Lovely Runner (2024)

Rom-Com Fantasy at its best!

For me, Watching Lovely Runner brought back memories of watching kdramas way back 2000s.

It has the right amount of romance, comedy and the acting was very good. I started watching because I'm a fan of the Female Lead. As expected, Kim Hye Yoon nailed the role. Surprisingly, Byeon Woo Suk is a hidden gem. From Swimming to Singing and Acting. Both of them complemented each other. Their chemistry is on fire!

Moving on to the supporting cast, they did also a great job. They have strengthened and cemented more the story. This is the first K-drama wherein i wasn't annoyed with the villain (aka taxi driver) hahaha.

I have watched the drama for the 2nd time and now repeating eps 13,14,15 and 16.

Happy watching <3

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Romance and comedy

Lately, the recent wave of Kdramas left me feeling a bit underwhelmed, but this particular drama managed to capture my attention in a way that others haven't. It truly hit the mark for me. I found myself drawn into the storyline, enjoying every moment of the captivating romance unfolding between the main leads. The chemistry between the male lead (ML) and female lead (FL) was simply enchanting, tugging at my heartstrings and leaving me eagerly anticipating their every interaction. Even the second male lead (2ML) added an extra layer of charm to the drama.

What stood out the most for me was the perfect balance struck between humor and romance. While some recent releases may have veered too far into melodrama or relied on tired clichés, this series managed to keep things fresh and engaging. The genuine moments of laughter and heartfelt connection between the characters brought a sense of authenticity to the story, making it easy for viewers to get invested in their journey.

The dynamic between the ML and FL was a true highlight of the series. Their on-screen chemistry was palpable, radiating a genuine warmth and affection that made their relationship feel incredibly relatable and endearing. From their sweetest moments to their playful banter, every scene they shared was filled with undeniable passion and emotion. It was impossible not to root for them ❤️

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10********** because IT made me HAPPY

- 10* because during watching and after, just like the song: "...I said to myself/ What a wonderful world!"
- 10* because IT made me watch without judgement/critique and just enjoy the ride
- 10* because my world transformed (If only for a moment): the sun îs brighter, the heart îs warmer and all people are beautiful
- 10* because this show is being home again, is singing in the rain, is a Smile in a dreary day, a lovely run under the sun
- 10* because it made me happy to feel and share the excitement and positive energy with so many people
- 10* because I felt captivated and lost in the moment
- 10* because the music spoke to me and made me sing and listen over and over again and IT still does
- 10* because I felt so much excitement and joy and satisfaction and fulfillment and cared so much for the characters
- SO: "BECAUSE I'M HAPPY
Clap along If you feel like that's what you wanna do" because of Lovely Runner 🙂

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PERFECT EXAMPLE OF ROMCOM!

Lovely Runner is definitely going to become a classic drama in the years to come - it is reminiscent of classic early 2010 romcom tropes executed flawlessly alongside more modern themes which have gained popularity in recent years like time travel and idol romances.

I will go through each of my ratings in this review to explain why I have rated them as such.

Story -
The story rating has been split into 5 stars for characters and 4.5 stars for the actual plot. I do still believe on the whole it is a perfect example of a romcom but there is one episode which was a bit jarring as an ONGOING viewer (was resolved very quickly) but it doesn't harm the plot in the grand scheme of things.

The plot of this drama is not a brand new concept or full of jaw dropping plot twists and turns (for the most part), it is easy to follow and understand and to some may seem as very simple and overrated as a result. The reason why the story of Lovely Runner is so engaging and has captured such a large audience is due to how they take this run-of-the-mill romcom storyline and implement it in a near perfect manner. The story is less so about creating a more unique piece of art but more so about understanding their audience and creating a more enjoyable experience for them. Many dramas try to tackle multiple genres and fail as they try to keep all of the genres in the forefront and end up confusing the watcher more than anything. Lovely Runner is definitely at its' core a ROMCOM so if you are looking for a Sci-Fi/Murder Mystery drama, although this drama contains elements of it - this is NOT the prime example you are looking for. The drama has been crafted in a way where it superbly balances the emotional depth of the connection between the main leads with the comedic antics in which they fall into - in this way, viewers have rarely felt either was excessive or taking away from the plot.

