SUN JAE RAISING OUR STANDARDS ONCE AGAIN!
A truly beautiful story where love is timeless. No matter how much both try to forget each other through time travel or to save one another, they will end up falling in love because that's what their fate or destiny is. Byeon woo seok, I dont know where he has been all this time, but he is such an outstanding actor. It was really a comfort drama which made me go through an literal emotional rollercoaster every monday and tuesday. Indeed it was a bit frustating and exhausting to see them time traveling several times and thereafter situations getting complicated, but that's what made the last episode more satisfying and thrilling. As much as it made me cry, it also made me laugh hilariously because of their comedy. A true love story indeed!Was this review helpful to you?
My New Favorite Romance Drama
This drama has to be one of the best kdramas ever. Originally, didn’t have any expectations for this, as I only started watching after seeing Byeon Wooseok was starring in it because I really enjoyed him in the movie 20th Century Girl. I also saw teaser videos online so I was intrigued. Right off the bat, I was hooked within the first episode and immediately fell in love with Kim Hyeyoon. Each episode kept getting better and better and I was always extremely excited whenever an episode aired. This drama has literally everything including romance, comedy, angst, melodramatic, and a bit of thriller. The story between Sunjae and Sol was also so precious and I loved each of their character dynamics. Kim Hyeyoons acting was phenomenal and was the perfect fit for Sol. This drama really made my Mondays and Tuesdays less gloomy and was so worth the watch. I hope to see more of the leading actors works soon!Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
THE BEST DRAMA OF 2024! THE BEST KDRAMA AFTER A LONG TIME
THE BEAUTIFUL OST IS A CHERRY ON THE TOP FOR THIS WONDERFUL DRAMA!I can't comprehend that this beautiful drama has come to an end! This drama right here specifically sun jae and Im Sol made me believe in love again! The episodes leave you giggling and kicking your feet!
And I'm a person who has watched over 150+ dramas and I'm sorry but I watch all of them in 1.5x speed with another task like using phone or doing work etc. But this is the first drama in over 2 yrs where I have waited every week dropped all my tasks to watch the episodes and I'm watching other ongoing dramas but this is the only one which I'm watching in normal speed!
SUN JAE IS THE BEST MALE CHARACTER EVER WRITTEN IN THE HISTORY OF KDRAMAS!
My man is the definition of perfection and pureness(like oxygen😂) He will always be dear to my heart! BWS's acting is the reason Sunjae is loved all over the world! I'm so happy he is finally getting recognized! He deserves everything!
IM SOL IS HANDS DOWN THE BEST FEMALE CHARACTER EVER WRITTEN!
She is the bravest and the strongest person ever! Whoever hated her should go to hell!
She is the epitome of determination! She tried to save him every damn time even if her heart was torn apart! KHW was always one of my fav. actors but after this she is my only fav. actor! HATS OFF TO HER ACTING!
TAESUNG IS MY FAV SECOND LEAD! HE TRULY WON MY HEART!
BEST KDRAMA OF 2024!
10/10! I'll def rewatch from next week! Because I know I'll miss them a lot!
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Altered my brain chemistry
Por más que las reseñas de este drama sean tan mixtas, honestamente me rompe el corazón. Yo lo amé, así como en su época a los 13 años amaba strong girl do bong son, eso no es algo que experimente mucho en la vida, solo con dos o tres al inicio que fueron decayendo, pero este fue de inicio a fin. La intensidad del romance; yo creo que después de ver esto ya nunca veré a la vida de la misma manera, por más que sea muy infantil, genuinamente me absorbió, y deseo comérmelo de tanto amor y cariño que le tengo. Para mí, no es nada sobrevalorado, es sinceramente hermoso, y aunque sí, entienda lo repetitivo o fantasioso que haya sido, hay tanto que compensa todo esto. El desarrollo de personaje de Sol, de sus amigas y de sun Jae, el angst está muy bien hecho y razonado, podría parecer hasta cliché, pero por alguna razón por mas que haya visto algo así mil y una veces, me pega distinto. Deseo que alguien, que se encuentre en mi misma situación, le pase lo mismo. Es una muy hermosa serie para ver recién cumplido los 18, emocionada por una nueva vida en otra ciudad, para alguien que recién o nunca comprendió mucho el amar románticamente a otra persona, por más que esté llena de amor. Espero reencontrarme con este drama o esta historia en algún momento. Simplemente hermoso. 🩷Was this review helpful to you?
