Lovely Runner

May we all find a love that stays — like Sunjae did for Sol, like Sol did for Sunjae.

I honestly didn’t know where to begin writing this. There were too many thoughts, too many emotions tangled together after finishing the series. Should I start with how Sol made me reflect on myself — how her choices forced me to ask, if I were in her place, would I have done the same? Or should I talk about Sunjae, and how his love made me realize that I want more than just the bare minimum? That kind of love — the kind that waits, that endures, that stays for more than a decade — is something that feels almost unreal, yet beautiful.

But as I sat with my thoughts, I realized this series wasn’t just about them. Somehow, it became about me too.

It made me look back on my own experiences with love — especially my first love. All the boys I liked before… maybe they did like me back, but not in the way I needed them to. Or maybe they never really did. And maybe I wasn’t right either. Because the truth is, we love the only way we know how. We love based on what we think is right, even when it isn’t. And maybe that’s why none of those relationships lasted — they were built on mismatched understandings of what love should be.

Watching this story brought back all the what ifs, the almosts, the maybes I thought I had already buried. It made me confront something I don’t usually admit. My first love wasn’t beautiful. It wasn’t soft or comforting or something I would ever want to relive. It was filled with more pain than happiness, more regrets than memories worth keeping.

So why am I talking about all of this in a review that’s supposed to be about a series?

Because this is what the series did to me.

It made me realize how deeply our first loves shape us — how they influence the way we see love, the way we give it, and even the way we accept it. Sol’s first love felt innocent, dreamy, and full of hope. It was the kind of love that blooms softly. But Sunjae’s love? It was something else entirely. It was sacrifice. It was choosing to stay even when it hurt. It was loving someone enough to let them be happy — even if that happiness didn’t include you.

And that contrast made me reflect on my own story even more.

First loves can be terrifying. Some people move on quickly, as if it never mattered. Some carry it with them for years, even decades. And some… never really let go. Not because they want to suffer, but because a part of them was shaped permanently by that experience.

But if there’s one thing this series taught me, it’s this. Love — whether it’s your first, your greatest, or your last — doesn’t define your entire story. Because one day, someone will come into your life who changes everything.

It’s like hating the rain your whole life, only to find yourself standing in a sudden downpour that doesn’t feel so cold anymore. Because this time, someone is there with you — choosing to stay, choosing to understand, choosing you. And in that moment, you realize that maybe the rain was never the problem. You just hadn’t met the person who would stand in it with you.

That’s what this story feels like.

A reminder that somewhere out there, there could be a Sol who would rewrite time just to save you, or a Sunjae who would love you across different versions of life. Maybe it will happen in this lifetime, maybe it won’t. But the possibility alone is enough to make you believe again — even just a little.

This review might feel all over the place, and maybe it is. But if I were to sum it all up in one line, it would be this.

I hope all of us find our Sunjae to our Sol. Because we all deserve a love that stays, a love that fights, and a love that feels like it was meant for us — no matter how long it takes to find it.

So if you hate the rain, if you don’t believe in fate, or if there’s someone in your mind right now that you would run to without thinking twice…

Go watch this series.

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You Will ALWAYS have to root for SOLJAE; 2014-2016-2020 K-Drama vibes

As I expected, I did not find the antagonist’s story good enough. I really wish there was more to it for it to be more believable because why in each timeline, he is there to somehow target either Im Sol or Sun-jae? I think it could have developed better if they didn't just pull the "because he is just a psycho & kills". Either that or used different antagonists and circumstances in each timeline, but I know that it would probably make this "light drama" heavier than it is.

The usual problem of romance & fantasy K-dramas is really using the fantasy aspect to the plot’s convenience, making the “world-building” unbelievable. By that, I mean the time travelling part can be changed as it goes on and there can be inconsistencies.

