“Lovely Runner,” a 2024 South Korean drama series, spans 16 episodes and features Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon. This TV series is adapted from the popular web novel “Tomorrow’s Best,” which was also serialized as a webtoon by the illustrator Doong Doong.
“Lovely Runner” began with a promising start, featuring a cozy atmosphere that kept me tuning in weekly. However, as the story progressed, it became clear that the drama was falling short of its potential.
The drama opens with Im Sol as Ryu Sun Jae’s devoted fan. However, the moment Sun Jae fell for her at first sight felt unconvincing and lacking in depth. Sun Jae’s infatuation with Sol seemed baseless, reducing him to a lovesick character without clear motivation.
As the episodes progressed, numerous plot holes and insufferable characters emerged. The storyline dragged on without significant growth or development, making it almost unfinishable. The drama, which could have wrapped up in 8-10 episodes, was unnecessarily stretched to 16, losing its initial charm.
The time travel aspect of the story introduced more confusion than intrigue. Sol’s reasons for traveling back in time were never fully explained, and many questions remained unanswered. Where did 19-year-old Sol go when 34-year-old Sol inhabited her body? Did Sun Jae ever time travel in other timelines? What was Sol’s grandmother’s role in all this? The involvement of Sol’s grandmother in the time travel plot added to the confusion, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.
The characters lacked depth and growth. Sun Jae’s sudden abandonment of his swimming dreams felt out of character, and his overbearing father only added to the frustration. Sun Jae, who was once passionate about swimming and aspired to the Olympics, seemed to give up too quickly, overshadowed by his infatuation with Sol. The side characters, like Sol’s brother and best friend, took up too much screen time without even contributing meaningfully to the plot.
Then the serial killer? That was another weak point. The villain lacked a backstory, making him a one-dimensional character whose primary role was to create obstacles for the leads. Like what was his deal? Was his character even necessary? His cliched death by a truck even added to the overall sense of disappointment.
Going to the acting: The acting was often overly dramatic. Sol’s exaggerated facial expressions and the theatrical performances of other characters felt unnatural. The drama’s inconsistent use of realism, especially in the subplot involving a lottery win, further detracted from its believability. While Geum’s decision to share his lottery winnings added a touch of realism, it clashed with the overall fantastical elements of the story.
One of the very interesting highlights was the OST, featuring impressive tracks by BWS. One thing I’ll always love K-drama for is their amazing soundtracks that never go off-point. The soundtrack was top-notch and even topped the charts on music platforms. From the moment I heard Sun Jae singing “Sudden Shower”,I was in love. The song was filled with so many deep emotions. Each soundtrack perfectly matched the scenes, enhancing the overall experience. My favorites, besides “Sudden Shower,” include “I Think I Did,” “A Day,” and “Spring Snow.” The soundtrack team did an outstanding job arranging the OST, making it a significant highlight of the drama.
I asked my friends who are also K-drama fans to share their thoughts on the movie too, so that we could get reviews from different perspectives.
Christabel’s Perspective:
My friend Christabel echoed similar sentiments but provided additional insights into the drama’s flaws. She loved how “Lovely Runner” started, with a sad but promising note, but felt everything changed in Episode 2. She was puzzled by the time travel concept, questioning the logic behind Sol going back in time to save Sun Jae.
In her view, it was bizarre that Sol believed stopping Sun Jae from becoming a musician would prevent his depression and suicide. The inconsistency in how other characters remembered Sol also troubled her. When Sol returned to the future, her presence in Sun Jae’s life seemed to have been embedded in everyone’s memories, raising questions about what happened to the original timeline without Sol.
Christabel was particularly critical of the serial killer subplot. She felt it was the only complexity in the drama, yet it was poorly developed. The lack of background information about the serial killer and his inexplicable obsession with Sol added to the confusion. If Sol had gone back in time to save herself, why didn’t she take measures to avoid the killer altogether?
Furthermore, Christabel noted that Sun Jae seemed like a puppet, lacking control over his life and decisions. She questioned whether Sun Jae knew about Sol before or during her time travels, finding this aspect unclear and frustrating. The constant back and forth in time, with Sol’s grandmother inexplicably retaining her memories, added another layer of confusion. The watch that served as a time machine remained with Sol’s grandmother, hinting at her possible role in orchestrating the events, but this was never clarified.
Christabel concluded that the drama was over-hyped, with unclear transitions between timelines and a lack of solid motivations for the characters’ actions. She felt the story lacked depth and coherence, making the characters seem like mere puppets.
Sommie’s Perspective:
My friend Sommie also shared her views on the drama. According to her, it seemed like a love story between an idol and his fan initially, but it quickly revealed itself to be a tale of first love. For Sol, Sun Jae was an unreachable idol, but for him, she was his unrequited first love. Im Sol, who had lost hope after an accident left her paralyzed, found comfort in Sun Jae’s radio show. Sun Jae, initially perceived as a cool idol, turned out to be a bubbly and silly boy madly in love with Sol.
His silly antics in high school and his consistent character even in adulthood were endearing. This contrast highlighted the difference between an idol’s on-screen persona and their true self.
Sommie appreciated the blend of humor and emotional depth in the drama. The series managed to balance funny and sad scenes, creating an engaging and entertaining experience. The comedic elements provided a refreshing break from the more serious moments, adding to the drama’s overall appeal.
Conclusion:
“Lovely Runner” ultimately failed to deliver on its initial promise. While it had moments of visual and musical appeal, the overall plot and character development were severely lacking. The drama felt over-hyped and unfulfilling, with an unclear storyline and unresolved plot points.
Now, “Lovely Runner” may appeal to a younger audience or those seeking light entertainment, but for viewers like myself looking for depth and coherence, it falls short. Despite its aesthetic strengths and musical highlights, it’s a drama I probably wouldn’t revisit. Finally, I would give this movie a 5.5/10. The additional half I added was for the male lead, he’s one of my crushes and I’m honestly really angry at the director for making him go through so many deaths.