Interesting Story
Every Episode is super interesting. Don't miss it. It is funny as well. The leads play the role so well especially the female lead is too good. I did not expect the male lead could act so well. wish to see him more Kdrmas in playing different roles and characters.It gets super funny when she has a memory of an old girl but taking a role of a student and still exhibiting the mature lady character is super funny. I loved all those scenes where she scolds them at the same time takes care of them as an adult.
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Lovely Runner takes all the tropes and runs across the finish line for a spectacular finish
Lovely Runner was marketed as your run of the mill drama about a kpop idol and a fan falling in love after she traveled in time to save him. But what should've been an average romance drama became a worldwide phenomenon, thanks to three things: the actors, the writer and director, and the story being told.Kim Hye Yoon as Im Sol and Byeon Woo Seok as Ryu Sun Jae are standouts, both portraying their characters perfectly. They are their characters, Kim Hye Yoon was able to showcase several versions of Sol across time, each one different enough to be distinct but still recognizable as the same character. High school Sol, college Sol, and adult Sol are all different, even though they are all the same person. The writer apparently wrote this role with her in mind and it was the right choice, as KHY displays a wide range of emotions wonderfully. Byeon Woo Seok was a standout, his first leading role and he became a fan favorite, with everyone wanting their own Sunjae. A role that no one wanted to take on, but BWS made it his own. He played pop idol, high school athlete and college student, and made him every girl's dream. I couldn't even imagine some big names in this role, BWS is the perfect Sunjae.
The story is pretty simple (for a drama). A girl loves a kpop idol and when he suddenly dies she is able to time travel using his watch back to high school, when they were neighbors and she never knew, giving her an opportunity to save him. Using her knowledge of the future, and of her bias, Sol attempts to save his life and is given 3 chances to do so. At the same time she is given a chance to save herself from an accident that paralyzed her in high school, giving her another opportunity at living her dreams.
Watching Sol travel in time to save Sunjae over and over was full of angst, but at the same time the writer soothes the angst with heartwarming moments between Sol and Sunjae. The benefits of the time travel allow us to see three versions of their romance, high school, college, and adult. Writer Lee Si-Eun doesn't let up on the romance either, giving us multiple, multiple scenes of romantic moments - every romance kdrama fans' dream. So many dramas fall into the trap of getting characters together only to break them up for a nonsensical reason until they get back together at the very end. This cycle is overdone and not really fun to watch. We're here for the romance, so give it to us!
In the end this drama is perfect not because the story has no flaws, any story does. It's perfect because it does what it sets out to do, it gives us a romantic comedy that delivers on the romance and the comedy. So many dramas fall into a slump at the end, losing the momentum from the first half, but Lovely Runner never lets off the gas. Just when you think it's going to linger too long or introduce a new character to throw a wrench into things it doesn't.
Now who is this drama not for? People who need their time travel rules to be explained and function perfectly, who need the killer's drive and motivation to be explained, and those who want realism. This is not a sci-fi or crime drama, it's not realistic, so if you go in wanting these things you may be disappointed.
If you like romance, comedy, star-crossed lovers with some fantasy thrown in, this is for you. The last hour of this drama is mostly fluff and romance, a dream for any romance fan. Writer Lee Si-Eun avoided all the common pitfalls of kdrama writing and instead of sputtering out at the end, Lovely Runner goes out with a bang. It takes all the tropes and runs across the finish line for a spectacular finish. There's a reason this drama went from unknown to number one across the world so quickly, why Netflix is trying to capitalize on its success, and why people can't stop talking about it. This is the romance story we want more of, an organic (and orgasmic 😉) success that has become the best drama of 2024, and one that will be remembered for a long time.