Those are the reasons I’m giving this drama a 4-star instead of a full 5. Despite it, I believe I’ve enjoyed it enough to disregard it, because the goal here really is to have THAT kind of ending for these characters. It is cliche; it follows a usual formula and you definitely want these two leads to end up together because, really, THAT IS THE POINT!

Overall, the pacing is ok but it can still be done in at least 10 to 12 episodes. The cast and acting is great. The two female and male leads have an exploding chemistry; the 2nd male lead also has great chemistry with the two which makes the drama have good bromance and love triangle. Lovely Runner woke me up from a drama slump and I miss dramas like this.

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this will be your all time best k-drama

this drama is 9/10 for a drama but def 100/10 for re-watch value and the emotions it left behind. They were beyond cute . The cry the laugh, I remember seeing seon jea's love through his eyes . Greenest character of k-drama history. Still remembering the name of character, this ıs also so rare for me.
This drama has no boring episode, none . I will re watch this for sure probably every year:) the Male lead is my favorite, his facial expressions and mimics made this drama this good. So happy that he was chosen for this role. No one could have been played better..
Don't forget this is a "drama", there is no time travel in real life and they don't have to make it reasonable or prove it scientifically.. Just enjoy the story. Trust me you will live longer, stop hating everything, enjoy little happy moments and cute dramas, there isn't many of them...

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how to watch this again for the first time?

I don't even know where to start, but I will say I kind of regret not watching. This drama genuinely altered my brain chemistry. It was that good, and it has immediately gotten into my top list of favourite dramas in the world because I don't know if I'll ever watch something as beautiful as this. I personally have not seen that many romance K-dramas, but I've seen a lot of dramas in general, and this is easily one of the best ones I have ever watched. It was so entertaining and such a good story throughout, and there were no inconsistencies and no problematic scenes where, like, oh, it's so cringe, I can't. And it was the most perfect ending I have ever seen in a K-drama. Lovely Runner when it was airing, but I say kind of because I had the most phenomenal time watching it right now. And yeah, maybe it is the time that makes it better, but I waited two years to watch this, and I had such a good, good time. I don't even know how to explain how. I just wanna say I love Soi so much. She has worked so, so hard to protect the love of her life and the whole concept of this movie, of him trying to get her to love him, but all she wants is to keep him alive, and the only way to keep him alive is by making sure he stays away from her. This concept is so painful, yet so beautiful, and they are dependent on each other. I'm so happy that the last episode was just fluff. There were no problematic scenes, nothing. It was just them getting the true joy they deserved after 15 episodes of pain and suffering. That's all I wanted. I didn't want a 10-minute scene of joy. No, I got the full hour, and I'm very, very happy. Lovely Runner is one of the best shows ever, and I'm so happy to have watched it.

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It's Lovely To Run Into Someone You Love!

Not too much Spoiler.

I watched this series while it aired and to date it's still one of my favorite Drama I watched
in 2024. I came on this page to comment on how the OST still lingers on in my head and what
alerted me into writing this review was a very misleading review about the FL's character name
Im Sol that she does not care about anyone but the ML Seon Jae which is untrue.
I don't want to spoil much but I must say this that Im Sol cared for others and may be
the most selfless character in the series, She helped her mom, grandma, brother, and best
friend on multiple occasions. So it was not the ML she cared about, but the series is based on
IM sol trying to save Seon Jae so honestly why would anyone want to act as if they were apart
of the crreative writing team. I think some people purposely trying to bring down a very greatly
made series and draw attention to themselves as only a negative review would garner attention.
If you have not watched this series yet, please read the synopsis first, it's got multiple time travel
for most of the series. So if you thought it was only a few episodes, it's not.

The series is based on the FL trying to save the ML through time travel
and each time she tried and failed, she kept going back to save him until she could not go back anymore
where the story conclusion in the last two episodes, you see them in the present time and that is
how they both discovered they met in the time travel.

I want to add that after visiting Seoul in 2024 and saw how much love Koreans have for the ML.
His face is everywhere you cannot miss him and I loved it. Imagine his face made you buy coffee
just cause lol. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the series as much as I did.

