My favorite kdrama
I was surprised to see so much reviews that disliked this series so I made an account just to support my (current) favorite kdrama.First of all, I admit there is a bias here. I love Kim Hye-yoon, and she was the reason I started watching this. From the first scene, I was hooked. She was crying, and I was crying with her. I was satisfied with her as always but I held back my judgement because I don't know how the ML would act and how good their chemistry would be. I also wasn't too fond of the plot because I feel icky about idol and fan romances and also because I thought it was another run-of-the-mill romance trope with an aloof guy and a sweet cheerful girl. That was my impression throughout the first episode up until the second, except the viewers were hit with that plot twist at the ending. And my first thought was I shouldn't have doubted Kim Hye-yoon at all. The second thought was how the hell am I going to have to wait for another week to see the next episode? And from that, the rest of my Mondays and Tuesdays of the following weeks are filled with a rollercoaster of emotions. Whenever there are happy moments of the main leads, I am also happy. When they are sad, I'm also sad. This drama just hooked me like that up until the end.
It's not a perfect drama by all means but it was definitely one for me. I love the characterizations and I understand the decisions they made, no matter how frustrating it is. I like how the writer ultimately treated all the characters with love. Everyone got their happy ending in the end, and the antagonist was also dealt with quickly. (This drama's last episode is the best last episode period). Another feature I like is how many parallel scenes they have and spotting them was like finding an easter egg to me.
I guess I'm just a sucker for mutual redemption tropes. The love they have for each other is so pure and selfless, it makes me want to love wholeheartedly like that too. And also the fated lovers trope, if I may add, which is the cherry on top.
I'm also happy that the plot didn't steer to a dark story with a fan saving her idol from depression and ultimately committing suicide. There were concerns from other people at the start because of that so it was good that it didn't become that story. Because if I wanted to watch a genre like that, I wouldn't want romance mixed in it because that should not be in the romance category at all. It is too heavy and serious of a topic to do.
But I think the magic of this series is the community it made of people gushing over this drama. I watched this from the moment it aired and the moment ep 2 ended I immediately went to the kdrama thread of this at reddit (which I have never done before). I wanted to see the shock other people had as I did and their anticipation for the next week too. And on the following weeks, I had fun reading the different theories they have for the time travel. And I think the way the writer handled the time travel was their message on how the viewers should treat this drama. Don't overcomplicate it, love wins all. And sometimes, that's just what we need. No complex time travel rules, no big misunderstandings, no frustrating push and pull of love, just two people getting together despite everything.
I also want to add that the strength of this drama was the romance of the main leads. Their chemistry is undeniable. There were so many sweet moments of them, I am just so so happy seeing them be happy. They were not stingy with their kiss scenes too, which I'm totally satisfied about too.
Ultimately, I get why this became a popular drama and I'm happy that it did because I think it deserves it. I laughed, swooned, cringed, and cried all throughout the series. I am not a romantic by all means but it made me feel long-lost feelings of love and happiness again. So for the ones who take the chance by reading this too-long of a review (more of a rant from me), I hope you would be happy too. And for those who don't, that's totally okay because everyone has different tastes and it's understandable to have feelings of dislike for whatever reasons you have.
(Speacial mention for the ost because all songs were great, with one from 10cm which is one of my favorites. You know it's a hit when you see 10cm in it 😌)
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PHENOMINAL
AHHHH !!! You should watch this when you get the chance !! Its literally so amazing and haa such a unique storyline (so far as it is ongoing). Lovely Runner had me hooked with the first few minutes of episode 1.I may or may not be biased since I don't watch a lot of k-drama or dramas in general, but this is one of the most interesting takes I've seen on the time travel plot line. It adds just the right amount of suspense and satisfaction!!
Even if the genre's arent your cup of tea, just give it a try. You seriously won't regret watching Lovely Runner.
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Heartwarming and Captivating Drama!
