This review may contain spoilers
"Lovely Runner" has totally made 2024 so much better!
I was deeply impressed by the story and cinematography in the drama "Lovely Runner." The story is so inspiring about an athlete who has to struggle to recover from an injury but never gives up. The full support of the fans further strengthens this story. The romance presented feels like fantasy, yet it remains realistic in depicting the struggles of a career and the search for identity. Sunjae and Im Sol are an amazing character. The unpredictable storyline amazed me, even as a K-drama fan for 15 years. Kim Hye Yoon and Byeon Woo Seok are perfect for their roles. After watching "Lovely Runner," other romance dramas feel less appealing. I really enjoyed the unique timeline in this romantic comedy fantasy drama. It's really surprising to know that this drama has only been in production for 3 years and has achieved international recognition by being screened at the opening of the Paris Olympics. As a K-drama fan, I really appreciate the quality of the story, cinematography, and script. I even bought the script book and Bluray . The soundtrack is also beautiful (ECLIPSE : Sudden Shower, Run Run, etc) I listen to it every day. I even bought the script book and Bluray :)Was this review helpful to you?
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This series broke my K-drama slump!
The first few episodes got me hooked and made my heart flutter. I was also caught off guard by the whole time travelling plot since I had no idea about it going in.Why it’s not a 10: I felt conflicted that Sol’s struggle with workplace inaccessibility as a disabled person was introduced, only to vanish once the timeline reset and she landed the job. I also think there were a few too many timelines, which made things a bit confusing, but I guess that’s the staple for time-travel series.
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It became my favorite k-drama ?
Definitely my favorite k-drama ever😭❤️ Really, I liked this show a lot. The actors are perfect and the storyline is beautiful. It’s so sweet and cute, but also touching and funny. Lovely runner deserves all the hype and more. This show mixed love and fantasy in a perfect way, I loved all the charachters (the second lead too 👀) and I binged watch all the episodes in a few days, cause this show is so good.AND BYEON WOO-SEOK? I love him so much, he was perfect for this role, I love his character and his acting❤️🩹
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The best kdrama I've ever seen
It seems like a lot of people here didn't like it, but I loved it. I love the story and Woo Seok and Hye Yoon's acting, the only thing I could consider "bad" is that Im Sol seemed to not want SunJae to save her. The ending was beautiful and deserved for both of them, it revived my expectations in love!Although I didn't like how Im Sol's relationship with Tae Sung was forced, but he was a good character and contributed a lot to the plot, I think he was one of my favorite characters.
I really liked this kdrama and I would recommend it to people who are just starting out! It was funny and sad at the same time, I loved it.
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This review may contain spoilers
Almost perfect fate breaker
First of all, this drama not only has high production value, great acting, and a logically refined plot without understatements and suspension of disbelief, but also the closeness and tenderness of the main couple. Usually, high production value goes hand in hand with historical dramas and high political figures that don't show much emotions. Also approach of the inevitability of fate, man's powerlessness against heaven, and an unhappy or bittersweet ending (aka Alchemy of Souls).For me, the perfect breakaway plot would be a case where a person not only creates their own destiny despite the consequences but also creates their own happiness. This depends on whether we insist on facing our destiny alone for the good of others or whether we trust in the strength of those who believe in us.
*Spoilers*
The only route she didn't try, knowing that meeting him and acting along wouldn't work, was to be brutally honest and trust that staying together would save them both. Sure, she was afraid she would disappear from the past on the third run, but she didn't in the fourth, so they could have had a life together. Already in the third time, she learned that distancing herself from him didn't work, but she didn't understand that this was because she tried to do everything alone.
She still succumbed to fate, tried to change it, and gave up, thinking that having a worse fate for herself would give a better one to her loved one, as if it were some cosmic equilibrium that couldn't be changed. Even the end was presented as heaven rewarding her for her sacrifice.
Sure, the whole 'try hard to remember a life we didn't have' (anemoia) by the ML was exciting and in fact maybe even better ending as being more dramatic, but for a perfect score, I missed one route where she stays with him and together they try to change fate without wasting time(even if it route where they still dies after years and then back for 4rh time).
Asian cinema still hasn't broken out from the doom of fate, and this drama was the closest to changing and shaping destiny by one's own will. Therefore, almost a perfect 10 from me, but I will still be looking for that perfect one.
Special mention for the amazing directing and camera work here. The hugging scenes with close-ups on faces can melt a heart. Also, the grandma with dementia remembering all timelines was a perfect touch.^^
what an amazing show
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when you know you know
acho que nunca vou superar essa história e essa trilha sonora perfeita. lovely runner, você foi inesquecível, te amo um milhão.sobre um amor que acontece em todas as linhas temporais possíveis, mesmo que o passado seja mudado, mesmo que ele seja apagado da vida dos personagens. de bônus, muitas risadas e lágrimas, mini surtos, sensação de coração quentinho e também música boa.
posso até arriscar dizer que esse é aquele tipo de drama que não envelhece, que você assiste, uma, duas, cinco, dez vezes e continua sentindo o mesmo e não enjoa. porque essa história é tocante, linda, triste e marcante.
sol, sunjae, taesung, podem morar no meu coração, pra vocês eu abro essa exceção. 🥹💘
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Amalgamation of Average Blooming into a perfect drama
At the time of writing this review, currently the drama "Lovely Runner" is at an all time high rating of 9.2 on MDL which to those who are unaware may sound like is this really the best KDrama of all time or is this drama a masterpiece? In my opinion is neither of these. It actually does not have the best plot, acting, direction or music. However, the amalgamation of all these not so perfect things had somehow created a final product which is absolutely a GEM OF A SHOW. Let me explain how:-First the PLOT :-
Anyone can read the plot as mentioned from the summary on MDL and know that time travel is a huge plot device in this drama. Just like every time travel content out there, there is a mystery element as how does ones actions in the past timeline is going to affect the present timeline and the thriller element as to how the FL will save the ML. The show nailed this aspect as you will always be on your toes as what will happen next in case of action and tense scenes as nothing is predictable. Because FL is from future, she tries to figure out what really happened in the past so that she could turn and change things the second time. Also, the romance plot is definitely one of the best elements of the show and I will discuss it in detail shortly.