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The two main leads are carrying this show

some plots holes, too much tears from the main female lead, but their incredible alchemy and acting are making up for the mistakes this drama has.

I would have liked the main female to have more character development, aside the development about SunJae! it felt like she was living only for him, and it was a bit too much in my opinion.

I didn't feel the need to know more about the time travel (how? why?), but now I've finished the drama, I feel like there is too much questions and points that weren't explained (what we call plot holes)

but overall, the great points from this drama are definitely the acting and the alchemy beetwen the two mains! you laugh, you cry, you get angry at the scenario. and most of all, you're scared to finish it cause you're gonna miss them. And I think it's the sign you're watching a good drama.

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Wow - Yea, not really

*I had to come edit my review because I have fully digested it and it's not a 9.5 lol*

Original: Indeed an amazing drama. I fell in love with Byun Wooseok and I'm now part of his fandom lol! I started watching this three days ago and already finished, and I'm so glad I gave it a shot (despite it being during finals season.... help!!).
The OST is unforgettable and I loved the whole concept of the drama. There are a few reasons why I didn't give it 10 stars though:
1) There were some holes in the story that made me uncomfortable at times. I don't want to include spoilers in this review so I won't go into detail but I think that all time-travel stories are bound to have some "unexplained" events, and it's okay because it's worth it! The story was fun even though it has some loose ends.
2) I think the first 5 episodes are the best of the whole show. I loved the beginning of this story and I wish we had spent more time there. I don't want to be preachy or politically right about this, but I wish we had had more time with original timeline Sol and Sunjae. I think it was a shame that they took the.... characteristics... of both characters in the first episode. I understand why (related to time-traveling consequences) but still; it's like they were used just to add drama.
3) I love the FL and I understand why she was affected by all that happened in the show, but having her cry in every episode is a bit much. And, in my opinion, she doesn't express mature happiness or love as well as she does innocent/childish happiness and love. There were parts where I was like "You don't seem all that happy??" Hahaha but she is a good actress, don't get me wrong.

I loved the chemistry between all the characters! It is an unforgettable drama, that's for sure.



Now: The things I liked about this drama were overshadowed by not so great things. The female lead is just annoying and empty. The ML also only exists for the FL and easily gives up his own aspirations, although less annoying because he cries less. My love for BWS and for golden retriever characters clearly blinded me – I can't help but love Sunjae despite the flaws in the way the character was written and BWS is a big reason for that because he's SO DAMN TALENTED! He was born to play that character and the actor literally saved the character for me.
I still really enjoy the first 5 episodes because I was expecting the show to develop the characters and the plot from there but it never did. It was just the same over and over again, to the point where the emotional scenes didn't hit anymore. I just wish they had taken the first episode and written a story about characters who have a life outside of each other, who have relationships that they value outside of their partner, who follow their dreams (lmao who even have dreams and goals), who make plans before rewinding time so that they can idk ACTUALLY SOLVE SOMETHING????... Having a ML who has loved the FL before they even "met" made it sooo boring once we find out (but I guess that's personal preference). I liked the first episodes because we didnt know that yet and it felt like we were going to join them on a journey; but no, they already liked each other so what's the point? I love the retro vibes like in the Reply series and 2521 but in those shows we can slowly get to know the characters and understand what is moving them in the plot but not in LR. I understand that it's a romance but it should have been more developed.
The music is GREAT and the vibes are ICONIC so I'm actually upset they wasted such a cool idea and turned it into this – "this" being a great drama that had the potential to become my favorite drama of all time but fell short because the FL cries in every scene and the plot is built around a relationship at the expense of logic sometimes. UGH it makes me want to rewrite the whole thing myself because the wasted potential is haunting me. I was clearly blinded when I first reviewed the show, although deep down I knew it hadn't been that great so I had to come and write this so that I can move on with my life in peace.

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