Lovely Runner (2024)

Life Changing Experience (literally).

Words cannot convey how I felt watching Lovely Runner and the journey it took me through.

I was sceptical at first because they painted this as an idol-fan love story (and what I thought would be a weird age-gap), so I wasn't exactly looking forward to it, but I love Hyeyoon to pieces and was familiar with Wooseok (hated his character in Record of Youth or cried for him in 20th Century Girl), so I decided to give it a go. Episode 1 was alright, surprisingly left me wanting more, but nothing too extraordinary. I waited another day for Episode 2 to be release and well, I watched it and here I am, still in my Lovely Runner sh*t. I think everything changed for Subeom nation after that episode 2 ending, and from that moment I knew this would become a favourite of mine.

A girl time travelling to save the boy who gave her courage to live but that boy loved her all along for like 15 years? Dude, I don't know about you but I was OBSESSED. And from that moment on, my Mondays and Tuesdays became such a source of happiness to the point I hated weekends. Crazy, right? Plot-wise, this was brilliant. Even the smallest details made sense, and even thought there were a couple plot-holes (as expected since time-travelling media can't help but have them), this was brilliantly executed. From small things such as Sunjae realising Sol is from the future because she's singing Sudden Shower to more complex things such as Sol going further back into the past to erase herself from Sunjae's past, marvellous and beautiful.

Character-wise, I've got absolutely nothing to complain about, either.

Let's start with Im Sol, played by one of the greatest actresses of our generation, Kim Hyeyoon. This role was literally (because it was, in fact) written for her and no one, absolutely no one could've pulled it off the way she did. We saw Sol go through so many things in order to save Sunjae, sometimes failing to realise she was slowly losing herself during the process. But I am so happy that even though she had to endure a lot, at the end, all that effort paid off for her. I laughed with and at her, I cried with and for her, and I felt this character so much that I simply couldn't help but love her to pieces. I never understood the hate she was receiving, I believe her to be one of the most selfless characters I've come across and one I'm sure we will cherish for a long time.

As for Ryu Sunjae, played by big softie Byeon Wooseok, all I gotta say he deserves this huge blow up. which I gotta say, I'm not sure why he didn't get huge after (at least) 20th Century Girl, where he played a very similar character. Nevertheless, really happy for him because he became a global sensation, so deserved! Anyway, Sunjae!! God, Sunjae!! Leader of Subeom nation, a pathetic malewife and certified loser, I love you so much. Wooseok played Sunjae in a way I believe no one else could have, and we're all the richer for it. Sunjae was just a simply little (2 meter) guy who fell in love and that's it, but that doesn't mean his story ends there. He showed us perseverance, longing, grief, love, happiness, so many raw emotions we rarely see from male characters, and I think you will all agree with me that you just simply love him.

And finally, our Kim Taesung, played by the amazing Song Geonhee. I am very pleased to say I never disliked him, jokes on y'all for never seeing his potential! Taesung, thank you for showing the audience that second leads do not need to be toxic and clingy in order to stay relevant. Geonhee played such a charming Taesung that one couldn't just help but love him (which was my case). He was always there for Sol as a friend (and I'm so glad Sol never lead him on), and that he believed and trusted her when she asked for things that did not make any sense (future related, of course). Such a refreshing character that I will miss dearly.

I would also like to point out two more things regarding this drama. The first one is the make up and costume department, I AM CLAPPING AT THIS VERY SAME MOMENT. How were you able to convince me that Hyeyoon and Wooseok were 19 at some point and 34 at the other and so on? I mean, the actors of course had a great deal to do with this, but I believe the make up and costume team did a marvellous job that needs to be recognised.

THE OST! It's been such a while since an all-rounder OST came along, I will forever remember how desperate we all were for Spring Snow to be released, we were truly losing my minds. And I'm also forever thankful we had Wooseok sing Sudden Shower because that just adds a great deal more of emotion to the whole thing. Great singer choices, great songwriting, 10/10.

Overall, this drama did everything splendidly, and I am so sad that I have to let it go after 2 months, I wish I could forget it all so I can watch it again for the first time. I'm sure I'll rewatch from time to time (tomorrow, maybe hahah). If what you're looking for is a refreshing experience, I do certainly recommend this one right here. You won't be disappointed.

Perfection does not exist, but if it did and it came in the shape of a Korean television series, it would be Lovely Runner.

