This review may contain spoilers
Lovely Runner: Special and Memorable
**SPOILERS AHEAD**I think the best way to describe how I felt while watching this show was warm. I fell in love with everything about the show: the plot, the romance, the characters, the music. And when you feel comfort with something, you aren't ready to let it go. Maybe that's why I delayed watching the final episode by three weeks: because I wasn't ready to let go of something that brought my so much joy.
I first started watching Lovely Runner because I was stressed: I needed something to take my mind off of school, and Lovely Runner seemed easy and fun to watch. I didn't think that by the second episode, I would be absolutely attached to everything about the show. But here I am.
First of all, the characters??!! Im Sol is a literal sunshine, and Sunjae is absolutely everything. But it wasn't just them: In Hyuk and Tae Sung also never failed to make me smile. I grew attached to every single character, and fell in love with them all over again in every episode I watched.
HUGE shoutout to all the actors: they were a huge reason that this show was so amazing. The chemistry between Wooseok and Hyeyoon will never be forgotten (Also the height difference??!! SOO CUTE). They literally sometimes just held hands, and I was blushing and giggling like crazy. And the comedic timing and writing in general?? IMEPCCABLE. The actors and actresses really put their whole heart and soul into this, and it's obvious.
Lastly, I need to give a shoutout to the songs. I cannot get over the fact that Sudden Shower was actually created for Im Sol. Like EXCUSE ME??!! THAT IS THE MOST ROMANTIC THING EVER. And I have been listening to Spring Snow non-stop. But all the songs are amazing, and seriously so worth it.
There is so much more I want to say about this show, but it would take a while. For criticism, I would say there were a few major plot holes. Why was the taxi driver attacking specifically Sol and Sunjae? Where did the Grandma's powers come from? What happened in the first timeline? Most of these plot holes were covered by the chemistry between the leads, but I am still curious.
Anyways, this review is me saying goodbye to some of the best characters, romance, music, and comedy I have seen in a show. I think this show is honestly for anyone who loves a good rom com, or anyone who needs a bit of comfort in their lives.
Thank you Lovely Runner for everything. And I hope to see all the actors and actresses in this show (with their well deserved success) shining in new roles in new universes.
Was this review helpful to you?
A masterpiece with every detail..
The leads.. The acting.. The plot... The camera angles.. EVERYTHING JUST TOO GOOD TO BE REAL ㅠㅠ Generally if a drama has time lapse plot, it has some untied events too but THIS IS NOT (yet btw we'r at 8th ep).. I'm so in love with the plot/scenario AND OFC SUNJAE ㅠㅜ. And the supporting cast is awesome too everyone suits their role so well. You must watch it!! Lets hope that dude will stay alive this time,, it is not a want it's a NEED.note: the character limit is weird dude thats it for me pls let me go wtdym i have to write 500 characters ahabxhqhjxıq
Was this review helpful to you?
775 / 5 000
I have to admit that I was worried about this series. That's because I didn't know what to expect from Kim Hye-Yoon. I saw her in Snowdrop, so I didn't know how her role would fit here in this series. Concerns were removed very quickly. The series looks good. The plot is fluid, tense, funny, entertaining but also serious and sad. The theme of time travel is not new, but the creators handled it well. The story has its own mystery and nice processing. But I have to admit that she was nervous about the last part, and I was waiting to see if there would be some twist at the end. And yes, Byeon Woo-seok charms many a woman's heart. You can also find his singing performances on Spotify under the name of the fictional serial group Eclipse:-D. And singer 10CM also released a great OST song - Spring snow.
Was this review helpful to you?
Over the moon
I was over the moon watching the drama and I'm glad that Byeon Woo-seok finally his main lead. I'm so proud of him 🥰The chemistry between main leads so sweet and the rest of the cast were awesome too.
I waited until finish the last episode to watch it the whole straight away. The waiting totally worth it 💜
His cute moments 🥰
I can see that he grew up in his acting skills.
So I'm looking forward to see him again in a main lead in a drama soon.
