Both classic and refreshing
Such a great series. It's got all the classic k-drama clichés, but at the same time feels so new and refreshing! It's a true rollercoaster of emotions. On top of that, the OST is simply amazing.Was this review helpful to you?
Lovely Runner is for those who are looking for something to FEEL.
Sometimes in life, all we need is a simple and healing kdrama that will heal us regardless of its shortcoming. 'Lovely Runer' is a solid 7.5 for me. It took me long to watch this kdrama because of the hype, it gave me this image that it is cliché since many are hyping it. But nah, it is actually worth it. This kdrama would absolutely feed your needs as a kdrama fan. No criticism, no looking for plotholes, no judgement, just watch it without finding its imperfections, maybe those are the reason why is this kdrama an absolute OKAY for me. Maybe not all are perfect and not for the standard of everyone, the beauty of kdrama is to give us an opportunity to see the beauty of life.Lovely Runner was an easy watch. This is good if you're not finding for a Perfect kdrama but rather looking for something that will make you FEEL.
We all deserve a Ryu Sun Jae I believe. ❤️🩹
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10/10
It was perfect, the actors were so good they really did justice to the characters. This has been one of the best romcom drama I've watched so far. Hyeyoon was really amazing, I've watched her since extraordinary you, she did an amazing job on this one, Wooseok also shine the brightest here among all the dramas he starred in, I can say this is def one of his best. The story was well written also, I cannot determine how i'm feeling during some of the scenes, my mouth was open laughing, my eyes were full of tears and my heart aches. I felt a lot of emotions all at once, and it has been so long since I felt something like this. I cannot get over this drama, it was literally perfect.jus want to say that all the actors did very well, even the supporting actors were really good!
this is a must watch for me. 10/10
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Great Chemistry
i love how lovely runner is a perfect mix of everything. giving us all different types of genres while still having the romcom as the main focus, the plot not being too slow or too fast and the main leads having good amounts of screentime while also showing us both their Povs. It's a perfect combination of romance, comedy, thriller, angst... like everything fits so well. Byeon Woo Seok did his part and of course and Kim Hye-Yoon, she's isn't award winning actress for nothing, SHE DID SO WELL!Was this review helpful to you?
The drama that brought me back from my kdrama slump!!!
Lovely runner definitely of the most SATISFYING kdrama romcom, because let’s be real romcom is the genre that Kdrama thrives, and LR definitely delivers. 🥹🥹🥹The intricate details, the comedic punch, and the poetic parallels they pull across different timelines. Like there’s nothing new under the sun but somehow this drama still feels extremely fresh 🥹🥹
Like any other time travel drama, of course it is not perfect, but it still exceeds way beyond expectations. Who would have thought that a drama about a parasocial idol relationship could pull your heartstrings.
It was still a perfectly cast drama, nicely paced, not trying so hard to be overly complicated, it is just enough for what it is, a beautiful, fun and nostalgic. Looking back at their iconic scenes (and their songss!! OMG), definitely going to be a classic K drama staple for a long time.
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This review may contain spoilers
One of the loveliest drama ....
Writing review after ep 10it has a strong staring ,but the first two episodes can seems like a typical time traveling plot or mixture of several time traveling school dramas. But this is not the case .....this is one of the best time traveling drama I've ever watched .....
1) the romance is top notch. It will give you butterflies. I don't actually have patience to watch lame romance dramas. But this is different. I giggled and smiled whenever ml and fl being together.
2) the male lead!!!! Ryu SeonJae is the best greenest, simp and softie male lead I've ever seen. Nope he's not your typical cold , stone faced male lead. He got crush on our girl , he smiles, giggles, through his feet in air and stuff his face in pillow thinking about his crush. Of course he tries to stay cool and not being obvious.....haha .... I loved the fact he didn't misunderstood Im Sol and believed in her even after her past self cut relations with him . He still loved her and waited for 15 years.
3) the female lead ---- yes the female lead is adorable. She's also a simp for him . She's balanced . She got a positive character .