There have been some issues viewers have had with the plot such as repetition, Sols' depression and the accident plotline.
Each of these issues are integral to the plot and once understood make more sense - repetition is going to happen in any sort of time travel plot because time travel is the repetition of past events; Sol is time travelling on her OWN to prevent her loved ones death and she does everything in her power to prevent it even when she has limited resources as a student whilst also juggling her own impending accident that she has to prevent which completely contextualizes her disarray of emotions; the accident that Sol suffers is something which begins her journey as a fan of Sunjae and holds value as something that connects both of them across timelines.

This drama does fall under the time-travel genre, however, it doesn't focus predominantly on the different mechanics that come with time-travelling - it is more so focused on fate and destiny between lovers. What I really enjoy about this drama is that it is able to take the time-travel genre and deliver such a light hearted simpler approach to a usually heavy topic. That being said, it is definitely not catered towards people who like to focus on the specific details of time travel - I do not think there are any plot holes personally but there are a lot of points which are left more ambiguous than some would like, but I do think this fits the story much better.

The characters in this drama, in particular the main leads of Sunjae and Sol, are incredibly likable and the audience truly fall in love with them as the episodes progress. There is NO frustrating love triangle, it is very much evident from the beginning that the main leads priority has always and only will be each other. While there are other interests which present themselves in the show, they are mainly comedic relief and are supportive and even encouraging of the romance between the leads and just as likable for the most part. Sunjae is one of the funniest male leads in K-drama history - he is a true LOSER in love which gives you so much second-hand embarrassment but he is also so sincere that it melts your heart. Sol is so smart and focuses so intently on fixing the future and how much she selflessly cares for her friends and family makes her so adored by the audience. Taesung and Inhyuk bring so much comedic value with their characters but also are shown as very good friends to these main leads but also follow their own unique paths which are independent to the leads and don't exist solely for the couple.

This drama is also based upon a web novel “The Best of Tomorrow” (내일의 으뜸) by Kim Bbang (김빵) and I have not read the source material personally so this rating for the story and characters is purely based on the drama as a standalone. I have been told that the drama is very different from the source material so I am not sure how the original readers view this adaptation but as a standalone, it is very entertaining.

Acting/Cast -
There is not a lot to say for the acting and casting because it was PERFECT! The character of Sunjae had taken a long time to be properly casted and I am glad it had taken such a time because Byeon Wooseok was made for this role and I hope he wins many awards for his performance because it took the world by storm. His embodiment of the first-love nervousness and adoration tugged at your heartstrings and you couldn't help but wish the best for him. Kim Hyeyoon also gave so much dimension to Sols' role, her expressions with only her eyes were so powerful that could bring every viewer to tears and I couldn't imagine her as anyone else. Same goes for all other characters, the acting was impeccable and never a dull moment, they all took the script and brought so much life to the characters.

Music -
As this drama is centralized around an idol star, music is a very important aspect of this show and even drives several plot points. The lyricism in songs often depicts the journeys of the characters (Sudden Shower), and the songs are so catchy that the fans of this show probably know the lyrics just as well as the fans of the fiction boygroup in the show. The OST is very well produced and all the ECLIPSE songs are actually sung by the male lead himself, Byeon Wooseok! Not only is his singing wonderful but the songs are really good and I think everyone would find a song they love in this soundtrack. A fan favourite song is definitely the 10cm - Spring Snow which I honestly believe will be one of the future hallmarks of romantic soundtracks because it genuinely sounds like falling in love.