Btw, I was highly surprised by his singing skills, now I can't stop listening the songs of the drama.
Was this review helpful to you?
Entertaining but flawed story with missed opportunities for character development
I can understand why this drama was popular — it’s both hilarious and heartwarming, with likable leads and a great ending.But it’s not perfect. If there’s a weakness in the story, it’s the way the female lead’s character is written.
Kim Hye Yoon has a lot of emotional range to cover as Im Sol, the female lead, and gives a mostly convincing performance. She can switch from a sweet smile to sobbing in an instant. Sol is perky and determined, but acts like a teenager, not like a woman in her 30s (having a crush can do that, I suppose).
Her obsession with protecting Sun Jae and thinking she can “rewind” all the bad situations in life can be grating (not to mention unhealthy). I would have preferred to see her living a full and happy life with her disability. Plus, It can be hard to sympathize with her as a main character because it often seems like she’s just making things more difficult for herself with impulsive or illogical decisions, and it’s frustrating watching her torture herself (and break the heart of the man who loves her) trying to control the future.
Byeon Woo Seok has a lot of charm as Ryu Sun Jae, the male lead, and has great comedic timing. He delivers a convincing performance showing the two sides of his character (sweet, slightly awkward student vs. more confident, polished performer who still has a goofy side). The fact that he did his own singing for the role is impressive.
However, the leads’ relationship never really develops, and seems more based on infatuation and destiny than any kind of meaningful connection. The actors’ good looks and cute dynamic do a lot to gloss over the show’s missed opportunities for more character development.
But the way the show gradually reveals what the leads remember about each other is compelling, while the multiple timelines make for a plot that’s fast-paced and keeps you guessing.
There are also some standout supporting characters — the second male lead is a scene-stealer with his shameless flirting and dimpled smile, and the FL’s grandma is great (the touching scene between her and Sun Jae in the last episode might be my favorite moment in the whole drama).
While the series has its flaws, it’s still an engaging watch. Viewers should be aware that the story touches on some darker topics (depression, suicide, kidnapping), but overall this drama lands firmly in the rom-com genre. It doesn’t always strike the right tonal balance, and the time travel elements can be confusing and leave some unanswered questions, but the cast and the against-all-odds love story manage to hold things together.
Was this review helpful to you?
TERNYATA COWONYA DULUAN YANG SUKA
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Was this review helpful to you?
if you haven’t watched this you better do it now
Lovely runner is definitely my top favorite k-drama of all time. it’s the feeling that everything you want inside you to fulfill. the story, the visuals, the satisfaction of watching it with the cuteness and the romance. same with the little evil stuff in here toojust makes everything to fulfill. i watched this when it came out and i had to wait everyweek. and i have rewatched it alot and i wish i could forget the series just to watch it as a first experience again.
you may find me weird but like the “hero” like series when female gets hurt and male being saved but same the other way. i like series when they go back in time too.
the music i just love it i listened it on repeat after the sries was done and still listening to the ost’s.
and i love the female role and the male very well. and so thankful this drama got released and fullfilled what i was craving if you understand what i mean. 🤭
Was this review helpful to you?
The Best of Actors Can't Fix a Poorly Written Script
**Disclaimer... This is just my opinion. I recognize and truly appreciate all of the hard work that has gone into producing this drama. Thank you.**There are already many detailed reviews that go over every aspect of the series so I'll keep this short and try to avoid spoilers. The Lovely Runner started out strong but floundered in the end. Though I didn't like the choice of time travel device I was interested in the characters and the female lead's quest to save the male lead. He had inspired her to keep living when she was at her lowest. He was gentle and kind towards a total stranger over the phone and then again when he met her in person. The female lead's despair after her accident was moving. I wanted them to be able to change their fates. Unfortunately, there are so many gaps in logic and my ability to overlook them that I became increasingly frustrated as time went on.
I think that the actors did a great job with what they had to work with. I found Im Sol's immaturity grating. She was supposed to be 34 in a 19 year old's body but she didn't act like it. She had good intentions as far as saving Sun-jae but she was also often unnecessarily mean and selfish. Both Ryu San-jae and Kim Tae-sung are genuinely good guys but their characters and stories were not developed enough.
