romcom drama that appears once a decade
Deciding to watch this drama on-going was the right decision. I started this drama because of THE Kim Hyeyoon and time travel is one of my favorite genres. The first ten minutes of the pilot episode managed to take me into a deep emotion when Im Sol lost her willing for life and then she got a glimmer of hope from Ryu Sunjae and it became the turn point of her life. Im Sol's life as a fangirl also makes me feel very familiar and relatable. The development of the story then made me feel like I was riding a roller coaster of emotions and the experience of watching this was like taking a trip to somewhere for the first time and I couldn't guess what they would give me next.Time travel back to school plot and first love stories are nothing new in East Asian dramas and I have watched quite a lot of similar stories before. However, this drama is able to give me all new feelings that I have never felt before from the same genre. This drama succeeds in presenting elements of comedy and also romance very well. The romance was conveyed so beautifully and it succeeded in making my heart flutters so many times, while the comedy succeeded in making me laugh out loud. Other elements, such as angst and the mixture of various existing tropes, are also mixed well which makes this drama so rich with flavors.
The two main leads have very strong chemistry and each complements the other. Kim Hyeyoon is an actress with wide-range acting skill. She previously proved her ability in several roles. Here, she plays a quite complex role. From just one drama, she is able to convey various emotions in an extraordinary way. Kim Hyeyoon's strength in my opinion is that she can make her co-stars follow the same rhythm as her. Even though Byeon Wooseok is an actor who has previously shown his abilities in several roles, but perhaps this is his best role so far, especially in the romance genre. I also need to praise the director, because of his excellent works he's able to present Byeon Wooseok's microexpression so well. To play the main role in the romance genre, good synergy between the two main leads is very necessary. Kim Hyeyoon and Byeon Wooseok are a very matched couple that this drama successfully presents to the audience, so that we can feel what a romantic comedy should convey through the screen.
Cannot be avoided, in the time travel genre it is difficult to avoid plot holes, especially if the episode length is limited. Actually, I hope there are several things that are explained more in this drama, but I don't think this is crucial because this genre is fantasy romcom, not a sci-fi. For me, that is not a weakness of this drama, because the main message this drama wants to convey is already delivered.
When watching this drama on-going, I was very excited and also worried about the development of the plot, but thankfully until the latest episodes I was still able to really enjoy it, as I enjoyed it at the beginning. I am currently so grateful because I have found a good romcom drama again after a long time, but this also has a negative effect on me because after this it will be difficult to enjoy a similar genre for quite some time. Up until now, I have rewatched it for so many times, because rewatching this after the story develops further gives a stronger feeling.
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A Drama that Heals Our Sorrows
It gave me such an indescribable feeling when the more I rewatch this drama, the more I think Lovely Runner is a perfectly written and directed drama from start to end.Then it hit me that I’m not gonna heal from this withdrawal syndrome any soon. It will be hard to find a drama that’s as amazing as this.
For 13 years as a Kdrama fan, I used to feel like this with some dramas I watched before, but I’ll admit that this one is quite different. I can’t describe it. I feel like there’s a hole in my chest after it ended.
What makes Lovely Runner loveable:
