A pleasant watch

This was a lighthearted drama that served its purpose as a welcome relief in-between other dramas with more heavy content. That said, it was a mixed bag of sorts.

The good:
I like the message of looking past your flaws and learning to stop underestimating yourself as the FL conveys. Other highlights would be an outstanding second lead in Choi Siwon. I didn’t experience SLS but his character was easily my favorite. A little crazy, a little annoying but lovable and a great friend to FL in their time of need. The other positive was the female friendship. There are countless shows with bromance but not enough with a female bond. I loved seeing the two friends as they navigated through their own journeys, while supporting each other and remaining close despite various conflicts.

The bad:

FL in the second half of the series. I can’t tell if it was Hwang Jung Eum‘s acting or just the way her character was written but she got more and more loud and obnoxious overtime. I also hated typical cliche makeover that was far too sudden and thus unrealistic. I was planning to give the show a lower rating because of how annoyed I was, but thankfully, the last episode was more like the first half of the series and managed to redeem some of the negatives.

Overall, this was a show that had more positives than negatives. It was not a novel concept, nor was it particularly memorable. However for the most part it kept me entertained so no complaints.Watch if you want something fun, just don’t set your expectations too high.

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Sorry if this sounds more like an essay than a review. I was very passionate while writing this.

The short version: It was a mixed bag but with more positives than negatives. I watched the first 3-4 episodes over 2 weeks and binged the rest in 1.5 days. Overall I liked the show and definitely recommend that you watch it.

Now the long version:

Dramas usually tend to show AI/robotics when portraying the IT world. It was refreshing to see a different take focusing on the Internet, a subject that is much more relatable given how it has become an integral part of our lives. Issues explored such as search manipulation, government surveillance, political influence were handled very intelligently.

I understand and appreciate the writer’s intent of portraying female empowerment but as someone who works in the IT, I find it hard to believe a story where the two leading organizations are partially, if not entirely run by women. This is not the case in any field, and especially not IT which is still heavily skewed toward males. It would have been more realistic, and satisfying if the chief rival had been a man. But this is just entertainment after all, so let’s suspend disbelief for the time being.

The lead, and IMO the weakest part of the story is Bae Ta Mi. I found this character to be infuriating to watch. She may be effective in her work life but is self centred and with some exceptions, rarely puts any effort into her personal relationships be it in romance or friendship. Yet everyone is drawn to her and supports her, especially Park Mo Gun. Maybe it was because the actors lacked chemistry but I still don’t know what bonds these two people other than physical attraction. An age gap is fine as long as both parties meet in the middle emotionally. But Tami Mi constantly acts like she has the upper hand just because she has lived longer. I couldn’t stand her preachy attitude throughout the series. All in all, I thought both actors did a decent job but because of the writing, I felt the romance was dull and brought down the rest of the story.

Moving onto Song Ga Kyung, this was a character I started off hating but ended up rooting for at the end. I’m glad she could achieve what she wanted. I also really liked her interactions with her husband. The character was written and well played.

Finally, Scarlett (Lee Da Hee) was the highlight of the show. It would have been better if she had been the lead character. She was everything I wanted to see from the drama, a woman who is strong, outspoken, and clear about her goals. She was both powerful and vulnerable at the same time. I loved her quirkiness. Her romantic storyline was heartwarming and so much fun to watch. Speaking of which, Lee Jae Wook seems to pop up in every drama I’ve watched lately. I think this is my favourite role of his thus far. Seol Ji Hwan was such a sweet, down to earth character, I adored him. I wish we got more scenes from this couple, they had far better chemistry and like the leads, they too had an age gap (though smaller), but didn’t let that get in the way. I would love if there were a spin-off show with these two characters alone.

The rest of the cast especially the the TF team was effective. Also of note was Brian (Kwon Hae Hyo) whom I recently watched in a negative role and was amazed to see the contrast in this role.

The music of the show was pleasant but not particularly memorable. I enjoyed the opening theme.

I really liked cinematography in this series. I know there have been articles on MDL about filming styles and symbolism in the past, I wish someone would write one with this drama in mind. There were many notable scenes but one I liked in particular was in ep. 15 with the split screen showing the two leads living similar lives albeit separately.

Rewatch value is low. Although I enjoyed watching it, I don’t think I would watch it again since much of the tension building and surprise element would no longer work.

As an aside there were a few fun tidbits that I want to mention.

- Barro looks like such a cool place to work. If companies like this exist in RL, please hire me!!!

- Although the product placement in this series was blatantly obvious and annoying at times, and even though I’m not that interested in cars, I couldn’t help but ogle at the parade of Maseratis, especially the one Bae Ta Mi drives.

- Lastly, as an ARMY I loved the BTS references in the last episode. It was fun.

Wow! This is probably my longest review yet. If you’ve gotten this far then thanks! As I said before, I have mixed feelings about this drama but I appreciate the innovative storyline and interesting set of characters. This might not be a masterpiece but it was pleasant. I encourage you all to watch it.

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Run don't walk

What if there was someone in this world who would fall in love with you at every stage of life and under every circumstance? What if he was willing to die for you as long as he could spend one extra moment with you? The hopeless romantic in me leaps for joy!

Lovely Runner may not have the most original storyline but it is a well made drama that will keep you fully engaged. It has the perfect blend of romance, comedy and thrills. The best part of it was the pacing. As soon as you felt that the story was dragging, the story would take a sudden turn. At no point was I ever bored. I also want to highlight the comedy. In almost every episode there is at one scene where you'll burst out laughing. Very few dramas can do comedy without it being over the top after some time.

As far as acting goes, every does a good job. I've seen Byeon Woo Seok, in several dramas but this is the first time he has truly shined. I wish more success in future. Kim Hye Yoon also does a good job but I feel the character is not much different from Extraordinarily You. supporting roles were fine but special mention goes to Lee Seung Hyub and Kim Won Hae. I really liked their roles.

The music was pleasant. If I Eclipse was a real k-pop band, I would likely have been a fan. The music was a treat to watch.

Although the twists and turns would be less impactful, I really think it will be a good rewatch.

To sum it up, don't hesitate. Just watch the drama, there is a high chance that you'll end up loving it just as much as as I did.

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