I had high expectations for this drama after seeing all the buzz online, and I'm happy to say it exceeded them! Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon's acting and chemistry are pivotal to its success. Their interactions had me giggling and crying throughout. The storyline is captivating, keeping me engaged and rooting for the main couple throughout its entire duration. While time travelling in korean dramas have been done many times before, this is one of the better iterations of it. I was surprised at how well they managed to pace the drama, and still keep it interesting across 16 episodes.Overall, I highly recommend this drama for fans of light-hearted and fantasy-themed Korean dramas. Give it a try if you are looking for something quite lighthearted and fluffy to watch!
Side note: I love the ost for this drama. 10/10 Have been listening to it on repeat for the past few days!
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Only review of people that hate
Everybody have there own taste for sure. it’s not the problem. I am just sad that only people that dislike or hate it review this one and the one that love it don’t say anything.cheesy, cliche, Deja vu for sure, but it’s done the perfect way !
I love how it can be unserious and also very moving at some point, I was searching this kind of kdrama for a very long time. finally I find what I wanted and I will watch it again !
It feels like an old kdrama with today production, it feel like a real kdrama with non US, Hollywood like coded kdrama that we found in most kdrama nowadays.
Kdramas used to be unperfected, with plot hole it’s true, but with an amazing vibe and emotions.
I love this one so much and I recommend it to people that love old kdramas.
I watched it twice now and actually there is no plot hole, everything is so much clear on second view, but even the first time I wasn’t lost.
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Handsdown one of the best drama in 2024
I am proud to say I am one of the few people that started the drama way before the craze and hype, all because I was excited since last year when Wooseok and Hyeyoon were announced as the cast. Frankly, I don't particularly care about drama theme when my fav actors or actresses star in it and in this case, it was Hyeyoon.I started it out not expecting any great or perfect drama, I simply expect a usual romcom. Man was I wrong, episode 2 was absolutely magical and I knew right away I had to promote tf out of this drama to every single of my mutuals.
I just finished watching finale and my thoughts are jumbled up lol I'll comeback when I have sorted out my thoughts and feelings and will write a proper review.
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from a seasoned drama lover- this is just as good as they say
when i first encountered this drama, it seemed to me a typical romance drama that people had overhyped. i usually dont watch dramas involving time travel or anything similar either, so i was hesitant.boy, i was wrong.
this drama is fabulous - each part of the plot is intricately mapped out and kim hye yoon and byeon woo seok's stellar chemistry is the cherry on top. the characters are lovable, the time travel element strengthens the bond between the main leads whilst simultaneously conveying real life emotions like nostalgia, heartbreak and gratitude.
not to mention my own personal reactions - i was kicking my feet and smiling at their romance and even let out some sly tears at their emotional reunion.
i like the aspects that each time travel results in different realities - by the end theyve experienced several realities together and somehow find a way to connect each time - this is truly beautiful.
i also have to shout out the comedy element - my favourite scene is when sun jae is zoning out and says something insulting whilst his friend is stealing his food and says 'i just wanted a bite...' - so many moments like these made me chuckle!!! i was laughing so much, it was really hilarious!!
i could nitpick, but honestly i dont think i can, ive had too much fun watching this drama, it was genuinely incredibly enjoyable.
dramas like these make me totally starstruck - as an INFP, i am guilty of being highly fantastical in my own head- their incredible romance makes me a little sad i cant have it in my own life.
WATCH THIS DRAMA!!!!! hopefully you will enjoy it as much as i did
everyone who worked on this needs a pat on the back, the director/s, cast and production crew, all personnel, everyone.
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THE MOST PERFECT DRAMA OF THE CENTURY
Sunjae. Sol. Two perfect characters and what a beautiful journey they took us on. Hooked right from the moment we realised Sunjae fell for her. Not a moment in this drama felt like a drag. They never wasted time on useless narratives (IM Geum is an exception). My heart is so full. Thank you for creating this beautiful masterpiece. We enjoyed this drama together, as a whole. Perfect acting, soundtrack, storylines, even the villain was perfect. The parallels were so beautifully crafted. The story never felt confusing even with 4 time slips. How will I deal with my Mon, Tue now? 😭😭😭Esta resenha foi útil para você?
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This drama has been smeared into my soul and will be ingrained in my memory forever.