1. The simplicity (brings us back to older Kdramas that we genuinely enjoy without much heavy stuff).
3. Fast-paced storylines that keep us engaged.
4. Unpredictable (most viewers’ theories were proved wrong by the next episode).
5. Easy-to-understand storylines (IDK why some have problems regarding this aspect).
6. Almost flawless (most so-called “plot holes” are debunked when we focus from the start or rewatch).
7. The beauty of every details, plot twists, parallels in every timeline (KUDOS TO THE DIRECTOR).
8. The satisfying romance (the BEST, so far)
9. No wasting time with the villain & second male lead’s backstory;
10. Hence, not draggy (like most dramas after early half).
11. The balance and right timing when it comes to comedy & dark aspects.
12. The perfect OST & Eclipse songs (top ranked on music charts).
13. Iconic scenes (umbrella, nostril, lamppost, Sunny).
14. The chemistry between all characters.
15. The BEST we could ask for.
I’d love to describe more but I don’t think using words is enough to talk Lovely Runner. But one thing that I could use to describe this drama from my perspective is that Lovely Runner is “the kind of drama that heal our sorrows”. :) <3
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smile cry laugh drool repeat
a rollercoaster of emotions in just 1 episode 😭I don't know how to explain but it's worth to watch ...everything is just perfect ☺️
But I cried with 10mins of the episode 😭😭😭😭
the OST... they are so good, I don't know who sang them but emotions and warmth in voice is so soothing ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
go ahead and watch it ..💯💯💯
its quite promising I haven't read the webtoon yet but now I am gonna read it because I need to get myself ready for what will be ahead ☠️☠️☠️ I don't want any heartbreak 💔 in the future
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Dear Future Audience, Doubting the Plot? Trust Me: Writing, Direction and Acting Shine
The plot isn't new, and there's no debate about it, but OMG, the writing is excellent. Each character is written well, evoking a strong sense of the mid-2000s era. No amount of praise is sufficient; every character, regardless of size, is meticulously crafted.Now, let's discuss the director. What a vision, my friend; the director exhibits remarkable intelligence, understanding precisely what the audience will enjoy. The direction is captivating; there's never a dull moment, showcasing the director's exceptional vision.
The actors, OMG, words fail to express their brilliance in their respective roles, especially our main leads.
The male lead is portrayed exceptionally well, with the character finely etched, this role is a gift for him, and he owns it. He's not just a green flag; he's the brand ambassador of Green Flag.
As for the female lead, there's no doubt she's the perfect choice for the role; her character is tailor-made for her. Kudos to her for embracing this role.
"And she's truly courageous for trusting the lovely runner team, despite many actors rejecting the male lead role in this drama. Yet, she persisted and literally waited 2-3 years to meet Ryu Sun-jae in real life ."
Hats off to the entire production team for their patience amidst the delays and their unwavering confidence in the project. Despite other actors being hesitant to take on the male lead role, they serve as a true inspiration.
Future audience , who want to have doubts because you might think the plot is so average, but my dear, I agree, the plot isn’t fresh, but trust me, the writing is amazing, the direction is super amazing, and the acting is the cherry on top.
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This review may contain spoilers
Cheesy, thoughtless, incomplete details
I'm sorry my dear friends - I truly tried to be fair and complete the episodes. But from ep.10 itself it started dragging so badly that I barely managed to torture myself till ep.12.It had so much promise so I waited for all episodes to be released then decided to binge watch. But alas!
Maybe the story/ screen play writer went back in time and forgot to come back??
Or they flew into the future and left the balance script for amateurs to fill in the gaps??
Whatever.....it's an irresponsible story with vague events, one sided chemistry from the ML, worthless romance etc etc.
Is someone beating you guys up that you have to produce such high quantity at the risk of poor low quality dramas?
I have not seen one decent romance k drama to date in 2024.
Your country, culture and wonderful entertainment has taken the world by storm - hope you can go back to making high quality dramas with some time, effort and love 💕
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This review may contain spoilers
Jekyll & Hyde show that is doing my head in
To say that I'm torn about this show is an understatement. I have seldom seen a series that managed to succeed in one key area and yet screw up another. Please allow me to explain.This series is built on two drama staples. Swoon worthy romance and the time traveling do-overs.
It nails the first with aplomb. Our leads' chemistry is undeniable and when it works, it is meltingly good. Time and again, when I start to suffer, the writer-nim would bring on the amore and we are floating in a pink cloud. . . until we crash back to earth due to the ham-fisted way the show handles the timey-wimey bits.
The problem is not that the show tripped up on some high temporal concept but rather simple plot management. To wit, the show used weaponised time travel like a blunt instrument. Internal logic and intersecting plots be damned.
It worked ok the first go around but after each do-over, the narrative got more convoluted. It basically tied itself in knots. Did events change? Did time correct itself? Does someone know or cares?! I'm sure the writer doesn't. Forget about time traveling taboos, it was a road kill right from the start.
Another contributor to this mess is the serial killer/kidnapper subplot. How I wish k-dramas would stop using this trope, but I digress. As before, his first couple of appearances was impactful and fits within the context of the central premise. However, one of the fundamental purposes of a do-over is to change the timeline so that history does not repeat itself. In this case, the plot around the killer is more like a rubber band. It becomes a millstone.
It doesn't help when the antagonist is a "faceless" bogeyman who won't go away. I get that he is obsessed with the FL, but the rationale is lost in the mist of plot disarray. He has a name but no backstory, no motivation for any of his actions. They shouldn't have met, or he should be in jail as each timeline changes. Then what happened to him in the 15 years since he may or may not have kidnapped the FL? Did he killed more girls or just looked for the FL all those years. What are the police doing? Watching reruns of Dr. Who?!
