Lovely Runner

BEST SHOW IVE EVER WATCHED

ACHABAIWHAUAHA it’s about time I got a new favorite all time show. The sheer beauty in this show is astounding the amount it’s set up and the acting is TOP TEIR. LIKE TOP. I can’t get over these characters who have the most wonderful growth and emotion throughout them. The storyline is crazy good with so many well thought out plots that unravel perfectly. The relationships are intricate and make you cry laugh and get angry just the right amount. Not to mention hot damn I am OBSESSED with this main male and female lead. They are a match actually made in heaven and I want to see them so bad again in other shows. I can’t even describe how well made this show is. If you’re first getting into kdramas this should be the first show you watch ever cause I can’t even begin to describe the meaningful relationships it holds. Everything about it is a new level of beauty.

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was it the memory i lost? or was it you?

i would rate this show an infinity out of 10. this show was a show that took kdrama land by storm. it came out of nowhere and took everyone by surprise.

i watched this show because of hyeyoon as her acting in extraordinary you as eun danoh is one of my favourite. hyeyoon and wooseok brought sol and sunjae to live. im so glad that both of them were casted. but huge kudos to hyeyoon because sol is such a complex character and the fact that sol cries in every episode. i don't know how taxing it is for hyeyoon but she does really well. there is no sunjae if not for wooseok, but there is no lovely runner if not for hyeyoon. i just felt that she is neglected compared to wooseok.

this show is a masterpiece. the script, the story, the cinematographic and even to the ost are perfect. this show also highlighted that we only know each other's existence because we paid attention. if not, we would miss each other. which aligns perfectly with my thinking that all of us are linked one way or another, its just a matter of time for us to know each other.

right from the bat, the first episode tugged my heart because it reflects why one becomes a fan of an idol. the idol, saved us in someway without them knowing.

one thing i love about this show is how they have cliche scenes with their own twist. they took the rom-COM really seriously. you never expect what will happen, it can be scary, romantic and suddenly 360 changes with comedy. i think its one of the highlights for this show as well.

what make viewers love this show so much?
- i believe its the characters. we have ryu sunjae, a green flag and a loser in every timeline. we have im sol, someone that is positive and carries a lot of things behind her. we have kim taesung, our second male lead that is not irritating and helped our main lead. each character have good relationship with others as well. (and truck-nim finishing kys was classic as well)

and also, as the show goes on, you would realise details that you didn't in the first watch. on the later part, you would go like "oh? OH!" this is a factor i enjoyed as well. everything is so detailed that its beautiful.

what made the viewers stayed?
- well, well, let's welcome our iconic episode 2 ending. it was a well plot twist that is going into the books for years. something simple yet fulfilling. it was a wow factor because for the past 2 episodes are in sol's point of view and we get to see her drifting from sunjae as she thinks that sunjae founds her annoying. but in reality, sunjae fell long ago.

another scene that took me by storm was the ending of episode 4 where sunjae saved sol and she looked at him with teary eyes, wondering "was it the memory i lost? or was it you?" this got me bawling and was the it scene for me.

another thing about lovely runner is that the writer, is good at her ending. the episode always ends on a spot, craving the viewers to want more. therefore, many people looked forward to monday because lovely runner day they say, and im no different.

my favourite ost are:
- run run by eclipse
- like a dream by minnie
- spring snow by 10cm
- may i love you? by umji

despite the problems they faced such as changing of director, actors rejecting the script and more, it was a hit huge. if you are looking for a show to out of nowhere, this is it. it cured my drama slump and made me into them so so much.