Lastly, the soundtrack has some beautiful songs on it, particularly the ones by Byeon Woo-seok.
Was this review helpful to you?
Made me want Mondays to come fast ❀
The last time I followed an airing kdrama where I’m up-to-date with the weekly releases (never missed and finished everything) was Twenty Five, Twenty One (2022) prior that is The Red Sleeve (2021-2022). After that I delve more into cdramas. Lovely Runner properly brought me back. Every week we get butterflies, fun stuff, and theories! Monday episodes for fluff. Tuesday episodes for angst and effective cliff hanger!Chemistry and comedic timing are very vital to RomCom leads and fortunately, Hyeyoon and Wooseok have them! The director worked on Flower of Evil which is one of my favorites and another timeslip drama beforehand, and his expertise shows in this work as well. (But I have to mention the recent comments he made left a bad taste in my mouth)
The writer did an excellent job of keeping us on our toes. I was worried it will crash and burn after the strong second episode. I was hopeful but also wary. But she managed to keep it enjoyable until the end.
I also want to commend the details! From pop culture jokes of that time to props and set design, they are on point!
It felt like everyone involved in making this wants to create something real good and it unexpectedly became a hit!
I recommended this to my friends without second thoughts because I know they’ll have a good time. So if that’s what you want, you can hop in the Lovely Runner craze too!
Was this review helpful to you?
Tomorrow's Best
Lovely Runner is based on a web novel titled Tomorrow's Best. I personally read the manhwa while the series is on-going I can see that they made some drastic changes from the story. The manhwa is less complicated compared to the series, but I like the changes they made on the story it actually adds up to the uniqueness of the drama. What I really love about Lovely Runner is that it never fails to make me laugh every single time. I like the balance of the show's theme it's a combination of comedy, romance, thriller, mystery and drama.Aside from this the cast did so well that their acting felt so natural, all of them deserves to be recognised for their versatility and they played an integral part on the story. The villain did his job so well that I almost wanted to be included on the story just to choke this guy. I would also like to point out how I love Baek In Hyuk's character, he's the best wing man ever. Ryu Sun Jae would've been a forever simp without the help of this guy. I am looking forward to Lee Seung Hyub's future drama where he'll be the leading man, I bet he's gonna be a great male lead since he already showed his exceptional talent in Lovely Runner.
Kim Tae Sung's character is also my favorite from this drama, his character development is the most noticeable among them all. He unknowingly fulfilled his promise to Im Sol that he'll protect Sun Jae in the future. It's just kinda sad that we didn't get to see a glimpse of his back story.
Was this review helpful to you?
Not worth the hype
Was excited about this drama because I saw the potential in Byeon Woo Seok from Record of Youth days and was anticipating another hit like Start-up. A even-paced drama that shows emotional growth and turmoil, underdogs succeeding in life, complex navigation of relationships, and maybe themes of self-acceptance and gratitude perhaps.What we get instead is a promise that is never fulfilled. The first episode set us up for excitement and anticipation for a deep dive into the many issues in modern day society that could resonate with so many people, yet the topics are disappointingly, never explored.
1) Let's start with the obvious thing that disappointed, which was the drama showing us a suicide of a well-known celebrity (ML)suffering from depression. You think, oh god, this drama will definitely hit close to home as a nation who has lost a lot of celebrities and whose fans are still in mourning till now. You are eager to see how they will portray the events that led to such a tragic end for such a gentle spirit, how the character develops the illness, and how he might overcome it as well. The intricacies and challenges faced by celebrities who are both loved and hated, and the loneliness of these people who usually hide all the signs, struggling on their own to either come out of the darkness, or get engulfed by it. The scene where ML kindly asks the FL (who we think) is only a stranger at that point, 'Why are you crying, I never made you cry?' followed by his suicide not long after, literally broke my unguarded heart! This was the scene that made me decide on following this unique storyline. But the writers decide against allocating any time to delving into the psyche of such a character, and chooses to focus on a serial killer subplot to drive the story forward instead.
