TC1111
When the rom-com is rom-comming
I cannot recall the last time I smiled this much while watching a kdrama, Sol and Sun Jae are PERFECT together. Lovely Runner was successful in getting me out of my kdrama slump and the main credit goes to Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon seamlessly becoming their characters, and creating this 11/10 chemistry we get to witness. I have always liked Kim Hye Yoon and I’m glad she got to showcase her range in this show, but I am SUPER happy for Byeon Woo Seok. I’ve liked him ever since I saw Record of Youth. I love seeing the fame he’s getting and I want more people to marvel him for his acting caliber and how drop dead GORGEOUS he is. I died really, I did.
Coming back to the show, what I also really like is that it never strays from being a ‘rom-com’. What really bothers me is when a rom-com turns into a melodrama or just turns down the comedy as the show progresses, but that never happens here. Even with the time travel, memory loss, Sun Jae’s infinite deaths, the show finds its way to go back to being a rom-com. Their strong support cast also helps in this case. I see a lot of well-deserved love for Tae Sung, but even In-Hyuk was a very loveable character who was a delight to watch on screen (Lee Seung Hyub is so HOT, anyone who has seen Shooting Stars will agree).
However, the show does have its flaws. What could have worked very well as a 12 or maybe even a 14 epsiode show, is drawn out to 16 episodes. Somehow they still managed to make the leads the focal point in all those episodes, and that really deserves an applaud, but I still feel the storyline could have easily wrapped up earlier. There is a repetition in scenarios, but the show is lucky that the main couple is such a joy on screen that the viewers would not mind. I would not change anything from epsiode 1-8, but post that, they could have condensed the show. Also let’s not forget the taxi driver storyline - stretched out for too long.
Another point that I want to address, which in no way is a bother, is Sun Jae’s career. The way the pilot goes, makes the audience feel he does not enjoy his role in Eclipse. In the subsequent episodes, we see the whole swimming storyline. I truly thought they would put emphasis on his career choice being linked to his unhappiness and he would end up doing something he truly enjoys. Somehow all these career-option battles were treated more as plot points instead of being something integral to Sun Jae’s storyline. There’s nothing wrong in it but I just felt a little duped by those initial episodes focus on it.
All in all, my love for our main couple easily trumps any complaints I have for the show. I will truly cherish this show for getting me out of my slump, and making me look forward to the upcoming episodes, and the release of SPRING SNOW (THANK THE HEAVENS FOR THAT), and for giving Byeon Woo Seok his extremely well-deserved popularity!
Coming back to the show, what I also really like is that it never strays from being a ‘rom-com’. What really bothers me is when a rom-com turns into a melodrama or just turns down the comedy as the show progresses, but that never happens here. Even with the time travel, memory loss, Sun Jae’s infinite deaths, the show finds its way to go back to being a rom-com. Their strong support cast also helps in this case. I see a lot of well-deserved love for Tae Sung, but even In-Hyuk was a very loveable character who was a delight to watch on screen (Lee Seung Hyub is so HOT, anyone who has seen Shooting Stars will agree).
However, the show does have its flaws. What could have worked very well as a 12 or maybe even a 14 epsiode show, is drawn out to 16 episodes. Somehow they still managed to make the leads the focal point in all those episodes, and that really deserves an applaud, but I still feel the storyline could have easily wrapped up earlier. There is a repetition in scenarios, but the show is lucky that the main couple is such a joy on screen that the viewers would not mind. I would not change anything from epsiode 1-8, but post that, they could have condensed the show. Also let’s not forget the taxi driver storyline - stretched out for too long.
Another point that I want to address, which in no way is a bother, is Sun Jae’s career. The way the pilot goes, makes the audience feel he does not enjoy his role in Eclipse. In the subsequent episodes, we see the whole swimming storyline. I truly thought they would put emphasis on his career choice being linked to his unhappiness and he would end up doing something he truly enjoys. Somehow all these career-option battles were treated more as plot points instead of being something integral to Sun Jae’s storyline. There’s nothing wrong in it but I just felt a little duped by those initial episodes focus on it.
All in all, my love for our main couple easily trumps any complaints I have for the show. I will truly cherish this show for getting me out of my slump, and making me look forward to the upcoming episodes, and the release of SPRING SNOW (THANK THE HEAVENS FOR THAT), and for giving Byeon Woo Seok his extremely well-deserved popularity!
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