DRAMA REVIEW | Lovely Runner (2024)
Lovely Runner it's undoubtedly one of the best dramas of 2024.
It has all the elements that make a drama a mega hit: comedy, romance, time travel, well written characters (both leads and supporting ones) and an engaging plot line that never bores you. Starring Kim Hye Yoon and Byeon Woo Seok, adapted from the web novel The Best of Tomorrow by screenwriter Lee Shi Eun and directed by Yoon Jong Ho and Kim Tae Yub, the Lovely Runner team achieved a perfect execution in front and behind the camera.
I think the true star of this drama it's the writing and on this I can't commend Lee Si Eun enough. I had already seen her potential in dramas like True Beauty but here she really manages to shine through a well crafted, smart and cohesive story with no loose ends. I'm incredibly impressed by her talent.
The writing was perfectly complemented by the directors's outstanding work in leading a film crew that was on every detail of each part of the story, in each timeline, never missing a beat. Always delivering their A+++ game. But there was also great work done from the directors part in helping the actors get the comedic timing exactly right, the more emotional scenes to deliver and the team work among cast and crew to be flawless.
Lovely Runner might be a big hit now, but it's actually a sleeper hit. The lack of promotion this drama had was embarrassing and if it wasn't for the devoted fans, studio executives would have never realized they had a gem in their hands. So, it's not only a great drama with a super fandom that really fought for this story, it's also becoming yet another prime example in the list of films and tv that achieved all of it by themselves because artists delivered nothing short of excellence.
On this point I can't ignore the incredible performances given by the entire cast. Kim Hye Yoon and Byeon Woo Seok are definitely the standouts, they stole the show, this is their story and the actors chemistry it's electrifying. But the way supportive actors would show up in a scene and push the story forward in a coherent way and even make it better, it's wild to me. The chemistry this cast had it's a rare feat for an ensamble cast and how they managed to transition seamlessly through different phases of their characters's lives and relationships when events, in each timeline, were changing because of the things our leads did they still remain truthful. So, not only the leads are well developed in this drama but also every single character that shows up, no matter how small the role is.
The best example of this it's actor Heo Hyeong-Gyu who has been working for sixteen years, playing very minor characters, finally having a breakthrough in the industry because of his role in this drama. And while his presence was prominent and important to the story, he barely had lines. So his entire performance is mainly based on micro-expressions or physical stunts.
I also fully expect the actors like Song Geon-Hee, Lee Seung-Hyub, Song Ji-Ho or Seo Hye-won to receive a lot of what korean entertainment industry calls "love calls" aka commercials, dramas and films, among other things.
Experiencing watching Lovely Runner alongside the fandom, waiting every week for a new episode, it's a big part of what made this drama so good. Healthy and good loving fun people, clowning, poking fun at our faves and crying at heartbreak. It's been a long time since I have been able to engage in this way with other fans and I am thankful for them, the cast and crew for all these amazing weeks of fun.
Rating: 10/10
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Upcoming Kdrama November 2022
7/11: Behind Every Stars with Lee Seo Jin, Kwak Sun Young. 12 episodes; life drama, rom-com. Trailer
9/11: Revenge of Others with Shin Ye Eun, Park Solomon, Seo Ji Hoon. 12 episodes; thriller, drama. Trailer
12/11: The First Responders with Kim Rae Won, Son Ho Jun, Gong Seung Yun. 12 episodes; drama. Trailer
18/11: Reborn Rich with Song Joong Ki, Shin Hyun Bin. 16 episodes; drama, fantasy. Trailer
18/11: Somebody with Kim Young Kwang, Kang Hae Lim, Kim Yong Ji. 8 episodes; thriller, psychological. Trailer
18/11: Weak Hero with Park Ji Hoon, Shin Seung Ho, Hong Kyung. 8 episodes; action, youth. Trailer
18/11: Please Send a Fan Letter with Choi Sooyoung, Yoon Park. 4 episodes; rom-com trailer
21/11 I Don't Feel Like Doing Anything with Im Siwan, Seolhyun. 12 episodes; mystery, life drama. Trailer
Many new shows are coming this month!!
Which one are you going to watch?
*UPDATED 9/11*
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Night has come- Episode 5 and 6 (INCLUDES SPOILERS)(WARNING: LOOOOOONNNGGG RANT AHEAD)
AGAIN, this post includes spoilers (All my posts do) so if you haven't seen this episode, I recommend not to read this post.
However, if you want to know just how bad your mind will be mess up, you are welcome to stay.
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First of all
I had this very interesting post that I was about to post in which I explained how the girl with the ax in the intro was Lee Yoon Seo, and now I see that it was a good idea not to post it because it would have made me look stupid considering what happened at the end of episode six.
So, that saved me.
EPISODE 5:
A FREAKING ROLLERCOASTER.
It was kind of obvious that Park Woo Ram was Mafia but the way it was delivered? that was unexpected. But let's not jump ahead of the whole kidnapping/dividing thing, because WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT.
I, for once, knew Go Kyung Jun was going to be a pain in the butt but I will not take away the credit for his intelligence.
Like, the way he was right about who was the mafia? That was detective work right there. The way he delivered the confession? I won't lie, torture is a good way to make someone confess to something you had no part of but Woo Ram was mafia.