4) the Humour !!!!! LoL it got me fall out of chair . The comedy is soo good . Like her thinking the bridge as bridge of hell , the adult DVD, him being jealous, Im Sol passing through his dad by shouting future events, Sunjae pulling out chili plant instead of weed by overthinking...........there are countless moments that will crack you up.. LMFAO..
5) Anxiety:::::::: you're gonna have good anxiety attack..... There's not a single dull moment so far . The sad moments are soo heart breaking .like Sol can't change her past self and she has to come back to future and her regrets for misbehaving . And Sunjae got rejected (forgotten) by Sol, while she had feelings for him!!! Then their reunion in ep 10!!!
6) the plot: the plot is deep and intense... And the name makes sense as our fl has to run from past to future to save the ml . This is not very light hearted drama .... But a mysterious plot that unfolds in every single episode .the best part is there is youth school romance, mature/ modern day drama romance as well as collage romance and each part is soo sweet that can give you diabetes.....+ Each era 's kissing scenes hits differently.
7) the acting:::;;;; the acting is soo good . The comedy or embarrassing moments could have ended up giving cringe if it wasn't done well . BWS ' s portrayal of Sunjae is out of the world...the emotions, smile , pain in smile , mentally being disturbed or comedy everything is too good( first time watching Byeon Woo Seok and I became a fan). ....the ost , cinematography everything is done so well !!!
8) disclaimer :you're gonna ride on a pile of emotions while watching this.
**Things I didn't like:**
1) Im Sol being unnecessarily childish . Yes mental retardation can happen after a accident but as a 34 years old behaving like a teenager feels awkward sometimes ...
2) As the mc of this drama, I don't understand why her character got no life goal or bigger ambition after getting back her legs . This drama is too focused on saving the ml . Yes having idol of life is good thing but we should focus on our own life too ......
3) first 10 episodes are absolutely gold (9/10) . but after that things started to become draggy and repetitive , I don't understand why Im Sol didn't make a proper plan and was just taking action passively.....
**Finally**
If you are looking for a sweet romcom with a good story , If you are ready to simp for BWS and KHY [ they're really cute here ] , a green flag fluffy male lead ,
I absolutely recommend this drama. I expected much more but still it's good and is very sweet. Not a single drama is flawless. And lovely runner worth your time...
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"First Love Again."
First and foremost, Lovely Runner is a rom-com. Meaning that if you came to watch some science fiction fantasy drama which is a stickler for rules of time travel, this drama isn't for you. [The title of my review is from a 2021 CDrama, which has a very similar plot, but with the laws of nature governing the whole thing.]But, if you are looking out for a real wholesome one, Lovely Runner is just perfect for you. It's a well written, well-paced, romantic, comedic and heartwarmingly satisfying.
Im Sol, a wheelchair bound 34 year old woman, is an avid fan of Ryu Sun Jae, the lead singer of a boy band Eclipse.
It's not a simple relationship either – His words had inspired her to keep living on, and to add to that, he also had happened to go to the high school close to hers. In spite of her disadvantages that hinder her from applying for her dream job, she still maintains a cheerful demeanor.
However, her life takes a drastic turn when she finds out that the person who had encouraged her to live on had committed suicide. When she is stricken by grief, fate gives her another chance – Ryu Seon Jae’s watch, which she had bought for a hefty sum at an auction becomes a time machine and she hurtles to the year 2008.
Now, stuck in her high school self, Im Sol snatches the chance to befriend the teenage Ryu Seon Jae (whom she had ignored in her youth) and change his fate. This also meant that she has the chance to avoid the accident that crippled her and distort the future.
But, as she begins to change the past, she realizes that there are some things just can not be altered.
☆ The Plot + Romance:
Lovely Runner is nothing new in terms of plot. What I loved were the characters and the relationships between them. I think this is what most people loved about it and hence the drama's sky high ratings. I have mixed feelings about the “plot”, but as it's a rom-com, I'll try to overlook it.
Romance is a strong building block; yet at the beginning it's evident that Im Sol treated Sun Jae as her “idol” rather than a real person.