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Best kdrama, definitely worth the hype

This is the best Asian series I've ever watched, and I don't think I'll ever be the same 😭
I don't even know where to start. The story—it was so engaging, unique, and beautiful. Watching the story of Im Sol and Sun Jae unfold was the best experience ever. Their story is so tragic yet so beautiful, and the second chance they got was incredibly satisfying to watch. I'll love them forever.
I adore the balance of comedy and tragedy in this series—it has it all: very funny moments and deeply emotional ones. Thanks to this balance, you don't feel too overwhelmed or underwhelmed while watching.
And then the acting!! The main actors were absolutely brilliant in their roles. The characters they played were so well written. The raw emotions they portrayed will stay with me for a long time. I swear this series was so perfect that I don't even have the words to express how much I loved it. It destroyed me emotionally and then healed me again. I cried so many times.
I loved Sun Jae's character—he's literally such a simp and a loser, but he treats Sol so well. They're truly soulmates. I also adore the themes of destiny and fate that this show explores. As viewers, we constantly wonder if Sun Jae's destiny is to die over and over again just to save Sol. But luckily, they got the happy ending they deserved ♥️.
The soundtrack was also perfect!! This is simply the best K-drama you'll find out there. And I can't believe it was my first one... I'll never find anything as great as this again.

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surprisingly engaging story in a timeworn genre

I was half expecting a silly high school teen idol story & was half prepared to drop this show. I was only curious to see Byeon Woo Seok again after seeing him in Strong Girl Namsoon & thought I would just check out the 1st episode or two. My goodness what a pleasant surprise this turned out to be. It's along the same level of pleasant surprise as Legally Romance, another story about a woman returning to the past to change her fate. It's actually not a teen story because it's told from an adult perspective.

Kim Hye Yoon plays Im Sol, a 30 y/o woman who travels back 15 yrs in time to try to prevent a trajedy from happening to her first love Ryu Seon Jae, played by BWS. As things don't quite turn out the way she hopes the first time, she figures out a way to travel back & forth for further attemtps to affect different outcomes. In the course of storytelling, I find the more times this happens, the more muddled things get & too many questions arise about just what the heck is going on. Some characters seem to retain memories you wouldn't expect them to if the time travel didn't involve them. Did Sol return to the past at a point before or after she told certain people certain things? I couldn't keep track. Sol also gains new memories from her new timelines, but the editing made it a bit confusing to follow. Finally comes the question of whether fate is strong enough that if things don't happen one day, will it happen on another day, in another way? And wouldn't that apply to all events, including trajedy?

You'd think the theme of going back in time is so worn out; how can it possibly be retold & still be entertaining? The strength of this drama, I realize, is in the skill of weaving in the developing relationship between Sol & Seon Jae. Sol drives the teen relationship with her 30 y/o maturity, & what she doesn't realize is SJ's own maturity which was far beyond her clueless younger self. Equally impressive was the steady & consistent performance of KHY, who could convey so much of Sol's conflict & hesitation without saying a word. I've read that KHY is not receiving as much attention for this drama as her co-star, which is itself very sad to see as she is the true star of the show. (Addendum: as of Aug 2024 it's reported that she has won an award for this performance).

I'll just add a short comment on the depiction of disability, which I've yet to see portrayed as anything other than worse than death in an Asian drama. Seeing Sol's independence while in a wheelchair, but being denied job opportunities because of inaccessibility which is no fault of her own, it might've been an opportunity to make some sort of statement by having Sol advocate for accessibility, especially since she ends up working at the place that initially rejected her. I was actually excited at the thought of a show featuring a disabled lead character, but alas the show was not up to that level & I decided to let this one go for now.

One of the co-writers of this show also wrote for True Beauty, a show I was far less impressed with. This show was quite entertaining overall, and with good performances. I've rated it higher than I might normally with this type of fluff piece, but only because it was nicely shot, had more than a few truly funny moments, and raised interesting questions about fate. If I had to compare, though, I'd say Legally Romance is a better show.

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Lovely Runner: Special and Memorable

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

I think the best way to describe how I felt while watching this show was warm. I fell in love with everything about the show: the plot, the romance, the characters, the music. And when you feel comfort with something, you aren't ready to let it go. Maybe that's why I delayed watching the final episode by three weeks: because I wasn't ready to let go of something that brought my so much joy.

I first started watching Lovely Runner because I was stressed: I needed something to take my mind off of school, and Lovely Runner seemed easy and fun to watch. I didn't think that by the second episode, I would be absolutely attached to everything about the show. But here I am.

First of all, the characters??!! Im Sol is a literal sunshine, and Sunjae is absolutely everything. But it wasn't just them: In Hyuk and Tae Sung also never failed to make me smile. I grew attached to every single character, and fell in love with them all over again in every episode I watched.

