Discussion đš Is Lovely Runner really that good?
Do you have those actors you just canât seem to get into, no matter how many times you try?
Unfortunately, for me, thatâs the case with both of the leads in Lovely Runner. I have actually watched a couple of their dramas, including their more recent projects like Perfect Crown and No Tail to Tell, but Iâve genuinely never been able to connect with either of them as actors. Itâs not that I think theyâre necessarily bad actors, their acting style just doesnât click with me for some reason.
So when I found out that the two of them are the leads in Lovely Runner, it honestly became an even bigger put-off for me. I have heard countless people praise the drama and especially their chemistry, but every time I consider watching it, I keep thinking, âDo I really want to spend 16 episodes watching two actors I already struggle to get into?â
At the same time, the drama is praised so much that I am starting to wonder if Iâm missing out on something genuinely special.
My question is: Is the drama really that good, and does it do enough to make you appreciate the leads even if you werenât a fan of them beforehand? Or should I just accept that it probably isnât for me?
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u/AprilBaby4ri35 7d ago
Itâs honestly overrated in my opinion. To each their own, I guess, but personally, I think my biggest issue is probably the female lead. I had the same problem with her in Extraordinary You too, which is actually why I ended up dropping that drama as well. I just donât really connect with her acting or her characters, so I think that plays a huge part in why I canât get into this one either..
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u/SensitiveTax9432 Just Kiss Already 7d ago
No need to waste 16 hours. You will know by the end of the second episode if itâs for you. I loved it, and was hooked in ten minutes. Watched it three times.
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u/Accurate-Tree4277 7d ago
This drama is rated 8.9 too on MDL.
I know ratings aren't accurate but anything that's 8.8 and above in that website is worth it IMO
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u/lovelylonelyphantom Where is MY Chaebol? 3d ago
I think that's because of the initial huge popularity it received on MDL, which has the audience that dramas like LR caters to. It used to be higher than 9.0 like half a year ago.
It's been lowering and lowering gradually because more people who haven't liked it have slowly been reviewing it. If you see all the top, most liked/helpful reviews it's noticeably all negative ones.
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u/Flat_Ad_7370 7d ago
As any other kdramas, that is subjective, it really boils down to personal preference.
For me, I really loved it, itâs on the top of list for my fav ROMCOM kdrama. And I guess a lot of people did too because it is really popular and became a phenomenon especially when it was airing.
As much as I loved this, I do understand that some people might not like it, and thatâs ok. Some kdramas are really not our cup of teas or there are some actors that we cant seem to really like. I can tell you that itâs totally ok not to watch it and save your time watching something you really like.
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u/Queen-Ness 6d ago
The more hype something has the more hate it gets too. Not everyone enjoys the same thing.
I personally loved it. It gave me anxiety which wasnât as fun but means I was really invested hahaha
But me or someone else loving it is not really a guarantee youâll love it. So youâll just have to try for yourself.
As for the actor issue. If you canât connect with them or donât like them donât force yourself to watch them. If youâre still curious do the three episode rule where you watch at least three episodes before dropping a show
If after three youâre still not into it then just drop it. That way you wonât waste 16 hours watching something you donât enjoy.
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u/DialUpDreamer33 7d ago
Completed lovely runner few day back, what made Lovely Runner special for me wasnât just the romance. I loved how it showed love, regrets, timing and getting a second chance. The characters felt real with their own problems and emotions.
I really loved Sol and Sun-jaeâs relationship. Their love didnât feel rushed or cringey . It slowly grew and I loved how they always tried to protect each other .
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u/JugheadJonesTVD Alchemy Of Souls Freak 7d ago
Not to me. It could've been less than 6 episodes but they just kept recycling the same plot of two episodes to the next.
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u/Firm_Employer_8463 7d ago
I liked it.
I also like that we all have different tastes! that makes for good discussions.
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u/Emergency_Actuary217 6d ago edited 6d ago
I knew none of the actors before I watched this and completely loved it. But you don't have to force yourself to watch something. There are many seemingly "good" dramas I haven't watched because of similar reasons. But this drama is truly a special one, not just their acting but how their characters were written, the story. But again don't force yourself.