But, the transition to love and the absolute possibility of their relationship was genuine.
An Idol meeting a fan and falling in love?
In the case of LR, Im Sol and Sunjae were already neighbors and had met before, it was just that he was a person who passed by her life without ever influencing it ‘directly’.
It was both sad and comedic to see Im Sol attempt to rescue Sun Jae from his fate, particularly when she couldn't tell him anything about the future.
[This plot point got lost somewhere after EP10… or did it?]
Both Sun Jae and Im Sol were innocent people to begin with. Heck, even their friends and relatives are funny and nice people in general - hence, there is absolutely ‘NO’ additional drama.
Also, it was an added bonus to see a ML who was for once, not an all knowing God. Dude was legit dumb.
In Hyuk and Sun Jae’s bromance, Sun Jae and his father’s antics, Im Geum’s dreams, Sol and the relationship with her grandmother, mother, Tae Seong (the 2nd ML and my favorite character) and her best friend together were just heartwarming to watch.
I did feel that there was a distinct difference between the original timeline and the altered version where Sun Jae dies.
In the original timeline, it looked like the scriptwriter went with the way of the webtoon and had Sun Jae actually commit suicide. (It might be because of the way it was shot.) The other timeliness however, showed a stark difference from EP1 and followed the ‘thriller’ aspect.
I still feel a bit irked about a quote that never became a reality. But, hey, the drama was fulfilling.
☆ Also, this is one emotionally draining drama. Hats off to Kim Hye Yoon for managing to bring about both comedy and tears in a seamless manner. She had that Song Yi Ren kind of energy and was very flexible as a 34 year old grown woman stuck in the body of a teenager, which might've
become awkward had it been any other actress.
I had never heard about Bye Woon Seok, except in passing after the ‘Strong Girl’ drama but, oh dear. Both his comedic scenes as well as the emotional ones were spot on.
[One of my friends was contemplating whether to watch this or not after it aired, and another one advised her that it's ‘either death or villain’ when it comes to him.]
I'll definitely be checking out their future works. Even In Hyuk and Tae Seong had their moments.
☆ Soundtrack: KDramas rarely disappoint in this department. Every song went well with the scenes, but if I could listen to a song all by itself, then it would be ‘Monologue' by Jae Eon and ‘You & I’ by Eclipse.
It's been a long time since I watched a KDrama while on air. It reminded me of those times when they actually managed to grab my attention and continue watching them. I've been serial dropping KDramas a lot since the one hour runtime and emotional investment is much more than CDramas. This one is a surprise from 2024.
It reminded me strongly of ‘Legally Romance’ and ‘First Love Again’ both of which were memorable dramas I liked and had similarities to.
A solid 7.5 from me. I cut off points as I felt that something went ‘missing’ with the story after a couple of episodes. The characters were the only thing that kept me going. [Updated the score from 8.5 to 7.5 because I don't think I'll be revisiting this drama anytime soon. Perhaps I might change the rating if I rewatch it.]
Anyways, one thing I learnt from time travel dramas is that I'll be single for a very, very, very long time unless someone from some other parallel universe risks everything to travel through space and time to meet me.
All in all, it was a wonderful journey. I hope that both Im Sol and Sun Jae manage to meet each other in every universe, however slim the chance is. (And that Kim Tae Seong never changes.)
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1It was a good drama
There were so many time travelling drama.It was pretty gd.In this drama im sol tried hard to save sun jae to go back in past. 😥
When you know what will happen & try to change it bt can't again & again.
How frustrating it was.
No more spoiler 🤪
I love sun jae, aishhh!! 😍They were reaaly cute together.
There were so many funny moments 😂 One side there were tension that, how will she save him & other side there lovely moments😚
BUT, Every character play their part well.
Byeon Woo Seok was so handsome. He really do well in his previous drama. 😍
You can watch it without any doubt.
If you like time travelling drama! 💁
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kinda overrated
To be honest, I dropped this drama because it was boring.The plot was boring, like too fast but too long too. that's what made it boring.