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la mejor serie de la existencia
Es, sin duda alguna, la mejor serie que podrás ver en toda tu vida. Nunca había encontrado algo siquiera parecido, ni una historia que lograra atraparme de esta manera desde el primer momento. Cada episodio es una experiencia única que te envuelve por completo, haciendo imposible dejar de verla. Los visuales son simplemente espectaculares, cuidados hasta el más mínimo detalle, convirtiendo cada escena en una auténtica obra de arte.Las canciones son otro nivel: cada una encaja perfectamente con la historia y logra transmitirte emociones profundas, haciéndote sentir parte de ese mundo. Es una serie que no solo se ve, se siente, y que permanece contigo incluso después de terminarla.
La recomiendo totalmente a todo el mundo, porque es una experiencia que merece ser vivida al menos una vez en la vida. De verdad, quedé completamente encantada y enamorada de cada aspecto de esta serie 🥹💓
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A lovely drama that keeps me hooked all the time!!
Actually at 1st I didn’t plan to watch this drama. Personally I don’t like drama with characters portraying idol. However, this drama is exceptionally beautiful n really out of my expectations. My sister who watched it 1st but later is me who fall harder. Everything about this drama the characters, storyline & OST is soooo GOOD. You will not get bored in each episode. There were no evil characters. Every character shine their own way. There were no other characters cuter than our SJ. His unconditional love to IS (Same goes to IS). SJ was so lovely n cute in all the scenes n exceptionally handsome on the last episode makes my heart fluttering nonstop. 🥰🥰🥰One of the BEST DRAMA EVER!! 👍👍👍👍👍
p/s: Thanks to my little sister who unintentionally bring me to this lovely drama.
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This review may contain spoilers
Lovely Runner: A Sprint That Stumbled at the Finish Line
Story: 7.5/10
Lovely Runner embarks on an emotional voyage, intertwining themes of love, regret, and second chances. The narrative follows Im Sol (Kim Hye-yoon), a devoted fan of the illustrious singer-actor Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon Woo-seok). Trapped in a wheelchair due to a childhood accident, Sol's life takes an unexpected turn when she is transported back to 2008, finding herself as a high school student alongside a younger Sun-jae. Armed with the knowledge of future tragedies, Sol endeavours to alter their intertwined destinies. The series adeptly balances the complexities of time travel with heartfelt character development, though the latter episodes introduce convoluted subplots that slightly hinder the story's momentum.
Acting/Cast: 10/10
The cast delivers stellar performances that breathe life into the narrative. Kim Hye-yoon embodies Im Sol with a blend of vulnerability and determination, capturing the essence of a woman yearning to rewrite her fate. Byeon Woo-seok portrays Ryu Sun-jae with depth, seamlessly transitioning between the charm of a rising star and the turmoil of personal struggles. Their on-screen chemistry anchors the series, making their journey compelling. Their kiss scenes were phenomenal too. Supporting actors, including Song Geon-hee as Kim Tae-seong and Lee Seung-hyub as Baek In-hyuk, enrich the storyline with nuanced portrayals, adding layers to the central plot, although don't have much of their own stories, rather just being background characters to the main leads.
Music: 10/10
The original soundtrack (OST) of Lovely Runner is a standout element, enhancing the emotional resonance of the series.
These were my favourites:
"Sudden Shower" by ECLIPSE: An evocative piece with heartwarming lyrics (if you understand Korean) that mirrors the protagonists' unforeseen challenges.
"Run Run" by ECLIPSE: An energetic track encapsulating the relentless pursuit of dreams.
"Spring Snow" by 10cm: A romantic, soft ballad that reminds you of falling snow.
Rewatch Value: 6.0/10
The series' intricate plot and profound character arcs make it suitable for multiple viewings. Viewers may find new insights and appreciate subtle nuances upon revisiting the episodes. However, the pacing issues in the latter part may deter some from a full rewatch, (I got a little bored and it felt draggy towards the end).
Final Thoughts
Lovely Runner presents a poignant tale that melds the allure of time travel with the raw emotions of love and loss. While the narrative occasionally stumbles with pacing, the exceptional performances and a mesmerizing soundtrack ensure it remains a memorable addition to the K-drama landscape.
