sulkytofu

The actual manga is also extremely, extremely fluffy, so in some ways if it is very slice-of-life it's quite consistent with the original storyline (although it's a shame to hear about the low production values). I think what was unique about it was that Amasawa was drawn slightly differently from an "ikemen-style" BL lead, that is he was quite muscular, rough-and-tumble, and did not have a "beautiful" appearance but rather a more rugged look. I haven't watched the drama yet, but the manga also had a very heavy focus on dogs; that is they both bond together because of Amasawa's german shepherd (which he resembles), while Isumi is always compared to a Shiba Inu (small, very cute, and feisty, with a stubborn streak).

Whoever decided to cast Yuwen and Xincheng did an amazing job; it's hilarious that they decided to use their real-life childhood photos as actual promo for the drama. Yuwen jokes that she tells her parents, "mom, dad, I have a kiss scene with Xincheng!" and how awkwardly everyone reacts to it.

For context, Yuwen and Xincheng are real-life childhood friends because their moms have been close to each other since they were very young. You can see how they're very close in some of the variety shows they've filmed and some of their interviews. In some ways, their agencies and their PR have done an incredible job; the general public went from not knowing they even knew each other to discovering that they were actually quite close (a real life "mom's friend's son") with perfect timing for their upcoming drama together.

It's been extremely interesting watching Moon Sang Min's choice of scripts, mostly because I think they've always ended up not really panning out despite the fact that it's clear he (and his team) are selecting romcom projects primarily to continue building his fanbase.

The projects he's chosen technically have all the qualities of being potentially great for ratings (e.g. Wedding Impossible was a very famous Webtoon that was ripe for adaptation, while for Cinderella at 2 AM Shin Hyun Been is a fantastic actress and it was high time that she led a romcom of her own). I really don't think Sang Min has been able to display his acting range in the same way as he did with his Baeksang-awarded performance in Under the Queen's Umbrella, and I wonder if he's going to continue choosing romcoms that technically should be quite popular, but instead have been overshadowed by other airing series instead.

In some ways he's being typecasted as the ML of very lukewarm romcoms, and I'd be quite surprised if his next project continues to be a similar role or if he decides to work on a different genre instead. Of course, actors don't get to choose their scripts all the time and they are often sent scripts directly, but I do think it's interesting that his potential seems to be relegated to relatively mediocre projects.

Ironically, the most interesting project that he's done this year isn't an acting one; rather, it's his decision to be a Music Bank host with Eunchae given how apparently the MC selection process is quite difficult and rigorous. I hope that his next project continues to be better, but I agree that So Jin and Yoon Park's chemistry here is really overshadowing both Hyun Been and Sang Min's (and honestly it's also high time that both of them also were leads in romcoms of their own).

I really, really feel like Fan Zhi Xin is on the cusp of a big break. He is immensely talented despite his age and his acting is natural and fantastic. In some ways it's quite surprising that despite the fact that he only debuted in 2020, he lacks that awkwardness or that transition phase that some newer actors have when they start headlining projects (perhaps it's because he's had a lot of experience in side roles and as an extra in other shows).

It's really smart for him to take on a bunch of supporting acts and shorter dramas where he can really show off the incredible range of his acting. I already had my eye on him in Present, Is Present, when he did an amazing job as a character who had both "villain-like" and "puppy-like" sides, and all of his acting choices (even as the main lead) often feature characters that are quite different and distinct from each other. I really hope that eventually he headlines a large budget script; he's very good at convincing his audience with his performances, and making what (could potentially) be a very cringey and melodramatic script into something believable through his acting.

I wonder if this project will be dropped now or have a new slate of actors, because Lee Jung Jae (co-owner of Artist Company, which is Kim Hye Yoon's agency) just announced that the corporation he's a major shareholder of (Artist United) is suing the production company for this drama (Raemong Raein). It seems there are legal problems stemming from Artist United's acquisition and investment contract involving Raemong.

https://www.mk.co.kr/en/society/11034527

I actually really like how the photo kind of intentionally makes the actual themes and execution of the drama a bit ambiguous? In some ways I feel strongly Lovely Runner gained quite a lot of attention because of the famous narrative twist in Episode 2 in Seon Jae's perspective, and it's better for people to go in expecting that it's a fluffy fan chasing after an idol romance (instead of the whole mash of genres that we've actually received).

Fun fact: I believe it was actually partly Hye Yoon's idea to have her climb on Seon Jae (therefore functioning as a contrast towards "piggybacking him" instead). There's a BTS clip where she suggests the idea and they roll with it, leading to these photos.

If there will be a wedding scene, it will be the first time Kim Hye Yoon wears a wedding dress for one of her acting projects! Fingers crossed and manifesting we see her as a beautiful bride at the end of the drama (may the MT "kiss" legend from Episode 9 be on our side and quickly come true!)

