Lovely Runner

Byeon Woo Seok deserves notoriety - but LR was just above average; not great

Everyone's favorite drama from 2024; my opinion is it had unnecessary storylines just to make it 16 episodes long. Still, in the end it was worth watching - and enduring the few stupid parts - for a pretty engaging and beautiful story.

The choice of actors for this drama was truly wonderful. And as a viewer who did not find her previous roles appealing, I absolutely give Kim Hye Yoon high marks on this one. Byeon Woo Seok is always great in every role I've seen him, and he was particularly well chosen for this role. If this is why Lovely Runner was everyone's favorite, then I have to agree. I also truly loved Song Geon Hee as probably the most complex role in the series - superbly acted and believable in every scene. And all the other supporting actors and actresses were fantastic.

The ending was beautiful - except for the stupid parts added. But I doubt the writers were aiming at a masterpiece, so I "forgive" them...I guess.

I might re-watch this at some point; it will depend on how many other dramas are out there to engage me. But I certainly recommend this one as a must watch - if only for conversation with your other kdrama watching friends. It's kind of sad not to be able to discuss what you like or dislike when you haven't seen something.

Soundtrack was good; Cinematography also good. Length of series - too long. Quality of storyline - above average but lower than BEST. Casting = EXCEPTIONAL. Director - could have done better directing the female actors.

SPECIAL NOTE: This is by way of comparison.' Lovely Runner' FAR, FAR!!! outperformed another popular drama called 'Love Next Door' which I found a complete waste of time.

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A DRAMA THAT TRULY STAYED WITH ME

This drama meant so much to me .
It took me on full rollercoaster of emotions-from sadness to happiness and back again- and somehow made my everyday life feel brighter .I seriously loved every single character and how their presence changed each other's lives, and it reminded me trying , no matter the outcome , is always worth it.
From family to friendships , and the amazing chemistry between the leads, every part felt real and touching. I mean the crazy friends to their parents everybody had a role which they portrayed so well that made me feel like I was part of that whole scene not just watching them from far. Loved the cast and the persona they carried throughout , loved the songs ,wished the drama be longer as getting over it was not easy but rewatching always gave me comfort .
Actually some dramas are just tea, some are a sip, but this one felt like a cup of life for me.And none of this is exaggerated ,these are my honest emotions I wanted to share as reviews are not about overhyping or putting someone down ; they are about sharing how a story makes you feel, and this drama gave me so much. I am glad this drama exists.

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Great story with a few plotholes

After 2 years I have finally managed to watch this drama! It’s been hyped a lot and I understand it. The story is very captivating, their romance is bittersweet and swoony. The soundtrack is among the best I have seen in a K-Drama so far. And obviously, the cast is stellar! Especially Byeon Woo-Seok is out of this world!!!! His yearning gaze full of love, longing and sadness got me in my feels while watching this drama too.

The cinematography and color editing of this drama was so beautiful! Especially when it was set in the past! It reminded me a lot of 25 21, especially at the beginning of the drama.

There were quite a lot of funny, laugh-out-loud moments as well! Melon Musk absolutely KILLED me 😂😂😂 Can never get over this phrase 😂😂😂

Now to some things that bothered me and kept me from rating this drama a 10/10:

1. What was with the serial killer thing??? It made no sense whatsoever! Also his background was not explained at all. Why was he after Sol? Just a coincidence?? It all felt so random to me that I couldn’t quite get excited about the kidnapping scenes…

2. When Sungjae is being stabbed by the killer and falls off the cliff and dies, the drama spins to the future / current time and somehow it seemed like she said that “it has been years since Sun-Jae had died but I was still trying ti live a normal life” or sth like that. It seemed to me that Sunjae had died but in reality she went back in time one last time and changed the past in a way that they had never met so he wouldn’t die for her… I found that a bit confusing and I think they could have done a better job explaining it…

3. The second couple aka her brother and bestie was sooooo annoying and useless! Did we really need all those annoying scenes?? 😖😖😖 I cringef everytime I had to watch them. Or just any scene her brother was in! He was SO annoying!!!! I wished Hyeon-ju had gotten together with Bae In-hyeok instead 😅😅😅

In general I liked the drama but I think it could have been shorter without the serial killer plotline and the secondary couple scenes…

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Is it worth it? Date or Death : which is important to discuss for u?

