The Potential Fizzled Out...
To begin, I actually liked the cast very much, and the beginning had me hooked, but I started fast forwarding until I realized there really wasn't any chemistry between the leads or the second couple. I think the story had a lot of potential that just went absolutely no where for me.I did like the ML, but he seemed more like a BL ML than a good fit for the FL.
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It's Okay.
Took me a long time to finish this ngl. Story could've been done a bit better. Characters' chemistry was okay at best, nothing special. Second leads saved this. Acting was good considering their character's personalities (Shin Se Kyung's acting has always irked me a bit before, but this was one of her better performances). Beware of those who don't like slow burn, since this is superrr slow. OST's were great as well, they really set the show nicely and I find myself humming to some of the songs at times. It's a great listen by itself, so I really recommend it. However, I don't really plan to rewatch this, and knowing what I know now, I don't think that I would have the motivation to really start this drama. But idk, I have this feeling that I'm actually really glad that I watched this. Overall, it's very comforting, has its sweet moments, and great witty banter between the actors (especially the second leads). It can be very confusing at times, and you often wonder where is this story going. But still, it's a good watch and isn't the worst I've seen (though there are tons of better dramas out there). I recommend it for the casual viewer, but don't go into it thinking it's a top tier drama.Was this review helpful to you?
perfect light drama
if you want a light drama to watch, this is totally recommended for you!it totally deserve 10/10 rating! the storyline, the plots and the ending doesn't seems too cliche, its also refreshing! atleast for me hhh since the ending is satisfying
but im a liiiiiiitle bit disappointed for second lead couple ending :( but since it doesn't affect much to the whole plot, its okay :] but i guess it better to end that way or else, yes, cliche hh
not to mention all of the casts chemistry with each other, there can't be any better than them ?!? and i just like how STRONG ALL the FEMALE CHARACTERS too, and sooyoung OMGGGG SHE PLAYED HER ROLE VERY WELL ;-; though im actually watching this solely because of the main leads ;D
OST: 10/10 (i just found out the boyz sang one of the ost too haha so thats why sunwoo ... iykyk xD)
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"Just out of breath"
In one ep the fl asks the ml how does it feel to be a runner and he responded with "just always out of breath". When i first watched the drama it comforted me, i do not know why it just did. I love the plot of the show, its entertaining enough to keep you entertained to simple enough to relate to it. The characters are so well written, their back storys make us understand why they are the way they are, the actors did an amazing job to express to us the emotions the characters felt. My favourite thing about this drama is the writing, i have rewatched this drama many times, but some of the things the characters say never stop comforting me. No matter what some of the lines just have a special place in my heart, they offer comfort no other things can offer me. I truly recommend this drama to everyone.Was this review helpful to you?
Drama for not everyone's liking
Just wanted to say that this drama is not for everyone because the drama is a slice of life genre.For me this drama is hilarious from Ki Seon Gyeom's idiot face to Lee Yeong Hwa's personality is just *chef's kiss.The cast here was so amazing and every character in here isn't normal and that's what kept me watching this drama even though the story itself is just plain but the characters makes me stay through out this drama.I would recommend this drama for anyone who has nothing to watch for a moment and give sometime for the characters to interact with each other then you will love this drama.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Run Your Own Race, Live Your Own Life
Run On is a quiet, dialogue-driven slice-of-life romance about people figuring out their careers, relationships, family expectations, and what they actually want from life. At its heart, I think the drama is really about self-love, finding your own path, and having the courage to go after the things that matter to you instead of simply living the life others have already planned for you.I really appreciated how the characters gradually learn to question the expectations placed on them and make choices for themselves. It isn't just about loving another person, but also about learning to understand yourself, set boundaries, respect your own needs, and choose a life that actually makes you happy. That message about not living an overly controlled or predetermined life was probably one of the things I connected with most.
The writing is thoughtful and dialogue-driven, with sharp, clever, and sometimes sarcastic conversations. There isn't much of a traditional plot or many dramatic twists, but the drama focuses more on people, their struggles, relationships, and personal growth. I especially liked how the characters communicate instead of relying on endless misunderstandings. The main couple talks through their problems, respects each other's boundaries, supports each other's goals, and genuinely becomes a safe place for one another.
