Started off well , ended up a cliched mess
I guess i am also one of the very few who cannot rave about this show and this review will not be liked by most of the current (young) audiences but well since i watched i will provide my thoughtsI was attracted by clips of first few episodes and story line thinking it will be "we. will cross all hurdles including time and space" type of love story which i am up for watching anytime but i was disappointed big time.
First two episodes was gripping. First wave of disappointment came in when there was fire in Im Sol's house . What was it ! why that sequence which did not make sense and its utterly annoying to see such stupidity. Its not comedy if it does not fit into the flow of the sequence. Randomly these sequences are integrated. There are some comic scenes which is really good but most just falls flat and importantly it does not contribute to the story in any way.
But what really doused my interest is ML already liking her and with just one look and no interaction in original timeline .Liking her to the point where he cares nothing but her. That just destroyed the premise for me .
ML cares about swimming for first few episodes then he doesnt give a damn. After that its like a list of cute scenes or crying scenes but really what is their relationship if we dont see them sit and talk and discuss other than saying they are happy !. He was a student who worked hard for it and now he is just a romantic goof .
If only their relationship was built with more substance where she comes back to save him , bcs she saw him as a person who gave back her spirit of life but then slowly turns into something more and the same with him but no.. it all stays in a very superficial level.
Even FL does not show any maturity when she is supposed to be 34 year old in the body of 20 year old and that too for a person who has gone through so much and when she remembers all of that! Being full of life is not same as acting all teenage like!
Psycho story line is a mess as well. A criminal attacked police officers and how come he is still roaming around and police officers are listening to a teenage girl what to do!! No wonder they could not keep a criminal in hand cuffs in place lol.
And then later he also manages to come to a 5 star hotel to attack the ML. wow! thats hell of a security and policy system this world has!
Same with SML and ML's friend . ML did not even know where his friend lived. And SML one day became buddies with them and enjoying in the beach ( another beach scene cliche thats a must i suppose) when he had his own gang which disappeared ?
Point is none of this characters or the relationship is built up on a solid base that you care about them (Cant help but think of SOOD here)
Only good thing is the leads and the actors who do have a good comic timing ( but sadly all are over the top or out of place)
This plot had the potential to be as good as Someday or one day. Sigh ..
PS : i am still giving ratings more than what i think it deserves
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A lot of mistakes but also very emotional
There were definitely some parts of this show that could have used a second and third opinion. The multiple jumps through time actually just created loopholes and unnecessarily dragged on the show. I think it actually would have done a lot better with just 2 jumps or at least if they just focused on the two main goals of her not getting in that accident, and him not unaliving himself. Instead we got a murder plot that dragged on and then ended really randomly, we got multiple deaths.... like please.BUT THEN... The romance and the acting was amazing. I felt real heartache for both characters, but especially for Ryu Sun Jae. I loved his character and the way he loves her. It's just so wholesome and it crushed me when they tried to reverse that in Ep.13. I don't know if my hormones are out of whack but I for sure cried a few times.
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Indulgent Melo-Romance
If you can get past the corny writing, flawed plot, and lack of message or theme, then you’ve got a satisfying romance carried by strong acting (kim hyeyoon crushed!). Good chemistry, enjoyable acting…but the writing was so weak. At least the melodrama was kept at a simmer compared to other crash and burn melos. Overall, it’s a light weekend watch! It’s definitely not amazing, but hey — I was gagged enough to binge it in a single weekend.Kim Hyeyoon definitely deserves her flowers for this one —
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I guess this drama would be best if it is watched one episode per week, at least for me.
Not a hate review. You should give it a try and make up your own mind and DON'T TRUST A REVIEW.I always gonna say I like Kdramas BUT still I have some problems. People loved this drama. I got it when your watching an on going show every week, it keeps your curosity BUT when you watch a show which has been released, it's not that mesmerizing anymore. Same with this show. I liked it but still it has no story except she went back to change SunJae' fate. THAT'S IT. SHE GOES BACK TO CHANGE FUTURE AND NOTHING. I mean she said it herself in the 14th episode: "That our fate was just going around in circles". I got through the 8 episodes and I was like what they gonna show us in the remaining 8 episodes. But it was same old story. She goes back. No side story.
I know they (writer) have a way of telling their own story but hate me if you have to but it seems like parents has no play in it neither their friends. I hate it how they put aside Tae Sung character like he has no future for atleast 13 episodes. Kim Won Hae (SunJae' father), great actor but I don't know why he accepted this role. He was just their for entertainment. Like in episode 12 they gave him a "stuck in a bathroom" scene like they had nothing to show more. What's with that?
