Lovely Runner — Time Travel and True Love

Sunjae-yaaa~

This drama surprised me in soooo many ways, in a good way. Now that it has ended, my Mondays and Tuesdays feel empty. TMI: ‘Lovely Runner’ snapped me out of my kdrama slump. 

Plot summary:

Im Sol’s world shattered after an accident stole her ability to walk. One day when she was at her lowest, she received a call from a radio show featuring a famous band, ECLIPSE. She heard Ryu Sunjae, the vocalist of ECLIPSE, thanked her for being alive and encouraged her to stay strong. His words were a spark in the darkness. From that moment, Sunjae became her idol and motivation. But fate struck a cruel blow. The night after ECLIPSE’s concert, Sunjae was found dead. Upon hearing the news, Sol was devastated and wanted to save him somehow, although it was too late. As if the universe heard her plea, she found herself traveled back in time, 15 years in the past, to when she and Sunjae were in high school. Now, with a second chance, Sol is determined to rewrite Sunjae’s fate, to save the one who reignited her light.

What I liked:

1. Fantasy + romance + comedy + thriller 

This drama is a total winner because it mixes things up perfectly! It’s mostly a fun, adorable, heart-fluttering rom-com, but throws in a dash of suspense to keep you guessing. This unexpected and balanced combo is what makes it so entertaining!

2. Perfect casting

Forget about awkward acting! All of the cast members are perfect for their respective role. They can do some serious scenes, but when they need to be funny, they can do it easily without feeling forced or cheesy, which is honestly not easy.

Talking about perfect casting, I would like to say thank you to whoever chose Byeon Woo Seok to play Ryu Sunjae and Kim Hye Yoon to play Im Sol. They deliver wonderful acting, especially during emotional scenes. Their raw vulnerability had me completely absorbed in the moment. True talents!

An honourable mention for Song Geon Hee who plays the role of Kim Taesung. His character is a breath of fresh air and he pulled it off effortlessly.

3. Taesung as the other guy never forces Sol to like him back

You know that sometimes in a love triangle the other guy can be very pushy? Lucky for us, we have Taesung here. He genuinely respects Sol’s feelings for Sunjae. Sure, a little harmless jealousy sparks between he and Sunjae, but it plays out in a way that’s more funny than angsty.

Like I said before, Kim Taesung is a breath of fresh air. He is a green flag. And in my opinion, out of all characters in this drama, he has the biggest character growth.

4. The soundtracks!

This is where the magic happens. Each song perfectly fits the scenes, totally amping up the emotions. It’s been so long since we have a drama with an amazing OST line-up. Its most popular song ‘Sudden Shower’ is currently in the top 5 on MelOn as of today (June 11, 2024), which is seriously impressive! Another favourite of mine is ‘Like A Dream’ by (G)I-DLE Minnie.

What bothered me:

1. Confusing time travel rules

Time travel is a complex concept and always tricky to pull off. So in order to avoid confusion, time travel needs a clear set of rules–something this drama is lacking. It becomes even more important if there are multiple trips back and forth, because it can be hard for viewers to keep track of what’s happening. And that’s what happened in this drama, at least for me. The plot got a little muddled, especially after her last trip, pulling me out of the story.

2. Repetitive plot

This drama starts strong, with Sol desperately trying to save him. But after a while, it feels like I’m watching the same scene on repeat. While repetition can be interesting, without any twist, it gets predictable and drags the story out.

3. Sol’s useless attempts to catch her killer

Sol keeps putting herself in danger, wandering around alone at night, even after she knows someone’s hunting her down. She then tries to lure the killer out, but it feels more impulsive than planned. The detectives, too, seem just as lost, letting the killer slip away repeatedly. It creates some tense moments (good for entertainment) but it was frustrating to watch.

Is it worth your time?

Yes, you should give it a try if you are looking for a light and fun drama with a little suspense and full of emotions. Do not binge-watch tho, or you might find the story a bit repetitive. While it has its flaws, the charm this drama possessed kept me hooked until the very end–a rare for me these days!

‘Lovely Runner’ is available on Viki, Viu, and Vidio (Indonesia only).

My rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ out of five.