Reminds me of the quality older dramas without the long drawn out pacing and silly love triangle for triangle sake.
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DRAMA OF THE YEAR ??? REDEFINING ROM COM - LOVELY RUNNER
Ahhhh !!! I couldn't control myself...?? Blushing throughout..... ??... What a series .... What an ending.... Sun jae Im Sol Tae Sung In Hyuk ... You have my heart guysss....It's been ages since I've blushed for a series ... Throughout the whole series I was blushing.... As far as I remember It was Strong woman do bong soon ....
Special mention is Tae sung ... Mu boyyyyy❤️❤️❤️
Ofc Uri loser Sunjae ??
Sunjae just gave me min min vibesss ??
OMG !!! The OST'S ..... They were " The perfect " ... Especially Star , Sudden Shower and Spring snow are my favourite... Ofc other osts were also too
I'm not ready to leave them ... Literally my 2 months were only them ... WhatsApp, Instagram, pinterest, mdl everywhere only LR ?? I donno how will I live without them
I'd strongly recommend this series to everyone... Please don't miss out this beautiful gem ??
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This review may contain spoilers
THE SHINING STAR OF 2024
So far TVN dramas in 2024 have been serving, but I can definitely say, with complete certainty, that nothing has fed me as well as Lovely Runner.Story
The story is about a young woman, Sol, who was in an accident as a teenager. She suffered through a lot of depression following her paralysis, making her suicidal. In a radio phone conversation, the male lead, SunJae, helps her remember her will to live, and she is so grateful to him that she becomes his avid fan. Fifteen years go by and Sun Jae is also suffering heavy depression. After meeting briefly, news comes out that he committed suicide. Heartbroken, she goes back in time to when they were both 19 and decides to save SunJae. At the time, they both attended the same highschool, and SunJae was an athlete. She starts interacting with him more, unlike in the original timeline, and it is discovered that all this time, Sun Jae had a crush on her. The story progresses, Sol going back in forth to the past and the future, discovering what changes she was able to make to the timeline and dealing with her past self. We watch Sol and SunJae act as teenagers, and cringe with them in their many many embarrassing moments. When they're in college, we watch them have so many cute and heartfluttering moments together. As adults, we get to watch them have steamy scenes.
The story perfectly represents love, whether it is the young puppy love of children, to the mature, selfless love of adults. It gives us yearning and adoration. It distinguishes between the love of a fan and admirer from the love of a man/woman. It takes us through so many tropes - fan and idol, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, strangers meeting, one sided love, love at first sight, idiots in love, bromance, love triangle (very brief) high school romance, college romance, adult romance...
There is a good balance of humor and heaviness. While there are a lot of sad moments, I never really found myself crying because there is levity and it is countered well with heartwarming moments or humorous moments.
Acting
Kim Hye Yoon, Im Sol, and Byeon Woo Seok, Ryu Sun Jae, have amazing chemistry. I'd kept up with KHY since Sky Castle, having been one of the few who loved her character, and watch most of everything that she'd put out since then, or else seen clips of it. I'm always impressed by her acting and the range of characters she played. BWS is new for me, as he is for many others. I'd of course seen him in other shows, but I'd never paid him any real attention, and I guess that has to do with the fact that he played next to some really big celebrities at the time, like Park Bo Gum. He gained a lot of attention for his previous works now that his lead role is out, and having gone back to watch them, I can definitely say that he does a very good job. I do believe he completely carried Strong Woman Nam Soon.
In this show, the two acted exactly how I would expect them to act. They were cringey teens, they were foolish young adults, they were mature adults. They acted goofy, cute, serious, in love... I got all the emotions from them.
Most of my enjoyment from the show was watching them act so unserious all the time. And the behind the scenes footage was everything.
Music
Who knew BWS could sing? well now everyone does as his song for the show is topping. And N.Flying's Lee Seung Hyub is amazing as well! all the OSTs are so good and catchy.
Filmography
Beautiful. Great cinematography. Amazing parallels.
I don't really know what else I can say about this show. It's really on the top of the list as far as great shows go, and is the star of 2024. Highly highly recommended. I will definitely be watching it again.
