Lovely Runner

Rom-com is for sure rom-coming!

I need to start saying that I loved this drama but it wasn’t 10/10 for me as it was for some people. Fortunately the issues that I had didn’t make me hate the drama but I still need to talk more about them here. First, I don’t know if this is a unpopular opinion or not but Sol’s best friend relationship with Sol’s brother was SO ANNOYING. The relationship was annoying and the characters were also annoying. I usually love second couples in rom-com but I seriously disliked them here.

Second, I felt like the villain had too much importance in the story but we practically don’t know that much about him, which was a bit disappointing and made the character lack personality. I get it that this is mainly a rom-com but he was too superficial. This lack of personality and involvement made me start to think that he was dragging the story down and being a totally uninteresting character. The writer tried to create a scary environment for him which was working in the beginning but then becomes boring later on. And I also felt that 16 episodes were a bit too much. The writer wasn’t developing the main characters that much, the side characters, not even the bad guy, so it was really needed to have 16 episodes? I think 12 episodes would’ve been better and would make the story less draggy.

But being honest with yall, as I said in the beginning, even with these issues that I pointed out I still enjoyed this drama SO SO much! I think the main reason for that is that Lovely Runner have everything that I like in a romcom and everything that makes a rom-com good for me. We have a super chemistry between the main leads, we have cute and funny scenes, we have ML being the cutest puppy handsome guy (personally I just love when a Ml is over heels for the FL, like a completely loser) and amazing OSTS (I will listen to them A LOT). Also the story wasn’t perfect but I think it’s exciting enough until a certain point. A positive point for me as well was that the SML doesn't interfere too much with the main couple, which is great.

Lovely Runner was a drama that I found myself eagerly awaiting new episodes every week and I became obsessed with the main couple. If you like the biggest romcom clichés with a cute couple and plot that intrigues you enough (with you ignore some main issues), I think the chances of you finding this drama at least enjoyable are high.

PS: I am completely in love with Wooseok, gosh this man is everything!!!!

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Time traveling to save the on you Love

Hey everyone, last time on the K-drama study, I talked about the show Pyramid Game One. I loved watching it. Today, I'll be talking about a show I discovered on Mydramalist after looking for a new show during March. Lovely Runner is the show I'll be talking about, and I've been excited to share my thoughts on it. Now, let's jump into the show and see what I thought.


Lovely Runner started airing on April 8th, the same day the eclipse happened. From the first episode, I was hooked, falling in love with our female lead, Im Sol. We see Im Sol in a wheelchair during the first episode, which made me feel bad for her as she was trying to get a job but was turned down for being in a chair. The first time I saw Sung Jae, I became interested in where his character would be going. The final scene in the first episode, where Sung Jae put the umbrella over Im Sol, got me excited for the next episode. Yes, Sung Jae dies in the first episode, which upsets Im Sol, so she runs out of the house in her wheelchair. At one point, she drops the watch and has to go into the water to get it, which starts the time travel. When Im Sol wakes up, she is back in high school. I found the high school section of the show to be one of my favorites, as it had funny and emotional moments. Sol's friend was another excellent character in the show. I want to stress how much the show pulled my heart from the romance between the leads to the side characters that fit wonderfully into the show. One thing that I wasn't a fan of was the police side story. It started well but then fell flat. Aside from that, this show was excellent, making me tear up a few times. I want to mention that when the show brings in the comedy, it knows it's silly. Sol and Sung Jae are excellent characters who blend perfectly forever. I will say the last few episodes felt like they lost the special atmosphere that the show's first half delivered. The ending of the two lovers getting married is a little typical, but I found it satisfying.

I have to talk about the OSTs which hit each time they were released. The fictional band delivered the first batch of OSTs with the song Sudden Shower, which has been on repeat since I first heard it. N. Flying drops a track called Star that brings in the rock vibe. Yoo Hwe Sung from N.flying released a solo track that hit me with feelings and emotion. Umji from Viviz had a sweet track for the show that kept popping up on my playlist a lot. Doko was the artist who closed out the OSTs, making me miss the show. These OSTs hit all my feels as I kept listening to them on repeat, and I've been playing them even though the show is over.


