Lovely Runner (2024)

this will be a classic!

I never wrote a review before but I have to talk about this masterpiece! This drama ended my small k-drama slump and reached my heart.

The ML and FL have so much chemistry and I literally giggled and smiled the whole 16 episodes (minus the sad scenes obviously). The soundtracks are amazing and 10CM held the whole fandom in a chokehold before the offical release of Spring Snow.

The only plot that annoyed me after a while was the killer. It became a bit boring after a few episodes, but the sweet scenes of the lovebirds made me ignore that.

I will definitely rewatch this drama, Sol and Sonjae have a place in my heart now :')

Read More

THE PERFECT BLEND!!! ( of romance, fantasy, emotions, comedy, suspense and thrill)

Lovely runner is a coming of age drama that managed to blend together different aspects and actually made it work some how, lovely runner covers the emotional aspects through its plot and then it goes ahead and adds romance which is heartfluttering and heart warming and then goes ahead and adds in a little comedy to balance out the heaviness of the plot and then it continues to add in many other different aspects such as time travel which is done in a way I found interesting and Intruiging...it then goes ahead and adds suspense and thrill...all of this mixed up together to give as a memorable story....now it isn't easy to balance all of this together without giving much priority to one affecting the other but somehow lovely runner makes it work till the end.

lovely runner tells the story of a fan who loses her idol and during her time of desparation finds her self travelling back in time to the time when her idol was in his highschool days....hence she takes it upon her self to protect him from harm....and make sure she lives to see the future.

I loved the build up of the idol and fan relationship, i loved how the idol was shown as some one who was their for the fan during her tough times and that added a specific emotion towards her bond with him.

We explore the story more and find out that there is more to these two's relationship than just then being fan and idol and that's when the fun begins.....

There are plenty of things I loved about this drama and I'll try to summarise them into five respectively....

THE PLOT : Any one would say that this story has been seen before and yes maybe it has but I loved how it was executed in a way that made it feel fresh to me as a watcher...like I said I love how they blended various aspects together to create something rather memorable.

THE ACTING : The acting was nothing short of being phenomenominal...every one gave their best and I love how they acted with passion, it was the kind of acting that draws you in as a viewer because you get to feel every little bit of emotion through these characters and it was really amazing....

THE CHARACTERISATION: The characters in this drama were made for the actors and actresses that took them on......my only flaw was that I wished that they fleshed out some of the characters a bit more for example I wanted to see the second male lead as more than just this cool guy but rather a glimpse of his personal life and his family something to get me connected to him as a person not that I wasn't but I needed a bit more...a other interesting character that felt wasted was lnyuk, his passion for music alone could have been a build up for his own story he would have shined.. because best believe he knows how to act but it felt like he was a guest role that only showed up when they needed some comedic reactions from him...I also kind of wished that his friendship with the male lead was fleshed out a bit...it would have been heartwarming to see their bromance...that felt lacking other than that the leads were written perfectly each felt complex and each felt like they had personality...the male lead being showed as this golden retriever and a string willed and headed female lead whose hate O wont entertain btw considering her actions and reactions to things were nothing short of how any human being would react......the characters were written well enough...

THE COMEDIC TIMING: This dramas strongest weapon was the spot on comedy..nothing felt un natural or forced..the characters them selves had amazing comedy timing..their reactions to things felt real to the point that some situations couldn't have really called for laughing but I did because the characters sold it...hearts off to the direction of the comedy scenes they added a charm to the story....

THE ROMANCE: what makes a good romance, the answer is being well written in a way that it doesn't cringe but rather gives you flutters and leaves you feeling single...and then the chemistry.. chemistry is such an important factor for me when it comes to romance having no CHEMISTRY ruins everything for me and thank God the leads had song chemistry..they had the tension, they had the cute interactions that felt natural it all felt right so I have to say in addition to the way their there romance was built I appreciated the chemistry that sold that romance to me...I also loved how their love story was a mixture of different genres...we had first love, live at first sight, he fell first and harder, unrequited love, friends to lovers, highschool sweethearts, college romance, adult romance, meet against, and many more....