Rewatch Value -
As with most time-travel genre dramas, the rewatch value on this drama is very high as it can lead you to notice new details about characters that you were not initially aware of especially from RSJ. But in addition to this, due to the characters likability and the beautiful cinematography, so many fans couldn't help but rewatch even as the show was airing. I do think it is a show which really does make you fall in love with characters and fall in love with LOVE, because it was truly an adorable emotional rollercoaster that you wish you could go on again and you probably WILL!

All in all, I would 100% recommend this drama to every romcom lover out there, I guarantee that you will fall in love with the characters from day one. If you are not a romcom lover, I wouldn't recommend this drama as it is definitely tailormade for romcom fans but don't be shy to give it a try because it is truly a perfect romcom drama.

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My top #1 2020s drama for sure

I never been this OBSESSED by a drama ever since I started watching kdrama from 2012. Every episode has their own magnet, I end up rewatching more than 3 times. The main leads acting and chemistry are just top-tier. I will always believe in Kim Hyeyoon choice of works, and I’ve watched most of Byeon Wooseok’s works before this. But Sol and Sunjae just bring the most of them. I can see myself in 10 years to come, still rewatching this series.

I’ve always been a fan to romcoms but Lovely Runner just hits my soul deeper than ever. This series just made my whole standard for kdrama way way way up. I don’t know if I ever be this obsessed by a kdrama anytime soon.

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A heart-warming yet heart-wrenching series

I waited for this one to end airing so that I could make myself a marathon and it was so good!

Let me tell you, I really love my fluffy romances and looking at the poster I never thought how many tears I'd shed because of the story. I had some moments where I could relate from my personal life too, even conversations that I've had, and that hit home too hard at times тт.тт

ML and FL had a good chemistry and personally I think they re-enacted the characters exactly how they were supposed to be. Side characters were also interesting and fun to watch! From acting stand point, I think it is very decent. I first watched Byeong Woo Seok in Record or Youth and I'm glad to see how much he improved ~

Тime travel is not a new concept, however they made it so interesting here and the story felt quite refreshing as well. The series were shot so well and aesthetic, such an eye-pleaser! The music too, one of the best OSTs of the year for sure ~

I definitely recommend to people searching for youth, first love, wanting to fix regrets from the past, and a little suspence but also happy ending for their next watch.

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Tomorrow's Best

Lovely Runner is based on a web novel titled Tomorrow's Best. I personally read the manhwa while the series is on-going I can see that they made some drastic changes from the story. The manhwa is less complicated compared to the series, but I like the changes they made on the story it actually adds up to the uniqueness of the drama. What I really love about Lovely Runner is that it never fails to make me laugh every single time. I like the balance of the show's theme it's a combination of comedy, romance, thriller, mystery and drama.

Aside from this the cast did so well that their acting felt so natural, all of them deserves to be recognised for their versatility and they played an integral part on the story. The villain did his job so well that I almost wanted to be included on the story just to choke this guy. I would also like to point out how I love Baek In Hyuk's character, he's the best wing man ever. Ryu Sun Jae would've been a forever simp without the help of this guy. I am looking forward to Lee Seung Hyub's future drama where he'll be the leading man, I bet he's gonna be a great male lead since he already showed his exceptional talent in Lovely Runner.

Kim Tae Sung's character is also my favorite from this drama, his character development is the most noticeable among them all. He unknowingly fulfilled his promise to Im Sol that he'll protect Sun Jae in the future. It's just kinda sad that we didn't get to see a glimpse of his back story.

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My kdrama comeback

-Before watching this kdrama i was on a kdrama break for some reason i couldn't find anything interesting until i gave lovely runner a chance
- the story : the story is very creative it's not just a regular time traveling kdrama also it's not easy to expect what's going to happen next which really made me interested more
-the cast : the cast is incredibly suitable for their roles the casting is out of this world and the biggest evidence is how the main lead got incredibly popular after the show even though they weren't as popular before
- music : i mean who didn't listen the songs in the kdrama they were beautiful specifically the one that sungjae wrote for seoul
- rewatch value: i would definitely rewatch this everytime i feel like there's nothing interesting

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