Overall, I'll give Lovely Runner an A for being a fantastic show that kept me interested until the end. I've been missing the show like crazy since it ended, but I've been watching clips of it on YouTube. Sol and Sung Jae are excellent characters; I'll miss them like crazy. I hope you all enjoyed reading my thoughts on the show. I'll drop another Drama review whenever I find my next show. I hope you all are doing great, and I highly recommend you watch Lovely Runner. You won't be disappointed.

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Overall good but it has its shortcomings

I will say that I enjoyed this drama. I thought the cast was great and so was the chemistry. FL and ML had great chemistry, along with the FL family and ML friends and dad.

It has many funny moments too and I also liked the crime drama aspect of it. Even all the cringy moments, the puppy love stuff was good. The music was great too.

What I didn't like and what I think many people got tired of was the constant pushing the ML away. It got repetitive and tiresome and eventually made the drama seem like it dragged on too long . The last 4 episodes were of here pushing him away, trying for him not to remember, etc. I understand that she was trying to keep him safe but the way the went on about it was too much and I was already ready for it stop.

Again, I liked it and would recommend it to people. However, I will say that there could be stuff that they might not like but then again, since this drama is well loved, they might love it 100%.

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A Masterpiece of Romance and Fantasy

I started watching this drama because the premise seemed intriguing. Written by the same screenwriter behind "True Beauty" and starring Kim Hye Yoon, whose talent I appreciated in "Extraordinary You," I didn't have high expectations; I anticipated something similar to those other dramas. However, now that I've finished it, I can confidently say that it not only met but far exceeded my expectations in every category, surpassing even my wildest imagination.

Story

What truly distinguishes this drama from other romcom, time-slip, and fantasy series is how the story unfolds over its 16 episodes. By weaving together multiple timelines, the narrative offers characters various meet-cutes, challenging situations, delightful montages, and enlightening moments, keeping viewers engaged and intrigued throughout. Unlike other romcoms that introduce a random killer midway, "Lovely Runner’s" entire storyline revolves around the villain's actions affecting the main characters, seamlessly integrating with the plot. Additionally, the writer ensures a balanced mix of elements in each episode, preventing viewers from enduring lengthy stretches of heavy plot centered solely on the killer. The pacing was executed perfectly, ensuring viewers neither felt rushed nor bored. Every scene was given just the right amount of time, culminating in a fully satisfying happy ending in the final two episodes.

Characters

All the characters were well-crafted, with even the majority of the supporting cast being three-dimensional. Unlike many other romcoms, where the comedic burden often falls solely on the actress and a few sidekicks, this drama distributes the humor evenly. Both the male and female leads, as well as the supporting characters, share an equal amount of comedic scenes.

Ryu Seon Jae: Who can resist falling in love with this character? He loves the main lead unconditionally and is willing to sacrifice his life for her time and again. Loyal, brave, and innocent (as his father says, "pure as oxygen"), he embodies all these qualities beautifully.

Im Sol: It's impossible not to cheer for our heroine as she bulldozes through every obstacle to rescue her love. She is loud, sweet, and a force to be reckoned with. Most importantly, she is strong; despite has lived with a disability, she faced a killer without fear, confronting the villain head-on to protect what she loves.

Kim Tae Sung: A second male lead who is not annoying or clingy, but a reliable friend to our main leads. It would be even nicer to know a little bit of his backstory.

Baek In Hyuk: A fantastic sidekick, always ready to deliver the best funny moments.

Acting

Byeon Woo Seok: To be honest, I've only seen him in "Record of Youth," but I fast-forwarded through 70% of that drama. Now, I question why I wasn't aware of this great actor earlier. His performance in this drama was exceptional. He effortlessly transforms from a 19-year-old high schooler to a 34-year-old idol. His expressions were so precise that you could feel the joy, sadness, longing, and countless moments of embarrassment. Additionally, his portrayal of an idol was incredibly believable, and he sang the drama's OSTs beautifully.

