Lovely Runner (2024)

Be prepared for onslaught of dopamine hits

As complex as time traveling stories can be, at the heart of it, Lovely Runner is a simple love story about two people whose journey to happiness together will fill romance lovers like me with deep satisfaction and delight. And as light as that story is, there is nothing shallow about the impact this drama had on me that I can only call it a phenomenon. Even for a seasoned drama watcher like me, it far exceeded my expectations of what a drama in the romantic comedy genre could deliver. There is just something about it that gets me right in the heart. So if your experience is anything like mine, be prepared for an onslaught of dopamine hits to the senses that will stay with you well beyond the initial watch.

At the start, we are introduced to a wheelchair bound Sol (Kim Hye Yoon) in the present time who has committed to living well despite her circumstances, thanks to words of encouragement from Sun Jae (Byeon Woo Seok), the lead singer of the popular band Eclipse. Though Sol is a loyal and dedicated fan, she is metaphorically light years away from Sun Jae, or so it seems.

Sun Jae has that aura of a superstar, but also sorrow and regret in the way he carries himself that is a mystery as to why at this point. Soon, we learn he has died from an apparent suicide, devastating Sol. This touch of melancholy was so strong that it took me some time to settle into the lightness of the story as Sol travels back in time and we reset to Sol and Sun Jae in high school, 15 years in the past. Sol realizes she can walk again and learns Sun Jae is actually her next door neighbor. Equipped with the wisdom of the future, she sets out to save him from his untimely death.

Sol has the cutest, most relatable reactions to seeing her high school friends again, and in particular, the guy she had a crush on, which is just hilarious. I think I would have had the same reaction seeing my old crushes again haha. It's also at this point that we truly get to know Sun Jae. No longer the elusive celebrity from the future, Sun Jae is an ordinary 19 year old athlete. Sol's sudden appearance and interest in his life has him completely flustered. And as you're thinking as a viewer how he must be processing all this when they're virtually strangers, you learn that he knew her before she did, and in fact, has the biggest, most adorable secret crush on her.

It is at this stage of the drama that I turned from merely watching to completely in love with the drama. The incredible chemistry of Kim Hye Yoon and Byeon Woo Seok is evident from the get-go. As Sol and Sun Jae, they filled me with laughter and happiness at each interaction. The scenes are gorgeously shot, capturing the youthful charm of the two leads. The framing of each pivotal moment is like a work of art that's unforgettable, turning the romance spectacular. The music further strengthens these scenes and all this makes for a lethal combination that triggers a flurry of emotions from me and had me grinning like a fool.

Sol tends to get herself into very awkward situations with Sun Jae that had me feeling second hand embarrassment, only to quickly turn into giggles over Sun Jae's reactions to her. It's like she's got him wrapped around her little fingers, no matter which timeline they're in. As the story progresses, we see that their lives are even more intertwined than we ever expected, and in some ways, tragic. As a result, there is a layer of sadness present throughout the drama that gives it depth in that respect.

I have to say the pacing of the story is great. The plot is segmented into four main timelines as Sol time travels back and forth. And this has the added benefit of giving us progression in the leads' relationship throughout the drama without the expense of turning the story dull in the later episodes, as it often happens with dramas of this format. The romance delivers early on to your satisfaction. But there is also plenty left to keep you happy. A highlight for me is the part in which Sol travels back to the present, now able to walk and has the funniest encounters with the celebrity Sun Jae. You can turn Sun Jae into the most popular star on the planet, but you can never take the dorkiness out of him. Furthermore, I love seeing how steadfast his love is for Sol, which is perfectly captured in the song Sonaki (Sudden Shower) that pulls at my heartstrings every time I listen to it. Sun Jae is one of the best male lead characters I have ever seen. You think you have found the best version of him, only for him to endear you with an even better version in each progressive timeline. There were so, so many wonderful moments to look back on, but those flying kisses he gave Sol will forever be ingrained in my mind xD.

I'll acknowledge at this juncture that if you're watching for the time traveling concept, you may be disappointed because that is simply the mechanism used to propel the main plot, which is this deep focus on the love story of Sol and Sun Jae from teenagers to adults. I honestly didn't think much in length on whether it all made sense. All I wanted was for the two of them to have a happy ending and I was willing to accept anything that can make that happen. And to that end, it delivered enough for me to be satisfied with the resolution of the time travel aspect.

Kim Hye Yoon is naturally charming as Sol. She is like a little ball of sunshine. Her character can be frustrating at times but I never disliked her and I think that's all thanks to how Kim Hye Yoon portrayed Sol. Whether she's being cute or crying her eyes out, Kim Hye Yoon does it so well that it just elevates the scene. As for Byeon Woo Seok, thanks to him as Sun Jae, the heroine's reality in time traveling turned into a dream for all the viewers. Tall, handsome, and a wonderful actor with an incredible voice, it's remarkable how long it has taken him to get to this point in his career. He deserves all the recognition and popularity that has followed him since the debut of the drama. I see him as an underdog who was given a once in a life time opportunity with this project and he superbly exceeded all expectations with his impressive performance as Sun Jae. The OST, which he extensively participated in, is outstanding as well; sweet, touching and soothing, just like him.

In my opinion, this drama epitomizes all the wonderful idiosyncratic things that make kdramas special in ways that has captured the hearts of many romance lovers like me. It has been a lengthy period of time since I've come across a kdrama with this much rewatch value. The entire drama is filled with so many heart tugging scenes with such moving soundtrack that they have me in a tight grip and I can't let go. The characters of Sol and Sun Jae will remain in my heart as fond memories for years to come.

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