The antagonist finally got his just deserts in the last EP but how I wish it happened 6 eps earlier. The last EP is total fan service on steroids! It speed-run through a stack of dating tropes and it is total guilty pleasure. It compensates for some of the mid show confusions.
There is a decent amount of skinship throughout the run and they felt right. Not the most passionate I have seen but swoon-y nevertheless.
In terms of acting, it is the same split personality. I love the leads to bits, but the support cast is all over the place. The grandma is sweet. The mum is bearable. The ML's dad is a buffoon who goes for the cheap laughs. The FL's bestie and her brother are so cringy. Their roles get more and more exaggerated as the show progresses. Are they 13 or 30? I groan during some of their scenes.
The kidnapper deserves his own paragraph. He is so one dimensional. Basically, a cardboard cutout. He shows up, does the Death Stare with bonus grimace and retires to a dark corner to await his next money shot. So little effort yet so pivotal a role.
In the end, if they do a director's cut of our leads’ romantic journey, it would be 10/10. I would be a happy couch potato watching it on repeat. The rest gets a 6/10. In view of balance, the show gets an 8/10.
I can totally understand the hype and attention surrounding the show but I also get why some would defer as well. I need therapy.
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Though I did not like how the story leads to, it was overall lovely and funny!
Lovely Runner delivers a true rom-com moments and up-beat-ness which I enjoyed for the most part. The characters are likeable, very bubbly with laugh-out-loud jokes a lot of times, especially the ones involving the friends and families. It was interesting and great to see the story through different timelines without it being confusing – which is essential for a time travel drama. I loved that the couple is cute and trusting of each other. Their romantic scenes were wonderful and were shot beautifully.Well, at some point I started losing interest. I was expecting they eventually would address Sun-Jae & Im Sol's insecurities that we saw in the beginning, but they focus on the murderer involvement. This part of the story was so uninteresting. Every time the episode is about to end, this mysterious guy appear and whatever he does gives no tension. The accident and incidents happening were repetitive so they did not make me care or anxious anymore. Overall, still a fun watch, though, it gave me motivation to look forward to Mondays!
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A Green Forest Kdrama
This is undoubtedly my favorite kdrama of all time!I had started this unexpectedly because the plot was something which is not everyone's cup of tea and I really liked KHY and BWS as actors so gave it a go. And ngl I was seated from 1st ep to the 16th one with rewatching each ep after it aired. It was also surprising to see a drama do well with next to zero promotional activities.
This drama had all tropes like time travel, love at first sight, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, comedy, bromance and what not. It was hard to bring all these together, but the director and the writer did a fabulous job portray it wonderfully. Even the 3 timelines shown were also beautifully put together. The acting was top notch from everyone and this drama had one of the green flag SML. The OST's are also so good that I listen to it almost everyday.
The chemistry here is one of the best I've ever seen. The way KHY and BWS portrayed sol and sunjae I don't think any other actor could have done it like them. They made me laugh, cry, gave me so many butterflies and made me stuck with them in this joyful ride together. For me they've become the best on screen couples of all time.
This drama had everything in it that captivated the viewers hearts from the beginning. It made my 2 months so wholesome that it'll forever remain in my heart. It'll be hard to get over this masterpiece but till then I'm gonna just rewatch the eps or else I'll miss each monday and tuesday from now on.
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Started off well , ended up a cliched mess
I guess i am also one of the very few who cannot rave about this show and this review will not be liked by most of the current (young) audiences but well since i watched i will provide my thoughtsI was attracted by clips of first few episodes and story line thinking it will be "we. will cross all hurdles including time and space" type of love story which i am up for watching anytime but i was disappointed big time.
First two episodes was gripping. First wave of disappointment came in when there was fire in Im Sol's house . What was it ! why that sequence which did not make sense and its utterly annoying to see such stupidity. Its not comedy if it does not fit into the flow of the sequence. Randomly these sequences are integrated. There are some comic scenes which is really good but most just falls flat and importantly it does not contribute to the story in any way.
But what really doused my interest is ML already liking her and with just one look and no interaction in original timeline .Liking her to the point where he cares nothing but her. That just destroyed the premise for me .
ML cares about swimming for first few episodes then he doesnt give a damn. After that its like a list of cute scenes or crying scenes but really what is their relationship if we dont see them sit and talk and discuss other than saying they are happy !. He was a student who worked hard for it and now he is just a romantic goof .
