Following the success of “Marry My Husband,” tvN continues to showcase its knack for producing fantasy romantic comedies with the premiere of their new drama, “Lovely Runner.” Despite being on a cable channel, the drama has already achieved a 3.3% viewership rating after only 2 weeks on air, which is quite impressive. It has also gained significant attention on various media and social networking platforms, ranking second only to “Queen of Tears.” On global streaming platform Viki, “Lovely Runner” has claimed the
The story is full of a youthful and romantic atmosphere.
The storyline of “Lovely Runner”centers around Im Sol (Kim Hye Yoon), a 19-year-old girl who is known for her beauty and daydreaming. However, her life takes a turn for the worse when she gets into a serious accident, leaving her paralyzed. Feeling hopeless and devastated, Im Sol decides to end her life while lying in her hospital bed. But fate intervenes when she receives a phone call from Sun Jae (Byeon Woo Seok), a rookie idol participating in a program where he calls random people to interact and give them gifts. Im Sol is initially
In the early days of 2023, 15 years after her life-saving encounter with idol Seon Jae, Im Sol had fully adapted to life in a wheelchair and had developed a deep love for her idol. Despite her strong will to live, news of Seon Jae’s suicide left her shattered. However, a miraculous opportunity arose when the watch she had auctioned off brought her back 15 years to her school days before Seon Jae became famous.
Throughout the initial 4 episodes, school settings are prominent. The viewers are fully immersed in the vibrant ambiance of Im Sol, a 34-year-old woman trapped in the body of a 19-year-old girl. This transformation turns Im Sol from a shy and reserved girl into a confident, lively, and even “eccentric”one. The moments where Im Sol attempts to interact with Seon Jae, believing that she is either dreaming or dead, or the gentle flutters from accidental touches between the two, evoke a desire in the audience to experience love themselves.
The script, in contrast to the original, is both surprising and reasonably creative.
Despite being based on a familiar theme seen in previous Korean dramas, “Lovely Runner”manages to captivate its audience with its well-crafted twists and turns. These unexpected plot developments add a layer of unpredictability to the drama, making it a successful revival of an old story.
Despite being adapted from a webtoon, “Lovely Runner”stands out with its numerous creative details compared to the original. The male main character, Seon Jae, was initially portrayed as an idol trainee who was eliminated from the debut lineup in the original webtoon. However, in the drama, he was a talented swimmer who had to switch to being an idol due to an injury. This creative twist adds a unique element to Im Sol’s “rescuing her own idol”storyline, leaving the audience to speculate about the reason behind Seon Jae’s career change. Furthermore, the reason for Seon Jae’s death in the drama differs from the webtoon, as there are subtle hints that suggest he was not the
The chemistry between the main couple is extremely intense and explosive.
The main reason behind the immense popularity of “Lovely Runner” is the exceptional performances of the main couple. Kim Hye Yoon, who has prior experience in romantic comedies, effortlessly portrays her character. In the first 4 episodes alone, the audience is exposed to a wide range of emotions from Im Sol.
Despite it being his first time starring in a drama, Byeon Woo Seok managed to continuously surprise the audience. One aspect that shocked them the most was his ability to portray a male student flawlessly, causing disbelief among viewers who couldn’t believe he was already in his 30s.
The main couple’s chemistry is the standout aspect of this drama. Byun Woo-seok expressed, “The chemistry between Hye-yoon and myself is indescribable.”Despite only a few scenes and a kiss in the first 4 episodes, the drama captivates viewers with the endearing romance between the main characters. Furthermore, the height difference between the male lead (190cm) and the female lead (160cm) adds to the romantic dynamic between the two.
Following the success of “Twenty-five Twenty-one” , Korean drama enthusiasts can once again indulge in a genuine coming-of-age narrative brimming with a rejuvenating atmosphere and an endearing ‘first love’ plot in “Lovely Runner” .
Source: k14
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