It's also important to note that BTS clips themselves are also specifically edited to give certain insights or implications on the drama process. Editors choose and select which scenes they feel are important to include, and so despite the fact that "making of" clips give an impression of unfiltered authenticity, they're in fact just as edited and scrutinized as the other content that is being filmed and released.

I agree with other comments though on how Hye Yoon is extremely professional and not only has good relationships with her co-workers, but draws a strict boundary as well. She's very devoted to acting and has talked many times on variety shows about right now how she's ambitious to take on as many roles as possible, and she also received quite a lot of unjust criticisms from fans of her co-workers while working on Extraordinary You. She's very cautious about how she's presented, and she makes sure to treat everyone around her well while also being extremely professional and prepared for her job.

The other flip side is that there is always a gendered dynamic around skinship and chemistry; actresses often have more criticisms for being close to actors, while actors have a lot more leeway and instead can be praised for treating their co-stars warmly. Personally, I think a lot of the excitement and speculation over their real life relationship is simply a product of how good their chemistry is, but I feel strongly that both have been in the acting circle for long enough that at the end of the day it's just part of their job to create chemistry (as much as viewers want them to go from reel-to-real and so forth).

Rather than anything romantic, I just hope that they can work together in other films and dramas, or are casted for the upcoming production of Goong. The most exciting thing is continuing to see their acting skills develop.

Hilariously, Woo Seok himself has also emphasized that he's not very similar to Seon Jae in real life, while also admitting that sometimes his warm actions to others can be misunderstood in other interviews.

It would be ironic if it was Moon Sang Min because I think he has a lot of eyes on him right now (especially as the next young actor about to break it into top awards/mainstream popularity), but the romcom project that he did eventually choose which just finished airing was honestly not great. He's also a lot younger (23/24) which may have made him struggle a bit more with the age 30 scenes; it feels a bit more satisfying knowing that both Woo Seok and Hye Yoon have been in the acting circle for quite some time already.

I think rumours circled around it being Cha Eun Woo because of the scriptwriter having worked on True Beauty and the director's insistence on an actor with impeccable visuals as a top star (but I can also see why Eun Woo may be a bit tired of taking on a role that's very similar to several of his previous dramas).

For those who are interested, there's an Eclipse version of Star sung by Byeon Woo Seok (I hope they actually release the official version very soon!) He really, really has a deep voice; it gives such a different feel from the original one.

https://twitter.com/hellobungz/status/1790008731997999470

Also, Geon Hee and Seung Hyub are amazing singers as well. They actually used to be on King of the Masked Singer, and although I definitely expected it from Seung Hyub given how he's in N.Flying, I didn't expect that at all from Geon Hee given that he doesn't have an idol or vocalist background. If Kim Tae Sung wasn't devoted to being an online shopping mall CEO/detective, he really could have been a vocalist in Eclipse!

For new watchers or those who are joining the show after seeing the media buzz and trending topics around Lovely Runner, I can't emphasize enough that if you go in with elevated expectations you may feel that it's overhyped or not enjoy it as much as other viewers. This type of show is carried hard by the romantic chemistry between Hye Yoon and Woo Seok as Sol and Seon Jae, especially as even in the drama both characters care little about how the time slip mechanics work, and instead focus on time slipping as a function of protecting each other across time and space.

I have a feeling that the wave of more critical comments are coming in with certain expectations that may not be aligned with what the show primarily focuses on. If you're therefore looking for a drama that has a lot of details about time travelling, is a more introspective drama, or is heavy on the thriller aspects, this is not a watch that I would recommend. It is at its core a romantic comedy that is dotted with periods of angst, mostly because of the star-crossed, selfless, and all-encompassing love between our main characters. However, if you want something that's very fluffy, with a love that transcends all sorts of obstacles, lots of heart-fluttering scenes, and a lot of sweet reflections on the transition from adolescence to adulthood, then I definitely think this is a good pick.

I do feel like the drama benefitted from being a bit of a dark horse, and that those who started watching from when Episode 1 aired didn't really think it would be as much of a hit as it currently is. If by Episode 2 (which is when I would say is one of the main narrative twists of the series that really started hooking in a lot of viewers) you're not really convinced and are not enjoying it, I think you should drop the drama and move on to something else instead. There's no point in trying to watch something that doesn't work for you. However, if you are curious, I would definitely recommend you come join the rest of us fans as we continue theorizing, gasping, and giggling over the adorable, warm, and moving love story between Sol and Seon Jae.

OMG UPDATE I FOUND IT LOL ITS LIKE $250: Casio G-SHOCK GW-B5600HR-1JF

It's the version from Japan!