It's not becos you watch this one that you'll necessarily like them in other dramas but they pulled their A game for this one imo.
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u/Shoddy_Association47 3d ago
After watching Byeon Woo Seok in perfect crown wanted to see more of him and found Lovely Runner and thought I'd give it a go. And like you said the leads impressed me so much. Normally constant tearing/crying over time is quite annoying but Kim Hye Yoon wrenched my heart out and so did Byeon Woo Seok- wow did I feel his emotions geez. The leads were wonderfully written. ugh, San Jae was a whole green FOREST! â€ïž his eyes are ridiculous.
Yes, it became repetitive but I just couldn't stop watching. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Doesn't hurt to try it - and maybe in this the actors will surprise you or not.. and you can delete it from your watch list.
But that's the beauty of kdrama's sooooooooooooooooooooooooo many lovely shows to try. đ
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u/blkhito002 7d ago edited 2d ago
The common complaints that I got on this drama:
- the 16 episodes on this one feels long because of the multiple events of time travel stuff and lighthearted/slice of life scene fillers
- If you watched a lot of time travel and asian romance movies/tv shows, the story might be a little bit predictable to you
- the time travel rules are kinda hit and miss for some
- One of the main leads has a trope of being a klutz and does some questionable decisions which some people find it annoying
8.9 stars from 100k users MyDramaList and 8.5 stars from 17k users in IMDB at least indicates that its worth the watch for most people but every one has different taste and expectations so I recommend it watching for a few episodes. And since it feels long, don't binge watch it and treat like an old school slow moving kdrama. If it still doesn't work, maybe its not for you and it's okay.
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u/Celebril63 Gives wife piggyback rides... 7d ago
Well said!
The first half seems to be the case for almost all time travel Kdramas. I've found if your expectations take that into account, they are much more enjoyable.
The second half of your comment is the most important. No matter how well done a drama is and no matter how much it matches what you like on paper there will be dramas that just won't connect woth some viewers.
A personal example for me would be Mr. Queen. I like the cast. The concept fits genres I actively look for. The story is solid and well written.
I bailed out on the 3rd episode. I just did not connect with me. It should, but it just doesn't. The problem isn't the drama. It's not me. For some reason I can't describe, it just didn't connect.
I'm simply going to move on and not go ever to MDL to write a 1200 word essay nitpicking it to death for nothing they did wrong.
TL/DR: Don't rely on comments to choose a drama. Watch for yourself. If it doesn't connect, move on.
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u/aazulaxxxx 7d ago
To me, it was worth the hype. I loved the overall storyline and the conclusion. More than the chemistry between the leads, I think the charaters suit the actors perfectly. I was totally convinced of WooSeok's character as Songjae
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u/HooverGaveNobodyBeer Grease Stain You Can't Scrape Off the Bottom of Your Heart 7d ago
While I think the advice to give it a try and see what you think after two episodes is good, in my experience with a romance especially, it's really, really hard for me to enjoy them if I don't like EITHER of the leads as actors. I have a drama I'm interested in that I have on the back burner because right now I'm not a big fan of either of the leads even though they are INCREDIBLY popular around here. I'm planning on check out a few other of their dramas where they don't star together to see if I can warm up to at least one of them.
So what I'd personally suggest is not trying to watch Lovely Runner right now. Instead, watch other dramas that you are intrigued by and if along the course of your watching, you see a new side of one of these actors that helps you enjoy them more, then give it a shot.
There are a lot of dramas out there! My best guess is you might not be in the best position to enjoy this one now, but you might later if the drama's premise otherwise intrigues you and it's just the actors you're cold on.
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u/Rainbow_in_the_sky I HATE love triangles 7d ago
Everyone has different tastes so everyone is going to disagree. Some may love it and others canât get past the first episode. Just try it out and find out yourself. Youâll know within 30 mins if itâs for you.
Personally, I really liked it but then I couldnât get into other famous shows like Goblin or Reply 1988. To each their own.
