Lovely Runner

My all time favorite kdrama

No matter how many kdramas I watch, lovely runner always remains #1 in my list. The acting, ost, characters, chemistry, plot, are all a 10/10 for me. If anyone is doubting whether to watch it or not given some people claiming it’s overrated, don’t listen to them. it was worth every second and it’s my most rewatched drama

LR is a perfect mix of romance, fantasy, comedy and drama, it’ll make you giggle and kick your feet but also cry and destroy you. I keep looking for a drama that can make me feel like watching LR for the first time did but I haven’t found any that come close, it’s just so good, it brings me comfort and it’s so special to me.

one of my favorite parts about this drama has to be the OST, every single track is so good and it is genuinely added to my playlist. not to mention how I feel everytime I listen to “ sudden shower”, simply the best song IMO

the last ep may be my favorite because after so much suffering we finally get to see happy soljae in love

Read More

Bringing Back the Golden Days of K-Dramas

I FINALLY UNDERSTAND THE HYPE!

I’ve been putting off watching Lovely Runner for almost two years because I genuinely thought it was going to be another overhyped drama. Well, I was SO wrong. Not only does it deserve every bit of the hype, but it also reminded me of everything I used to love about K-dramas.

First of all, this drama gave me such nostalgic K-drama vibes! It reminded me of shows like Extraordinary You and The King: Eternal Monarch, where romance is intertwined with fantasy, time travel, and a storyline that goes beyond your typical rom-com. THIS is the kind of K-drama I’ve been missing! I’ve been away from K-dramas for quite some time because I feel like they’ve lost a bit of that magic. That feeling of being completely transported into another world. And Lovely Runner brought it all back for me.

The story hooks you from the very first episode, and despite its rather heartbreaking premise, it somehow manages to balance sadness, romance, and comedy perfectly. Even during the emotional episodes, there were moments that had me laughing out loud. I loved that it never lost its goofy, sarcastic charm. Sure, there were a few episodes that felt a little like fillers, but I honestly didn’t mind because I was enjoying myself THAT much.

Now, BYEON WOO-SEOK. OH MY GOD.

This was my first time watching him, and I genuinely did not expect him to be THIS good. He completely blew me away! His acting felt so effortless and natural, and he brought so much personality to Sun-jae. I initially expected the typical cold, serious male lead, but NO. This man was the complete opposite, and I think that’s one of the biggest reasons the drama worked so well.

He was shameless, goofy, quirky, sometimes an absolute loser in love, and just ridiculously adorable. I loved how comfortable and natural his character felt. He wasn’t trying to be this mysterious, untouchable male lead. He was just a guy hopelessly in love, and I ADORED him for it. And can we talk about how handsome he is?! The styling, the height, the charisma, EVERYTHING. He was literally a giant baby and the biggest green flag.

And that’s what makes their love story so beautiful. He fell in love with her in every single timeline, even when he had no memory of her. And she continued loving him through every version of their lives.

I absolutely loved Im Sol as a female lead. Her persistence, her dedication, and the lengths she went to save Sun-jae were genuinely touching. It was so refreshing to watch a female lead fighting over and over again to save the man she loves rather than having the male lead constantly be the one doing all the saving.

What made their relationship even more meaningful was their backstory. She wasn’t simply a fangirl trying to save her favorite idol. They had a history together, one she had forgotten, but one that had always existed between them. He saved her once, and then he saved her again with his words. Those simple words of kindness eventually became the reason she traveled through time to save him. There’s something so incredibly beautiful about that.

And I loved how she initially believed she couldn’t change anyone’s fate, only to realize that, in the end, she had changed everyone’s fate.

This drama is truly about fate. Two people destined to find each other, no matter how many times the timeline changes or how many memories disappear. Honestly, they could’ve called it Fate instead of Lovely Runner, but considering Sun-jae spent practically every timeline running toward her, I guess the title works perfectly too!

AND THE CHEMISTRY?!

INSANE. Absolutely insane.

The tension, the playful banter, the awkward moments, the longing, the way they kept falling in love over and over again. Everything about their chemistry was PERFECT. It’s the kind of romance that makes your stomach flutter and your feet tingle. I was smiling like an idiot throughout the entire drama. Their chemistry was so effortless, and I genuinely believed in their love.