Second the DIRECTION :-
The director did a really good job in establishing the past timeline by using real life famous incidents that have happened in the past so that the viewers can have an idea of what exact dates the drama is happening in and as you watch more episodes, the timeline and dates become really important.
Third Acting and ROMANCE :-
No one can deny the fact that in Korean RomComs, the ML and FL romance is make or break for the drama. If its subpar then not even a masterpiece storytelling can save the drama from failing. Fortunately, here the ML character "Ryu Seon Jae" played by Byeon Woo Seok and FL character "Im Sol" played by the lovely Kim Hye Yoon brought one of the most electrifying chemistry and wholesome relationship game to KDrama world. The drama has set a new GOLD STANDARD OF ROMANCE on which future Korean romcoms will be judged by the viewers.
The standout as per popular opinion (I also agree) is Seon Jae as he is the greenest of the green flag boyfriend material ever shown on KDrama screen and no doubt why very female viewer is dying to have a boyfriend like him since Byeon Woo Seok with his stellar potrayal has caused a storm in the KDrama world and catapulted himself to be in the league of the most desirable Hallyu Star globally.
I feel a little sad that less attention has been given to Kim Hye Yoon by the fandom whose FL character is the catalyst of everything and is the emotional core as well the main protagonist of the show. She is a terrific actor and totally excelled at portraying all kinds of emotions throughout the show especially her crying scenes which are quite a few to say the least. Me being a male Kdrama viewer, has to mention that in all the scenes set in present timeline she looked drop dead gorgeous and I felt in love with her. She is adorable in the way she acts and the reason the show has "Lovely" in its title.
Skinship in this show is not a joke and one time I had to double check to see whether I am really watching a Korean drama as OH BOY this drama has one of the most steamiest and hottest kissing scene of recent times. Kudos to the actors for portraying with full commitment and causing us to swoon and to have butterflies in our stomach with their great onscreen chemistry.
Fourth the Music / OST :-
Most of the OSTs are not only memorable but also used at very appropriate times in the show for evoking certain emotions that certainly kept most viewers hooked. Notable mentions would be "Spring Snow" by 10CM and "Like a Dream" by GIDLE's MINNIE.
Fifth the Rewatch Value :-
The kissing scenes have great rewatch value if you know what I mean :-) But on a serious note , the dramas has multiple time jumps and time travel scenarios that watching it 2-3 times will be a breeze. From now on, this will be my comfort Kdrama to watch.
FINAL VERDICT :-
Just stop wasting time on reading the reviews and go into the world of Sunjaeyaaa & Solaaa and experience the wholesome drama for the first time.
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Beautiful
This drama was fantastic from beginning to end. It's a beautiful story, directed impeccably, and all of the acting is superb. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and sometimes it made md do both at once. Truly a love story, not just between the main couple, but also the love between friends. I'm writing this review immediately after finishing, and I'm still feeling emotional about it.One funny thing worth mentioning - Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin are mentioned in the show - and this was the most chemistry on screen I have seen between romantic leads since watching Crash Landing on You.
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It was perfect.
What can I say that hasn't already been said. This show was so good. The story was consistent and made sense. The acting was great and the chemistry was insane. I'll miss them so much. The music was catching and fit the the show very well. The heart of the the show is the relationship between the leads and I appreciate how much they focused on and not on random sideplots. Although I really the sideplots were decent and pretty funny at times.If you're thinking about watching this show don't think about just do it.
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My favorite Kdrama of 2024 and maybe ever
So delightful! Great mix of romance, comedy, angst. I had all the emotions watching and had such a hard time waiting for new episodes every week. I actually watched previous episodes every week to get me through the painful waiting! The FL is wonderful - even things I may have found cringe in other dramas - she pulls off with a surplus of charm and talent. The ML pulls off his best performance to-date and I was very impressed with his comedic timing and eye acting. The chemistry between the leads is no joke - best I've seen. I was giggling and crying every episode. It is very rare for me to love a kdrama the whole way through but it finally happened with this one! Missing it a lot now.Was this review helpful to you?
sonagi is playing quietly in my head
overall this drama is so good that there's no boring episode it will make you binge watch this the whole day. This is one of the best romcom drama I've ever seen there's no corny jokes at all. This will give you all the feels heartbreak, nostalgia, frustrations, excitement, euphoric happiness and etc. The romantic scenes are not cringy at all it's so natural chemistry is chef's kiss they're like a match made in heaven. Even the OSTs are perfect you can listen to them nonstop. Their choice for the member of Eclipse band is perfect too. Their visuals and talent as a band is really giving. Byeon Woo Seok as Ryu Sun Jae is the probably the best choice the producers made. The production for this drama was delayed for three years due to actors declining the male lead role but I can say that it's for the best. They found the perfect embodiment of Ryun Sun Jae in Byeon Woo Seok. It's been a really long since the last time I got emotionally invested in a Kdrama. Lovely Runner will always have a soft spot in my heart.Was this review helpful to you?