HUGE shoutout to all the actors: they were a huge reason that this show was so amazing. The chemistry between Wooseok and Hyeyoon will never be forgotten (Also the height difference??!! SOO CUTE). They literally sometimes just held hands, and I was blushing and giggling like crazy. And the comedic timing and writing in general?? IMEPCCABLE. The actors and actresses really put their whole heart and soul into this, and it's obvious.

Lastly, I need to give a shoutout to the songs. I cannot get over the fact that Sudden Shower was actually created for Im Sol. Like EXCUSE ME??!! THAT IS THE MOST ROMANTIC THING EVER. And I have been listening to Spring Snow non-stop. But all the songs are amazing, and seriously so worth it.

There is so much more I want to say about this show, but it would take a while. For criticism, I would say there were a few major plot holes. Why was the taxi driver attacking specifically Sol and Sunjae? Where did the Grandma's powers come from? What happened in the first timeline? Most of these plot holes were covered by the chemistry between the leads, but I am still curious.

Anyways, this review is me saying goodbye to some of the best characters, romance, music, and comedy I have seen in a show. I think this show is honestly for anyone who loves a good rom com, or anyone who needs a bit of comfort in their lives.

Thank you Lovely Runner for everything. And I hope to see all the actors and actresses in this show (with their well deserved success) shining in new roles in new universes.

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Good but the second half was unnecesary

TL;DR:
A heartfelt time-travel romance with strong emotional moments, good acting, and a compelling twist — but the second half drags with unnecessary plot padding. Still, it’s a memorable ride.

The drama begins with Im Sol, a girl in a wheelchair who lost her will to live after an accident left her disabled. One day, while listening to a radio talk show featuring a rising boy idol group, she unexpectedly gets through as a caller. The group’s leader, Ryu Sun-Jae, gives her heartfelt encouragement — a moment that becomes the spark she needs to find purpose again. From that moment on, she becomes his biggest fan.

Years later, Im Sol finally gets to meet Sun-Jae in person. But mere hours after their encounter, she’s devastated to hear the news of his sudden suicide. In a desperate attempt to see him at the hospital, she races there in her wheelchair, only to fall into a small river — along with the special watch she believes belonged to Sun-Jae. When she reaches for it, something strange happens: the watch “glitches,” and she wakes up in her high school years, in the past.

The rest of the story follows her attempt to change the past and save Sun-Jae from his fate. Along the way, she reconnects with her younger self, learns more about Sun-Jae’s life before fame, and discovers that he once loved swimming — until an injury ended his dreams. She tries to protect him, hoping that saving his passion might also save his life.

Then comes a major twist: Sun-Jae already knew Im Sol long before she knew him. Not only were they childhood neighbors, but he was the one who saved her during the accident that changed her life. While Im Sol always saw herself as just a fan, Sun-Jae had loved her first — quietly and selflessly.

Eventually, after failing to stop his death, Im Sol chooses a different path: she rewrites the past to avoid ever meeting Sun-Jae — believing that her presence is what led to his tragedy. But Sun-Jae, even in this new timeline, begins to recall memories from the previous one, leading them both to a bittersweet yet happy ending.

Strengths:
The core romance and emotional beats are genuinely strong. The chemistry between the leads works well, especially with Im Sol's arc from fangirl to someone who deeply cares, not out of obsession, but out of gratitude and respect. Sun-Jae, meanwhile, balances charm with emotional vulnerability — a highlight of the show. The soundtrack is fitting and adds to the emotional tone. The second male lead also stands out more than expected, delivering a solid, grounded performance.

Weaknesses:
Where the show falters is in its final stretch (episodes 10–12 and beyond). Instead of ending at a natural emotional high point, the drama adds an unnecessary murder-crime subplot involving a persistent stalker. This twist, while intended to raise stakes, ends up dragging the story and adding melodrama that didn’t need to be there. The emotional impact of Im Sol wanting to save her bias — not just as a fan, but because he saved her — was strong enough without tacking on a suspense thriller angle.