However, the romance itself was a little too restrained for me. I liked the main couple together, but even after they became official, their relationship sometimes felt more like watching close friends who occasionally held hands. I wanted more romantic chemistry, intimacy, and those memorable moments that give you butterflies. Their relationship was healthy and mature, but it didn't always feel as emotionally or romantically satisfying as I hoped.
The second couple, Yeong-hwa and Dan-ah, was actually more interesting to me. Yeong-hwa was easily one of my favourite characters. I loved that despite being playful and devoted, he still had boundaries and knew when to walk away. Their relationship had more emotional tension and development, so I often found myself more invested in them than the main couple.
I also liked that the drama gave most of its characters some form of closure. Their stories weren't simply left hanging, and I appreciated seeing how each person moved forward, whether their ending was happy or bittersweet. The drama also made me appreciate professions like translating and athletics more because of how much effort and dedication they require.
My biggest issue was the pacing. It isn't exactly boring, but some parts felt repetitive and occasionally like the story was moving in circles. The main couple's story especially seemed to lose momentum once they got together.
Overall, I liked Run On, but I feel like I could have loved it more. It is a mature, thoughtful, and warm drama with meaningful ideas about self-love, independence, communication, and choosing your own life. The romance was too understated for my taste, but the message about stepping outside the life others have planned for you and pursuing what truly matters to you stayed with me.
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What I love most is the script. The script is very impressive. There are lines that hit differently.
Now I know why people liked this drama so much and now I understand why it is a healing drama for them.This might be a boring drama for some, I also thought it is, but I really enjoyed it.
I now appreciates the job of translators and athletes after watching this.
It is thanks to translators that I get to enjoy and watch Korean dramas even though I can’t understand Korean. I am also able to know other countries' languages, cultures and more thanks to translators.
It’s pure gem! I just can’t hate it.
Im Si Wan's role was just so cute. He's like a cute street dog and you can’t help but love him even though you don’t like dogs. His character is just soooooo nice, so selfless and it makes me wonder if there’s someone like him in real life.
Shin Se Kyung's character is a simple strong independent woman. I love how she loves herself and that she encourages the ML to love himself and take care of himself more.
Other characters are also adorable. ML's Mom and sister are the best. And the 2nd lead couple's story is very interesting that I want more from them.
Lastly, there’s this conversation between ML and FL where the FL asked ML who he thinks she will end up living with and she said herself. That we only have ourselves until the end and that we should love ourselves more. That’s my favorite scene and it really makes a lot of sense.
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My Favorite Parts
In this review, I would like to share highlights of why I distinctively enjoyed this drama. I liked the way the drama opened in the first episode by showing two different types of footwear, how it's worn and two individual running for different reason. This scene alone was a lightbulb moment for me -- running is not only for athletes but people run for many reasons. It could be they're late, to catch a bus, run away from something or someone or fitness, etc. Still on the subject of shoes, I liked the style of Seo Dan-ah -- runners with corporate attire. Something worth emulating. In the scene she shares the reason behind the fashion statement gave that scene a different impact. Another scene that I really like when Seo Dan-ah realized that he sees the painter in the painting that is why she's so drawn and fixated in owning pieces from the artist. I like the positive message and motivation that transcends in the episodes. A very nice element in the drama was the unexpected friendship that budded when the characters' lives intertwined. Siwan portrayed his role in this drama uniquely. He had this naive yet profound personality that is undaunted by challenges and seeks to find his own dreams and purpose. One of the biggest take-away of this drama for me is the message of discovering and prioritizing oneself. There is no timeline in doing so and the balance of integrating perspective of significant people around you without necessarily being swayed. It is not the cheesy romantic comedy type of drama. The casts portrayed their respective role naturally. I like how the story unfolded from the first episode till the end -- steady pace without the momentum stealing the spotlight off the story. Other themes were tackled in the drama cohesively and added depth to the story. One of my highly recommended drama!Was this review helpful to you?
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One of the best dramas I've ever watched.
