Byeon Woo-seok as Ryu Sun-jae steals the show as the ideal traditional romantic male. Putting our main character's safety above his own, being strong, handsome, and famous while still earnest, honest and sentimental. Kim Hye-yoon as Im Sol has great chemistry with him, but her character and acting is a bit one note on its own.
This drama will go down as one of my all time favorite romances, but unfortunately not one of my favorite shows overall. The premise of a 'groundhogs day' is somewhat unique to start, but there's a lot here rehashed from the K-Drama plot bin including serial killers, slapstick comedy about working class people, etc. as the scenario repeats, and repeats, and repeats it starts to wear thin.
BUT YET! I could watch Ryu Sun-Jae being in love with Im Sol for 50 episodes if need be, that's how good the romance is here. It's worth a watch despite the flaws. Music is strong and there's some scenes worth a rewatch.
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Kim Hye Yoon ( as Im Sol ) , Byun Woo Seok ( as Ryu Sung Jae ) and Song Geon Hee ( as Tae Sung ) have found themselves a new fan. I will be paying close attention to their projects from now on.
Kudos to writer Lee Shi Eun and all the people in production. Its just perfect.
The OSTs are beautiful too
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This review may contain spoilers
Laughter, tears... and a bit of anger.
I started this drama after a couple of months without watching any dramas, and it has basically been a breath of fresh air in my life. I must say it's perhaps a bit nostalgic, I suppose because it's been a while since I've seen something with such a beautiful and adorable romance.But I can't deny that it's been a rollercoaster of emotions, both in a good and a bad sense. I've laughed and cried in the same episode, and I think they've balanced the sad and comedic scenes very well, placing them at just the right and necessary moments. However, I've also felt quite angry, especially at the ending of episodes 13 and 14. I was very upset because of this episode; I think the direction the story took was unnecessary, and I know I'm not the only one who was upset with how they developed this part of the story.
(SPOILERS HERE)
Firstly, SungJae didn't have to die, I mean, he wouldn't have fallen off the cliff if Sol or the police had run towards him, but for some reason Sol stayed still, and the police gave more importance to the killer than to the person who was about to die. Perhaps he could have been saved at the hospital, but no. Second, I really liked the main character, but at many points in the story, I felt she was very selfish, not thinking about what he wanted but only about what she wanted, especially at the moment when she goes back to the past and definitively decides to change the fact that he met her in the future. She thinks it's for the best, but it's not, and he gets a little upset with her, and rightly so; he didn't want to forget about her, no matter what.
Finally, I really enjoyed the final episode, starting from the beginning with the pesky killer and giving us a dose of sweet, beautiful love with a touch of comedy, which is what we needed to finish this wonderful drama.
Some were expecting something softer, full of love and comedy, so they were surprised by the serial killer twist. In my case, I was pleasantly surprised; it's not something that displeases me, and as I've already said, I think they more or less managed to balance the moments.
It's been an incredible journey, so I would definitely recommend it, even if people get mad at me when they reach a certain episode, lol.
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A Perfect Guide to a Rom Com done so well and right!
I went into this drama blind... And I am coming out of this drama with so much love in my heart for it!I never thought I would give this drama a 10/10, but here I am giving this one a perfect 10 because this drama deserves it all.. the praise, the rave reviews, the mad obsession and being the talk of the time from start to the finish line.
As always, I watch the first two episodes of every drama before deciding if I want to continue or drop it. First episode went well and I thought ok, this would be a nice rom com, but then episode 2 came and that ending rolled around and there I was... seeing the twist, the yearning, the innocent love and thinking to myself, this could easily be one of my fav dramas if things go well.
I am always skeptical about dramas once they reach around ep 8, since I have seen so many dramas go downhill during the second half and there I was holding my breath and trying not to jinx this drama with my outpouring love for Sun Jae.
Oh dear Sun Jae.... If I start talking about you, then I would get distracted and sound like a broken record, confessing my unrequited love for a fictional character over and over again. The sweetest cutest greenest flag to ever grace on a silver screen. Sun Jae... setting standards miles ahead that from now on, I am gonna compare every rom com lead with my dearest Sun Jae and see if they will ever come close... which I doubt. I don't think there would be a character that could out rival this.
Ahh... he got my whole heart and I think I love this drama mainly because of Ryu Sun Jae. Ok, half bcoz of him but the other half bcoz well this drama was written and directed. There was never a dull moment. This drama made me laugh in every single episode. And episode 8 was my favorite since I laughed the most during that one.