Kim Hye Yoon: It's difficult to distinguish Kim Hye Yoon from her character Im Sol because her performance was so convincing. What I love most about Kim Hye Yoon is her natural, sincere, and unpretentious demeanor. When she acts cute, it never comes off as annoying due to her genuine charm. When she portrays sadness, you can't help but want to cry along with her, and since she cried quite often in this drama, it was hard not to reach for the tissue box. When she passionately sings as a kpop fan, she perfectly embodies the fervor of someone you'd find at a concert.

Final thoughts

This exceptional drama sets a new benchmark for all romcoms, time-slip stories, and fantasy genres. The "Lovely Runner" team's outstanding efforts—from the director, screenwriter, and casting director to the editor, sound crew, and actors—deserve high praise. They have truly outdone themselves.

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Feeling Nostalgic?

This drama embodies everything I love about K-dramas. The characters and storyline are captivating, and the main leads delivered outstanding performances. The male lead convincingly portrayed his deep, unwavering love for Im Sol, making his emotions feel real and heartfelt. The second lead was charming and had just enough screen time to avoid the dreaded 'second lead syndrome' (where the second lead seems more deserving of the female lead than the first).

However, I was frustrated with the writers at times. Our female lead had some frustrating dialogue, which I attribute more to the script than to her acting. Despite this, would I watch it again? Absolutely.

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The plot could've been more serious if the characters were

I was really expecting a lot more from Lovely Runner. I actually had this on my want to watch list since it first aired, but due to the bad reviews I didn't have the motivation to actually start. I'm actually really surprised how such a 'complicated' plot can be done sooooo simple. I liked it, however, It's nothing new or special. Although the story is unique, the moments are very common in other Kdrama's. The staring, sleeping and watching each other and more. It isn't necessarily wrong to add them, but it doesn't make it unique either. Due to this, the whole plot felt extremely simple.

One of the first things I noticed was how surprisingly fast romance happened in this series. Normally it takes ages for a kiss or confession but the first kiss is already in episode 8 here. I really like that but I also prefer proper romance build ups. I think everyone feels the same way but it was so obvious from the beginning who she was gonna end up with and the poster was also giving it away. I have to admit that Im Sol also showed barely any interest in Tae Seong. I don't think it was the shows intention to make us question whether Im Sol was gonna pick Tae Seong or Seon Jae.

One of the very weak points for me has to be the chemistry, or maybe it's just the writing. I think Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon look amazing together, don't get me wrong. But the problem here is the personality of their characters. They are both soooo alike. I kind of have preference towards the 'opposite attracts' trope so for me this was not it. Another problem I'm seeing is the unclear motivation of Ryu Seon Jae likings to Im Sol. Genuinely, where did he even get interested in? Now this might sound like I despise Im Sol but it's more like I wanna know why he liked her back? I saw someone else with the same question and people reacted saying it's her personality but his interest wasn't superrrr clear to me. I did really like how Ryu Seon Jae showed his affection towards Im Sol and it was overall just adorable. I like how he just kinda freezes and holds back around her but when he's alone he giggles like a teenage girl. I can't get over how adorable he is. I really love the side characters!! The father and family seems sooo fun. Lee Hyeon Ju kinda pissed me off at first but later she ended up being quite nice. I did not expect her to end up with who she ended up with though!!

I always like to write a small part on production. I used to be very updated on Kdramas but for the once after 2021 I'm really not updated so I have not much to say. I'm not familiar with the directors Yoon Jong Ho or Kim Tae Yub. What I really like about lovely runner is the design. It kinda gives of these like 'nostalgic' colours and I love how they really thought about details when Im Sol goes back in time, like phones looking different etc. Yes, even big series sometimes forget these things. I also wasn't familiar with the actors aside from Lee Seung Hyub because of N.FLYING. Also funny to see Yang Hyuk playing as bassist. Kdrama's are really about to give me reasons to stan Omega X.

The episodes were kinda all over the place, even if the plot was clear. Some episodes felt like fillers meanwhile there was crazy stuff happening in other episodes. The romance was extremely fast comparing to other Kdrama's, BUT, it got slower and slowed around the last few episodes and I almost dropped it due to it. Especially episode 12-13 were in my opinion slow. Obviously they meant to bring out a message but ehh. Also the ending of the last episode wasn't really special to me.