Of course it was interesting but still not addictable. I think it got my attention from 1rth episode and I finally found the stability I was looking for.
All in all you guys give it a try if you haven't because everyone has a different perspective. I liked it but expected more maybe, I don't know 😂.
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"First Love Again."
First and foremost, Lovely Runner is a rom-com. Meaning that if you came to watch some science fiction fantasy drama which is a stickler for rules of time travel, this drama isn't for you. [The title of my review is from a 2021 CDrama, which has a very similar plot, but with the laws of nature governing the whole thing.]But, if you are looking out for a real wholesome one, Lovely Runner is just perfect for you. It's a well written, well-paced, romantic, comedic and heartwarmingly satisfying.
Im Sol, a wheelchair bound 34 year old woman, is an avid fan of Ryu Sun Jae, the lead singer of a boy band Eclipse.
It's not a simple relationship either – His words had inspired her to keep living on, and to add to that, he also had happened to go to the high school close to hers. In spite of her disadvantages that hinder her from applying for her dream job, she still maintains a cheerful demeanor.
However, her life takes a drastic turn when she finds out that the person who had encouraged her to live on had committed suicide. When she is stricken by grief, fate gives her another chance – Ryu Seon Jae’s watch, which she had bought for a hefty sum at an auction becomes a time machine and she hurtles to the year 2008.
Now, stuck in her high school self, Im Sol snatches the chance to befriend the teenage Ryu Seon Jae (whom she had ignored in her youth) and change his fate. This also meant that she has the chance to avoid the accident that crippled her and distort the future.
But, as she begins to change the past, she realizes that there are some things just can not be altered.
☆ The Plot + Romance:
Lovely Runner is nothing new in terms of plot. What I loved were the characters and the relationships between them. I think this is what most people loved about it and hence the drama's sky high ratings. I have mixed feelings about the “plot”, but as it's a rom-com, I'll try to overlook it.
Romance is a strong building block; yet at the beginning it's evident that Im Sol treated Sun Jae as her “idol” rather than a real person.
But, the transition to love and the absolute possibility of their relationship was genuine.
An Idol meeting a fan and falling in love?
In the case of LR, Im Sol and Sunjae were already neighbors and had met before, it was just that he was a person who passed by her life without ever influencing it ‘directly’.
It was both sad and comedic to see Im Sol attempt to rescue Sun Jae from his fate, particularly when she couldn't tell him anything about the future.
[This plot point got lost somewhere after EP10… or did it?]
Both Sun Jae and Im Sol were innocent people to begin with. Heck, even their friends and relatives are funny and nice people in general - hence, there is absolutely ‘NO’ additional drama.
Also, it was an added bonus to see a ML who was for once, not an all knowing God. Dude was legit dumb.
In Hyuk and Sun Jae’s bromance, Sun Jae and his father’s antics, Im Geum’s dreams, Sol and the relationship with her grandmother, mother, Tae Seong (the 2nd ML and my favorite character) and her best friend together were just heartwarming to watch.
I did feel that there was a distinct difference between the original timeline and the altered version where Sun Jae dies.
In the original timeline, it looked like the scriptwriter went with the way of the webtoon and had Sun Jae actually commit suicide. (It might be because of the way it was shot.) The other timeliness however, showed a stark difference from EP1 and followed the ‘thriller’ aspect.
I still feel a bit irked about a quote that never became a reality. But, hey, the drama was fulfilling.
☆ Also, this is one emotionally draining drama. Hats off to Kim Hye Yoon for managing to bring about both comedy and tears in a seamless manner. She had that Song Yi Ren kind of energy and was very flexible as a 34 year old grown woman stuck in the body of a teenager, which might've
become awkward had it been any other actress.
I had never heard about Bye Woon Seok, except in passing after the ‘Strong Girl’ drama but, oh dear. Both his comedic scenes as well as the emotional ones were spot on.
[One of my friends was contemplating whether to watch this or not after it aired, and another one advised her that it's ‘either death or villain’ when it comes to him.]
I'll definitely be checking out their future works. Even In Hyuk and Tae Seong had their moments.
☆ Soundtrack: KDramas rarely disappoint in this department. Every song went well with the scenes, but if I could listen to a song all by itself, then it would be ‘Monologue' by Jae Eon and ‘You & I’ by Eclipse.
It's been a long time since I watched a KDrama while on air. It reminded me of those times when they actually managed to grab my attention and continue watching them. I've been serial dropping KDramas a lot since the one hour runtime and emotional investment is much more than CDramas. This one is a surprise from 2024.