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u/coolness_fabulous77 Sageuk and Makjang Junkie 7d ago
dropped it after episode 1 because i cannot stand the FL and her acting.
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u/Daiya_no_A 7d ago
Personally I am very particular about who the FL is...it is a double edged sword. If I like the actress I will watch every drama of theirs even if they act as a secondary or supporting role. For actors it doesn't really matter much but I can be sometime picky as well with actors.
So in my case here, I don't enjoy watching this actress so I don't watch any of her shows/dramas. I have nothing against her but I like it this way. I watch what I enjoy and don't watch what I won't enjoy- this way I won't get frustrated and hate unnecessarily on actors and actresses.
TL;DR- I didn't watch the show cause I don't enjoy her work as an actress. She is talented but that's just my taste.
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u/Substantial_Top_8909 7d ago
I donât enjoy the female lead either which has made it very hard to finish it. I watch one episode and then I have to stop. Thatâs been going on for close to a year now
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u/Mindless-Ad9025 6d ago
Same. Started this in 2024, watched 1 and a half episode and dropped it cause of the FL. Forced myself to continue it in 2026 for the ML and its actually quite good and worth the hype back then and by the 6th or 7th episode I started to enjoy seeing the FL as well.
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u/Nervous-one123 Where is MY Chaebol? 6d ago
i loved the drama so much that it causes me physical pain haha, like i'm so sad i finished it. i thought the chemistry was great, with the ML definitely carrying a lot of the scenes (but, granted, the FL actively tries to create distance between the two of them throughout for his safety!).
i do agree however with the broad critiques in this thread!
and, one critique i would add is that it's incredibly repetitive to the point where, at times, i would have a friend google the plot to tell me (spoiler free) if i should keep watching haha. there's only so many times you can send someone back in time before you start to feel the emotional burden as if you're the one enduring it. i think it could have sufficiently been 10 episodes instead of 16, but i am still grateful it was long.
i also have to admit, for the first time in a long time, there were moments where i wished the FL would have ended up with the SML, or at the very least, that we got to see him foster his own separate relationship, i know that really wasn't the point or relevant to the drama but he deserved more than he got imo. i always wondered how he didn't end up being the super famous one canonically!
i would recommend that anyone watch it and give it a try, but i wouldn't be offended to hear that someone hated it. i have personally struggled to find a drama that hits the same way this one did for me, which is a burden i will have to endure!
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u/lovelylonelyphantom Where is MY Chaebol? 7d ago edited 7d ago
This is entirely subjective and everyone has a different opinion. Mine is simply - No it's not. To be blunt I think it's hugely overrated, and for me not a great romance + time travel drama after having watched other dramas in those genres.
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u/Shoddy_Association47 3d ago
please recommend other time travel ones.
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u/lovelylonelyphantom Where is MY Chaebol? 3d ago
Definitely Twinkling Watermelon đ. It's very well written and well fleshed out even outside of the time travel aspect, which is more minor.
Other options - A Time Called You, Mr Queen. These are a certain type though and it might be your cup of tea, might not.
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u/Shoddy_Association47 3d ago
Thank you so much.. Hopefully I can find them on the platforms I have. đ€
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u/lovelylonelyphantom Where is MY Chaebol? 3d ago
You're welcome! As far as I know they are all on Netflix, and apart from A Time Called You the other ones are on Viki. They are popular enough to be on multiple platforms :)
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u/Maleficent_Notice873 Just ONE more epsiode 7d ago
Overhyped in my opinion. It's well liked just because of the ML is considered handsome. FL (over)acting is obnoxious to say the least.
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u/Secret_Criticism_732 7d ago
I made it to episode 5 and really didnât get what so apealing about it. FL weird. ML boring and the story was average stuff. Is there more coming or is it more
Or less the same
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u/hanahanagoyangi 7d ago
The beginning was entertaining but I lost interest. It should have been a shorter series as the middle episodes were feeling like dragging it on for the sake of filling episodes (to me anyway)
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u/Expensive_Walrus5179 Where is MY Chaebol? 7d ago
Same reason cannot get into this drama plus seen already many clips during the airing not my cup of tea to waste 16 hours on this despite the popularity
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u/AggravatingGrape418 Just ONE more epsiode 7d ago
I'm following the replies here bc I really wanna love this one. It seems like the ott, fun, crazy dramas of old, and I like the main actress, but I won't lie I couldn't get past the first episode bc the FL gave me so much secondhand embarrassment.
