Delve into the intricate details of the Korean drama ‘Lovely Runner’ with our in-depth review. Be prepared for spoilers as we explore the characters, strengths and weaknesses of the series as a whole.  If you are looking for a review without spoilers, please click on the link below.  

Following the news of her favorite idol’s death, a fan is transported back in time to meet him as a high schooler.  Now she has a chance to try to rewrite history and save him from an unhappy future.  But fate has a strong hand, and changing destiny is not something to be taken lightly.  As she works hard to write a new story for the handsome star, new problems will arise.  And as she gets to know and care about him on a personal level, she only becomes more determined to save him from himself.

Ryu Seon Jae begins this drama as a disenchanted idol who is exhausted by life in the lime light.  His apparent suicide somehow triggers Im Sol’s miraculous ability to travel back through time.  Through her travels, we meet the high school version of Seon Jae as well as a couple adult versions.  But one thing remains a constant.  Seon Jae seems destined to die an untimely death, unless Sol can find a way to change his future and save him.  

Ryu Seon Jae is sweet and unswervingly loyal, as a friend, a son, and a lover.  But this quality that we all love about him may well be the thing that causes his depression and exhaustion.  Because trying to make a mob of obsessed fans happy is hard work. 

Byeon Woo Seok was well on his way to many starring parts, but this role certainly solidified it.  His earnest charm makes for a great male lead and his natural emotion makes his characters feel sincere and honest.  

Im Sol starts out as a young girl confined to a wheel chair, following a traumatic accident that she doesn’t remember much about.  And the thing that helped her recover from that accident were the kind words of her favorite idol Ryu Seon Jae and his work with the band Eclipse.  So when she hears that he has killed himself, she is overcome with grief. 

When she wakes up back in high school with the ability to walk again and change Seon Jae’s tragic life, she is determined to save him.  After several attempts, the one thing that she has learned is that while the events can be changed, the outcome is always Seon Jae’s death.  But she refuses to give up, even if it means her making the ultimate sacrifice by erasing herself from his life.  

Im Sol is bright and energetic, even after the challenges she has faced in life.  And that positive attitude helps her to perserve in her efforts to save Seon Jae, even after multiple failures and heartbreaks. 

Sol’s belief that destiny is not carved in stone may be the only thing that could have changed the course of not just Seon Jae’s future, but also her own.  Kim Hye Joon’s star is on the rise and it was nice to see her get to take on some more adult moments with this role.  

This whole cast had such a fun chemistry.  Of course, I loved the leads together and their story kept me coming back when the plot got messy and started to drag a bit.  But the friendship were also such a key part of the drama.  And I love the way their friendships managed to endure even when their futures changed in so many other ways.  

At last, a drama that manages to use the “truck of doom” for good instead of evil.  I did fear for Tae Sung’s life when I first saw it barreling down on them.  So imagine my joy when it took out the unhinged villain once and for all and broke their ill-fated story.  

Not only did Song Geon Hee do an amazing job, but Tae Sung was a thoroughtly likable character.  And while he didn’t get the girl, I loved that he is the real key to changing all of their fates for the better.  I loved his journey from delinquent to hero!

‘Lovely Runner’ brings things to a very satisfying conclusion.  Although Sol tries to erase herself from Seon Jae’s life, fate has other ideas.  They meet as director and actor on Sol’s first big debut project.  There is a lot of Seon Jae chasing Sol, while she tries to keep her distance. 

But in the end, Seon Jae gets his memories back in a rush, and while he is disoriented by the shock, he stumbles into the middle of a car chase between Tae Sung and Kim Young Soo.  Luckily Seon Jae is okay and the villain is killed trying to run away. 

Cute dating moments ensue, and after a cutely awkward mess of a proposal, Seon Jae finally finds the perfect moment.  And although we don’t get to see the actual wedding, we see a glimpse as each of them gets a sudden look into their future together.  

‘Lovely Runner’ is a time-travel romance that follows one couple through multiple timescapes.  This drama has heart and personality plus, which has made it a fan favorite this year. 

The love story is well-told and the leads’ chemistry was swoon-worthy.  Of course, it isn’t perfect.  In my opinion, the series could have been shorter, as I felt the story wandered a bit aimlessly in the middle.  And honestly the time loop rules were all over the place and full of holes.

But none of that seemed to matter, because the weaving of time jumps is so interesting and the story is absolutely engaging.  If you enjoy whimsical fantasy love stories, this one is a delight to watch.  I give ‘Lovely Runner’ a 10 out of 10 ramen.