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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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Interesting Story ruined by Annoying FL

I can't explain hated and kinda enjoyed this at the same time.
(and the only reason I enjoyed it was honestly because, in between all of the cringy worthy dialogue and incredibly unbearably annoying actions, there truly are some really funny moments in this and I liked all of the supporting characters (for the most part, the brother is annoying af and so is her best friend but I'll give her a pass))

The story starts out with a very interesting and promising plot. from the get go we get introduced to this once-bitter female lead that has now changed into someone brighter and more positive because she was inspired by the male lead. However the situation is very cringy since she does start out as an obviously obsessed Kpop fan. doesn't matter why she started liking them, she ended obsessed. and that obsession/love for her idol ruins like 75% of the dialogue between the leads in the first like 7 episodes. she can't say something that doesn't sound stupid or crazy for the life of her.

The way they wrote the female lead really made this unbearable to watch sometimes.
She was super annoying and lacked any common sense. She was supposed to be acting like a 30 year old that goes back in time but instead she acts like she is 13 the entire time. Like, miss girl, did you NEVER watch ANY time travel media?? like, there are so many movies and tv shows about time travel that it can be considered general knowledge at this point. it should be obvious that if you travel back in time you should try and at least act normal about it. SHE NEVER ACTS NORMAL!! she is so incredibly dense.

I honestly wouldn't rewatch this drama ever, not even for the "good parts". Seriously. A drama not worth a rewatch is not a good drama.

Casting 20/10 tho.. Loved the actors. ❤️

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Good start, but lazy writing happened.

I watched this show expecting a lot because of the hype surrounding it but was let down. People were even comparing it to Twinkling Watermelon which was a top tier drama for me. I could tolerate it for a bit hoping that it would get better, but ultimately the female leads character is extremely annoying and I didn’t see any chemistry between the two leads. The plot is confusing at times but also very cliche and corny. I was waiting for a different result with the many chances the main character was given to change things. However, with the exception of the first back in time, it was a repeat of almost the same thing every time after. It’s not that I didn’t like it, but it was hard watching the female lead keep making the same mistakes trying to push the male lead away just to get the same result.

First few episodes are good, but there were so many plot holes in the storyline plus the lazy writing towards the end that just ruined this drama for me. Not a MUST WATCH! like what everyone is saying, but good for a one time watch.

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THE best drama of 2024.. it’s really really good watch this 10/10

From the promotional materials alone this series is anticipated to be nostalgic and heartwarming. I still don’t know how emotionally driven this will be, but the content of this story tells me it will be. It will either handle the subject material well, or it will fall right on its face.

What I can say now is I amvery optimistic though, and that’s got to do with the attitudes of the main characters, specifically Im Sol. Played by Kim Hye-Woon, at first I thought she was too moody, but quickly her views on life are changes and she’s quite likeable. her character is optimistic and loving, with a new perspective on life because of a touching message she heard from a newly debuted idol, Sun-Jae. This drama is refreshing for me right now and is perfect for the spring and summer combined.

Sun Jae’s character is complicated. I wonder if this series will portray his character of being an idol well, it’s tricky. I have seen dramas that fall right down with this, but they had idols in the cast that made it clear it was pretty much just a cash grab. Here, I was surprised to see that the cast has few idols. I loved to see the idols it did have as Cameo’s, it fit the time so well and the SNSD song Genie was wonderful to here.

I really am worried about this drama and see how it could go so wrong. Webtoons can either be a wonderful source for a story, or they could make a work unbelievable and annoying. So far it’s an episode in, so I can’t say too much quite yet. I will say for what this is worth, it’s ambitious. This drama has a very triggering main theme, I pray it pays respects to the theme instead of using it simply as a plot device. Mental Health is much more than a plot device and is very layered in terms of a persons complexity, emotional, situation, relationships, etc. The situations are kind of stupid, but for now it’s all in good fun, it’s fiction so it’s not going to be 100% believable. I just hope it doesn’t get to the point where too much or too little happens that I end up not caring. So far this drama is full of fun and it’s a lot more cheerful than I thought. That’s a very good thing though! I love the bright scenes and youthful atmosphere.

The first episode thought is actually pretty smart in a simple way. With how Im Sol believed she’s dreaming instead of living, it makes her actions make more sense. She’s not crazy or in love, she’s a fan who is dreaming.

In short, the visuals are very good. Byeon Woo Seok has the type of face that makes me wonder how he hasn’t stood out to me before. I hope he thrives with his career as well as all who are in this. particularly with him, he’s very good looking- he’s talented, and this role could be a pivoting point in his career. Hye Woon has already shown her career to be successful with her roles, and she’s very sweet and I love her dimples. The two of them are adorable with the visuals and height difference, so I’ll see if they have chemistry beyond that. They are fun together and a few episodes in and I’m buying into this drama.


