Lovely Runner (2024)

Lovely Runner: a romcom do ano

Primeiramente, queria agradecer o byeon wooseok e a hyeyoon por terem entregado um casal com tanta química e com a melhor dinâmica possível para uma comédia romântica.

A Sol e Sunjae foram responsáveis pelos meus surtos das segundas e terças. Cada momento deles juntos foi maravilhoso de assistir.

Minhas considerações finais é que amo plots de viagem no tempo, mas essa trama conseguiu entregar tanto a comédia quanto drama e suspense na medida certa. O que dizer de um vilão que só teve falas no último episódio mas que eu odiei do início ao fim?

E depois de ler o web novel só posso dizer que a adaptação ficou infinitamente melhor. Apesar de alguns furos de roteiro (que estarei ignorando por motivos pessoais), a trama teve um desfecho incrível e conseguiu me prender semanalmente e com certeza sentirei saudades de ter meu humor definido com base no desenrolar de algum episódio de lovely runner.

Uma surpresa agradável e o papel da vida do Wooseok, sem dúvidas!!

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Laughter, tears... and a bit of anger.

I started this drama after a couple of months without watching any dramas, and it has basically been a breath of fresh air in my life. I must say it's perhaps a bit nostalgic, I suppose because it's been a while since I've seen something with such a beautiful and adorable romance.

But I can't deny that it's been a rollercoaster of emotions, both in a good and a bad sense. I've laughed and cried in the same episode, and I think they've balanced the sad and comedic scenes very well, placing them at just the right and necessary moments. However, I've also felt quite angry, especially at the ending of episodes 13 and 14. I was very upset because of this episode; I think the direction the story took was unnecessary, and I know I'm not the only one who was upset with how they developed this part of the story.

(SPOILERS HERE)
Firstly, SungJae didn't have to die, I mean, he wouldn't have fallen off the cliff if Sol or the police had run towards him, but for some reason Sol stayed still, and the police gave more importance to the killer than to the person who was about to die. Perhaps he could have been saved at the hospital, but no. Second, I really liked the main character, but at many points in the story, I felt she was very selfish, not thinking about what he wanted but only about what she wanted, especially at the moment when she goes back to the past and definitively decides to change the fact that he met her in the future. She thinks it's for the best, but it's not, and he gets a little upset with her, and rightly so; he didn't want to forget about her, no matter what.

Finally, I really enjoyed the final episode, starting from the beginning with the pesky killer and giving us a dose of sweet, beautiful love with a touch of comedy, which is what we needed to finish this wonderful drama.

Some were expecting something softer, full of love and comedy, so they were surprised by the serial killer twist. In my case, I was pleasantly surprised; it's not something that displeases me, and as I've already said, I think they more or less managed to balance the moments.

It's been an incredible journey, so I would definitely recommend it, even if people get mad at me when they reach a certain episode, lol.

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Lovely Time

if you like True Beauty, you should watch this. if you like A Time Called You, you should watch this. if you watched A Time Called You and feel disappointed, you should watch this.

It’s been a while since I watched kdrama because I’ve moved to cdrama, but I’m glad I picked this up. This is a typical yet epic kdrama love story. I cried, I laughed, the actors moved my heart. the cinematography is beautiful, the story is fictional yet plausible. the physical contact is cringe yet endearing. good job BWS and KHY for giving me back the feeling of watching a drama. when most kdrama nowadays focuses on thriller, zombies, devil, makjang, LR is like a fresh cool mineral water after a long and tiring run on a sunny day 🧡

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Time Travel Romcom

Lovely Runner is a perfect mix of time travel, romcom, and angst. Every episode will have you rooting for the two main leads, and BWS and KHY will have you crying, smiling and laughing along with them. The chemistry was off the charts, and the OST was amazing and something I can imagine myself listening to over and over again outside of the drama.

I do have to note though - this is time travel so there has to be a certain suspension of belief. While not everything made 100% logical sense, I feel like the writers have done a great job in executing the storyline to bring everything together. The back and forth between the different timelines felt seamless and natural, and the multiple flashbacks throughout the show never felt unnecessary.