I think you're right; I also enhanced the photo and realized that I guess this wasn't an ad (it's hilarious though because the watch shape is so iconic to Casio that it's honestly extremely hard to just see it as a regular watch instead).

I'm going to post around the Casio subreddit (LOL) and see if I can get any responses, and come back here if I find any new information. I've been dying to get my hands on one after the drama, and have been looking everywhere (thanks again for your hard work finding this one!)

Thank you so much! I don't think it's this one; the general shape looks the same but the one that Seon Jae is wearing has the G-Shock lettering on it in red. I definitely think it's one of the higher priced ones (the F91W is the $15 ~ $30 price range) but can't find the colourway or the model anywhere!

I'm really, really excited about this one; those who have been fans of Uhm Tae Goo for a while know that he is so timid, shy, and an absolute cinnamon roll in real life, especially when watching the (few) promotions that he does for his roles. He's someone who is completely devoted to acting and it's crazy to see the switch between his personality and the character he's playing, especially when a lot of his industry friends like Jo In Sung and Nam Joo Hyuk mention that he's "weak in body and spirit" due to his social anxiety. Of course, it doesn't help that he has the most distinct husky and low voice, and I'm so happy that he's finally in a rom-com!

Hoping this one is fluffy, sweet, and cute, and knowing that Sunhwa and Tae Goo have already worked together before is already a charming point of the show!

Alright, calling all eagle-eyed fans: Does anyone know the exact make of the Casio watch that both Seon Jae and Sol wear? I've been trying to find the name of the specific version everywhere but haven't had any luck so far!

I have to say not only do Hye Yoon and Woo Seok carry the chemistry hard throughout the show, but so many of the other members of the writing and production team did a fantastic job.

The stylists are amazing at making each phase or arc of their lives together visually very distinct; from the clothing to the hair, you genuinely believe that they're high schoolers/college students/mature adults based on their clothing and their attire.

Scriptwriter Lee Shi Eun also made so many incredible changes to the original source material; it's extremely clever that the story has been modified from simply Sol's pursuit to save Seon Jae, into a story about a power couple whose love for each other attempts to overcome time and space.

And of course, director Yoon Jong Ho and Kim Tae Yub put so much thought, time, and care into the details of the drama. There's been some discussion on how different the kiss in Episode 8 is compared to Episode 10, and the behind the scenes clips also show how that was a deliberate directing decision by the production team.

It's shocking that the drama was in a production slump for several years and almost couldn't cast a male lead actor; but instead has become a dark horse for one of the most noteworthy dramas of 2024. The blend of thriller, angst, and hilarious rom-com is so well done, and like everyone else I'll be sitting here waiting eagerly for Mondays and Tuesdays with our Soljae couple!

Hye Yoon has been in other variety shows before, but I'm not sure why her promotion right now hasn't been as extensive as some of her other works. I'm hoping that they can both show up together, but the fact that she isn't on Running Man with Woo Seok despite the fact that she already knows many of the cast members makes me keep my hopes extremely low.

I actually think that Hye Yoon was referring to the wave of popularity that Woo Seok received as Ryu Si Oh in Strong Woman Nam Soon! I think he was already gaining quite a lot of attention through Record of Youth, SWNS, and 20th Century Girl, although I completely agree with others that Lovely Runner really catapulted his popularity this year.

From looking at their other interactions, honestly Woo Seok is extremely considerate with all of his female costars, and he's well known for being called someone very kind and attentive to others by many of his other friends in the industry. But my delusional self of course just loves seeing the Soljae couple together and can't help watching all of the BTS clips with eagle eyes!

From my understanding, Artist Company (which Hye Yoon signed on to in April 2024) is the agency that used to be co-owned by Lee Jung Jae and Jung Woo Sung, but it was then bought over by a visual effects studio (I believe none of the actors are directly involved in CEO/managerial positions anymore although they may hold some form of ownership in the company). Oddly enough they only have Instagram highlights for these two actors, they don't even seem to be really promoting their other roster of talent as well. I'm not sure why she decided to sign with them especially as AC doesn't really seem to be actively on social media (and Hye Yoon herself is pretty private and rarely posts on social media).

Conversely, I think Woo Seok's Varo Entertainment has been doing an absolutely fantastic job at riding the wave of his popularity (especially even announcing a first Asia fanmeeting, as well as showing up on Hong Seok Cheon's Youtube show, Running Man, You Quiz on the Block, etc.) which may make Hye Yoon's lack of appearances and promotions seem sparse compared to his. I will say there were some BTS clips where Hye Yoon did want to be careful about her interactions with Woo Seok (especially with his growing popularity, and understandably, his growing fanbase) and that could also be a reason that she may have turned down/was not interested in joining him on variety shows (when usually both actors of popularity shows show up together).