Even the supporting characters were wonderful! I loved the second male lead, his dynamic with Sol, and the friendships and relationships surrounding the main couple. Everyone added something to the story without making it feel unnecessarily crowded.

Another thing I really appreciated was how well the time-travel element was handled. I was honestly expecting the writers to mess things up toward the end, especially when Sun-jae lost his memories. I remember thinking, “Oh no, they’ve ruined it!” But surprisingly, I ended up LOVING that decision.

Throughout the drama, I always felt a little sad that Sol was the only one carrying the memories of their love across different timelines. She remembered everything while he kept forgetting. So having him eventually remember all those lifetimes made the ending so much more satisfying. For once, they both got to carry the memories of their love, and he finally got the happy life he deserved.

I also loved how the villain was handled. He wasn’t given some unnecessarily elaborate backstory or an entire arc that distracted from the main plot. He was almost like a representation of fate itself, an obstacle that Sol had to overcome to save Sun-jae. The writers understood that the story wasn’t really about him, and I appreciated that they didn’t waste time trying to make him more important than he needed to be.

And THE FINAL EPISODE.

Genuinely one of the best final episodes I’ve watched in a K-drama. No unnecessary misunderstandings, no last-minute drama, no ridiculous plot twists just for the sake of creating tension. Just happiness, love, and the kind of closure these characters deserved after everything they’d been through. I cannot explain how satisfying it was to watch an ending that simply allowed its characters to be happy.

The OSTs deserve their own appreciation because OH MY GOD. Every time one of those songs started playing, I felt like crying. The music elevated every emotional moment, and I don’t think the drama would’ve had quite the same impact without it. The cinematography was equally beautiful, and the entire production had this magical, nostalgic atmosphere that made everything feel even more special.

All in all, Lovely Runner was such a refreshing experience. The writing was engaging, the pacing made it incredibly bingeable, the comedy was genuinely funny, and the romance was absolutely unforgettable. It had its emotional moments without becoming unnecessarily depressing, and it knew exactly when to make you laugh, cry, or fall in love with the characters all over again.

I genuinely don’t understand some of the negative reviews because I had SUCH a good time watching this. It brought back that old K-drama magic I’ve been missing for years, and I couldn’t be happier that I finally gave it a chance.

A beautiful story about fate, kindness, second chances, and a love that finds its way back no matter how many times the universe tries to rewrite it.

I LOVED IT. Every single bit of it.

10/10. Worth the hype, worth the wait, and absolutely worth watching.

Read More

2016 nostalgia. Possibly biased.

This drama surprised me: for the worldwide success, as well as the depth that went beyond a simple first love story. More than romance (believe me, it seems that it only exists in the screen), is feeling the fear and taking the plunge, and realising the people around you, possibly never finding out the little things they do when you're not looking.

I never expected a slice of life drama to blow up the way this has. Didn't even watch the trailer before clicking solely for Kim Hye Yoon, and ended up being smitten for the male lead.

Being smacked with 2016 nostalgia (seriously...there's something about the 2016 air that brought the best dramas to memory) is the reason why Lovely Runner is another iconic drama to remember.

Of course, it has its flaws. So many flaws. But this work reminded me so strongly why I loved kdramas in the first place. Why I continued watching after a decade.

It took me back to 2016 back to my high school days, where adulthood hadn't kicked in yet. So maybe I'm biased and Lovely Runner's main theme of time moved me more than it should've.

Works in recent times have been noticed to be VERY disappointing despite the high budget. But LR proved you can have a simple drama (like the old times), and still move the viewer, stuffed with emotions and moments that will forever be embedded in the heart.

3 years of waiting, and the success couldn't be more deserved. Kim Hye Yoon got her co-star, and the role was meant for Byeon Wooseok. The universe does reward perseverance.

Read More

Overrated. Not worth the time. Unnecessary Long. Below par storyline.

I don't understand how it's rate 8.9/10 here. For me, it's 2.5/10.

