to more such beautiful series in 2025. thank you to the whole cast and crew for putting such a masterpiece togetherWas this review helpful to you?
Excellent watch and rewatch!
A string of negative reviews prompt me to add my 2 cents here.If you are going to write a negative reviews please first make sure that you have your eyes wide open about what genre you think this drama is under. If you huffing and puffing about a time travel story line that doesn't make sense, or a thriller that didn't take off then you should add a disclaimer that you have watched this drama with a different/ wrong expectation. Fangirlverdict might have save you a lot of time if you have read her non spoiler review first: https://thefangirlverdict.com/2024/06/09/review-lovely-runner/
This drama is wonderful and will stay as a favourite for a very long time.
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Love that Defies Time
For some crazy reason, I didn’t watch this show until now despite many claiming that it has been the best drama of 2024. But, um, they’re totally right.“Lovely Runner” SHINES in a year of duds. It is a masterpiece of writing and acting. It masterfully blends comedy, romance, suspense, and sci-fi (time travel) in a completely satisfying mix that will make you binge. I watched the whole thing in three days. I couldn’t stop myself.
And don’t get me started on these leads. Acting? Brilliant. Chemistry? Amazing. Depth? Fully fleshed out. Their story of young love deepening into a beautiful self-sacrificing unconditional love is one of the best romantic developments I’ve seen in any drama, this year or otherwise. Plus, their kiss scenes and overall comfortableness with their skinship is so perfect. Swoon-worthy the max.
It also has one of the most satisfying endings ever. I went from bawling my eyes out in episode 13-14 to grinning like a little kid all throughout episode 16. All their pain and fighting to be together through two (almost three) timelines is repaid with joy and a bright future.
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This review may contain spoilers
Packed with heart and pretty faces, but weighed down by logic gaps and narrative loops.
I write really long reviews but here's a summary. Keep in mind this is just my opinion and I don't mean to offend anyone ❤️This one's a bit long- so if you like slightly detailed reviews, you're gonna (hopefully) love this.
❗SPOILERS AHEAD❗
The Good
The Casting Was a Gift
Let’s be real: watching Byeon Woo Seok and Song Geon Hee for 16 episodes was a blessing. The entire cast was easy on the eyes, but these two definitely carried a chunk of the show's watchability on their ridiculously attractive backs.
That Soundtrack Slapped
Honestly, the music was the MVP. The song Sun Jae wrote for her? Instant classic. The rest of the OST was just as strong — emotional, memorable, and the kind you keep on your playlist long after the drama ends.
Sun Jae’s Over-the-Top Love
Some people thought his love was too much — and yeah, the air-kissing scene was… a choice — but overall, I found it sweet. There’s something adorable about someone being head-over-heels, timeline-spanning in love. I just wish it had felt more earned. With a bit more depth to their story, this could’ve hit me even harder.
The Bad
Im Sol’s Lack of a Plan
Im Sol’s entire approach to time travel is… questionable, to say the least. After Sun Jae dies, instead of focusing on stopping the serial killer or figuring out how to protect him, her first instinct is to ghost him. Really? You’ve got a chance to save him, and you choose to avoid him like he's the one toxic ex you can’t escape? She spends her time reacting emotionally, but there's little thought behind her actions. She’s supposed to be a grown woman with life experience, yet she acts like a teenager with no game plan. Avoiding Sun Jae just wasn’t the move here.
Im Sol’s Lack of Survival Skills
Then there’s the sheer recklessness of her actions. She decides to lure the serial killer by herself, walking down a creepy alley with zero backup plan. Was she expecting him to follow her into a trap? If he had, no one would have known where she was. She’s a 30-something-year-old woman, but here she is, making choices that scream “I never learned basic survival skills.” This is especially frustrating because her lack of caution directly contributes to Sun Jae’s death. The serial killer was around, and she had no plan—just bad decisions all around.
The Villain That Wasn’t
Young Soo, the villain, is a major letdown. There’s no backstory, no motive, and he has no real purpose other than to create unnecessary drama. He’s obsessed with Im Sol for reasons unknown, and we never get any answers. For a character who’s supposed to be a threat, he’s more of a plot device. His death is anticlimactic—taken out by a random truck. What was the point of all the buildup? His character never really adds anything substantial to the story, and his unsatisfying end just leaves more questions than answers.
A Love Story That Did the Most
Sun Jae and Im Sol’s love story was sweet... if you only focus on the small moments. But zoom out, and it quickly becomes way too much. Im Sol’s side of things felt like an unhealthy obsession with Sun Jae. She’s so caught up in him that she neglects her family, especially her grandma, who has dementia. Hello? You had a chance to reconnect, and instead, you’re running around saving the guy? It made her love feel a bit too consuming, like everyone else existed just as a backdrop to Sun Jae. On Sun Jae’s side? The whole “obsessed after one rainy day” thing was hard to believe. A yellow umbrella and some candy, and suddenly he’s writing songs and tracking her down? Cute, but totally insane. And the weird part? He’s been obsessed the whole time, but in the beginning, he acts like she’s the annoying one. The disconnect here was maddening and made it hard to buy into his whole “I’ve always loved you” act.
