Everything you said applies to W but you still gave it a high rating. I would even say W is worse
Hmmm.. I honestly don’t get the comparison. W worked because it understood exactly what it was and when it came out. For a 2016 drama, the plot was genuinely fresh. A webtoon character becoming self-aware, the real world colliding with fiction, thriller stakes mixed with romance. It was risky, but it committed, and the story actually moved forward instead of looping in circles. The ratings were solid for its time and it left a real impact, which is why people still talk about it now.
Lovely Runner is a 2024 drama that had way more resources and hindsight, yet somehow did less. The plot recycled time-travel tropes we’ve seen forever and kept resetting instead of developing. It tried to lean hard into “2008 nostalgia” but completely misunderstood it. The nostalgia felt cosmetic, not earned, like it was checking boxes instead of telling a coherent story. Most of the hype came from lackluster chemistry and good looks, not strong writing or execution, which is why it feels so overhyped.
W didn’t try to be nostalgic. It just worked for its era, and that’s why it aged well. Lovely Runner tried to manufacture nostalgia and emotional payoff, but the plot never delivered. One became a classic because it deserved it. The other was loud, trendy, and forgettable once the hype died down.
I don't see the need to compare the dramas at all. I have my opinion and you have yours. Simple as that 🙂💯
Let’s be real, you don’t actually respect my opinion. You started with “I respect your opinion” and then…
Vou repetir em português: não minta e diga que me respeita quando não me respeita. Você começou dizendo: "Eu respeito a sua opinião, mas..." Tipo, garota, acorde. A verdade é que não precisamos concordar... se você optar por ignorar a "manipulação", a "exploração" e o desequilíbrio de poder, o problema é seu. Não é problema meu se você vê este drama como seu favorito ou através de lentes cor-de-rosa. Eu tenho tanto direito à minha opinião quanto você. Não me ofendi, mas o fato de você ainda estar aqui tentando se defender, mesmo tendo sido rude comigo, não é legal. Eu não me importo mais... acredite e pense o que quiser, mas você não vai tentar mudar minha opinião ou me forçar a aceitar a sua. Tenha um ótimo dia, garota!
I respect your opinion, but saying that lovely runner is 'weird' because it involves Im Sol at 30 travelling back…
Let’s be real, you don’t actually respect my opinion. You started with “I respect your opinion” and then immediately invalidated it by calling it a “misreading” and “forced.” That’s not respect, that’s condescension with a thesaurus.
I said what I said: I find it weird. You don’t have to agree, but don’t try to dress up disagreement as some morally superior “interpretation” just because you vibe with the romantic fantasy. At the end of the day Sol is a grown woman. Just because she’s in a teenager’s body doesn’t mean her mind hit reset. Mind you Sunjae was 17 (international age) Therefore Sol had a 30-year-old’s mind and was kissing a teenager. Also two times she was drunk and Sunjae kissed her??? Like hello that is gonna raise red flags for a lot of people. If that doesn’t bother you, that’s your business. But don’t act like others pointing that out is some sort of overreaction.
I’ve said my piece. If you want to keep defending it, go off just don’t expect everyone else to romanticize something that, in any other context, would be called out instantly. ✌️
2 out of 10 is crazy. even if you think it's overrated, it was well produced. this just screams bitter to me.