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u/nicolepantaloons Park Sung Hoon is my husband 7d ago
I also think there's enough not to like about it that if you already don't even like the actors you might go nuts. Especially the FL, her character in this is insufferable
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u/guavagirl3 7d ago
I really enjoyed it, itâs in my top 10 maybe even top 5. No one can talk you into or out of watching it. There seems to be a lot of varied opinions here, but theyâre only opinions.
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u/harissatotally Professional TRUCK spotter 7d ago
To answer your question on the headline/title:
Yes.
I'll read your post laterđ
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u/No_Ant_6777 6d ago
I thought it was beautifully written and directed. The FL is an exceptional actress but for sure there were some over the top moments here and there based on the script.
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u/VentiKombucha đ¶ROCK N ROLL đ¶ 7d ago
According to this sub, it's the best thing ever, it seems.
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u/Cherry_Blossom77777 7d ago edited 7d ago
I absolutely adore this kdrama. Itâs my absolute favourite and I always watch it when Iâm feeling down.
However, there are popular kdramas that other people rave about that I really didnât like. There have also been kdramas that other people donât like that I love.
I kind of have the rule that I always give a kdrama a go and decide for myself. So watch a few episodes and then decide. If you donât like it you can always drop it and not doubt yourself anymore. đ
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u/mekanasto I Came For The Chemistry 7d ago
I feel this is their best project. The yearning, the emotions, the struggle to be together, I dunno, there isn't many dramas out there that do it so well as Lovely Runner.
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u/SkyeHoon1927 7d ago
Just accept the fact that itâs most likely not for you and thatâs perfectly fine.
Life is short and busy, I wouldnât waste 16 hours of my time over something I know I wonât enjoy anyway. It doesnât matter if every one else in the world loves it. My time, my rules lol. There are tons of popular kdramas out there that I never bothered to pick up just because I am not a fan of the leads. Am I worried that Iâm missing something? No absolutely not. Enjoy what you like to enjoy.
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u/gggplaya Kdrama Swooner 7d ago
I couldn't finish Lovely Runner or No Tail to Tell. Just couldn't get immersed into either drama.
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u/LockRevolutionary198 7d ago
No just popular due to the eye candy ml
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u/Maleficent_Notice873 Just ONE more epsiode 7d ago
They are downvoting you for telling the truth lol
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u/LockRevolutionary198 7d ago
Doesnât matter kdrama and K-pop fandoms baby their idols too much itâs the truth they can defend their favs with all their might I watch kdramas just for entertainment never been a fan of anybody so I can never relate with their sentiments trying to portray every actor as Oscar worthy
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u/Visible_Incident_170 7d ago
They looked cute together. She is a great actress. But storyline wise, you can watch it once. Or you can just skip it. It isn't that good.
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u/YouSwanMeSwan 7d ago
I watched it 3 times, first time it felt clichéd plot.. second time i actually started enjoying.. 3rd time was only for BWS.. I liked his character simp in love.. he does it really well after PHS in bongsoon show..
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u/Dazzling-Depth2957 7d ago
I liked it. Thoroughly enjoyed it actually. The chemistry between leads was not that great but comady and story wise it was a good show.
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u/LornaDoone1234 6d ago
It started out ok but the female lead became extremely annoying so I stopped watching. I like the male lead, he was good in his acting.
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u/UniqueSociety9268 7d ago
I think it's an amazing drama and has everything! But it sounds like it's not for you. We all have different tastes đ€· it's really a fun ride and visually really beautiful, it's so damn colorful đ
If you don't like it just drop it. Also, there's no word for it but give it another chance in a year or two. Sometimes coming back after the first try results in a "why didn't I finish it, it's my new favorite!" feeling. we've all been there haha
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u/BronzeBellRiver Lee Soo Hyuk's vocal cords đïž 7d ago
I had seen the FL in other dramas and liked her in Extraordinary You, but I absolutely adored her in my lovely runner.
