Lovely Runner (2024) 선재 업고 튀어
Directed by Yoon Jong-ho and Kim Tae-yub, starring Byeon Woo-seok as Sun-jae and Kim Hye-yoon as Sol.
Watched 7 - 30 May 2024 — 16 episodes (VIKI PASS)
*We're not even halfway through this year yet but I know already that Lovely Runner will rank among my favourite watches of 2024. Better stories may come along (though this time-travel tale is very compelling) but it's hard to beat this epic romance. Byeon Woo-seok as Sun-jae and Kim Hye-yoon as Sol have off-the-charts chemistry. Their romance gives me all the heart-fluttering feels. Especially Byeon Woo-seok makes my heart flutter, the way he looks at Kim Hye-yoon, and the way his character loves Sol.
*The time-travel plot and different timelines are confusing at times. It bothers me when I don't fully understand the time-travel workings and undoubtedly not everything adds up here. I did read some recaps on Dramabeans for a better comprehension about the two Sols (high school Young Sol and the Adult Sol who comes from the future). When Adult Sol travels to 2008, she inhabits her 19-year-old body with all the knowledge from past and future but I didn't get right away that Young Sol in 2008 only knows what she knew at the age of 19. With Adult Sol returning to 2023, she leaves her younger self behind who regains control of her body but has gaps in her memory from when Adult Sol was in control.
*Why Sun-jae suddenly remembers everything in the end is not clear but I go with the notion that even if he himself doesn't have memories of their time together mentally, they are kept in his heart and soul.
*I initially thought this drama didn't really need a crime element. And maybe it doesn't. But the inclusion of the serial killer/kidnapper evokes fear and there's an urgency to capture him, so it works as a catalyst, to give Sol a strong motivation for wanting to protect Sun-jae and vice versa. The serial killer case never gets explained, though, we never learn of his motive to kill, and the villain only has one facial expression. Not a very challenging role for the actor who portrays him.
*I really love the second male lead Song Geon-hee as Kim Tae-sung. It's too bad he didn't have his own love interest because I would have loved to see him in a romantic subplot with a nice girl. I also like his father the detective and I'm glad he didn't die.
*I didn't like Sol's brother and her best friend at all. They were annoying. But I like grandma.
*Kim Won-hae, one of my fave supporting actors, pops up in almost every K-drama and here he plays Sun-jae's father.
*Though the series was immediately off to a great start, it loses a bit of steam around ep. 5/6. Then it picks itself up again with the leap into the future in episode 7 and becomes really thrilling.
*I absolutely love episode 8 where Sol admits to Sun-jae she liked him too back then and they kiss. Some kiss! Swoon!
*I love Sol and Sun-jae as cute teens but even more as adults. The love they feel for each other jumps off the screen. Sun-jae is so much in love that my heart ached for him whenever Sol pushed him away. I felt so sorry for him.
*I had to think of Alfred Tennyson's famous line "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." It plays an important role here. Sol prefers to live in a timeline where she doesn't meet Sun-jae so she can keep him safe and alive. Sun-jae wants them to be together and keep Sol safe, even if it means he will be killed himself.
*The final episode is full of fluff with cutesy, lovey-dovey moments. The romance is the show's strength, and after all the main couple has been through, they deserve these carefree and happy moments, and I for one wasn't complaining. The writers delivered what fans wanted. A happy ending!
*Great OST! Love the songs, especially Sudden Shower, sung by Byeon Woo-seok himself. Not a professional singer, Byeon Woo-seok took lessons to improve his vocal skills in order to perform the songs by the fictional band Eclipse.
Directed by Yoon Jong-ho and Kim Tae-yub, starring Byeon Woo-seok as Sun-jae and Kim Hye-yoon as Sol.
Watched 7 - 30 May 2024 — 16 episodes (VIKI PASS)
*We're not even halfway through this year yet but I know already that Lovely Runner will rank among my favourite watches of 2024. Better stories may come along (though this time-travel tale is very compelling) but it's hard to beat this epic romance. Byeon Woo-seok as Sun-jae and Kim Hye-yoon as Sol have off-the-charts chemistry. Their romance gives me all the heart-fluttering feels. Especially Byeon Woo-seok makes my heart flutter, the way he looks at Kim Hye-yoon, and the way his character loves Sol.
*The time-travel plot and different timelines are confusing at times. It bothers me when I don't fully understand the time-travel workings and undoubtedly not everything adds up here. I did read some recaps on Dramabeans for a better comprehension about the two Sols (high school Young Sol and the Adult Sol who comes from the future). When Adult Sol travels to 2008, she inhabits her 19-year-old body with all the knowledge from past and future but I didn't get right away that Young Sol in 2008 only knows what she knew at the age of 19. With Adult Sol returning to 2023, she leaves her younger self behind who regains control of her body but has gaps in her memory from when Adult Sol was in control.
*Why Sun-jae suddenly remembers everything in the end is not clear but I go with the notion that even if he himself doesn't have memories of their time together mentally, they are kept in his heart and soul.
*I initially thought this drama didn't really need a crime element. And maybe it doesn't. But the inclusion of the serial killer/kidnapper evokes fear and there's an urgency to capture him, so it works as a catalyst, to give Sol a strong motivation for wanting to protect Sun-jae and vice versa. The serial killer case never gets explained, though, we never learn of his motive to kill, and the villain only has one facial expression. Not a very challenging role for the actor who portrays him.
*I really love the second male lead Song Geon-hee as Kim Tae-sung. It's too bad he didn't have his own love interest because I would have loved to see him in a romantic subplot with a nice girl. I also like his father the detective and I'm glad he didn't die.
*I didn't like Sol's brother and her best friend at all. They were annoying. But I like grandma.
*Kim Won-hae, one of my fave supporting actors, pops up in almost every K-drama and here he plays Sun-jae's father.
*Though the series was immediately off to a great start, it loses a bit of steam around ep. 5/6. Then it picks itself up again with the leap into the future in episode 7 and becomes really thrilling.
*I absolutely love episode 8 where Sol admits to Sun-jae she liked him too back then and they kiss. Some kiss! Swoon!
*I love Sol and Sun-jae as cute teens but even more as adults. The love they feel for each other jumps off the screen. Sun-jae is so much in love that my heart ached for him whenever Sol pushed him away. I felt so sorry for him.
*I had to think of Alfred Tennyson's famous line "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." It plays an important role here. Sol prefers to live in a timeline where she doesn't meet Sun-jae so she can keep him safe and alive. Sun-jae wants them to be together and keep Sol safe, even if it means he will be killed himself.
*The final episode is full of fluff with cutesy, lovey-dovey moments. The romance is the show's strength, and after all the main couple has been through, they deserve these carefree and happy moments, and I for one wasn't complaining. The writers delivered what fans wanted. A happy ending!
*Great OST! Love the songs, especially Sudden Shower, sung by Byeon Woo-seok himself. Not a professional singer, Byeon Woo-seok took lessons to improve his vocal skills in order to perform the songs by the fictional band Eclipse.