All in all... this drama was heavy at places but then balanced it out on the next and maintained what it does best. Comedy and Romance... and a lil mix of fantasy and this one is the perfect guide for anyone who is thinking of making a rom com in the future.
Ep 16 of this drama was what I hoped Queen of Tears would have had been. This drama did the finale episode so well that it never made me feel like there was any filler scenes, like we find in other dramas especially in the last episode.
I am in a sugar coma... after the finale... and I want to profess my love to my favorite character ever... Sun Jae yah... I love you!!!!!
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the cliché most beautiful
this kdrama it made me cry so much, it’s so beautiful If you are meant to be together, no matter what happens, we will always find each other. i will miss them so much????WOOSEOK FINALLY HAVE A HAPPY ENDING ????????? the suffering was worth it. the best kdrama of the 2024 I hope they continue releasing programs like this in the future. Lovely runner you always be famous ??????????????????❣️?❣️?????????????????????????❤️?❤️?❤️?
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Superb drama! The best K-drama I have seen in quite a while!
What a superb drama! Romance, thriller, suspense, comedy and drama all achieved in spades. Don’t MiSS it!I highly recommend watching it! The leads had such a fantastic chemistry between them…every scene was a delight to watch! I cannot say enough about this pair, a truly brilliant pairing! Would love to see them in another drama together soon. Their acting was on spot in this one and made us really love their characters.Was this review helpful to you?
갑작스러운 소나기가 내 머릿속에서 조용히 놀고 있어 <3 <3 <3
이제 이 시청을 마쳤으므로 나는 이미 이것에 대해 분리 불안을 느끼고 있으며 분명히 몇 주 동안 이런 기분을 느낄 것입니다. 제가 마지막으로 한국 드라마에 푹 빠진 것은 2016~2017년으로, 한국 드라마는 정말 완벽해서 속속 시청할 수 있었습니다. 한국 드라마가 전성기인 때다.요즘에는 하나를 끝내는 것이 정말 어렵습니다. 목록에 대기 중인 드라마가 너무 많아서 끝낼 동기를 찾을 수 없는 것 같지만 이것이 왔고 러블리 러너는 정말 좋은 한국 드라마에 대한 나의 갈망을 끝냈습니다. 이 드라마는 나에게 또 한 번 같은 느낌을 줬고, 매 회마다 느끼는 스릴과 설렘이 단 하루라도 보고 싶게 만들었다. 제가 오랫동안 갈망해왔던 걸작입니다.
선재려고 하지만 가장 인기 있는 스트리밍 앱에는 없고 평점도 가장 높지 않을 수 있지만 그 인기와 나 같은 팬들이 얼마나 호평을 받고 있는지 확실히 알 수 있습니다. 만일 그들이 콘서트를 열기로 결정했다면 티켓이 매진될 것이라고 장담합니다. 노래와 영상미가 일품이다. 이 드라마는 전혀 과대평가되지 않았고, 만점 이상의 평가를 받을 만하다. 나는 아직 이것을 놓아줄 준비가 되지 않았습니다.
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It is hilarious! The best romcom!
It is the best drama I have seen and just what I needed. I was laughing so hard with Sol & Seon Jae. Their time together is just hilarious. The OST is amazing and I love that Woo Seok recorded all the Enclipse songs. In Hyuk is hilarious ?I love how they presented the time travel storyline as we get the best of school, college and preset eras. Also I like that they did not make the second lead turned stupid or make him do terrible things as it usually is in dramas and he ended being our hero who saved the day. I am glad that they did not pay much attention to the villain and concentrated more on Sol trying to save Seon Jae as it could ruin the drama. ( as for me it was with Queen of tears).
They made me giggle so many times! I love the acting and their chemistry is unbelievable. We could not wish for better pairing. I am so happy that the last episode was pure happiness! As it is not the case in most dramas.
As you can see I had to use the word ‘love’ so many times as I don’t know how else to describe it. I totally get why the drama is so popular and getting so much attention.
It will always have a place in my heart.
I will miss them.
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Highly enjoyable romantic comedy!!
Wooseok and Hyeyoon really did amazing work in LR as their chemistry is what made LR so much more enjoyable.The drama had me gushing, blushing and all of the above while also stepping on my heart at the end of every episodes
The progression is very satisfying as theres always something happening in every episode whether its romance progression or storyline and it makes it fun to watch.
Only gripe I had is I wished the scenes of the killer were more smooth but I guess not all serial killers require a motive.