Favorite line: "Memories don't disappear...They're smeared to my soul."[LONG Review ahead]
PERSONAL: I've been a Kdrama fan for so long. We didn't have Netflix back then so we bought DVDs and downloaded free videos online - more or less 15 years already. Being a Kdrama and even Jdrama for so long, everything becomes predictable, you often see troupes being used here and there, and predicting it is also fun but at some point you get tired - I have become JADED. Not that I don't watch dramas anymore, it's more of a pastime rather than devoting myself to it - like in the early years of my Kdrama watching.
This drama RENEWED my love for Kdramas. I became more engaged and immersed in the fandom in and out of the drama. There are so many things I haven't done before that I did for this drama, like creating my X account. I'm not fond of social media websites so it was a whole new experience for me. Waiting weekly was TORTURE but CELEBRATING new episodes, previews, and unaired scenes with fellow SUBEOMS* (official fandom name for LR created by Knetz ) was SO MUCH FUN. It created a fan community I never thought I would find. You won't be able to create a community like that if the production, writing, story, and acting are not good.
*Quoting it from our un/official president Byeon Woo Seok in his You Quiz interview: ("Subeom! it's from our name, 'Sol' & 'Seon' from seonjae so it's solseonsubeom (*korean idiom means lead by example /to set an example*). It feels SO nice when the actors themselves are BIG FANS of their work, like Byeon Woo Seok for Lovely Runner and his character."
ACTING: Im Sol and Ryu Seon Jae were MEANT TO BE FOR Kim Hye Yoon and Byeon Woo Seok AND FOR THEM ONLY only. After all the trouble this production faced in the beginning - casting problems, lack of promotion, and the K-entertainment industry sleeping on them, I'm so glad it went to the right hands. I can't imagine other actors other than them in these roles. Reading/watching their interviews, this role was LIFE-CHANGING for them. It was for ME TOO.
Our dear SOL was the best character for me. While viewers often questioned her actions, in the end, she changed everyone around her INTO THEIR BETTER/ BEST SELVES. The character Sol having to experience the death of a loved one several times can be mentally and emotionally exhausting for KIM HYE YOON, but she portrayed these emotions so beautifully and also heart-wrenchingly well. You can cry, but not every performance REACHES THE AUDIENCE the way hers did.
There were a lot of Subeom shippers because of their INSANE chemistry on and off screen, but whether or not they'll be together, I'll be supporting them in future projects. My only wish now is for them to reunite in another great drama/project. I look forward to seeing them GROW AS ACTORS and AS A PERSON/INDIVIDUALS. (❁´◡`❁)
Special mention to Kim Tae Sung (Song Geon Hee) for being the best second lead /friend to Sol and Baek In Hyuk (Lee Seung Hyup) for being the best middleman for Seon Jae - in all of Kdramaland.
STORY: You NEED TO REWATCH episodes whenever new episodes come in because new information/context would change your perspective. There may be times when you feel that nothing is happening or that it's too sad but EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON, so you'll later see in the next few episodes why it happened. Of course, some side character stories were not as necessary but it adds to the fun of a romcom. I've never felt SO INVESTED in a story that I so badly needed them to be happy in the end.
I also want to thank the DIRECTORS for being so detailed. You can feel how they took special care in the behind-the-scenes. Dir. Yoon was in charge of the crying scenes of Sol and Dir. Kim Tae Yub (dubbed as Mommy figure for cast) for the happy scenes. So glad they made reshoots as well because they made it more visually appealing.
And to our QUEEN LEE SHI EUN (writer). You dropped this 👑 (Crown). You elevated the webtoon Tomorrow's Best and made it your own. You even thought of the music (Younha's Umbrella) and best actress for the role (Kim Hye Yoon) while writing this masterpiece. The parallels in the show are god-tier! I'm glad to somehow hear you speaking through Sol in Ep 13.
Talk about going up and beyond.