THE OSTS: “ cause Iam falling slowly in love with you.." I have this on repeat....the osts were absolutely amazing.

This drama was the perfect blend...the romance was done well and so was the thrill and suspense in addition to the time travel and fantasy in addition to the comedy it was the perfect blend!!!

I'll wait to conclude my review before I watch the final episode.....

Read More

?????

overall it’s a good good good drama. truly romcom, I laugh, I cry, can’t stop thinking about this drama. so happy that hye yoon get recognize more from this drama. as you can see she’s been alot in drama as cameo, support role, as the PD nim said she is the soul of the drama! actually i usually wait until half of the drama complete but i cant help to watch it because there so much spoiler in sns. everyone fits perfectly in this drama. i tought its just some typical drama about fangirl trying to save her idol, turns out its more about sunjae being a fanboy since the begining. there’s alot of theory about this drama (i read the manhwa a well) but its kinda different than the actual manhwa.

Read More

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.

Read More

a drama i can't ever be able to get off

almost every drama i've watched when i start watching if i think 'oh its good.' but that one disappoint me at a point. but lovely runner is that type of drama i've never disappointed of! most osts are my favourite till now. the cinematography, the cast, the story.. I've never felt a bit boring for a single second! i've never skipped any scene. I took at least 100 minutes for watching an one hour episode.. I've never felt like this while ending a drama. i never thought I'd like it this much! i started watching it without any expectations.. and its my favourite drama now. before this drama i saw Byeon Wooseok in STRONG GIRL NAMSOON but to be honest i didn’t like him. and i didn’t also liked Kim Hyeyoon this much! so i wasn’t a bit interested in this. i started it out of monotony! but after this drama i like them than anyone else. they are my obsession now..

i don't know how to express my thoughts now. i have so many words to say but it feels like i've lost all my words. beat me but LOVELY RUNNER is the best drama this year.

Read More

Disappointment

I’ll start with the story. I liked the time travel concept as Sol gets to change the past and save herself and her idol. It seemed good at first but become boring and dragging by the end as same things were happening in a never ending loop. It felt like the writer didn’t put effort towards the end. The 3rd time travel was boring af and not progressing the story. At this point even their romance felt hollow. Also watching sun jae dying again and again made it kind of unserious. Like she will still go back and fix it. It makes even the emotional scenes unemotional since it happened soo many times.
About the characters, i have soo many questions as to why the female lead made such dumb choices that led her in more trouble? She was given soo many opportunities yet she complicates the things even more.
I really like sun jae but his character hardly showed any development.Why did he not take the opportunity to go to rehab? That was dumb. I know writer wanted to keep him around sol but still that was dumb on his part . Also why did he allow sol to treat him soo badly! He could’ve shown some dignity at this point.
Anyhow all the other characters didn’t play any part in the plot and their presence seemed pointless. It felt like there was just 2 characters in the show, sol and sun jae.
I expected more but got even less by the end. It’s not the endings for me but the story that makes me want to watch a show and rate it well. Considering the hype I was just let down.

Read More

“Run into your Unknown”

Yes, this is the best kdrama you will ever watch.

I don’t even know where to begin because this show has literally EVERYTHING! You want romance? They got it. Comedy? They got it. Drama? You best believe they got it. Fantasy, Mystery, and Thriller? Of course!