Non constructive criticism is not welcome here. Read the guide lines. What you consider a 10 could be a 0 to me and vice-versa. That's the beauty of opinions! Your standards are not aligned with mine and thank the lord for that. Also, just because I did not resonate with your favorite drama or a drama you put on a golden pedestal does not make me bitter or a hater. Hope that helps ♥️
I have a phobia of overhyped dramas..Let's pray a game;For people who liked it list of reasons why I should face…
20 Reasons Why Lovely Runner is an Overhyped, Nonsensical Mess: 1. Sun Jae falls in love… because she ran in the rain? One yellow umbrella moment and suddenly he’s obsessed for years. Make it make sense. 2. Obsessive behavior framed as romantic. Following her, quitting his dreams, risking his life—none of it is cute, it’s borderline unhealthy. 3. Sol is one-dimensional and painfully self-involved. She talks at Sun Jae, not with him. It’s all about her “mission,” not his feelings. 4. Time travel rules? What rules? The mechanics are inconsistent. Sometimes things change, sometimes they don’t. It’s all vibes and no logic. 5. The trauma timeline is unrealistic. 6. No chemistry, just desperation. Sol looks like a crazed fangirl most of the time. Sun Jae just stares blankly, supposedly in love. 7. Zero build-up, instant obsession. Sun Jae barely interacts with Sol, yet his entire future revolves around her? 8. Characters are walking tropes. From the sweet-but-dim lead to the evil second male lead—every role is painfully formulaic. 9. Sun Jae has no personality outside of Sol. Take her away, and who even is he? We know nothing about his dreams, interests, or inner world. 10. No emotional weight to his “death.” His suicide is used as a plot device, not something the story truly reckons with. 11. Music is mid, yet the show acts like it’s revolutionary. They hype his band like it’s the next BTS, but the OSTs are forgettable. 12. Side characters are barely developed. Everyone exists to prop up the leads—no one has their own arc or purpose. 13. The villain is cartoonishly evil. Kim Young-Soo is written like a K-drama from 2005. No depth, no real motivation, just conveniently there as an obstacle between the leads. 14. Sol makes everything about herself. Even when Sun Jae’s hurting, she focuses on her guilt or the mission. It’s exhausting. 15. The romance has no foundation. You can’t build a lasting love story on a single meet-cute. Where’s the growth? 16. It romanticizes codependency. They both can’t live without each other (for no reason) and we’re meant to swoon? 17. Sun Jae is written to serve the fantasy, not realism. He’s not a person—he’s a blank canvas for wish fulfillment. 18. Every conflict is resolved with zero effort. Major life-altering problems? One conversation or time jump and poof—they’re gone. 19. It’s emotionally manipulative. The show tries to manufacture depth through melodrama instead of actually writing it. 20. It’s loved because it makes no sense. People defend it with “don’t think too hard,” but good storytelling shouldn’t fall apart the moment you do think.
Honestly, I’d say give Lovely Runner a try and see how you feel about it yourself. It’s one of those dramas that really divides opinions—some people are completely swept up in the romance and nostalgia, while others (like me) found it a bit overhyped and nonsensical. It leans hard into fantasy and emotion, so if you’re into dreamy love stories and don’t mind suspending disbelief, you might actually enjoy it. Whether you end up loving it or questioning everything—it’s better to experience it firsthand than rely on anyone else’s take.
I definitely agree that it does deserve less but I was trying to be “nice”
Lovely Runner is a 2024 drama that had way more resources and hindsight, yet somehow did less. The plot recycled time-travel tropes we’ve seen forever and kept resetting instead of developing. It tried to lean hard into “2008 nostalgia” but completely misunderstood it. The nostalgia felt cosmetic, not earned, like it was checking boxes instead of telling a coherent story. Most of the hype came from lackluster chemistry and good looks, not strong writing or execution, which is why it feels so overhyped.
W didn’t try to be nostalgic. It just worked for its era, and that’s why it aged well. Lovely Runner tried to manufacture nostalgia and emotional payoff, but the plot never delivered. One became a classic because it deserved it. The other was loud, trendy, and forgettable once the hype died down.
I don't see the need to compare the dramas at all. I have my opinion and you have yours. Simple as that 🙂💯
Tipo, garota, acorde. A verdade é que não precisamos concordar... se você optar por ignorar a "manipulação", a "exploração" e o desequilíbrio de poder, o problema é seu. Não é problema meu se você vê este drama como seu favorito ou através de lentes cor-de-rosa. Eu tenho tanto direito à minha opinião quanto você. Não me ofendi, mas o fato de você ainda estar aqui tentando se defender, mesmo tendo sido rude comigo, não é legal. Eu não me importo mais... acredite e pense o que quiser, mas você não vai tentar mudar minha opinião ou me forçar a aceitar a sua. Tenha um ótimo dia, garota!