Super glad LR gave BWS a really amazing rise in popularity as Ive loved him ever since Record of Youth, and Hyeyoon did phenomenal as per her usual!
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This review may contain spoilers
A Must-Watch: The Enchanting Magic of 'Lovely Runner'
"Lovely Runner" embodies all the hallmarks of a superhit drama: a perfect blend of comedy, romance, time travel, intricately crafted characters, and a captivating plotline. The chemistry between Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon is electrifying, with their performances seamlessly transitioning from the sweetness of first love to the depths of melodrama. Kim Hye-yoon’s portrayal of Im Sol, a delightful and whimsical character, consistently brings smiles and lighthearted moments, while Byeon Woo-seok’s Ryu Seonjae emerges as a profoundly tragic figure, facing multiple deaths throughout the series."Lovely Runner" is not just a story of love and loss; it’s a rich tapestry of human emotions and experiences, beautifully portrayed through its well-written characters and engaging plot. With its perfect balance of humor, romance, and drama, it stands out as one of the finest K-dramas of 2024, leaving a lasting impression on its audience.
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I will love you in a any universe
May 28, 2024Lovely Runner has ended and I am so sad about that. A drama that has been boycotted in the beginning yet able to surpass all the hate it received. Able to be loved by many viewers like me. A drama, I was so hyped to watch and it delivered all until the very last episode. A drama that ignited my Kdrama slump as other kdramas fell flat. Lovely Runner, you have jumped to the S-tier list of my Kdramas. I know that many might say "how is this S-tier?". Well in my opinion, it is. A mixture of rom-com, fantasy, time travel. A lovely casts and it make sense why it took a while for production to hit. Thank you for those who rejected the previous offered role of Sunjae as I would not think any other actor than Byeon Woo Seok can play him. Sunjae was made to be played by him. And with our lovely female lead Kim Hye Yoon, she played Sol real well.
The plot progression of this drama is amazing. It perfectly captured the 16 episode timeslot that they deserved. Each Mon and Tues I look forward to watched, I have never been disappointed. Only kept wanting more and being hooked more onto the upcoming episode. It was indeed a lovely ride (yes, I'll keep using this word a lot... heheh.). I feel that no drama will fill the hole this will leave in my heart as any of the upcoming dramas/on going dramas right now are not my cup of tea.
I am happy how they never made the second lead a bad person. He truly deserved the best, Tae Song, I hope you were able to find your partner whom will love you. Our loserism, male lead, I think this characteristic of his, is the reason why so many people love him. To be honest, we are all sick of the rich boy, smart student tropes. His personality is a fresh of breath and that is why it is so well-received. I truly want a Sunjae in my life, someone who is a green flag, a forest of green, like him. I am happy how he was able to survive all of the demise upon him. It was just so fulfilling seeing him happy at the end. For our female lead, I love her so much. The development of her character and growth was chef's kiss. She really beat the odds against them. Sol, I am so proud of you. And I know many viewers have criticize you for being dramatic and overly a cry-baby. But I will always defend you given how much you have to witness and suffer.
Can we also talk about how great the chemistry of our leads? It was off the charts, through the roof. They gave all the fluffs, the pain, the angst, the tears, all the we needed to feel. We felt that.
I don't want to say goodbye yet since the past month has been amazing due to Lovely Runner.
I can't wait to rewatch you again. You are one of my comfort drama that I will keep on rewatching over and over again.
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This review may contain spoilers
Easily one of my favorites
I've watched K-Drama consistently as far back as Full House (with Rain and Song Hye Kyo) - I have to say, Lovely Runner has become one of my absolute favorites.If you're the type of watcher that likes to overanalyze plots, is extremely bothered by 'plotholes' that arise because of the time slip concept — forgetting that time travel is preposterous to begin with — and the type that needs a back story for every single character that appears, including the villain (how many psychopaths are just what they are because they are? Answer: a lot), then some aspects of the drama will bother you.
I and a lot of others, found it refreshing, extremely charming, and difficult to part with the characters, just because they have grown so much on us, and we rooted so much for Sol and Sunjae's love to come true. I never felt such a satisfying end to a K-drama I loved all throughout years of watching as I did with this one. I have also never had such bad post-drama depression lol. I literally can't watch anything else even 2 weeks after it's ended because I'm so hungover on Lovely Runner.
Now, there are a lot of recently posted negative reviews for the drama. While I can get it may not be everyone's cup of tea — if you're reading this review, go give it a try anyway. Don't let reviews dictate what you might feel about a drama. After all, at the end of the day, it's all about personal preference.
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