OST: You FEEL EMOTIONS even better because BWS himself sang the main OST of this drama and even charted in the top 5 in Korea while it was airing. "Sonaki (Sudden Shower)" is now the first love/ rain theme. I love every other Eclipse release with a special liking for "You and I". The drama also started with NOSTALGIC songs I knew before the drama - "Umbrella" by Younha and "Loveholic" by Loveholic. "I Think I Did" by Kim Hyung Jung (the original singer) was especially nostalgic and like a PUNCH IN THE FEELS in Ep 2. "Like a Dream" by Minnie was the KISSING ANTHEM. >3<
They also PERFECTLY-TIMED RELEASES the OSTs. People have been waiting for the release of "Spring Snow" by 10 cm ever since it was heard and they released it in Ep 11 where the memorable petal-catching scene was aired. "Monologue" was an underrated OST for me. I believe it's a theme for Sol and her life realizations. Being the only one who's capable of time skips - unable to share her thoughts with others freely, there are a lot of times she reflects on herself/journey thus I thought the title Monologue fits perfectly (hope there was a female version though). "Gift" was like a promise of a happy ending despite what had happened in Ep 13. "Please Don't Leave Anywhere" was released last which I thought was for Subeoms who are afraid to part with the joy of Lovely Runner / Carry Seon Jae and Run has brought to their Mondays/Tuesdays and lives including mine [already miss you (┬┬﹏┬┬) ].
I already ordered the OST Album. ^_^ (Update 060524: “Lovely Runner OST” breaks the record for highest pre-ordered Korean OST album in history.)
PRODUCTION/ VISUAL FX: Living in the 2008s as a high school student, I love that they also BROUGHT BACK fashion, hair trends, and technology during those times. It's nostalgic to see 2G phones being used and how people were not as reliant on phones compared to now. Everything was simpler back then but I'm not complaining about the present tech now. There were a lot of memorable items in this drama that they made a Pop-up Store to exhibit and/or sell them. Starting from the umbrella and watch, there are so many more that I would want for myself, I just don't have the money. One thing's for sure is that I'm going to get the Director's cut BLU-RAY whether it has English Subtitles or not. I want to learn more from the production and behind-the-scenes. The best motivation to learn the Korean language haha. I'm not usually the type to buy merch, but I want to SUPPORT and CHEER FOR THEM until the end!
I'm so happy to be alive and be a witness to all the miracles this drama has brought me and my fellow Subeoms over the past 8 weeks!╰(*°▽°*)╯
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lovely time travel story with good romance
I am glad for people's positive reviews which made me decide to give this drama a try, and having did I understand the reason such a low budget drama is gaining so much popularity.I loved the whole story including the time travel element, and even though there were minor small gripes that I had with the mechanics of the time slips etc, it stil never ruined anything for me. The backstory to how the miraculous time travel capabilites first come about are never explicitly stated but the viewer is shown hints as to who to thank for it all, which made everything all the more heartfelt and emotional in the end.
The best aspect by far and one that I believe accounts for 100% of the popularity this show is garnering is without a question, the romance. with an endearing love story and marvelous electriflying chemistry, watching and re-wtching their scenes together and the behind-the-scenes, it shows very evidently how the two lead actors had built in real life such great rapport and a strong relationship based on trust and respect, and hopefully even more than that ♡
The acting was very strong by the whole cast especially our OTP who did a marvelous job conveying all ranges of emotions and levels of emotional maturity.
The comedy parts were pretty well done with a lot of laugh-out-loud cringe inducing hilarious parts, thanks in particular to a marvelous set of side characters including the ML's dad, the FL's mom and older brother, the FL's old time crush Tae-Sung and In Hyuk our ML's best friend.
the OST was lovely and despite the fact that first time watching not many tracks managed to particurarly stick with me, later after rewatching parts of it I found myself humming a few tunes even sonagi <3
If there are any negative comments worth mentioning, it would mostly concern the villain and the whole serial murderer arc. I know that the story needed a plot device to push it forward and into the danger and angst zone, but our bad guy was just that, too bad and psycho down to the core, but the story never bothered to show us any sort of background story to flesh him out or show us the motives behind anything he did or his seeminly deeply rooted grudge against Sol & Sun-jae, so he ends up as a 2D caricature of a bad guy, whenever he pops up on screen I am rolling my eyes rather than being on the edge of my seat.
