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This review may contain spoilers
Phenomenal timeslip romcom brings so many feels but has too many loops
Time travel has always been a popular theme because of how it tickles our imagination. In my experience, most of them fail terribly in delivering a satisfying resolution. I expected Lovely Runner to break this curse, however, despite the brimming amount of swoon-worthy moments and Woo Seok close-ups, Lovely Runner’s writing still falls flat and excessively drawn out.
Byeon Woo Seok as Seon Jae is a revelation. He is 2024’s breakthrough star and I fear no one can top his face card and on-the-spot comedic timings in the foreseeable future. He is more than just an eye candy because this handsome guy models, plays sports and sings, proving he is an all-rounder in the acting scene. He suits high school romance because he gives off this ulzzang or campus crush vibes and he has this relatable demeanor. Ryu Seon Jae is literally tailored fit for Woo Seok.
As expected, Kim Hye Yoon delivers a phenomenal and heartfelt performance. She shines in every role she takes. It saddens me though that she is underappreciated and overshadowed by Woo Seok’s success. Given her wide range of acting skills, it is still a mystery to me how she barely receives projects. Im Sol will not be Im Sol without Hye Yoon’s animated portrayal and soulful eyes that even a single teardrop falling from her eyes will break your heart into million pieces. This speaks volume to how Hye Yoon’s acting can move you deeply.
Lovely Runner uses the common and tested formula of K-drama which is fast-paced, full of cliffhangers, one-dimensional but entertaining supporting characters, exaggerated reactions and of course contrived conflicts that do not make sense for the sake of extended runtime. The first half of the show truly captivated my heart and piqued my curiosity. School days in the late 2000s brings back nostalgia and got me reminiscing about the good old days when everything is not yet high-tech and we just lived simple, normal lives. Indeed, those were the days. Unfortunately, the second half went down the drain and felt like a filler, full of fluff romance. The show is divided into three parts which also depicts the different stages of their lives from high school students, college students and working adults. This instills that in whichever timeline, Im Sol and Seon Jae are fated to meet each other even if it ends in doom.
There are many ways this could have turned out. This could have delivered a poignant story about how fans and idols are each other’s source of strength. They have this symbiotic relationship and bond that is unbreakable and beyond words. This kind of story would have been more heart-touching and relatable since there are millions of K-pop fans all around the world. Instead, they chose to tell a story of a one-dimensional villain who is obsessed with killing Seon Jae. The story did not even care to elaborate where this criminal came from and what his motives are for kidnapping and killing his innocent victims. I also hate how the plot treated Im Sol’s disability as an obstacle to her dreams. This is subtle discrimination against people with disability (PWD). I hate that no matter how many times she turns back time, the company is still the same and will always reject her if she's not able to walk because of the goddamn stairs. In every timeline, the company didn't bother to invest in an elevator 😤😤Doesn’t just this make Im Sol feel a lot worse because in every timeline her disability was her nemesis? Doesn’t this kind of story just add more fuel to disablism? Don’t get me wrong, I also wish Im Sol to be perfectly healthy and normal. It is just the way the story treated her paralysis as her tragedy and doom which leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Overall, Lovely Runner will go down in history as one of the most iconic romcoms which catapulted Woo Seok to stardom. It is a viral sensation and cultural phenomenon that reignited Hallyu. For some, this is a pleasant, feel-good watch, but for others this is a fluff romance with too much runtime and repetitive arc. This was truly a rollercoaster ride over 16 episodes which I will gladly ride again depending on if I’m in the mood for romance and willing to overlook plot holes and filler scenes or not.
Byeon Woo Seok as Seon Jae is a revelation. He is 2024’s breakthrough star and I fear no one can top his face card and on-the-spot comedic timings in the foreseeable future. He is more than just an eye candy because this handsome guy models, plays sports and sings, proving he is an all-rounder in the acting scene. He suits high school romance because he gives off this ulzzang or campus crush vibes and he has this relatable demeanor. Ryu Seon Jae is literally tailored fit for Woo Seok.
As expected, Kim Hye Yoon delivers a phenomenal and heartfelt performance. She shines in every role she takes. It saddens me though that she is underappreciated and overshadowed by Woo Seok’s success. Given her wide range of acting skills, it is still a mystery to me how she barely receives projects. Im Sol will not be Im Sol without Hye Yoon’s animated portrayal and soulful eyes that even a single teardrop falling from her eyes will break your heart into million pieces. This speaks volume to how Hye Yoon’s acting can move you deeply.
Lovely Runner uses the common and tested formula of K-drama which is fast-paced, full of cliffhangers, one-dimensional but entertaining supporting characters, exaggerated reactions and of course contrived conflicts that do not make sense for the sake of extended runtime. The first half of the show truly captivated my heart and piqued my curiosity. School days in the late 2000s brings back nostalgia and got me reminiscing about the good old days when everything is not yet high-tech and we just lived simple, normal lives. Indeed, those were the days. Unfortunately, the second half went down the drain and felt like a filler, full of fluff romance. The show is divided into three parts which also depicts the different stages of their lives from high school students, college students and working adults. This instills that in whichever timeline, Im Sol and Seon Jae are fated to meet each other even if it ends in doom.
There are many ways this could have turned out. This could have delivered a poignant story about how fans and idols are each other’s source of strength. They have this symbiotic relationship and bond that is unbreakable and beyond words. This kind of story would have been more heart-touching and relatable since there are millions of K-pop fans all around the world. Instead, they chose to tell a story of a one-dimensional villain who is obsessed with killing Seon Jae. The story did not even care to elaborate where this criminal came from and what his motives are for kidnapping and killing his innocent victims. I also hate how the plot treated Im Sol’s disability as an obstacle to her dreams. This is subtle discrimination against people with disability (PWD). I hate that no matter how many times she turns back time, the company is still the same and will always reject her if she's not able to walk because of the goddamn stairs. In every timeline, the company didn't bother to invest in an elevator 😤😤Doesn’t just this make Im Sol feel a lot worse because in every timeline her disability was her nemesis? Doesn’t this kind of story just add more fuel to disablism? Don’t get me wrong, I also wish Im Sol to be perfectly healthy and normal. It is just the way the story treated her paralysis as her tragedy and doom which leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Overall, Lovely Runner will go down in history as one of the most iconic romcoms which catapulted Woo Seok to stardom. It is a viral sensation and cultural phenomenon that reignited Hallyu. For some, this is a pleasant, feel-good watch, but for others this is a fluff romance with too much runtime and repetitive arc. This was truly a rollercoaster ride over 16 episodes which I will gladly ride again depending on if I’m in the mood for romance and willing to overlook plot holes and filler scenes or not.
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