I haven't read the web novel yet which is surprising because I usually read those before watching a drama. I criticised this series a lot but the fun and nostalgic feeling is amazing. Not exactly my type of series but definitely good. I think you have to be the type to like this and if you're not, you're not. A small point I didn't mention is Korea loves making series about disabilities when in reality they OFTEN (not always) treat disabled people like shit. It would've been nice if they added more weight to the fact Im Sol was disabled. Especially towards the ending, I almost completely forgot. Anyways, not sure whether I would recommend it or not.

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Worth watching, but it’s not the masterpiece it’s made out to be

I understand why people rave about this show, but I find it slightly overrated. While it was entertaining, it wasn’t jaw-droppingly amazing.


I enjoyed the time travel plot, the romance, and the portrayal of the idol-fan parasocial relationship. The intrigue surrounding Im Sol’s accident and Ryu Seon Jae’s death, as well as the dynamics between the characters, kept me engaged. I appreciated how we received snippets of the overall plot as the story developed, which helped maintain my interest throughout, and the romance between Im Sol and Ryu Seon Jae was sweet and well-written; it felt awkward and gradual, capturing all the elements of teenage love. Even though he fell for her first, her feelings were deeper, making it even more beautiful.


Now, for what I didn’t like: the last arc. The plot was fantastic up until episode 12, but after that, it dragged unnecessarily due to Im Sol making a life-altering decision that changed everything. We fell into the familiar hurt-them-to-save-them trope. Why?! It didn’t enhance the story at all; in fact, it stretched a plotline that had already run its course, adding nothing but my frustration as we revisited the initial storyline where Im Sol loved Ryu Seon Jae from a distance, only to eventually return to him in the end. This repetitive cycle was not only annoying but also unnecessary.


As for Tae Seong, I felt his character suffered from the second male lead curse. He experienced heartbreak knowing he would never measure up to the main lead, yet he remained an essential part of the plot.


So, while I enjoyed the series, I felt underwhelmed by the overall experience. It has an impressive production value, a beautiful soundtrack and intro, good chemistry between the actors, and an interesting plot. However, it didn’t move me the way I had anticipated.

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how to watch this again for the first time?

I don't even know where to start, but I will say I kind of regret not watching. This drama genuinely altered my brain chemistry. It was that good, and it has immediately gotten into my top list of favourite dramas in the world because I don't know if I'll ever watch something as beautiful as this. I personally have not seen that many romance K-dramas, but I've seen a lot of dramas in general, and this is easily one of the best ones I have ever watched. It was so entertaining and such a good story throughout, and there were no inconsistencies and no problematic scenes where, like, oh, it's so cringe, I can't. And it was the most perfect ending I have ever seen in a K-drama. Lovely Runner when it was airing, but I say kind of because I had the most phenomenal time watching it right now. And yeah, maybe it is the time that makes it better, but I waited two years to watch this, and I had such a good, good time. I don't even know how to explain how. I just wanna say I love Soi so much. She has worked so, so hard to protect the love of her life and the whole concept of this movie, of him trying to get her to love him, but all she wants is to keep him alive, and the only way to keep him alive is by making sure he stays away from her. This concept is so painful, yet so beautiful, and they are dependent on each other. I'm so happy that the last episode was just fluff. There were no problematic scenes, nothing. It was just them getting the true joy they deserved after 15 episodes of pain and suffering. That's all I wanted. I didn't want a 10-minute scene of joy. No, I got the full hour, and I'm very, very happy. Lovely Runner is one of the best shows ever, and I'm so happy to have watched it.

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this is gonna be good… (Pilot review)

I expected a cute romantic story about teenage love, and although it may be like that in the future episode, this first episode opens with a very serious topic, depression.
I really like how they are portraying this emotion and I really hope they will continue doing so seriously, making us understand more of the characters feeelings and reasons.
I also really liked how the female lead becomes fan of the band and the male lead because he saves her life by being sensitive and empathetic towards her. (btw I’m already in love with him for this)
can’t wait to see how this story will unfold…

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