Chains of Reverie

Terminally ill main leads who want to make the most of the time before they die
“Mr. Plankton” the main lead goes on a literal and emotional journey, a road trip to find his roots
“Our Movie” there’s a personal or creative journey, main lead is making a movie, documenting memories, or living life to the fullest

Dramas set in the 1980s–90s that focus on finding one’s dream, self-discovery, and perseverance through life’s challenges. They tell stories filled with family bonds, love, school life, laughter, heartbreak, and regret. Stand By Me centers mainly on youth which includes the friendships, first loves, and struggles of growing up capturing the innocence and bittersweet moments of teenage years. Miles to Go expands beyond youth, blending rural life with the characters’ adult and work lives, exploring how dreams and relationships evolve over time. Both dramas offer emotional depth and nostalgia.

Both dramas explore modern romance in a thoughtful, slow-paced way, with emotionally layered characters, realistic dialogue, and strong, independent female leads. They touch on themes like personal growth, societal pressure, and love as partnership (healthy relationships)
However, BTIMFL leans more introspective and melancholic, focusing on a quiet, contract-based relationship where emotions unfold slowly and subtly. Run On, on the other hand, feels more emotionally open and warm, with a couple that grows through honest communication and mutual understanding from early on.
If you’re drawn to smart, heartwarming romances that go beyond cliché tropes, both are deeply satisfying in their own unique ways.