The acting of the cast is good. The music is tolerable. The initial storyline is good. Initial 3-4 episodes are good. That's all the good part done.

Now for the bad part. The overall storyline is bad. I felt as if they dragged the storyline more and more. I don't know if they had less material or what. The story feels dragged after a certain point. It starts to feel repetitive and boring after that. Similar forced situation to bring the character together. The side characters are forgettable. The FL is annoying. Initially the FL was amazing but I guess after 6-7 episode, she start to feel annoying and do all these emotional drama. Maybe she is badly written. Her voice with sun-jae is still ringing in my head. Ahh.

The Villain is a joke in the storyline. He feel so disconnected out of story. I felt that he was not even needed. He is just used to drag the storyline. He have no motivation, no backstory, nothing. I don't even know why he is there. He is like game npc.

Not even a single side character is good. Not even a single one. I am trying to think but I can't even remember even one side character whom I can say is well written or you will remember.

Overall. It's just not worth it. It should have given only 5-6 episodes. It doesn't deserve 16 episodes. I don't even know how it have such a high ratings. Don't watch it if you can't handle same repetitive drama.

Read More

A Little Time Travel, A Lot of Love, and Endless Feels

Lovely Runner is one of those dramas that completely pulls you into its world and makes you laugh, cry, swoon, and believe in a love that can survive even time itself.

The biggest strength of this drama is undoubtedly its cast. Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon have incredible chemistry and bring Seon Jae and Im Sol to life in such a heartfelt and lovable way. Their performances make even the simplest moments feel special, and the romance is filled with so much yearning that it's impossible not to root for them.

The time-travel concept, high school nostalgia, comedy, romance, and emotional moments all come together beautifully, especially in the first half. The drama does have its flaws—some storylines feel repetitive, a few conflicts seem unnecessarily stretched, and the villain's storyline could have been handled much better. At times, it feels like the story is going in circles just to fill all sixteen episodes.

I also have to give credit to the supporting cast. Their friends bring so much life, humor, and warmth to the story. Whether it's the funny interactions, loyal friendships, or the little moments of support, they add another layer of enjoyment to the drama. Song Geon Hee also deserves a special mention for his excellent performance. The supporting characters truly make this drama feel more complete.

But honestly? The emotional connection I developed with these characters made me overlook quite a few flaws. Sol and Seon Jae's story is sweet, heartbreaking, funny, and genuinely memorable. No matter how many timelines or obstacles stood between them, their connection remained the heart of the show.

Final thoughts: Lovely Runner may not be perfect, but it's one of the most charming and emotionally addictive rom-coms I've watched. It has its plot holes and unnecessary detours, but the fantastic cast, unforgettable chemistry, beautiful soundtrack, hilarious moments, and heartfelt romance make the journey absolutely worth it.

A beautiful story about love, fate, second chances, and finding your way back to the person you're meant to be with. That's why I give it a rating of 9. Highly recommended! 💛⏳

Read More

Butterfly effect caused butterflies in my who body

I started the series after the last episode was released and my only goal was to avoid spoilers about the ending, but the article titles refused to cooperate. Even so, I watched each episode intently, and even though I wanted to slap Im Sol and Ryu Sun Jae at times, I loved every scene they had.

The downside of time travel is that when the main character is transported for the first time, we can expect an episode full of awkward moments, because most of the time they think they're dreaming and therefore has no inhibitions. It was the same here, so the first few episodes had me scratching my head, but as soon as Sol got close to Sun Jae, the hour-long episodes suddenly only lasted a few minutes.

By the fourth episode, I wasn't sure if things were tangleding or unraveling or both at the same time. The further I got, the more confused I became, but at the same time it all made sense. Everything. Amnost every single detail that happened in the story, and it doesn't matter if it was in the past or the present, somehow affected everything that happened. The butterfly effect was displayed perfectly. Yes, I found some things not quite clear, but they didn't really relate to the main plot.

The story was incredibly emotional. Sometimes I laughed, sometimes I melted, sometimes I screamed and sometimes I cried. I fell in love with the main characters very quickly, and no matter what emotion I experienced with them, I really experienced it fully.