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Almost perfect fate breaker

First of all, this drama not only has high production value, great acting, and a logically refined plot without understatements and suspension of disbelief, but also the closeness and tenderness of the main couple. Usually, high production value goes hand in hand with historical dramas and high political figures that don't show much emotions. Also approach of the inevitability of fate, man's powerlessness against heaven, and an unhappy or bittersweet ending (aka Alchemy of Souls).

For me, the perfect breakaway plot would be a case where a person not only creates their own destiny despite the consequences but also creates their own happiness. This depends on whether we insist on facing our destiny alone for the good of others or whether we trust in the strength of those who believe in us.

*Spoilers*

The only route she didn't try, knowing that meeting him and acting along wouldn't work, was to be brutally honest and trust that staying together would save them both. Sure, she was afraid she would disappear from the past on the third run, but she didn't in the fourth, so they could have had a life together. Already in the third time, she learned that distancing herself from him didn't work, but she didn't understand that this was because she tried to do everything alone.

She still succumbed to fate, tried to change it, and gave up, thinking that having a worse fate for herself would give a better one to her loved one, as if it were some cosmic equilibrium that couldn't be changed. Even the end was presented as heaven rewarding her for her sacrifice.

Sure, the whole 'try hard to remember a life we didn't have' (anemoia) by the ML was exciting and in fact maybe even better ending as being more dramatic, but for a perfect score, I missed one route where she stays with him and together they try to change fate without wasting time(even if it route where they still dies after years and then back for 4rh time).

Asian cinema still hasn't broken out from the doom of fate, and this drama was the closest to changing and shaping destiny by one's own will. Therefore, almost a perfect 10 from me, but I will still be looking for that perfect one.

Special mention for the amazing directing and camera work here. The hugging scenes with close-ups on faces can melt a heart. Also, the grandma with dementia remembering all timelines was a perfect touch.^^

what an amazing show

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Refreshing

Classic example of how actors, directors, writers can transform a rather run of the mill story to a quite quite enjoyable and wonderful drama. Lovely Runner does not have a great story, nor is it unique.. But its presentation is charming, refreshing and enjoyable. Major kudos to the actors, director and the team.

The plot does have some loopholes but that is to be expected of a time travel drama. My only gripe is that we don’t get to know why the villain does what he does in every effing time line. He is just incorrigible and sticks around like a two day old candy. But in the finale, poof.. he goes away very easily. I don’t want to put any major spoilers here but such an easy end makes him just a prop to make the show last for 16 episodes. It didn’t detract from this otherwise charming drama for me. But it just kept bothering me like a mosquito bite. Why did he keep on keeping on? Like either say why or just go away.

Music is wonderful; it stays with you afterwards. But the USP is the actors. Casting a good looking pair sure works lol, but if they just look good then the drama loses its momentum around eighth or ninth episode. Here ML and FL, SML, friends, mom, dad, bros and grandma’s are all just fantastic. The mix somehow really works. Apart from the OTP, the healthy and positive family dynamics on both sides were so nice. Keeps you engaged. I’m rather getting tired of the over-demanding, shrewish, moms and dads who look down on their kids. Plus as many have said before the height difference between ML and FL makes it cuter. The last episode also kept me smiling like a simp. I know.. I’m very shallow.. eh..

Loved this one. Wanted to give it a 10 but the caricature-ish villain deducts half a point for me.

————
Edit:

Rewatched it today.. very unusual for me to revisit the drama so soon after the first watch but was feeling low because of something, wanted to get lost in the k-drama world and this was a random pick.. It struck me once again. How on earth our ML and FL are so darn cute together! It’s not silly cute but cute cute. Our leads’ strong performances actually change the tone of that cuteness as per their age. To me at least, the cutes of their teen age romance was different from the cutes of their mature romance. The pitch and vibe of their togetherness changes as per their age. Hats off to both the leads for throwing themselves in their characters. Sometimes the couple-ness (I know I made up this word..anyhoo) feels amazing in the high school years. But when the characters enter the matured phase, the chemistry either fizzles out or it seems contrived. It’s very difficult to see the leads as grown ups, in spite of all the hair style changes or wardrobe changes. I had this difficulty in WIFTY and Our Secrets. But here the transition was smooth. And the credit fully goes to Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon. Job well done you guys!! And that’s why I am bumping this to 10, in spite of my gripe with that very bad man.