Ok, finally completed!!
I admit that it got little bit boring at some point...like kind of repetition...and that's why I rate it overall 8.5

But but after completing, it kind of give you hangover which is not easy to get rid of!!
A story of perfect simp ML - complete greenest forest ever for a perfect savior FL - gets embarrassed every moment😉 ..............I strongly recommend it because u won't regret. Especially those little cute moments that sets the bar!!
The story revolves around such cute + awkward moments that can't stop you from kicking your legs, having butterflies in stomach and what not. What is love which is not crazy enough to have date important than discussing possible death.
And most importantly if you like to hear Sun-Jae ya.........do watch it!!

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I just can’t anymore with same old cliches

I watched lovely runner based on the ongoing hype around it and it wasn’t impressive. As much as i wanted to like this drama but more episodes i watched more i couldn’t take it anymore.
What put me off most was super annoying FL ,who is overly obsessed with ML and her actions had no justification. We get it, she wanted to prevent his death but she was acting too entitled like getting into his room without permission, hiding under his bed and showing up at his gym at night !! Like how was she trying to protect him by doing all this didn’t make sense. If she was providing him emotional support or having conversation with him it would’ve made much more sense. She completely forgot she was in a wheelchair or didn’t cared enough. Because she didn’t give much thought as to how she can prevent that from happening. She was more focused on saving ML and he wasn’t her lover at this point!!

And the same old cliches like ML being her saviour and all. I really want to watch a new, fresh story and this drama IS NOT IT. I don’t understand how people gave it a 10 rating.

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Best On-Screen Chemistry

This is one of those rare dramas that had me emotionally invested from beginning to end. It beautifully blends romance, comedy, suspense, and fantasy, but what truly makes it unforgettable is the incredible chemistry between the two leads.

Every interaction between Im Sol and Sun-jae felt natural, heartfelt, and believable. Their relationship made me laugh, smile, and completely root for them through every challenge. The story kept me engaged with just the right balance of humor, mystery, and emotional moments without ever losing sight of the romance at its core.

The acting is outstanding, the soundtrack is beautiful, and the supporting cast adds so much warmth and charm to the story. Every episode left me wanting to watch just one more.

Most importantly, this drama left me feeling hopeful and genuinely happy. Long after it ended, I found myself thinking about the characters and missing them. That’s the sign of a truly special drama.

If you love romances with incredible chemistry, memorable characters, and an ending that leaves you smiling, this is an absolute must-watch.

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One of a kind

where do i even begin for this drama? well, i would like to say, please watch this drama and form your own opinion. you'll find people calling this a disappointment, in my opinion, I strongly oppose. If anything, there aren't many kdramas that I really enjoy enough to watch it in 2-3 days. But i did with this one. Loopholes? there weren't. The time-travel was not supposed to be explained. Dramas like twinkling watermelon also didn't explain that. Do you ask how the fl was reborn in Marry My Husband? or how the fl transmigrates in a book in many stories? Do you ask for the how? then why for this one? holy double standards. In fantasy, rules matter more than the physics behind it. and the rules were well estabilished in this show. I would say, please watch it if you want to. Don't let any comments direct if you should or not. the best is to form your own opinion. If you want to watch, then watch, if you don't want to, then don't.

moving on, to talk about the acting, well, i watched the show solely for Kim Hyeyoon at first since i became a die-hard fan after watching Extraordinary You. And she did not disappoint. infact, i love her even more now. Every time Sol cries on screen, i find myself tearing up too, the acting is truly outstanding. Ofcourse, every other cast, all supporting ones too, did an outstanding job in making the character feel alive!! the comedy was natural and well done. the chemistry is sizzling hot and you won't be able to move on!!