It reminded me strongly of ‘Legally Romance’ and ‘First Love Again’ both of which were memorable dramas I liked and had similarities to.
A solid 7.5 from me. I cut off points as I felt that something went ‘missing’ with the story after a couple of episodes. The characters were the only thing that kept me going. [Updated the score from 8.5 to 7.5 because I don't think I'll be revisiting this drama anytime soon. Perhaps I might change the rating if I rewatch it.]
Anyways, one thing I learnt from time travel dramas is that I'll be single for a very, very, very long time unless someone from some other parallel universe risks everything to travel through space and time to meet me.
All in all, it was a wonderful journey. I hope that both Im Sol and Sun Jae manage to meet each other in every universe, however slim the chance is. (And that Kim Tae Seong never changes.)
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Started of great but lost me along the way
I really liked this drama in the beginning. It was fresh and cute but the more episodes dropped the more boring it became.The acting is great even tho sometimes FL was a bit over overacting which was a bit annoying.
Now after episode 12 it completely lost me. Its draggy, its boring, nothing happens and FL is starting to become annoying and her voice is getting screechier.
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Unnecessary dragged
The first episode had me hooked but as the show progressed the story became just like any other Kdrama. Don’t know why some scenes and characters reminded me of true beauty. The character tae sung had uncanny resemblance with true beauty’s seo jun. Anyhow i wish there was more depth to the characters as female lead seemed shallow and same with some other characters. The female lead got on my last nerves with her stupid choices. The more chances she gets to go into the past the more dumb and careless she behaves and gets herself in trouble. I do feel bad for sunjae.I still continued to watch it but Episode 8 is when it all went down. I was okay with the cliches too but episode 8 completely ruined it for me. Time travel become a joke at this point. Even sunjae’s feelings become a joke based on how conveniently Sol expressed her feelings 14 years later and he didn’t ask for an explanation? Like his feelings literally become so irrelevant after this point because no matter what sol does he kept clinging to her like a puppy. I hated to watch her travel back into past again. I wish they had ended the drama at episode 8 where they confessed feelings and got together. THE END but noo the writers had to drag the story even if they have nothing new to add to develop the plot.
I can easily guess what the final episodes are going to be about soo not curious at all.
Ps I know it’s seems stupid to drop a drama soo close to the finale but it cringe so bad when things get lame. I gave this drama a fair shot but…
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Time Travel Rom-Com
Story: The plot was quite interesting initially, with the FL obtaining the ability to time travel back in time to save the ML. The rom-com story plot also have some thriller element, though this thriller element continued for a good portion of the drama (which I am not sure if it should be that relevant). The plot was also too heavily focus on the ML and FL, that I think the supporting characters lacked depth. I also don't think there was too much character growth of the ML and FL overly the episodes.Acting: Kim Hye Yoon (FL) and the Byeon Woo Seok (ML) did a good job acting as their respective characters. I think Kim Hye Yoon was exceptional in delivering the FL's role, especially with all the crying scenes in the drama.
Music: The OST was great! I personally like the songs from the band, and the was really good.
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Jekyll & Hyde show that is doing my head in
To say that I'm torn about this show is an understatement. I have seldom seen a series that managed to succeed in one key area and yet screw up another. Please allow me to explain.This series is built on two drama staples. Swoon worthy romance and the time traveling do-overs.
It nails the first with aplomb. Our leads' chemistry is undeniable and when it works, it is meltingly good. Time and again, when I start to suffer, the writer-nim would bring on the amore and we are floating on a pink cloud. . . until we crash back to earth due to the ham-fisted way the show handles the timey-wimey stuff.
The problem is not that the show tripped up on some high temporal concept but rather simple plot management. To wit, the show used weaponised time travel like a blunt instrument. Internal logic and intersecting plots be damned.
It worked ok the first go around but after each do-over, the narrative got more convoluted. It basically tied itself in knots. Did events change? Did time correct itself? Does someone know or cares?! I'm sure the writer doesn't. Forget about time traveling taboos, it was a road kill right from the start.
Another contributor to this mess is the serial killer/kidnapper subplot. How I wish k-dramas would stop using this trope, but I digress. As before, his first couple of appearances was impactful and fits within the context of the central premise. However, one of the fundamental purposes of a do-over is to change the timeline so that history does not repeat itself. In this case, the plot around the killer is more like a rubber band. It is a millstone.
