Run On – Full Review
Welcome to Run On – Full Review. A former sprinter meets a female movie subtitle writer. In the midst of a dramatic life change, she helps him find new direction and purpose. If you haven’t watched this drama yet, I recommend checking out my unspoiled review here.
Run On
♥ Aired: December 16, 2020 – February 4, 2021
♥# of Episodes: 16
♥Where to Watch: Netflix
♥Genre: Romantic Drama
♥Starring: Im Shi Wan and Shin Se Kyung
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The Story
A national marathon runner meets a movie subtitle writer when she is hired by his agent to be his translator for a weekend. Despite the fact that they seem to have nothing in common, there is an instant connection between them. So when the runner suddenly finds himself in the middle of a scandal that causes him to be removed from the team, he turns to her for guidance and support. As they get to know each other, they learn that love goes deeper than similarities.
The Leads
Shin Se Kyung as Oh Mi Joo
Oh Mi Joo works privately, writing Korean subtitles for movies. Life for her is unconventional, as she usually works from her bedroom and often writes through the night and sleeps during the day. When she is recruited to work as a translator for a national sprinter, she jumps at the chance for some easy income. But instead, she finds herself becoming tangled in the complicated life and relationships of the runner. Despite the fact that he doesn’t even like movies and has lived a strictly regimented life that is the absolute opposite of her own, she feels an undeniable connection to this handsome athlete.
Shin Se Kyung is perfect as this quirky writer who is straightforward to a fault. Oh Mi Joo has struggled through life without a family or financial stability. These struggles have given her a confidence and toughness that cover some deep scars due to those who hurt her and took advantage of her along the way. Love and happily-ever-afters have never been a part of her experience, so she is distrustful of romance and relationships. Oh Mi Joo’s only enduring relationship is with her mentor and roommate, Mae.
Im Shi Wan as Ki Seon Gyeom
Ki Seon Gyeom became a national athlete because his politician father insisted that all of his family members needed to help him raise his public image. But when he finds out that a younger team mate is being abused by older team members he refuses to sit back and do nothing. Unfortunately his actions get him kicked off the team. Left to his own devices he moves into Mi Joo’s living room and decides to use his personal sports knowledge to work as an agent for other athletes, starting with his bullied friend on his old team.
Ki Seon Gyeom is adorably blunt and socially awkward. Because of his own sheltered and dysfunctional family, he doesn’t really understand the feelings of the people around him. But he is also kind and generous at heart, even if he doesn’t know how to show it. Seon Gyeom is willing to stand up for the people he cares about, even when he knows it will cost him. Im Shi Wan has the perfect cool exterior to play this part. Watching Mi Joo help him raise his emotional intelligence was cute and inspiring.
Supporting Characters
Choi Soo Young as Seo Dan Ah
Seo Dan Ah is Seon Gyeom’s agent. Rude and selfish, she always gets things done her way. Dan Ah has no time for personal relationships of any kind, whether romantic or family. Her longtime work relationship with Seon Gyeom is the closest thing she has to emotional ties. Until she meets Lee Young Hwa, and the handsome painter begins breaking down her walls.
Kang Tae Oh as Lee Young Hwa
Lee Young Hwa is a young art student. He is honest and hard-working. When Dan Ah shows an interest in his painting, he instantly likes her and begins pursing her romantically. Young Hwa also meets Seon Gyeom by coincidence and the 2 become friends and eventually roommates.
Lee Bong Ryun as Park Mae Yi
Mae Yi is the owner of the house Mi Joo lives in. She has been Mi Joo’s best friend and mentor for years. Mae is introverted and quiet. She owns her own company that does subtitling for movies, and hires Mi Joo whenever she can. When Seon Gyeom needs a place to live, she agrees to let him stay in her living room and acts as advisor for both Mi Joo and Seon Gyeom.
Things I Liked
♥ Movie Cut-Scenes
Because Mi Joo is a subtitle writer and movie fanatic, it fit perfectly to use the “Run On” characters in movie cut scenes. It allowed for fun costuming and a little creativity in the storyline. Seeing them dressed in classic Hollywood styles was really cute and must have been a great opportunity for the cast to act in different genres.
♥ More Than Similarities
One of the strengths of “Run On” is that it is a realistic love story. There is no ideal romance; it’s just a guy and girl with their own scars and baggage learning to be in a relationship. Even in the end, they can both admit that they still don’t really understand each other. But that doesn’t really matter if they love each other and do their best to be considerate of the others’ feelings. In other words, love is deeper than just having things in common or sharing certain personality traits. Love is equal parts emotion and effort.
♥ Confession Scene
Okay. I have to say that the confession scene between Young Hwa and his long time bestie Kwon Young Il was one of the sweetest scenes I have ever seen. To watch Young Il agonize over his feelings and finally work up the courage was great, but it was Young Hwa’s reaction that really moved me. Without missing a beat or making his friend feel awkward, he hugged him and cried with him and told him how unfair it was for him to love someone who didn’t love him back in that way. It was such a beautiful picture of real friendship and empathy. Really well done!
Things I Didn’t Like
No Family Resolution
It was a little sad to me that even on his deathbed, Dan Ah’s father never really apologized for the mess he had made of their family. Sure, he did give a half hearted “I love you” to his grieving daughter, but that really did nothing to bring about any kind of resolution for his relationships or the relationships of those he was leaving behind. At lease, Dan Ah and her younger brother were working to establish some kind of relationship, but I would have liked to see more.
Dan Ah’s Illness
I felt like the storyline involving Dan Ah being sick was handled strangely. It was almost like they had originally planned to do more with it and then they either just forgot or changed their minds. She brought it up several times on her own and then we see both her and her brother faint from it, and then it’s never mentioned again. It just seemed like there was supposed to be more there.
Poor Ki Eun Bi
The writers really had no love for the poor daughters in this drama. How can you not feel sorry for Ki Eun Bi. She spent her life doing her father’s bidding at the risk of losing the one man she had ever loved. Luckily her boyfriend was understanding, but it could have been much worse. Her career suffered from the stress of it all. And after all that sacrifice, her father still threw her to the wolves to save his own career. She really deserved so much more.
The Ending
It’s pretty much a happy ending for everyone, including a happy divorce for Seon Gyeum’s mom. Seom Gyeum’s dad fails to gain the sympathy vote by using Eun Bi and loses the election. Luckily, Eun Bi’s boyfriend choses to believe her side of the story, so they are still together. Young Il’s family goes on a camping trip where they bond and Young Il’s mother finally seems ready to accept the fact that he is gay. Mae and Je Wook have started dating. Dan Ah has taken over her father’s business and Young Hwa has his paintings displayed in an art show. So when he finds Dan Ah in a gallery admiring his latest piece Dan Ah finally decides to quit running away and give their relationship a try. And our lead couple are happy together and Seon Gyeum is learning how to communicate his feelings. The final scene shows the cast in a theater at Seon Gyeum’s mom’s movie premiere. Her ex-husband shows up with flowers so maybe things aren’t really over for them after all. And that’s a wrap, ya’all.
Should I Watch
Run on is an interesting drama with slow moving plot that relies on the characters themselves more than actions and events. If you are looking for an action-packed story full of excitement and humor, this drama is probably not a good choice. But if you enjoy the slow-burn romance that digs deep into character development and emotional growth, this drama is definitely worth checking out. I give Run On an 8 out of 10 ramen.
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