The story is a lot more layered than I initially thought it would be. That’s all I can say without spoiling, but trust me and watch this drama. It really is the best I’ve seen all year and is right next to Queen of Tears for me and is reaching to be much better.

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One of the best drama's out there.

This drama is everything one can dream about. Let me tell you all something: it's been a while since I've been in a slump. Watching K-dramas was never the same for me after 2022. Even though I start watching dramas, I often leave them unfinished. Recently, when I saw a video about upcoming dramas, this one caught my attention. I started watching it once the second episode was out, and let me tell you all something: this drama has a special place in my heart. It just gives me the feeling of the time when I used to enjoy watching dramas and was obsessed with them. The storyline is so good that, whether it has a happy ending or a sad one, I will appreciate it because this one made me feel things I've never felt before. The main leads' acting is actually top-notch; they are portraying their characters so well. And we have a villain who doesn't have more than two words of dialogue but still manages to make us all worried. I mean, this drama is the definition of perfect. I would recommend this drama to anyone who needs to get out of their slump and watch something great.

And to talk about the OST, man, it’s one of the best ones out there. I love how the characters have to endure the parallels. At first, it was Sunjae who loved Im Sol for 15 years and she didn't know. Now it's quite the opposite: she remembers everything, and he forgets about her. Overall, this drama is a must-watch.

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This drama has consumed my entire being

I hated mondays and i look forward to mondays now. Ryu Sunjae and Im Sol appeared out of nowhere and took over my life with their epic romance. Their love story was like a whirlwind, pulling me into their world of passion, trials, and triumphs. Every moment they shared was filled with intensity, from their stolen glances to their heart-wrenching confessions. They navigated through misunderstandings and obstacles with a determination that made me believe in love's power to conquer all. I really cant put into words how precious this drama is. If youre wondering whether you should give a chance or not, please do. Trust me on this.

(How do i get over this drama y'all i literally dont know what im gonna do with my life when it ends next week ?)

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breaking my silence ( i put whatever in the star rating because i want to finish it first)

The drama started out fun and great but it started going down hill after the "highschool arc" , she avoided him in the most absured ways giving me second hand embaressment instead of talking and making it clear she wants nothing to do with him tf . But i still had hope, a part of me did'nt want this show to go even further down the drain , i had hope that they will salvage it somehow and pick up the pace when they made up . I really waited and suffered through out the whole collage missunderstanding thing , the light at the end of the tunnel started shinning and i was as hopeful as i can get when they he finally figured out the future thing , i ran till the end of this tunnel following the bright hopeful light and when i finally reached it it turned dark and all i could feel was the despair of the fucking disaster of episode 13. it was so bad i just finished watching it right now and started to write this . Episode 13 was so bad it made me write a goddamn essay , and the thing that makes my blood boil is the fact that people LIKED the episode , am i the problem ??? i don't wanns say too much about the episode because i already reviewd it in the episode 13 review , but the ending actually made me almost cry ........out of anger lmaooo beacuse please tell me why did she do that , now all the other 12 episode mean nothing quite literally .

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One of the best Kdrama

Oh where do I start? I’ve been seeing this show in my recommendation since this show started. I really wanted to watch this since Kim Hye Yoon is the female lead I liked her from Extraordinary You and I was really hooked with that drama. I was expecting that Lovely Runner will give me the same feeling but I hold back because this is on-going I didn’t want to experience the agony of waiting. But then yesterday I can’t help but binge watch and finish all fourteen episodes. All I can say is that Lovely Runner is perfection. It gave me nostalgic feeling. The OST is so good it keeps playing in my head over and over. The cast is perfect. They are all versatile. This show gave me a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Kim Hye Yoon never disappoints she act so well that you can’t feel she’s acting at all. It was so natural. She can make me laugh then cry after a moment. Byeon Woo Seok also matches the female lead’s versatility. I really love his character in this drama. He portrayed his role so well. He looked like a real swimmer, actor and an idol. I just found out that he actually sang the song ‘Sonagi (Sudden Shower)’ like damn he’s so talented what else can’t he do? The concert part where he sang Sonagi is full of emotions the last time I got carried away with a song like this was Jung Yong Hwa’s ‘Because I missed you’ in Heartstrings and to think he also sang it live?! How I wish there will be a real concert for Eclipse. They even have their own YT channel with all the OST of Eclipse. Byeon Woo Seok is a gem. His character is the greenest flag male lead I’ve ever seen in a drama. I hope they work again together in the future. The only thing I’m sad about is that this show has to end and I’m gonna miss my happy pill. Kudos to everyone who made this show a success. ?

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