It doesn't help when the antagonist is a "faceless" bogeyman. I get that he is obsessed with the FL, but the rationale is lost in the mist of plot disarray. He has a name but no backstory, no motivation for any of his actions. They shouldn't have met, or he should be in jail as each timeline changes. Then what happened to him in the 15 years since he may or may not have kidnapped the FL? Did he killed more girls or just looked for the FL all those years. What are the police doing? Watching reruns of Dr. Who?!
The antagonist finally got his just deserts in the last EP but how I wish it happened 6 eps earlier. The last EP is total fan service on steroids! It speed-run through a stack of dating tropes and it is total guilty pleasure. It compensates for some of the mid show confusions.
There is a decent amount of skinship throughout the run and they felt right. Not the most passionate I have seen but swoon-y nevertheless.
In terms of acting, it is the same split personality. I love the leads to bits, but the support cast is all over the place. The grandma is sweet. The mum is bearable. The ML's dad is a buffoon who goes for the cheap laughs. The FL's bestie and her brother are so cringy. Their roles get more and more exaggerated as the show progresses. Are they 13 or 30? I groan during some of their scenes.
The kidnapper deserves his own paragraph. He is so one dimensional. Basically, a cardboard cutout. He shows up, does the Death Stare with bonus grimace and retires to a dark corner to await his next money shot. So little effort yet so pivotal a role.
In the end, if they do a director's cut of our leads’ romantic journey, it would be 10/10. I would be a happy couch potato watching it on repeat. The rest gets a 6/10. In view of balance, the show gets an 8/10.
I can totally understand the hype and attention surrounding the show but I also get why some would defer as well. I need therapy.
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I really don't know what exact feeling am I giving to this drama...
The story is nice and understandable, though I was kinda annoyed by how it goes because she kept coming back and forth through all the episodes. Like I was very confused and was about to drop this drama on episode 4 or something because I was so confused and I felt kinda sorry to Sol too. Like if I was her I'd end my life right away due to confusion that leds to depression....... anyway!Actually if someone I liked told me that they are annoyed by my existence I'd never show up infront of them ever like EVER.. but this Sunjae mf still insist to follow her anywhere which is very annoying like...
I somehow don't really like the OSTs except 4 songs. ..
But the feeling when they reunited with the memories they had is so heart warming, I didn't cry the whole season but that scene made me very emotional.
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A strongly decent and slightly overrated drama
Despite the title, I did enjoy this drama, I really did. I've had my doubts, throughout the course of my watch, mostly because of a few writing decisions, but I ended up liking it in the end. However, based on other people's perception of the drama, I don't think it's that good, as many people say it, some say that it is the drama of the year, which is a WILD statement, but then again, I feel like the dramas this year a bit lacking, so who knows. So let's go over this. I did enjoy the story, I was a bit vary at first when I learned that it is a time travel drama, It's not like I dislike them, but they tend to yolo some of the story elements quite often, and I also did see that here aswell unfortunately, but far less than what I am used to which is a good sign. I enjoyed the interactions, between the leads, and seeing their relationships develop, I especially loved the fact that this wasn't a fan and star story, but rather than a story about friends turned lovers, and I especially loved seeing both Pov's, because it made it even more wholesome. The time travel aspect of the story was a bit inconsistent, especially when it came to the rules of what our female lead could reveal to others in the past especially when the plot found it convenient, I was like, "WHERE DID THE TIME TRAVEL RULE GO?" The one thing I hated the most about the plot was the antagonist, if we can even call him that. It felt like he was a plot device, rather than a character, because we literally knew nothing about him except that he was a serial killer, we didn't even knew why he was obsessed with Im Sol and Sun Jae, so throughout my watch I looked as him as a plot device rather than a character. I also did enjoy the fact that the story jumped through different timelines, and time loops, it made things fresh, though towards the end, I felt like it was a bit overdone and got repetetive. There was also a love triangle, which thankfully wasn't the point at all, and had little significance. I also liked the fact that they made the ML engage with the time travel idea, I think they could've and should've done more with this, but I'm just glad they included this, because frankly, I wish more time travel dramas would. I also enjoyed the ending, I think it was a fitting one for the characters. I had a bit of a problem with the acting however, I found the female leads's acting especially cringe at times, and especially her brother and best friend, sometimes I hated when they were on screen. The one thing I loved the most about this drama was the OST, it was so freaking beautiful, and gave such a beautiful aesthetic to the scenes, and I found myself singing along sometimes, which was funny to see. Overall even though I enjoyed this drama, I really wouldn't say that it's the best one this year has to offer, but I still think you should watch it if you like the time travel concept (and don't mind the plot being messy sometimes), with a good romance.Vond je deze recentie nuttig?
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