I loved how Im Sol and Sun Jae were connected from the very beginning. Their fates were sealed long before the first episode began, and it was only a matter of time before they came together. In any world, time, and universe, they were simply meant to be together and watch out for each other.

And since the story involves a fictitious music group, it is obvious that the story will be accompanied by beautiful songs. The one Sun Jae wrote for Sol is really beautiful and I'll be listening to it long after I finish watching the series.

Read More

A difficult birth?

Maybe this series suffers from the difficult birth it had, with a slow start in production. I think that its origin as a webtoon does show in the characterisation of the lead actors and the way in which the dialogue has a "comic book" quality. It did take me a while to get used to that but it the end it doesn't seem to matter.
The two lead actors, Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon quite simply acted their socks off and all the cast were directed to blend in together admirably. I did struggle a bit with the time slipping which was a necessary part of the story but as an older citizen, I just accepted that I didn't need to know what date it was in every scene and just sit back and enjoy it.
My family has been touched by suicide, related to that of Korean pop idols and I wanted to let your cast and production team know that the storyline is all good as far as I am concerned. Conversations about suicide are always helpful and are not disrespectful.

Read More

I reallly enjoyed it a lot, for the most part

I've read a lot of comments from people who did NOT like it, and I agree on some of the things they say, but most of the things they complain about simply don't bother me. This is a formulaic ROMANCE DRAMA, not a deep character study or social commentary or advocacy film or sci-fi thriller. It's true that the paralyzation didn't get much attention (or the reversal thereof) and the characters aren't super deep and some things just exist to serve the plot without a lot of backstory or examination (or explanation, such as in the case of the time travel). But I did not watch it for any of those things. I watched it for the do-or-die ROMANCE, and it delivers that! The show is ALL about the love between two people, and one character's willingness to do whatever it takes, no matter the cost to herself, to save her beloved. And that is exactly what I wanted!

It did stretch out the achy-breaky angst too much, and the show cut have been cut down into fewer episodes, but even as is, I thoroughly enjoyed it and will most likely watch it again someday. It has really sweet and funny and cute moments, too; it's not all heartbreak. (And there are no stupid misunderstandings that needlessly go on forever!) (Although it does use the "I have to hurt you to save you" trope as well as the "I have to hurt MYSELF to save you" trope--as I said, it's formulaic. But generally speaking, for myself, I LIKE the formula!) And it has a happy ending! The last episode, I held my breath the whole time waiting for disaster to strike again, but it didn't happen, and I got more epilogue from it than I think I've ever gotten from any other Asian drama, and I really appreciated that.

So, if you are like me and you just want an angsty, cute-funny, obsessivish romance story, you should enjoy this one. Just don't expect more than that from it. It's not War and Peace. (Or should I reference Gone With the Wind instead, as a deeper version of a love story?) You get the idea. :)

Read More

PERFECTLY EXCECUTED

I was a little late for this drama..... i get all the hyped for this because IT'S ALL WORTH IT. kudos to bothe of lead because no one can potrayed Sun Jae and Im Sol better than them!

I somehow wonder how can people came up with this kind of plot... like everything is perfect and just like another time capsule story, there's always be suprises each time.

Tapi pas nonton kadang kesel sama Im Sol kaya let the fate be like that.... kaya udah ah diemin soalnya emang takdir kamu kaya gitu... tapi pas udah tamat, all make sense, if im sol didn't do it maybe the happy ending would never be there...

Read More

BIG Surprise...

I was pleasantly surprised by this drama. Excellent all around, especially Kim Hye Yoon. For someone who has done limited lead roles, what an actress.
She has it all:
- Acting = 9
- Appeal = 10
- Role = Character was perfect for her (so the casting director gets 5 stars)
I am not even sure if the casting directors in the KWood world analyze character fit before placing someone in a role because I have seen numerous miscasts since I started watching KDRAMAs 14 years ago. Anyone could have played the male role but Byeon Woo Seok was good. FL knocked it out of the park and kept you glued to the drama wishing the episodes would come faster. I am seriously going to save Kim Hye Yoon on all my Korean entertainment sites so I can make sure to watch her future projects. This young woman is going to be a great actress!

Read More