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Beautiful

This drama was fantastic from beginning to end. It's a beautiful story, directed impeccably, and all of the acting is superb. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and sometimes it made md do both at once. Truly a love story, not just between the main couple, but also the love between friends. I'm writing this review immediately after finishing, and I'm still feeling emotional about it.

One funny thing worth mentioning - Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin are mentioned in the show - and this was the most chemistry on screen I have seen between romantic leads since watching Crash Landing on You.

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It is hilarious! The best romcom!

It is the best drama I have seen and just what I needed. I was laughing so hard with Sol & Seon Jae. Their time together is just hilarious. The OST is amazing and I love that Woo Seok recorded all the Enclipse songs. In Hyuk is hilarious 😆

I love how they presented the time travel storyline as we get the best of school, college and preset eras. Also I like that they did not make the second lead turned stupid or make him do terrible things as it usually is in dramas and he ended being our hero who saved the day. I am glad that they did not pay much attention to the villain and concentrated more on Sol trying to save Seon Jae as it could ruin the drama. ( as for me it was with Queen of tears).

They made me giggle so many times! I love the acting and their chemistry is unbelievable. We could not wish for better pairing. I am so happy that the last episode was pure happiness! As it is not the case in most dramas.
As you can see I had to use the word ‘love’ so many times as I don’t know how else to describe it. I totally get why the drama is so popular and getting so much attention.

It will always have a place in my heart.
I will miss them.

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HIghly addictive

I admit, I loved everything about this drama. The love between Im Sol and Ryu Sun Jae was undeniable. Lovely Runner was a drama that was highly addictive and I couldn’t wait until an episode came out each week. Superb storyline and amazing acting throughout. The cast was a match made in heaven. Lovely Runner had me laugh out loud and brought tears to my eyes at the touching storyline. Also, it was nice change to see Kim Hye Yoon and Byeon Woo-Seok in lead roles where there weren't a villains. I would highly recommend Lovely Runner as I would watch this over and over again.

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an ode to lovely runner

frankly, i did not have high expectations for this drama - i thought it was going to be silly drama about a fangirl and her idol, nothing that would profoundly move me. but oh was i wrong. from episode one, the hospital scene leaves this unforgettable mark in your mind. kim hyeyoon soulfully portrays her character’s anguish and despair where i tear up not even 5 minutes into the drama. this overwhelming sense of loss and pain im sol feels is real. it is impactful.

from then on, i knew this drama was going to have a special place in my heart. yes, the plots not that unique. it’s another time travel romantic comedy woooo - i can admit to that - but it’s the presentation of the narrative that makes it such a beautiful, heartwarming story. the switches to melodramatic moments to romantic moments to comedic moments are seamless - i go from laughing my ass off when sunjae is being a loser toward sol to bawling my eyes out when fate tests their love’s longevity. it’s this mix of emotions that make this drama feel so real.

but mainly, i want to give my flowers to the cast. oh what a perfect cast this was. kim hyeyoon has always been in my radar for her excellent acting in sky castle and extraordinary you. i’m honestly shocked she has not blown up more before this. she has such a realistic portrayal of emotions because she fully immerses herself into the character. her passion and hard work in the craft is apparent and has made me respect her so so much. there are not enough words to describe how talented she is. i hope the industry gives her the opportunities she has always deserved. next, byeon wooseok. he was such a shocker to me. although i’ve watched some of his work, i feel he fully explored his potential in lovely runner. his comedy was always on point, his portrayal of downbad sunjae was spot-on that it made everyone watching fall in love with sunjae as well. wooseok, you have big things ahead and i know you’re bound to do well.

to be honest, this is less a review than me spewing my undying love to this series. after 8 weeks of emotional turmoil, i have closed a book on this drama and move ahead. yet, i can’t seem to forget how undeniably, lovely runner has influenced me and made me feel happiness. that is the purpose of media. to feel emotions and to convey stories of us and others. this ‘silly’ romcom has made my day so much brighter and i thank that to the cast, writers, directors, and more. goodbye, lovely runner! you were a beautiful moment in my life.

- from a happy but sad subeom ❤️‍🩹

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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!

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