There’s also a gimmicky feel to how she avoids interacting with Sun-Jae during her second trip to the past. The emotional weight would’ve hit harder if the show had focused more on their connection rather than hiding behind misunderstandings and memory resets.

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A lot of mistakes but also very emotional

There were definitely some parts of this show that could have used a second and third opinion. The multiple jumps through time actually just created loopholes and unnecessarily dragged on the show. I think it actually would have done a lot better with just 2 jumps or at least if they just focused on the two main goals of her not getting in that accident, and him not unaliving himself. Instead we got a murder plot that dragged on and then ended really randomly, we got multiple deaths.... like please.

BUT THEN... The romance and the acting was amazing. I felt real heartache for both characters, but especially for Ryu Sun Jae. I loved his character and the way he loves her. It's just so wholesome and it crushed me when they tried to reverse that in Ep.13. I don't know if my hormones are out of whack but I for sure cried a few times.

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Probably my favorite drama ever :)

I literally made an account to rate this k-drama because I've actually never done it.. lmao
When I saw people describing this as something kpop fans would love - when the drama first started out and only a few episodes were out, I thought it was gonna be one of those cringy, unrealistic, obsessive ones. Also, often times they make these love and time-travel dramas so unrealistic and not-human-like so you can't really connect with the characters. But man, was this a journey.. Absolutely amazingly written and one of the best show productions I've ever seen. It makes you addicted to the drama, even though its unrealistical in the *time-travel* aspect, it makes you wonder if you'd do the same if you were Sol, if this happened to you.. if you would do everything to save the person you love. It has a beautiful message, all the actors are so talented and did such an amazing job. This kdrama is so gentle, it has such funny and bright scenes that you are laughing out loud and it was so perfectly intense in the dangerous aspect and also the relationship between the two main characters was making us feel all the tension. Their chemistry was out of this world.
I truly hope we get to see more dramas like this.

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that chemistry...

Sometimes it happens to find a gem: this show is one. Just finished after a 20hours marathon to watch it in one shot, because after the first episode I just could not stop watching it. Literally. I waited for the last episode to be published on May 28 and I made a good choice. I was fully involved, and felt a lot of emotions, from amusement to sadness, from laughs to sobs. Great story. Great cast. Nice plot. Nice direction.
The two leads were simply adorable. I didn't know a lot Kim Hye Yoon. And she was a nice surprise to me: charismatic, talented, expressive, fascinating and what's about her stunning smile? While I had already chances to appreciate Ryu Seon Jae, who's not just a tall giant, but he's able to show charisma and scenic presence, from the comic till the dramatic scenes. But what I liked a lot was the chemistry between them: simply unbelievable, intense, moving, sparkling. Time has passed since the last time I found something similar. And I can even say when: watching Crash Landing on You and those Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin (who were also mentioned at a certain point). I guess that who wrote that there is not chemistry, well: he/she apparently watched something else.
I liked the plot and how the stories were presented, the personalities of each character, and also the way the other lead and support roles were developed, which often are overlooked. And among them I appreciated a lot the figure of Kim Tae Sung and the loyal relationship he shares with the leads.
Actually the structure of the story do not bring anything very new: this is not the first show seeing the leads wrappend around a story, which happens along an extended timeframe and enriched by fantasy elements. But who developed the plot did a very nice work in making it so intense keeping the spectator literally glued to the screen.
Well done!!

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if you haven’t watched this you better do it now

Lovely runner is definitely my top favorite k-drama of all time. it’s the feeling that everything you want inside you to fulfill. the story, the visuals, the satisfaction of watching it with the cuteness and the romance. same with the little evil stuff in here too
just makes everything to fulfill. i watched this when it came out and i had to wait everyweek. and i have rewatched it alot and i wish i could forget the series just to watch it as a first experience again.

you may find me weird but like the “hero” like series when female gets hurt and male being saved but same the other way. i like series when they go back in time too.

the music i just love it i listened it on repeat after the sries was done and still listening to the ost’s.

and i love the female role and the male very well. and so thankful this drama got released and fullfilled what i was craving if you understand what i mean. 🤭

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