If only their relationship was built with more substance where she comes back to save him , bcs she saw him as a person who gave back her spirit of life but then slowly turns into something more and the same with him but no.. it all stays in a very superficial level.
Even FL does not show any maturity when she is supposed to be 34 year old in the body of 20 year old and that too for a person who has gone through so much and when she remembers all of that! Being full of life is not same as acting all teenage like!
Psycho story line is a mess as well. A criminal attacked police officers and how come he is still roaming around and police officers are listening to a teenage girl what to do!! No wonder they could not keep a criminal in hand cuffs in place lol.
And then later he also manages to come to a 5 star hotel to attack the ML. wow! thats hell of a security and policy system this world has!
Same with SML and ML's friend . ML did not even know where his friend lived. And SML one day became buddies with them and enjoying in the beach ( another beach scene cliche thats a must i suppose) when he had his own gang which disappeared ?
Point is none of this characters or the relationship is built up on a solid base that you care about them (Cant help but think of SOOD here)
Only good thing is the leads and the actors who do have a good comic timing ( but sadly all are over the top or out of place)
This plot had the potential to be as good as Someday or one day. Sigh ..
PS : i am still giving ratings more than what i think it deserves
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Overhyped and not worth to watch.
The beginning episodes brought out a different and unique plotline but the further you watch, the stupid decisions that female lead makes, make me mad for some reason. The script or the directions could have been much better. I feel like the female lead is over acting that does not suit the drama (no offense, as i liked her in extrodinary you). She either smiles brightly or gives a shocking expression.Was this review helpful to you?
My favorite romcom of all time, not just 2024
This has fluffy romance, comedy aplenty and a lot of heart. I can't believe that within 10 minutes into the drama, I was already crying with Im Sol. Kim Hye Yoon delivered such a great performance in the first episode that before it ended I was hooked.The story is about Im Sol (Hye Yoon) who was about to give up on life after an accident. Because of the encouragement she got from an idol Ryu Sun Jae (Woon Seok), she decided to live. For more than 10 years, she supported Sun Jae as a fan and was very shocked when news came out that Sun Jae died from apparent suicide. A mystic occurrence brought her back in time when both she and Sun Jae were still in high school. Can she stop Sun Jae's death? Was it really a suicide?
Only 2 episodes are out but I am already enjoying this drama. In fact, the last few minutes of Episode 2 had me silently screaming with excitement. Scenes that may seem cringey on paper turned out lovely and sweet because of the music used and the chemistry between Hye Yoon and Woon Seok. And then there's also Geon Hee who's playing the second lead. He also looks good with Hye Yoon. But I'm still team Sun Jae. The scriptwriters so far made somewhat believable scenarios (yeah, I will also run/get scared when a person seems crazy). I am looking forward for the next episodes.
Edit:
I am now at episode 7 and this just keeps getting better so I'm changing my review score from 9.5 to 10. This deserves it for making me look forward to Mondays even though it's the start of my work week. Now I'm not just on the Sunjae-Sol ship but also on the Woo soek-Hye yoon ship too. These two are really lovely together.
Edit 2:
After completion, this has become my standard for a romcom and has become my favorite drama of all time. I would rate it more than 10 if I could. I love all the OSTs, they are used at the right timing throughout the drama even the BGMs. This also has the best pacing among all the dramas I've seen with the focus mostly on the leads. Its romance is satisfying and was not stingy at all with the kiss scenes unlike usual kdramas. Its comedy despite a few misses are ones that remain funny even after a few rewatches. Its logic as a time travel drama made sense and was not messy at all. I know I'll rewatch this just for the comfort it brings. There was a time in Ep13 that this drama broke my heart but immediately fixed it again in the next episode. Parallelism and easter eggs are spread throughout the entire drama which makes you want to rewatch. It shows you again and again that the leads are made for each other. I'm so glad that I chased this because I was able to discuss theories and ship the lead couple with fellow capellas (eclipse fandom) and subeoms (solseon fandom)
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Perfection
I couldn't have asked for anything more, a beautiful drama from ep 1 to ep 16. Will remember this drama and rewatch this drama for many years to come. Has taken my #1 kdrama spot for sure. I am so thankful to the amazing actors and amazing staff that worked on this show. Every second has been memorable and never made me bored or upset at the direction they choose to go. Every important character acted amazing and brought life to their characters that makes me sad to say goodbye to them. SolSun for life easily my favorite drama couple ever.Was this review helpful to you?