I said what I said: I find it weird. You don’t have to agree, but don’t try to dress up disagreement as some morally superior “interpretation” just because you vibe with the romantic fantasy. At the end of the day Sol is a grown woman. Just because she’s in a teenager’s body doesn’t mean her mind hit reset. Mind you Sunjae was 17 (international age) Therefore Sol had a 30-year-old’s mind and was kissing a teenager. Also two times she was drunk and Sunjae kissed her??? Like hello that is gonna raise red flags for a lot of people. If that doesn’t bother you, that’s your business. But don’t act like others pointing that out is some sort of overreaction.
I’ve said my piece. If you want to keep defending it, go off just don’t expect everyone else to romanticize something that, in any other context, would be called out instantly. ✌️
Also, just because I did not resonate with your favorite drama or a drama you put on a golden pedestal does not make me bitter or a hater. Hope that helps ♥️
1. Sun Jae falls in love… because she ran in the rain?
One yellow umbrella moment and suddenly he’s obsessed for years. Make it make sense.
2. Obsessive behavior framed as romantic.
Following her, quitting his dreams, risking his life—none of it is cute, it’s borderline unhealthy.
3. Sol is one-dimensional and painfully self-involved.
She talks at Sun Jae, not with him. It’s all about her “mission,” not his feelings.
4. Time travel rules? What rules?
The mechanics are inconsistent. Sometimes things change, sometimes they don’t. It’s all vibes and no logic.
5. The trauma timeline is unrealistic.
6. No chemistry, just desperation.
Sol looks like a crazed fangirl most of the time. Sun Jae just stares blankly, supposedly in love.
7. Zero build-up, instant obsession.
Sun Jae barely interacts with Sol, yet his entire future revolves around her?
8. Characters are walking tropes.
From the sweet-but-dim lead to the evil second male lead—every role is painfully formulaic.
9. Sun Jae has no personality outside of Sol.
Take her away, and who even is he? We know nothing about his dreams, interests, or inner world.
10. No emotional weight to his “death.”
His suicide is used as a plot device, not something the story truly reckons with.
11. Music is mid, yet the show acts like it’s revolutionary.
They hype his band like it’s the next BTS, but the OSTs are forgettable.
12. Side characters are barely developed.
Everyone exists to prop up the leads—no one has their own arc or purpose.
13. The villain is cartoonishly evil.
Kim Young-Soo is written like a K-drama from 2005. No depth, no real motivation, just conveniently there as an obstacle between the leads.
14. Sol makes everything about herself.
Even when Sun Jae’s hurting, she focuses on her guilt or the mission. It’s exhausting.
15. The romance has no foundation.
You can’t build a lasting love story on a single meet-cute. Where’s the growth?
16. It romanticizes codependency.
They both can’t live without each other (for no reason) and we’re meant to swoon?
17. Sun Jae is written to serve the fantasy, not realism.
He’s not a person—he’s a blank canvas for wish fulfillment.
18. Every conflict is resolved with zero effort.
Major life-altering problems? One conversation or time jump and poof—they’re gone.
19. It’s emotionally manipulative.
The show tries to manufacture depth through melodrama instead of actually writing it.
20. It’s loved because it makes no sense.
People defend it with “don’t think too hard,” but good storytelling shouldn’t fall apart the moment you do think.
Honestly, I’d say give Lovely Runner a try and see how you feel about it yourself. It’s one of those dramas that really divides opinions—some people are completely swept up in the romance and nostalgia, while others (like me) found it a bit overhyped and nonsensical. It leans hard into fantasy and emotion, so if you’re into dreamy love stories and don’t mind suspending disbelief, you might actually enjoy it. Whether you end up loving it or questioning everything—it’s better to experience it firsthand than rely on anyone else’s take.
If you like Sian or Junseo you have bad discernment and like red flags 💀