And also there is just too many times that the writer is allowed to use the exact same plot device before it becomes too repitive it essentially is no longer surving its purpose but rather it's cheapening the worth of the whole story. I mean to sum up all troubles our lead couple could ever and will ever face together all in the mere existence of one villain, was too much for me at some points. I understand that if the story was that she was going back in time to save her love after getting hit by random traffic or some other type of accident, it might have had its uncertainties and would have felt like defying fate, and I guess the writers were playing at the concept of destiny involving both good and bad bonds, so people who were meant to cross paths are destined to do for better or for worse, but I couldn't help feeling like I would have appreciated it more if there was more time given to delve deeper into our bad guy's story and psyche so he would not feel like a wack-a-mole puppet popping put every couple of episodes.
Overall despite any minor shortcomings this drama might have, still a marvelous romance, lovable characters and spectacular cast manage to turn it into as perfect a drama as any romcom could ever dream of being.
So even though the objective part of me couldn’t help criticizing certain indiscrepancies about the time slip element which can not be said to be the most original out there to begin with (what with all the other time slip dramas that come out each season), or the annoying villain, Still this drama has managed to steal a spot in my all time favorites thanks to nothing but the main lead's chemistry and swoon-inducing romance. Proof is the fact I immediately went ahead and re-watched all their scenes together. I recommend highly to any Kdrama fan out there.
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Perfect Romantic Comedy with All the Right Elements
As someone already mentioned here, it's literally one of the rare gems of K-dramas. The series has everything that's necessary for romcoms and K-series in general:✓ Great from start to finish
✓ Green flag main characters
✓ Interesting plotline
✓ Happy ending
✓ Suitable cast for the characters
✓ Focus on main characters with minimal focus on side characters
✓ Beautiful OSTs (Sonagi and Spring Snow!!!)
✓ Green flag second male lead
✓ Many more things I probably forgot to mention
It had many emotional scenes, but overall it wasn't depressing at all, so it's perfect if you want to watch something to feel entertained and feel like you're a teenager again, kicking your feet, lying in bed giggling, and blushing out of adoration for the characters.
literally 10 out of 10
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A Drama that Heals Our Sorrows
It gave me such an indescribable feeling when the more I rewatch this drama, the more I think Lovely Runner is a perfectly written and directed drama from start to end.Then it hit me that I’m not gonna heal from this withdrawal syndrome any soon. It will be hard to find a drama that’s as amazing as this.
For 13 years as a Kdrama fan, I used to feel like this with some dramas I watched before, but I’ll admit that this one is quite different. I can’t describe it. I feel like there’s a hole in my chest after it ended.
What makes Lovely Runner loveable:
1. The simplicity (brings us back to older Kdramas that we genuinely enjoy without much heavy stuff).
3. Fast-paced storylines that keep us engaged.
4. Unpredictable (most viewers’ theories were proved wrong by the next episode).
5. Easy-to-understand storylines (IDK why some have problems regarding this aspect).
6. Almost flawless (most so-called “plot holes” are debunked when we focus from the start or rewatch).
7. The beauty of every details, plot twists, parallels in every timeline (KUDOS TO THE DIRECTOR).
8. The satisfying romance (the BEST, so far)
9. No wasting time with the villain & second male lead’s backstory;
10. Hence, not draggy (like most dramas after early half).
11. The balance and right timing when it comes to comedy & dark aspects.
12. The perfect OST & Eclipse songs (top ranked on music charts).
13. Iconic scenes (umbrella, nostril, lamppost, Sunny).
14. The chemistry between all characters.
15. The BEST we could ask for.
I’d love to describe more but I don’t think using words is enough to talk Lovely Runner. But one thing that I could use to describe this drama from my perspective is that Lovely Runner is “the kind of drama that heal our sorrows”. :) <3
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Story and Acting was superb...
Loved the chemistry between the lead actors. The story was well put together. Just didn't like the way the Im Sol had to keep putting off telling the truth to the Ryu Seon Jae. It just made me irritated, but however, it was all part of the suspense of Kdramas.Communication is always the most important in any relationship, and there was so many loopholes in this regard.
Loved this drama. Well done.
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