Lovely Runner

An Idol/Fan Romance or Two Roads Diverged

The beginning of this drama is not easy to get through. At first glance it appears as an Idol/Fan relationship that feels very parasocial, and as someone who is very sensitive to cringe factor, it took me 3 tries to start this drama and get through the first episode. However this story isn't that.

What this drama is really about, is the realization that you have been turning right your entire life when you could have turned left. It's about opportunities that have you missed by only looking one way and not the other. And if you could, would you make those decisions again or change them? Should you?

Imo it's been a while since such a well put together kdrama has come out, and not many more have come out since. The story, acting, directing, and OST were all on point. Each element was required to make this drama the masterpiece that it is. If one of those elements hadn't been up to par, it would have detracted significantly from the magic.

I put off watching this drama for a couple years. At first I thought it was a high school drama, which I'm not into at this stage of my life. But people just kept raving about Lovely Runner, so I finally gave it a chance. I'm so glad I did. The high school element is only a part of the overarching story, and it didn't feel cringe or immature. The actors portrayed their characters as adults and as teenagers very well, and in a way that felt natural and mature.

That isn't to say the the drama is without flaws. There are questions that go unanswered (what on Earth is up with the watch?), and side stories that don't add anything (literally anything to do with the brother tbh). But all of this is easy to forget because the drama is so engaging.

This drama made me feel the way I did when I first started getting into kdramas in 2018 - youthful, giddy, nostalgic.

None of us ever have the opportunity for a true re-do in life, but this is the type of show that makes you think about how your life would be different if you had just considered...maybe...what if...would things be different...if only you had taken the left road instead of the right.

I highly recommend this drama for fans of Goblin, Strong Girl Do Bong Soon, and anyone who just wants an emotionally engaging romance drama with a solid plot.

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Lovely Runner: 7/15/2025 ~ 7/16/2025

I really enjoyed watching this show, by that I mean I finished it in the matter of two days. The romance between the two main characters was amazing and the storyline was something new. It was also cool to see how little actions really changed the future, such as the development of the second couple. I also like how dedicated the FL and the ML were to each other, so much so that the ML loved her in every timeline. It was something so small but it made their romance so sweet. I also like the 2ml cause while he liked the FL he understood she didn’t feel that way for him and instead decided to remain as friends. It was something really cute and not seen very often. Also I loved how selfless the FL was since she was ready to give up everything for home to be safe even though that hurt her. The only frustrating thing was how she wouldn’t tell him things a times but made sense since she was scared. In the end the way they get their happy ending was really sweet and the proposal scenes was one of my favorite of all times.

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Too Overhyped

There are a few long reviews by people that didn't like this drama, so I won't bother. But the FL is so annoying - her voice grates and the unsuccessful attempt to be cute just feels like wading in saccharine. I really can't stand another episode - I'm surprised I made it through 3.

There doesn't seem to be any real substance, although dropping after 3 episodes means that things might have gotten better. But when I'm watching K-Dramas, I want the characters to be interesting and have some depth. Would I invite them to a party at my house? Would I enjoy sitting next to them on a long plane ride? And the answer is no, not these characters.

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aaaaaa

I enjoyed watching this in general but therw are some things I don't like :(. First off, does SunJae actually commit after seeing Sol for the first time in years or is it Kim YoungSoo once again? I mean he sees his lifelong crush after so long, plus she looks happy so why would he do that? also I really don't like how everyone else forgot :(( like sunjae, inhyuk and taesoong's friendship was so nice to watch. it really saddens me honestly. overall, it was a good watch, and im saying this as a person who doesn't really watch time travel and supernatural shows and dramas

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First kdrama I've enjoyed since Dots [HONEST REVIEW] will continue after I finished the show:

Okay Lovely runner, the fuc is this title? And high school theme poster, it's so cliché..but why in the world it got me sobbing after 8mins?

-idk how to start a review but first of all those who's not happy about the character of kim hye yoon(im sol) should just dropped the show coz it annoys me how can they diss a character when we're are in her pov, we should understand her the most coz we know what's she's thinking and why she's doing everything . YET mfs instead use their pov to reason the logic of the show! Shut up do you have traumaS? Amnesia? Did your an idol save you too? and that idol dies? Yada yada.. okay enough rant.

-lovely runner established whats the premise of the show from the from the start and after ep. 3 they add another layer to that time travel/saving sun jae/ something to do with fate.. throughout the series, the writer would slowly slip us this idea of what's bound to happen would happen, it is annoying , frustrating and traumatic not just to the viewers but to our mc imsol too. Especially to imsol!

-tho I admit the concept of timetravel in this show is still a mystery and a plot hole itself.. the story about their love is just sooooo good, chemistry and acting..comedic timing is good too! There's still some cringe moment(some scene of geum) but overall the only thing that's concerning me is how would they wrap up everything in just two episode.

But even if it turns out bad or open ending, i would never forget LR for bringing me those butterflies again, I grow up watching kdramas, those who just have pure love, romance and cute stuffs, then when stop i got bored, tho i still enjoyed different genre but never be like someone who would be screaming and punching my pillow for just a smoch. This maybe my last kdrama idk but thank you lovely runner team! You guys deserve every praises❤️

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one of the best drama you'll ever see

I cant wait for the upcoming episodes. This is so good and the actors have done such a great job. The story line is amazing. It keeps the viewers on the edge.
First of all the male lead is soo freakin HOT!!! so far we have seen him only as SML, being the main lead actually suits him more. There is no scene in this drama you ll feel like skipping. Every scene is full of emotions. The first few episodes are a emotional rollercoaster between sadness, love and comedy.
This drama has exceeded my expectations on every aspects. And the casting...... SIMPLY SUPERB!!!!!

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LR Review

just an overhyped drama, It's a boring for me and can't relate a high schooler unrealistic story. I tried to understand the first 3 episodes but I just dropped it. Touted as a "must-watch," I was eager to dive into the storyline, but after a few episodes, it became clear that this was not going to live up to the hype. The pacing was unbearably slow, and the plot, while initially intriguing, quickly became repetitive and predictable. Every episode felt like it was dragging, with long, drawn-out scenes that added little value to the overall narrative.

The characters were flat and one-dimensional. The lead actors, while talented, were given very little material to work with. The female lead, in particular, was reduced to a passive, almost lifeless character, with most of her screen time spent crying or waiting for the male lead to make decisions for her. There was no growth, no depth, and no real reason to care about what happened to any of them. Even the side characters, who are often the saving grace in slower dramas, were underdeveloped and forgettable.

The romantic storyline, which should have been the heart of the drama, lacked chemistry and emotional depth. It felt forced and rushed, with little buildup to make the audience truly invest in their relationship. Moments that were meant to be emotional or heartfelt fell flat because the characters felt disconnected.

On top of that, the soundtrack is just okay, playing the same song over and over in nearly every emotional scene. Instead of enhancing the drama, it became an annoyance.

In the end, I found myself fast-forwarding through entire episodes just to get to the conclusion, which was equally underwhelming. If you're looking for a K-drama that captivates you from start to finish, this is not the one.

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MANY QUESTIONS BUT ULTIMATELY A GOOD ONE

This drama gave me the vibes of A Time Called You, the same with the oast and everything. However this one left a better impression and it had a more satisfying ending for my tastes. The only and the main problem for me was the non existence of explanations of the main plot. I have so many questions about all of this and the most important is this: If every time Sol goes back in time it’s like a new life, a new story begins, how is possible for Sun Jae in the end to remember all the things they have live together? Since this one , is a new Sun Jae without any memories of Sol.

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