about the OSTs, my personal favs are Sudden Shower, Like a dream, Run Run and Spring Snow. My love for this show deepened when i realise that byeon wooseok practiced swimming and singing for his role. all the efforts put in by everyone included in the making of this masterpiece make me love this drama even more!!

talking about the plot, its also equally mind-blowing. you'll laugh, cry and kick your feet while giggling. The story is well written and...absolutely lovely. My favourite character is obviously Im Sol. The love she has for sun-jae is so pure and deep, its very touching and every episode keeps you on your toes, rooting for her. about the whole idol x fan, well, thats bullshit tbh. this is not a disaster or delusional at all. this is not a fangirl falling for her idol and her idol simply liking her bcs she is quirky or different. its a story about two people running towards each other, against fate and time itself, just so they can be together. infact, Im Sol never saw sun-jae as a love interest until later. Every single character is well written and the story, their love and bonds, it's simply beautiful. I will always come back to this drama. it's truly one of a kind and i fear nothing can ever top this drama for me. It's one of a kind, and i would love to lose my memory to watch it for the first time.

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It's so good I want to give it a 10 but I can't

The plot is really good. It's sweet and fluffy romance. But it's not good as a mystery, It just keep adding questions after questions that I stopped questioning. But that's okay I can let that slide, it's funny and entertaining to watch anyway.
I actually fell inlove with the story in episode 2, she is his biggest fan in the future without knowing she is his first love the whole time and he didn't forget her even before his death. It was all sweet until the moment she keeps rejecting him without even a proper plan what she would do next(it feels like rejecting him was the best plan she had in mind)
What I hate is how dumb out FL can be, she keeps making the worst decision. Did she forgot that she can stop time, that's her greatest advantage but she took it as an obstacle that she can't tell him the future (but then he figured it out anyway). She could've stopped the time when she got kidnapped, and she could even run into the forest instead of just following the road if she is being chased by a truck. There's a lot of choices for her but she acts like she has no Choice but to hurt our ML. And instead of erasing her traces out of his life, she could've just avoided being involved with the serial killer, it's not like she was a target since birth, it all started when she dozed off in the bus. Her method sound like a great sacrifice but it's actually just a dumb decision.
I still like this drama though, I just can't help but think of what it would actually turn out if she's just a little bit wise. I also felt like it didn't reach a proper conclusion, I'm still curious how her movie turned out. If he is still a singer or did he became an actor?
Music is good, I love it.

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So Sweet that made me Nauseous.

For those who likes romantic dramas where the FL and the ML are constantly in contact with each other and shows everytime time that they like each other but won't confess their feelings... Like seeing two people being in love and having very very very sweet moments together... So this show is just for you, but... definitely not for me.

I like shows where both ML and Fl takes a long time to have a proper relationship, I'm more into when the ML doesn't like the FL at all but then eventually he fells in love with her, what doesn't happen here. Here the ML right from the start likes the FL, so... Nhe, only that fact made me do not enjoy the drama.

Also, the FL, way too annoying for me. Her childish voice, her attitude, the way that she doesn't realize his feelings, nhe. I really didn't like her at all.

And, the serial killer plot... AGAIN!!!!! gosh I'm so done with this plot already, I mean, again a crazy man as the main villain? What kinda lazy plot is that. I only watched this show until episode 8 and then I started skipping all the scenes until I got tired and decided to watch the final episode ignoring the past ones. I kinda understood the final but it didn't get my attention to make me watch this drama properly.

Although it's basically a "perfect" drama with a perfect OST, a perfect acting, a perfect storyline, a perfect ending... For me it wasn't perfect at all. I got hocked up in the first episodes but it got so boring after some episodes. I think it wasn't necessary 16 episodes, 12 at least could work perfectly.