I’m writing this week before the show ends, hoping I can take my time to review everything I love about this show and why I think the show is a must-watch! The first thing that I should mention is that there is a familiarity when it comes to Lovely Runner from your favorite kdramas, such as Twinkling Watermelon, Strong Woman Do Bong Song, 20th Century Girl, Twenty-Five Twenty-One, and My Lovely Stranger. Yet, besides all of that, this show is very different. It’s nothing like the shows I mentioned. I don’t want to give much away since this is a spoiler-free review, but it’s safe to say there’s a lot of familiarity with the show, BUT there is also a lot of originality. The Twist and Turns… When I say this show is unpredictable, I genuinely mean it. When I tell you I did not expect a reveal so soon at the end of the 2nd episode, I knew that this show would continue blowing my expectations; I was not wrong. Every week, this show continued to surprise us in the best way possible. For a Romantic Comedy with Fantasy and thriller, the show thrives in everything! I have watched many dramas, and what feels like forever, it truly feels like you’re watching true love. What Imsol and Sunjae have feels and looks natural. When I watch each episode, I feel like I’m watching these two people fall in love repeatedly. It makes me all giddy inside as the two try desperately to hold on to each other. 

Speaking of Imsol and Sunjae, let's speak about the beautiful actors who portray them. Kim Hye-Yoon, THE WOMAN YOU ARE! I've actually been following this show since it was announced because of Hye-Yoon. I'm a big fan of her and happy to see her get the recognition she deserves since I believe she is one of the best actors I have ever seen (watch her in Sky Castle; there's no better example). Hye-Yoon always gives it her all and works endlessly to provide us with the best results. I mean, the fact I could tell which Imsol she was playing, I think, says it all. This girl has RANGE. Hye-Yoon plays Imsol with so much love, as someone once commented, "The person who loved Seonjae more than anyone else and understood Imsol more than anyone else was Kim Hye-yoon." Not to mention, this show would not have existed without her. She is the reason why we have this fantastic show to watch. For apparent reasons, I think a lot of the spotlight is more on Byeon Woo-Seok. Still, I hope Hye-Yoon doesn't get forgotten when this is all done and shines as much as him because she deserves it. 

Now Woo-Seok, I've been a fan of him since 20th Century Girl. I'd seen his work before the movie, and he always stood out to me with his acting; maybe his height helped a little, too. I genuinely appreciate Wook-Seok for bringing to life a character that feels fresh and exciting to watch. When I say, his portrayal of Sunjae being the GREENEST FLAG THERE IS, I'm not kidding. He indeed wears his heart on his sleeves, and with his facile expression, he is easy to read. Something to mention is that these two actors have to play teenagers, young adults, and adults, which is already impressive. The two perfectly play the awkward years and the maturing times. The two both play their character with love and innocence with a little of a rough side. 

As I currently listen to the music on repeat, yes, on repeat, because the soundtrack is that good. It evokes emotions that remind me of everything I love about this show. The young love that lasts through the years, the heartbreak, the joy, and the anticipation. It's hard to put everything I feel through words as I try to write, but I want to mention that I love every song dearly, and they share a core memory. A memory I hope to not forget.

So, in conclusion… yes, I highly recommend this show!!! Now go watch!!!

Read More

If I got to be that guy so be it. SADLY RUNNER is more like it

Lovely runner started off as a show that seems to show promise. I love the fact that they have two great cast and probably an exceptional storyline. However, it's get too draggy and boring real quick. The show tries to show multiple ways that indicates how the story plays out. It doesn't help if the FL keeps messing up and tries to keep it a secret. Messing up does unlock a lot of potential plot twist or surprising moments. With poor execution and pretty predictable, it wasn't gonna work. I say this show had everything and just could deliver. At least make the bad guy better since he wasn't even feared at all.

Read More

The K-drama of the Year! 10+++

What makes this rom-com THE BEST of its genre. This rom-com is a MUST watch. I think it's as good as Crash Landing on You. Queen of Tears is also good, but it has too much vengeful conflicts and repetitions. This is a true nostalgic rom-com ... This couple is natural - doesn't feel like acting as shown in the QofTears' couple.

1) The main leads have chemistry. The way they look at each other ... the way they enhance each others' appealing qualities. Everything just works for them. Regardless of budget, famous actors, plot, etc ... if the actors don't have chemistry, the drama fails. This couple - not the most handsome and beautiful - has the best chemistry and charms. And they bring out the best in each other. The director gives enough time for the couple to develop chemistry.