2) FL has a disability and she is shown in a wheelchair, losing a chance to get employed because the building where she applied for the job has no wheelchair access. You think awesome, we're going to see how this character lives day-to-day and get a realistic perspective on the challenges she might face as a disabled person living in such a beauty-discriminating society. However, this also gets thrown out the window once a travel back in time changes her fate. It's as if the wheelchair was just there to satisfy an arbitrary box that needed to be ticked on a 2024 what we need to do to show that we are a progressive kdrama kind of inclusion checklist.
3) We think, because both leads have incredible set-ups as characters faced with a certain level of adversity, that we will be graced with well-written scenes showcasing character growth and fortitude. No such development takes place and what we get are just repeated visits from a two dimensional eye-twitching serial killer who doesn't have much of a backstory either.
3)We never understand why the ML likes the FL. The incomprehensible attachment that the ML has for the FL does not make any sense to me. With the 2ML we at least get hints that he is suffering from lack of attention from his family and we can UNDERSTAND why he would like the FL. In the face of the 2nd ML, the FL is a little eccentric but has moments of maturity, and loves to nag and support him, showing him the care and affection he so desperately yearns from his parents instead. They have more workable chemistry than the ML has with ImSol because we get that he likes her for her and accepts her crazy ways and seemingly bipolar personality, while with the ML we only see that he was mesmerised by her because of the way she ran towards him in the rain with a yellow umbrella...?? Enough to make him move next door to her? The scenes they shared with each other also didn't convince me that he would not date anyone until 30 because he was holding onto the memory of her... Why? What was so special about her that he could not let go? As the audience, we are only sold on why she might have liked him so much (because she still carries the memory of him having thanking her for staying alive, with that becaming her motivation to live when she was at her lowest point). But what of him? It's 15 years... And they never dated or went through anything exceptionally monumental, so what was the pull?
4th) I feel that the two leads lack chemistry. I like them separately as individuals, but they are lacklustre together.
5th) Plotholes - FL can change some things, but not others... the inconsistency made it hard to stay immersed in the story because there was not a consistent basis for cause and result.
6th) it seemed like all other characters were irrelevant or unimportant to the story so it didnt really feel like a story anymore, just a show forcing us to like the main characters as a couple even though they had nothing to work with.
The good : The first few episodes were nicely done with good humour borrowing music that I remember from that time to poke fun at over-dramatic scenes that were a feature of those dramas back then.
Byeon Woo Seok is handsome, kind, and softspoken.
Kim Hye Yoon does what the role requires and does her best to not be annoying. She is not preoccupied about how she appears on screen, delivering emotional scenes without the baggage of worrying about whether or not she looks pretty doing it.
You never get the vibe that Kim Hye Soon or ImSol is trying to seduce the ML and that in itself is a big deal bc so many actresses and actors go off tangents and forget that they are there to portray their character properly, not to give us some perfunctory facial expressions as a smokescreen to enjoy cosplaying with their costars or simply indulging in the design of the character.
But the negatives outweigh the positives and this is nowhere near as satisfying for me as other kdramas ive seen such as Signal and Start-Up. If they wanted to avoid disappointing viewers, the writers should not have made the protagonists out to be more interesting than they actually are. Whats the point of having an amazing pilot only to disappoint everyone after a few episodes? I think I have outgrown kdramas for now and until Kim Seon Ho returns, I have little interest in trying anymore of these superficially written "hits".
Was this review helpful to you?
Made me believe in a pure love again
Immense yearning & insane chemistry. Mesmerizing plot that has all the best tropes such as time travel and serial killer while still being a sentimental romcom.Every episode is unskippable. There is so much humor intertwined with high stakes that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The romance is amazing because both are yearning so hard for the other that it seems impossible to the viewer that the characters themselves don't know.
Sol and Sunjae are incredibly lovable.
Was this review helpful to you?