To be honest, I wasn't very fond of dramas in the past. This changed when I watched Run On. I love movies, so one of the show's first scenes taking place in a movie festival already caught my attention. And the second I found out Oh Mijoo works as a MOVIE TRANSLATOR I decided to stay since I am also studying translation.What I dislike about dramas, and sorry to say this, is the love stories. They seem cheesy and for some reason most of the times I dislike how the love story unfolds. But this time, it did not happen. Ki Seongyeom is an amazing character, well constructed, selfless, kind. At first you may think something is wrong with him, or that he is the typical self centered rich guy. But no, he is nothing like that. I also struggle with loving myself. My self esteem is low, and I don't care about myself the way I should. I think this made me relate with Seongyeom too, and made me fell in love with this character even more. Taking care of yourself is something in important, and I am glad he has Mijoo to help him with that. That is one of the aspects I loved the most about their relationship.
What is more, I cared about all the characters. Danah and Yeongwha's relationship was interesting too (sometimes even more fun and entertaining than Seongyeom and Mijoo's). They are both incredible characters.
And what it surprised me the most about this drama, is how they handled some important issues that we don't get to see much often in other dramas. Gay characters, MEN CRYING and not being ridiculized because of that, and gender issues.
At first, when we find out Seo Danah talking about how bad it is to out people, how hard being a woman in the industry is, and apologizing to Yejoon after pretending to be a lesbian so her dad wouldn't force her to marry some guy, understanding how hard it is to some people to come out, and it's not an issue to be taken lightly.
There are a million more things I could say about Run On, but I guess I can't find the words to express it. One thing I know is that it is definitely one of my favorite shows ever. I am glad I came across it and I hope we can see more dramas like this one in the future.
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Kinda boring
"I decided to watch 'Run On' primarily because of the male lead, but I found that the story wasn't to my taste. Throughout the entire drama, the male lead spent a lot of time running, which aligns with the title 'Run On.' The concept was interesting, and the male lead delivered an excellent performance, conveying a wide range of emotions perfectly. However, I didn't feel a strong connection to the characters or the storyline, which made it difficult for me to fully engage with the series."Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Honestly, I was kind of sad to give this drama such a low rating (for me, at least) because at first I really did enjoy it and its story. I loved watching the characters and them try to figure out life as things are thrown at them, but I had to force myself to finish the show, and I only did because of the side characters and their storylines. I was going to drop it at episode 12-13.I, personally, could not stand Oh Mi-Joo's character. I can't pinpoint exactly when I stopped liking her, but it was a slow decline for her throughout the show to me. By the end, I was just ready for it to be over and I honestly didn't really care if they had stayed together or not. I skipped most of the scenes with them together after where I wanted to drop it at.
On the positive side, I loved the side characters even though their relationship was beyond messy and kind of toxic. I loved seeing the paintings Lee Yeong-Hwa did and I loved watching Seo Dan-Ah slowly drop her walls. Soo-Young and Tae-Oh have incredible chemistry together and I loved pretty much every scene that they were in. They really do such a good job with their characters and bringing them to life. The goofiness of Yeong-Hwa constantly had me laughing.
I want to also point out that once again Yim Si-Wan does such a good job at the role he is given. Although I missed out on a lot of scenes towards the end, I loved the scenes of him coaching the kids or coaching his old teammates. Even the scenes with him and Yeong-Hwa are so funny and lighthearted. They had such a good bromance.
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Relationship we face during life
The way they portrayed relationship between to character was awesome. The best example of healthy relationship can't be given better then this. Not all relationship will last long and not all relationship will have the same or desired end. But they all are important in the process of life. A drama without couple ending up together doesn't necessarily have to be sad drama. If closure was good even after ending one relationship we don't have to end ties with people in that relationship. The way both fml and ml are relying on eachother is one of my favorite part. No toxicity in relationship. They fought ,they solved issue but in the end they were always there for e/o dispite disagreements. One of the best drama i have watched so far. The love bloomed gradually. And the best part was they kept the line between love and like. The process of going from like to love was amazing.Was this review helpful to you?