The Friend & Brother Duo No One Asked For
Let’s talk about Hyun Joo and Im Geum. Their relationship was a mess. Hyun Joo’s undying love for Im Geum felt utterly undeserved. The guy made so many poor decisions, like blowing all their money on some random friend’s company and giving away lottery numbers. And yet, we’re supposed to root for them? Why? She had three kids with this guy, but I wouldn’t have blamed her if she’d packed up and left after the first dumb investment. Im Geum was a walking disaster. From his absurd crying over an ex at a camp retreat to his general lack of maturity, he was nothing but a giant, unnecessary subplot. Purposefully dumb characters like him are a pain to watch, and this pair’s scenes were the hardest to sit through.
Grandma Knows Everything?
Okay, can we talk about Grandma for a second? How did she know everything about the past without the watch? How was she time traveling? She was like the show’s magical plot hole, and the writers never bothered to explain any of it. It was beyond frustrating, especially when even Sun Jae couldn’t figure things out until the very end. She was a walking mystery that the show never even tried to solve, leaving me scratching my head over how she could be so all-knowing without any actual explanation.
The Drama Refused to End
By episode 12, I was done. I swear, this drama just kept going in circles. Sol avoids him, Sun Jae chases her, they get cute, and then… rinse and repeat. It felt like we were watching the same cycle over and over, and I honestly started zoning out by the end. The drama dragged, and by the time we got to the last episodes, I was begging for it to just end. We were running a marathon, not watching a K-drama. The fluff piled on, and the episodes started to feel like filler. At a certain point, you have to ask, “Is this a K-drama, or are we just going through the motions?”
The Ending
Let’s break the ending down into two parts.
First, the time travel—suddenly, it’s all perfectly controlled. Im Sol just so happens to travel to the exact moment when Sun Jae falls for her? Convenient, but totally unrealistic. It felt like lazy storytelling, making everything fit neatly into the plot when we’d spent the whole drama dealing with time travel randomness.
And then there’s the paralyzed body mystery. In the final life, where she prevents Sun Jae from falling for her, how was she able to avoid the accident she was supposed to have? The taxi driver randomly decides to become a silent stalker instead of finishing the job? The logic didn’t add up.
Lastly, Sun Jae’s suicide. Was it on purpose or just a random accident? We’re never really told. His depression seemed to only exist in one timeline, but did Young Soo push him? It’s another thread left dangling, with no closure.
Final Thoughts:
Lovely Runner had all the ingredients to be great—a unique premise, a gorgeous cast, strong performances, and an OST worthy of repeat listens. But somewhere along the way, it traded depth for swoon, and logic for vibes. The writers seemed so focused on making Sun Jae the ultimate simp that they forgot to build a believable love story—or a plot that made sense.
Despite the setup, the romance never felt earned, the villain was more plot device than person, and the side characters took up way too much screen time for how little they contributed. Honestly, if it weren’t for the cast, I doubt this show would’ve made half the noise it did.
By the final stretch, the endless loop of tragedy and reset got exhausting. And let’s be real—just because a drama can be 16 episodes doesn’t mean it should be. In the end, Lovely Runner wasn’t a sprint or a marathon—it was more of a scenic detour with great visuals, killer tracks, and way too many slow-mo stares
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This review may contain spoilers
Fantastic Drama
After a long time, one kdrama without boring episodes. Engaging chemistry between the leads. Started watching this drama mainly for the male lead, totally in love with the series. Can not wait for the upcoming episodes. This one will definitely be one of the best kdrama of all the time. Addicted to this drama.After a long time, one kdrama without boring episodes. Engaging chemistry between the leads. Started watching this drama mainly for the male lead, totally in love with the series. Can not wait for the upcoming episodes. This one will definitely be one of the best kdrama of all the time. Addicted to this drama.
Personal Rating:
Story: 10
Acting & Cast: 10
Music: 10
Cinematography: 10
Overall: 100/100
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i would die for this kind of love story ?
rewatch value 100%all the characters are well written and quirky in their own typical kdrama way i literally GUFFAWED at each episode and cried hard and loved deeply
soundtrack is BOMB ASF where is the petition for eclipse to be a real kband 🫵🏼
im sol x ryu sunjae is the new romeo & juliet the it couple who would die for each other i stan hard and the actors deserved all the awards praise and recognition from it 💕
i also love men who were written by women and i love wooseok’s portrayal of sunjae. he has his moments of insecurity but he shows sunjae’s bright and dedicated personality very well!! and hyeyoon perfectly encapsulates the essence of sunshine and loyalty through sol 💝
i already can’t wait to watch it and experience it again ☺️
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the best thing of 2024
I usually don’t post reviews, but wanted to do it this time because this is indeed the best drama of 2024. Every single song was amazing. The leads did a fantastic job in terms of acting. I am not a fan of time travel plot, BWS was the reason why I gave it a shot. I am so glad that I watched it. I don’t even know how many times I rewatched it. If you like time travel and youth drama , you will definitely enjoy it. There are some negative reviews, but don’t listen to them. Either it is not their genre or they are not okay with this being the most popular drama of 2024. This drama will make you emotional for sure. All I can say is it is worth the hype and definitely one of the best shows of all time ❤️Was this review helpful to you?