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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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Excellent show
Lovely Runner" is a very good and excellent drama; the best thing about it is the acting. It's full of emotions. From the beginning till now, every scene is beautiful. We're at the 11th episode, but there hasn't been a single scene that's boring or feels like a side character is dragging the story. The story is progressing smoothly, and the love story in it is quite engaging.Was this review helpful to you?
Best chemistry, awesome plot
This is the drama that you must watch. Believe me you will love them since the 1st episode. Cinematography, acting, plot, chemistry, ost... everything are well balance. I never skipped any second of this drama. Even the opening video though.The actors maybe not an A list but they can draw the roles very good. Big standing applause for the staffs who found these gems starring in this drama.
Poor that tvn not really promoting this drama. They must be regret it now huh!
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Overhyped and not worth to watch.
The beginning episodes brought out a different and unique plotline but the further you watch, the stupid decisions that female lead makes, make me mad for some reason. The script or the directions could have been much better. I feel like the female lead is over acting that does not suit the drama (no offense, as i liked her in extrodinary you). She either smiles brightly or gives a shocking expression.Was this review helpful to you?
No bad episodes, start to end
I love this drama so much. Lovely runner made me cherish every moments watching the drama, whether I am crying or laughing, or falling in love, every scene with Sun Jae and Sol was so wholesome. Their love for each other transcend time and space. The actors bring lots of energy and emotions that felt through the screen, I tear up every time Sun Jae hold Sol so tenderly, my heart just melts. Please watch this show, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.Was this review helpful to you?
The whole world is on a sunjae's obsession
Best Drama I've ever seen!!!!!!This is the best of best drama of 2024 year!!
I really love their chemistry!!! Their chemistry is top notch!!!
The cinematography is awesome!!!
Ost of this drama is amazing
Most importantly their comedy scenes r hilarious ??
And finally our sanjae ? I love him more than anyone in my life!! Sanjae is my dream character ??❤️ byeon woo seok's acting is so realistic ?❤️ whenever I see him I'm about to cry ?? he is an angel❤️?
Overall the drama is best also emotional!!! There are everything in this drama like romance, fantasy,time slip, comedy,tragedy,high school romance, campus romance, adult romance all in one package...!!! Love this drama most!!!❤️❤️
I wish Byeon woo seok do many dramas or movie like lovely runner...!!
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Perfect Summer Binge!
I started watching this just yesterday and have successfully binged all 9 episodes that have come out (with the 10th one on its way today (who cares about studies)). Throughout this, I was kicking my feet, giggling like a schoolgirl, so invested that I forgot that sleep is a biological need. Nevertheless, I thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed it. Warning: it will make you feel very lonely if you are single (because it happened to me too). Even though Hye Yoon looks like she is getting typecast after her role in Extraordinary You (but I know she is a very versatile actor), I still enjoyed her character in this! Woo Seok on the other hand I've not seen enough of since 20th Century Girl (brb crying) so it's always a pleasure to see him and hear him. My only concern is if he is a good actor, which will not be established until I see him in a few more roles. Right now, he is decent and will make you fall in love with him (but I attribute that more to the character and how well Woo Seok has portrayed it - the role really suits him (I haven't watched Strong Girl Nam Soon so don't come at me)). The drama is also a pleasure to watch because all of the cast is so good-looking! But seriously how are you scolding someone for not sleeping/having dark circles under their eyes when I can see that their skin is shining brighter than my future???? Enough nagging. They do discuss heavier themes which I always like but it's more a swoon-worthy drama than a slice of life. You will not regret watching it. Fingers crossed for a happy ending!!Was this review helpful to you?
Rewatch every single episode
With other dramas it's often like when you've finished one you think it was great but I don't know if I'll watch it again because it would be boring - and with lovely runner it's quite the opposite after each episode you want to go back to the beginning and actually knowing all that we know today you look at the first episodes differently - feelings are stronger because you know that behind every song, phone, gesture there's some story...Was this review helpful to you?
Best plot and casting
Honestly i really loved the plot, casting and acting. This is becoming more and more interesting. Their chemistry is also so good. Speciality of the show is definetly the plot. We can't expect what will come in next episodes. Iam really curious about the ending..This one is gonna be my favorite.Also i hope this drama is going to end happily.. I don't want any sad endings.
Patiently wainting for next episodes...
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