Anyway, this drama may be perfect for most of ppl since it has a 9.0 of good reviews but fot me is at least a 7.0. It's not my kind of drama, I'd rather enjoy it when the main couple doesn't have so many romantic scenes together, I feel nauseous for some reason. Am I a bitter person? Maybe, but in terms of couples, I'd rather like dramas like, Bulgasal, my suspicious partner, secret, kill me heal me, that winter the wind blows, W two worlds, the legend of the blue sea, the go back couple... anyway! all these dramas the ML takes some time to like the FL, he doesn't like her until he slowly starts to falling in love with her. I like these kinds story, so this is basically the main reason why I didn't like "lovely runner" and didn't even finish it.

But as I said, if you like sweet couples that love each other right from the start, so this show is just for you, I'm going to the next one :v

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"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 :)

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Memories don’t disappear, they seep into our souls

Lovely Runner is a show that hold a special place in my heart. A pure and heartfelt time-travel romance, which made it a masterpiece in the rom-com genre. It portrays unconditional love in the most beautiful way imaginable.

Starting with the positives, the plot was well crafted and layered that each episode felt really interesting. The cinematography and editing made each shot beautifully executed. Emotions were amazingly conveyed, romance was perfect and comedy was on spot. Perfect features of a rom-com. The pacing of the drama as a whole was also really good.
The OST was a musical treat, and it made the drama emotionally enhanced and even more enjoyable. The perks received by the songs are the evidences. They became one of my top favourites drama OSTs. I loved the effort Byeon Woo Seok put in taking singing and keyboard lessons, making Sudden Shower so amazing and adding to the quality of the show.
When it comes to acting, it was perfectly executed. Kim Hye Yoon became one of my favourite actresses. She is really talented and naturally beautiful. Each time she expresses emotions I was truly impressed and into it. Byeon Woo Seok also was so good and the efforts he put in was really amazing and it resulted into the best. His acting was subtle and simple but really striking in terms of conveying emotions.
The acting of other side characters was also considerably good.
I loved how Sol’s emotions towards Sunjae developed. At first it may look like a diehard fan of her favourite idol, but from the beginning Sol became Sunjae’s devoted fan as his words pulled her out of the most depressing situation of her life. Later their relationship develops into that of neighbours, friends and finally to lovers.
Sunjae’s endearing and unwavering love and devotion to Sol also stole my heart, making Sunjae one of the best green flags in kdrama land. He was charming and innocent. He always respected and cared for Sol’s feelings and tried his best to understand her. Sunjae is really an ideal type.
Both Sol and Sunjae endured a lot for their love for each other. They were willing to make any sacrifice for each other. I also loved the concept of fateful love between SolJae, that no matter what, Sunjae was fated to fall in love with Sol.
The chemistry of SolJae is top notch. It felt so real and pure that each spark between them gave me butterflies, no dull moments whenever both of them were together on screen. They are my top favourite drama couple💙💛❤️
The emotional dynamics between Sol and her mother was really heartwarming. Also loved the Grandma’s role in SolJae’s lives.
I also felt that Teasung received the positives of Sol’s good karma through her time travel, and I’m satisfied with the closure that he got as a second lead. In Hyuk also did well as a good friend of Sunjae.
The ending was one of the most perfect, memorable, satisfying and beautiful one I have ever seen in the hundreds of dramas watched.

In case of negatives, at first glance the plot holes may appear, like the serial killers motive, grandma’s deal and others, but it all gets answered if thought for a second time. Also I felt certain scenes between Im Geum and Hyun Ju a bit much exaggerated and overly hilarious. But the positives widely covers the minor negatives.

On the final note, Lovely Runner is a drama that engaged me from the beginning to the end. Worth the hype and recognition it gets. One of the best of 2024 and of all time. An unforgettable experience, an emotionally moving tale, my forever favourite and comfort drama and something that I come back to💙💛❤️

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