THE TORTURE:
I am sure Kyung Jun is a citizen. I have no proof but I have zero doubts. But, I do think that he'll be able to kill somebody if it means protecting himself or someone he cares about.
As it was shown in episode 5, he tortured Woo Ram to get a confession out of him, and as an avid reader of mafia romances -and currently writing my own, if I may say- the way he managed the torture was exceptional.
Tumblr don't flag me, but a girl has to admit when torture is on point, and this one was. It wasn't the physical torture that surprised me but the psychological. The way he would smile in a clear way that showed he didn't care about making somebody suffer was the CHERRY IN TOP OF THE ICE.
(And if I may mention, he is very cute.)
However, every bad character has a soft side and as we saw when he locked himself in the canteen, he started crying because he caused someone to die, and he tortured someone and everybody hates him so that ought to hurt.
THE SECRET PATHWAY:
When I tell you my mouth went
I have a feeling
AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT FEELING
That the ghost is trying to help Yoon Seo, as a matter of fact, I don't even think Woo Seok is dead but I'll dive into that theory later.
What I mean by the ghost trying to help Yoon Seo, I mean that the ghost seems to be leaving clues for her to find. Why is the ghost doing this? I don't know but I'm sure they are connected somehow.
When Yoon Seo found the secret room, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed in how she didn't stay longer to investigate.
Girl reads crime and mystery novels, and she just looked for a bit and left.
If that had been me? I would have looked through the freaking cameras in the room to try and find out who was the mafia (We know who is the mafia, we are expecting the results) but she just left, so that was a bit disappointing.
I feel the ghost is making every clue obvious for her to find because she is not looking properly. You would expect her to be more invested into the whole thing but as of right now the only thing she has found was how the second body didn't had defense marks and the black light used to look at the door.
The door was obvious, it was not as if someone could break a door open like that with the power of hate.
However, everything else has been the ghost doing. Finding the entry to the secret hall? The ghost pushed the boxes.
The picture? The ghost had to put a light on it so she would actually find it interesting.
The exit? Again, the ghost had to say "Girl, it's this way" and I find that hilarious.
The ghost is carrying the show.
THE GAME:
This game is cheating in the most awful way possible. Like, it is legal for someone to not vote! But the game changed the rules and now they either vote or die.
As I approach the ending, I am allowed to touch the rules of the game.
Everybody must vote. As we saw in episode 3, the consequences are catastrophic. Great way to get rid of most of the cast.
The game must take place inside the designated zone. I am not a tech wizard but there must be some kind of sensor that alerts whoever is controlling this game when someone steps out, right?
If two people have the same amount of votes, then the voting has to be repeated and if it happens again, then they all die.
The third one was genius. Like, I can't find any crack in the rules and that is amazing and frustrating.
and finally,
what we were all expecting,
Woo Seok dying:
This was sad, and it probably hurt me more than it hurt Yoon Seo
BUT
I don't think he is dead
Like, sure. His head did the ringing of possession and his eyes went white but I don't think he died.
I think he is alive
I think he is not a mafia
I think he is controlling the game
GOSH, IT FEELS GOOD TO SAY IT.
Why do I think he is not dead?
All the other deaths have been very gruesome
(This is just an example, I won't put all of them)
Even the ones with the pillow and the curtain were gruesome and awful but Woo Seok?
Look at that
His head is not even underwater,
his body is not belly down
he is just there
floating,
like a water lili
He looks like a model.
So I don't think he is dead
Him dying defies the purpose of the whole show
He wants to protect Yoon Seo and dying won't grant him that
Now, if he is actually dead then that was a stupid move from the producers but I'm sure we'll get our plot twist.
KIM SO MI:
We all knew she was mafia.
We all know she wants to survive
But she is a psycho
Like, real psycho
Why all of them thought that leaving the ax out while there is a killer on the loose was a good idea, I don't know, but she has it and she has a victim in mind.
The end of episode six clearly shows her about to slice Yoon Seo open, but the the screen goes dark and she screams
And I don't think it was a scream of "Getting ready to kill you in the most awful way possible" but I think it was a scream of "Something is awful and I am about to die."
I think the ghost showed up, or the doctor/police stopped her
It may be hopeful thinking, but I think she is dead
like, really dead.
Yoon Seo can't die. She is the main character and even though kdrama writers and producers are fond of killing the main characters (we all know what I mean) killing Yoon Seo would be a stupid move.
Yoon Seo remains alive, So Mi? I'm not sure.
Now, this is not a point but just some questions and theories I have.
Why is Oh Jung Won so protective of Yoon Seo? I mean, I would also defend my best friend with my life but the way Jung Won is so protective makes me think there is something else happening here.
Jin Da Beom. He is one of the main characters. Why is he a main character acting like an extra? This is annoying me.
This may be random, and this is me being crazy but I am SO SURE that if Kyung Jun and Yoon Seo joined forces, they would find the mafia.
Besides, the way he only stops when she speaks? I may romanticizing stuff but you don't join kdrama land while being sane.
You are welcome to call me out in something I may have mistaken, and you are welcome to share your theories with me too!
Until next episode.
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