All of the characters are also a bit boring tbh. not saying that their acting is bad, but the characters are just lacking.
maybe i'm just a hater to a misunderstanding plot, but yeah. all i can say is this drama is soo boring :/
I dropped lovely runner at episode 11 because I couldn't continue anymore. the plot isnt plotting ://
but for the ost, quite listenable. especially sudden shower n spring snow. the only good things from this drama.
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Time Travel Romance/ Rom com/ idk
it seems like this show struggles to know its place and what it is. if you thought you were going to watch a cliche rom com this is not that. I wanted to make it work since it’s a popular drama but ultimately quit because the storyline changes to much. None of it makes sense and if that’s your cup of tea then this is for you. I prefer more simple everyday dramas and I thought that this was that. I’m sure you’ll like it if you’re into elaborate stories with good characters and comedy with a dash of sadness!Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
One of the better dramas of 2024
Sad to see the low ratings.I don't understand the hate on this series?? Yeah it was pretty cheesy and had several plot holes, but looking at the good parts, there were A LOT. I can easily compare this series with many others this year and it tops so much of them.
At first, I hated the fan turns into lover idea, but you had to keep watching to realize the main characters had more history than they realized. The plot twists, or just seeing the characters futures changing due to past jumping, got me really excited for the next episodes. It had me giggling in my seat, and I was also OBSESSED with the soundtrack. Not often you see main actors singing for their OSTs!! Minus points for the random plot confusion toward the end, I'd say this show was a success ♡
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This review may contain spoilers
A mesmerising romance with a gripping storyline
CHEMISTRY CHEMISTRY CHEMISTRY!!!!! How can two people have such amazing chemistry?!! They’re officially my no.1 for best chemistry, bypassing the Strong Woman DBS couple. Apart from the fact that Sol and Sunjae have good compatibility as they were written to be so, Hyeyoon and Wooseok naturally look great together. Even when just standing and doing nothing, chemistry is pouring through the screen! Whoever casted them needs a raise.Onto the drama itself: good cinematography (camera angles/movements), great songs (especially ‘Sudden Shower’😜)
First of all, the beginning of this drama did make me wonder what wheelchair users think when watching this as it’s evident that Sol despised being one. Although I would feel the same as Sol, I felt it was a little disheartening to wheelchair users who obviously can’t go back in time and change their condition.
Some parts didn’t make sense: I understand why Sol’s initial appearance was changed (scenes were reshot in her new, modern appearance) but I also don’t think it makes sense. If those were her bangs back then, it wouldn’t suddenly grow to the new Sol’s length. Her whole wardrobe was also suddenly cute although she should’ve had granny clothes- there’s no scene showing that she bought a new wardrobe. Something else that didn’t make sense is why she left the house on the day of her accident (typical kdrama fl behaviour). Also, how could she say she’s from the future but not say things that happen in the future? It’s almost like the last few episodes (scene when she was talking to Taeseong abojt being from the future) almost forgot that she couldn’t mention stuff like that.
Having watched A Time Called You, I did feel quite sorry for 19 year old Sol. Although Sol(30s) went back in time for a valid reason, she completely changed Sol(19)’s actions which seems… unfair. Sol(19) didn’t get the chance to experience her puppy love for Taeseong, etc. Sol(30) pretty much took over Sol(19)’s freedom of choice, ruining her chance to grow and experience life at her age.
Comedic timing was perfect! So cringy but so loveable😂 Gosh, the writer lives messing with us- joseon scene, bathtub scene. Also, that sexy tune was PERFECTTTT!!! I couldn’t help but laugh every time I heard it.
Finally, I just want to appreciate how the final episode was dedicated purely to Sol and Sunjae as a couple so it didn’t feel rushed as most of the drama was based on the process of them getting together. It was refreshing to see them together at peace.
LOVELY drama! I loved each and every episode. Super bingeable! It was so good that I took a break from it so it wouldn’t finish so quickly. Hoping to see this couple again!!!💛💛
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