A story that's full of heart

As I’m typing this, the soundbar in front of me is playing out the song list by Eclipse, the fictional band fronting the OST of this amazing drama series. Before I say anything else, let me say that Lovely Runner has probably one of the best OST compilations for a drama series in a long while. It’s just delightful to me that fans are gifted with 5 original songs specially written for a fictional band to be savored long after the drama’s ending. It underlines just how every detail making up this show is taken care of by its producers.

Another remarkable aspect of this drama is the very palpable chemistry among the entire cast and not just the main characters. They each delivered a stellar and very believable performance collectively. Byeon Wooseok is a revelation to me in this, having watched his previous works this one stuck out to me as very, very well pulled-off comparatively. In fact, BWS truly WAS Ryu Seonjae with every delivery be it in words, postures, facial expressions, both macro and micro. I felt his angst, I relished his jubilance. Kim Hyeyoon was also remarkable as always, though I preferred her portrayal of the adult version of Im Sol for some reason. Maybe it’s because I felt that her youthful aegyo from her school days were a little bit overdone at times. I’m very much willing to overlook those instances though, as I felt that her bubbly character complemented Seonjae’s more reticent, boyish charms very well.

Another aspect of the show I truly treasured was Seonjae’s “bromance” with other characters, especially Baek Inhyuk and the occasionally reluctant Kim Taesong. I’ll never forget that drunken scene with the acorns and in the noraebang. In fact, I love the way this show treats all the friendship, sisterhood, bromance, family values and even the way our band members Eclipse regard their fans.

Okay now moving to the story; I do understand how it’s not a cup of tea for everyone. I also feel that maybe time travel as a storytelling device in presenting the plotline can be an overwhelming concept for some. Many have mentioned how it seemed repetitive, with Im Sol traveling back and forth through time as though in a pointless loop. Well, this is exactly the essence of FATE; fate has a way of reasserting itself back into the original path despite numerous interventions. Im Sol had only 3 chances to do that as per given by the watch, and she even (seemingly) failed all three. So how DOES one change fate? That was what Im Sol had to figure out. It’s just so poetic to me how it was Kim Taesong who saved the day for them and changed the course of their ill-fated relationship. And I love how Kim Taeseong’s dad put it in the end, “Maybe (bad guy) Kim Youngsoo had to die so that another innocent life can live”

Despite several minor inconsistencies, plot holes, and plot conveniences, I truly enjoyed watching Lovely Runner for the feelings it evoked within me. It made me laugh in unabashed hysterics, it made me cry inconsolable tears, and it also inspired me to love the people closest to me that much harder. That’s why at least for this drama series, I’m willing to overlook technical accuracies and savor all the ways it made me feel watching it instead.

I’ll truly miss this one. It’s been a while since a drama series affected me this much. The last one was Six Flying Dragons, I’ll have you know.

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