2
This review may contain spoilers
The plot could've been more serious if the characters were
I was really expecting a lot more from Lovely Runner. I actually had this on my want to watch list since it first aired, but due to the bad reviews I didn't have the motivation to actually start. I'm actually really surprised how such a 'complicated' plot can be done sooooo simple. I liked it, however, It's nothing new or special. Although the story is unique, the moments are very common in other Kdrama's. The staring, sleeping and watching each other and more. It isn't necessarily wrong to add them, but it doesn't make it unique either. Due to this, the whole plot felt extremely simple.
One of the first things I noticed was how surprisingly fast romance happened in this series. Normally it takes ages for a kiss or confession but the first kiss is already in episode 8 here. I really like that but I also prefer proper romance build ups. I think everyone feels the same way but it was so obvious from the beginning who she was gonna end up with and the poster was also giving it away. I have to admit that Im Sol also showed barely any interest in Tae Seong. I don't think it was the shows intention to make us question whether Im Sol was gonna pick Tae Seong or Seon Jae.
One of the very weak points for me has to be the chemistry, or maybe it's just the writing. I think Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon look amazing together, don't get me wrong. But the problem here is the personality of their characters. They are both soooo alike. I kind of have preference towards the 'opposite attracts' trope so for me this was not it. Another problem I'm seeing is the unclear motivation of Ryu Seon Jae likings to Im Sol. Genuinely, where did he even get interested in? Now this might sound like I despise Im Sol but it's more like I wanna know why he liked her back? I saw someone else with the same question and people reacted saying it's her personality but his interest wasn't superrrr clear to me. I did really like how Ryu Seon Jae showed his affection towards Im Sol and it was overall just adorable. I like how he just kinda freezes and holds back around her but when he's alone he giggles like a teenage girl. I can't get over how adorable he is. I really love the side characters!! The father and family seems sooo fun. Lee Hyeon Ju kinda pissed me off at first but later she ended up being quite nice. I did not expect her to end up with who she ended up with though!!
I always like to write a small part on production. I used to be very updated on Kdramas but for the once after 2021 I'm really not updated so I have not much to say. I'm not familiar with the directors Yoon Jong Ho or Kim Tae Yub. What I really like about lovely runner is the design. It kinda gives of these like 'nostalgic' colours and I love how they really thought about details when Im Sol goes back in time, like phones looking different etc. Yes, even big series sometimes forget these things. I also wasn't familiar with the actors aside from Lee Seung Hyub because of N.FLYING. Also funny to see Yang Hyuk playing as bassist. Kdrama's are really about to give me reasons to stan Omega X.
The episodes were kinda all over the place, even if the plot was clear. Some episodes felt like fillers meanwhile there was crazy stuff happening in other episodes. The romance was extremely fast comparing to other Kdrama's, BUT, it got slower and slowed around the last few episodes and I almost dropped it due to it. Especially episode 12-13 were in my opinion slow. Obviously they meant to bring out a message but ehh. Also the ending of the last episode wasn't really special to me.
I haven't read the web novel yet which is surprising because I usually read those before watching a drama. I criticised this series a lot but the fun and nostalgic feeling is amazing. Not exactly my type of series but definitely good. I think you have to be the type to like this and if you're not, you're not. A small point I didn't mention is Korea loves making series about disabilities when in reality they OFTEN (not always) treat disabled people like shit. It would've been nice if they added more weight to the fact Im Sol was disabled. Especially towards the ending, I almost completely forgot. Anyways, not sure whether I would recommend it or not.
One of the first things I noticed was how surprisingly fast romance happened in this series. Normally it takes ages for a kiss or confession but the first kiss is already in episode 8 here. I really like that but I also prefer proper romance build ups. I think everyone feels the same way but it was so obvious from the beginning who she was gonna end up with and the poster was also giving it away. I have to admit that Im Sol also showed barely any interest in Tae Seong. I don't think it was the shows intention to make us question whether Im Sol was gonna pick Tae Seong or Seon Jae.
One of the very weak points for me has to be the chemistry, or maybe it's just the writing. I think Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon look amazing together, don't get me wrong. But the problem here is the personality of their characters. They are both soooo alike. I kind of have preference towards the 'opposite attracts' trope so for me this was not it. Another problem I'm seeing is the unclear motivation of Ryu Seon Jae likings to Im Sol. Genuinely, where did he even get interested in? Now this might sound like I despise Im Sol but it's more like I wanna know why he liked her back? I saw someone else with the same question and people reacted saying it's her personality but his interest wasn't superrrr clear to me. I did really like how Ryu Seon Jae showed his affection towards Im Sol and it was overall just adorable. I like how he just kinda freezes and holds back around her but when he's alone he giggles like a teenage girl. I can't get over how adorable he is. I really love the side characters!! The father and family seems sooo fun. Lee Hyeon Ju kinda pissed me off at first but later she ended up being quite nice. I did not expect her to end up with who she ended up with though!!
I always like to write a small part on production. I used to be very updated on Kdramas but for the once after 2021 I'm really not updated so I have not much to say. I'm not familiar with the directors Yoon Jong Ho or Kim Tae Yub. What I really like about lovely runner is the design. It kinda gives of these like 'nostalgic' colours and I love how they really thought about details when Im Sol goes back in time, like phones looking different etc. Yes, even big series sometimes forget these things. I also wasn't familiar with the actors aside from Lee Seung Hyub because of N.FLYING. Also funny to see Yang Hyuk playing as bassist. Kdrama's are really about to give me reasons to stan Omega X.
The episodes were kinda all over the place, even if the plot was clear. Some episodes felt like fillers meanwhile there was crazy stuff happening in other episodes. The romance was extremely fast comparing to other Kdrama's, BUT, it got slower and slowed around the last few episodes and I almost dropped it due to it. Especially episode 12-13 were in my opinion slow. Obviously they meant to bring out a message but ehh. Also the ending of the last episode wasn't really special to me.
I haven't read the web novel yet which is surprising because I usually read those before watching a drama. I criticised this series a lot but the fun and nostalgic feeling is amazing. Not exactly my type of series but definitely good. I think you have to be the type to like this and if you're not, you're not. A small point I didn't mention is Korea loves making series about disabilities when in reality they OFTEN (not always) treat disabled people like shit. It would've been nice if they added more weight to the fact Im Sol was disabled. Especially towards the ending, I almost completely forgot. Anyways, not sure whether I would recommend it or not.
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