2) The plot - ok typical time travel plot - but it's so nostalgic and the filming of the past looks so retro and pretty. The director knows how to make the audience feel nostalgic. The filming of the rainbow scene, for example. So beautiful and cute to watch! And the use of colors in the retro scenes - so perfect ... her yellow umbrella and his blue umbrella - so beautiful and symbolic.

3) The humor - classic irony and just typical humor that makes you laugh - it's old but whatever works! The humor just has its classic charms. I couldn't help but laughed out loud A LOT throughout the 16 episodes... Humor doesn't have to be sophisticated, it just has to fit the situation.

4) The suspense - you really root for the couple because they are so believable. The key is the director and chemistry make you care for them. This is what makes a good crime drama ... not showing everything ... physical abuse and violence are so trendy right now because it's easy! In a rom-com, it would be too much to mix in physical violence. I think this was executed perfectly by the director.

5) The poetic justice - the resolution at the end just ties everything up nicely. He got what he would have given his victims. This is the perfect ending that cinched the deal.


After all the disappointments in K drama this year, this drama is a redemption ... It makes me want to watch K drama again. It has all the classic elements: the humor, the time travel, the suspense, the chemistry, the good actors, the good plot, etc.. what it doesn't have is the abusive relationships and predictable stories that started creeping up everywhere starting last year (after the glory)!

I didn't know both lead actors when I first saw episode 1. Not knowing what to expect, I was very patient to watch ep 1. I think the lead actress makes this story so interesting! The way she acts is so perfect for this role. She makes it funny without being too overacting. This story was written for her.

The main leads have chemistry.
The story has logic and every time she travels, it changes accordingly.

Highly recommend this drama. If you haven't seen her in Extraordinary You (2019), she acted similarly and made that story interesting too. But the plot was too repetitive!

Wow ... such an amazing ending to the story. I really love how grandma says it: "Where do you think memories of what I see, listen, and feel in my life go? ... They are all smeared into my soul."

Episode 1:
The reality version 0 - she is crippled. He met her in high school and feel for her but she didn't even know about him. They "met" later through a radio talk show. He impressed her with his sincerity and encouragement. She became his fan. She went to his concert ...
The person to watch is the grandma: actually, in the first ep, the grandma already hinted at the ending when she puts the red dot makeup on Sol. Korean brides wear these on their faces.

Episode 2:
He was killed by the crazy taxi driver ... she became heart-broken and time-traveled to the past by using his watch. It's a crazy and funny ride until the end from here on.

.... fixing the past to get a better future ....

Episode 15:
New Reality: You kind of know where the ending is heading ... He didn't get killed but the taxi driver did.

Episode 16:
This is the first time I can see that a rom-com made it entertaining until the end. It's so funny!
Grandma threw away the watch. So it hinted that she time-traveled. Also, when she came back to hold SJ's hand after the birthday party, he cried as if he remembers her suddenly. So she did something ... I think that would be an interesting story to see how she was able to change the past!

Poetic Justice: the bad ends up in the scenario for his victims!

Why this rom-com is SO WORTH watching? and re-watching?
I haven't seen a rom-com where the entire 16 episodes were worth watching ... even to the last few scenes! So entertaining and funny! The FL actress is so versatile. You can see her eyes can be shy, gentle, and funny ... but when she glares, she can also be a toughie!
The combination of the leads actor and actress is a winner. I think I read somewhere that she brings out the charming quality in him. This is totally right ... the contrast in height, size, and personalities adds charm to his personality.

Will there be a sequel??
I think the ending is open so there is a chance.
A few things to note:
The ending is filmed in a dreamy sequence with soft focus filter and the wedding has no one attending ... the whole thing looks like a dream ... so is it real?
Sol also said that "let's be with each other even in our dreams" ...

Read More