While Lovely Runner starts with a gripping premise and maintains a strong emotional pull for most of its run, the final few episodes falter. As the story approaches its climax, the pacing slows considerably, with prolonged scenes and unnecessary subplots that feel repetitive. The tension that once kept viewers on the edge of their seats dissipates, replaced by overly drawn-out conflicts and melodramatic resolutions that could have been handled more succinctly.
Key moments that should have packed an emotional punch are stretched thin, losing their impact. Instead of building on the earlier momentum, the series meanders, leaving viewers impatient for closure. This shift in tone and pacing not only undermines the narrative’s initial strengths but also risks disengaging the audience during what should be its most memorable moments.
Despite the stellar acting and soundtrack that continue to shine throughout, the draggy conclusion leaves Lovely Runner crossing the finish line with less enthusiasm than it began. A tighter edit and more focused storytelling in the later episodes could have elevated the drama to greater heights.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
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too much going on
okay so honestly it wasn't really that bad but it felt very dragged, like maybe 12 episodes would've been fine. but 16? it was kind of losing me by the 10th or 11th episode ngl. i lowkey hate that she had a disability and we just skipped over it per say. we only really saw her be in a wheel chair for 1 episode (please disregard my bad memory, i did not in fact pick this drama up again til now) like in later episodes we saw that she got hit by a vehicle but never put into a wheel chair again? idk if i'm really focusing on the right thing but it didn't really make any sense because that how she initially she paralyzed. also it high key made me upset when she just kept pushing and pushing him away. like yeah we know you want to protect him or whatever but she just kept falling more in love with him each time without realizing it was fate doing its magic. home girl over here yapping about some "oh yeah were not meant for each other" how oblivious can u be.. (its the woke part of me speaking bc what?) that guy who was supposed to be the bad guy actually made me so mad because how was he not caught in less than like 8 episodes.. justice for my man kim tae seong bc he deserved so much better, like where is his girl at mane (yall are looking at her right here) my man byeon woo-seok did his job tho (looking fine as ever) he was so adorbs. FL did not deserve any of the boys that chased after her because they were both good guys and loved her a lot. ngl i couldn't choose between sun jae and tae seong.. also i love that sun jae would try to act nonchalant but would turn around to smile, that was definitely one of the best things i've seen. honestly other than that it was very gut wrenching (i sobbed during maybe all of the episodes). would i recommend it? yes but no, if u like them going back and forth then okay. the actors did what they needed to do but the story was kind of insufferable with the back and forth between everything and it does get tiring to watch as a viewer, but am i a pro drama enthusiast? absolutely not. was it worth the hype? no not really but i did enjoy having my heart torn apart and put back together.Was this review helpful to you?
THE BEST DRAMA AND MAKE YOU FAIL TO MOVE ON THIS YEAR ESPECIALLY FOR THE DIMPLE COUPLE❤️
I rarely give a 10/10 rating for a drama the tallest 9.5/10, but Lovely Runner deserves a 10/10 rating because this drama is really good in terms of the actors' acting, the storyline, especially the OST especially (Sudden Shower, Run run, gift, spring now, may I love you, I think I did, and a day ).
every time I listen to it again it makes me remember this drama so it makes me sad for those who started watching it for fun on Viu when it was still eps 2 and until the end, I like it That's the original drama that made Failed to move on , where is my drama list no longer available to be able to move on from those that at the beginning were Monday and Tuesday, I just used it like a normal day, but since this drama aired, I like Mondays and Tuesdays.
But after this drama ended, it became sad and felt really empty😭 and this game will last for weeks🥲
Thank you lovely runner for the special Monday and Tuesday🥰❤️❤️
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A heartwarming story
What an emotional rollercoaster. I don't usually write reviews, but this masterpiece deserves one. If you're still hesitating whether to watch Lovely Runner or not, please do haha.This might be my favorite show of all times. The love story, the acting, the cast, the music... everything is perfect (my opinion). Will watch this show multiple times for sure.
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