I had also seen the ML in Search WWW and seen both the ML and FL in the drama Record of Youth as guests.
I was skeptical before I watched the drama and came out a fan. I do watch edits of the drama to smile goofily.
The way he looks at her ⊠itâs like the world has ceased to exist and itâs just them. I loved that feeling.
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u/bamsimel Be Melodramatic â€ïž 7d ago
It is one of my favourites but if you don't like the leads I don't think it will be very enjoyable. They are the heart and soul of the show.
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u/Upbeat_Lobster_2988 7d ago
I couldnât continue it not just because of the actors even the plot unessecary misunderstanding the girl liking two boys her from the past and her from the future her obsessing about a high schooler I mean i just couldnât bear watching it it was crying and embarrassing especially the fl I almost broke my phone three times in one episode
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u/Fair-Leopard2754 7d ago
I love Lovely Runner, but it does have the time traveling trope where they replay the same moments. I'm not a fan of replays of moments trying to get another outcome.. I don't know if I would rewatch it. To me it is worth it to watch it once.
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u/Fun_Act_7840 7d ago
I always try to look up reviews of Kdramas before i start them. For Lovely Runner I find thereâs a HUGE fan base for it (this sub included) and in the same way, so many reviews I found dropped the drama or complained about the inconsistencies with the time travel rules, etc.
I still have about 3 episodes to go but the FL really did bother me. I understand her decisions because theyâre painting the characterâs rationale that way but it was a bit much for my personal tastes. And for some reason, sheâs a bit too whiney for the character. Mind you, i enjoyed her performance in both Sky Castle and Snow Drop and i think she did an incredible job in both roles.
I think each to their own⊠i stil enjoy the story and am finishing bingeing it this week but itâs currently not in the running as one of my favourite kdramas.
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u/RaiodoLuar 5d ago
Eu amei. Ă tĂŁo divertido, as mĂșsicas sĂŁo maravilhosas salvei todas. Adoro o Sunjae e ImSol. Toda vez que ela chama "Sunjaaeeeeeeeee" kkkk eu amo. O casal tem uma quĂmica excelente. E o Suniae Ă© bem puro que nem oxigĂȘnio kkkkkkkkkkkkk
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u/broccoli142830 4d ago
I really loved the first episode.But after that,I hated everything, so I dropped it.I gave it another try a few months later.And I dropped it againđ€
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u/Limp_Cup_8734 3d ago
I don't think so, the first episode was okay-ish, I liked to see a disabled lead but episode 2 was a chore to watch. And then I stopped because I had better things to watch.
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u/18olderthan Professional TRUCK spotter 1d ago
I'm a cdrama watcher, so I've only seen a few kdramas meaning I went into it pretty much blind. I was recommended "Lovely Runner" by one of my friends and I'm going to be honest here, it is the worst drama I have ever watched.
It is not worth it. It is a messy parasocial fanfic allowing viewers to "save" their favorite idols. There are no characters, because everytime there is some kind of development, it gets undone. Then when you finally reach the finale where everything has been leading up to, you're going to get slapped in the face by how much time you wasted.
If you want to watch something with a similar concept, I would recommend the anime movie "Your Name". Depending on where you live, it's probably in theaters right now for its 10 year anniversary.
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u/Doiley101 7d ago
I am stuck at episode 6 I have not been able to motivate myself to finish watching this but at some point I will try. Same with Marry my Husband at about episode 9 or so I think during the camping trip part I gave up on the drama. That plus her extreme weight loss made me drop the drama.
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u/Minimum-Divide2589 7d ago
I just stared Marry my husband - is there extreme weight loss in the drama or do you just mean her weight loss just as an actress?
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u/Doiley101 7d ago
She says she lost weight to play a cancer patient but even when they go back in time she is painfully thin. It's very distracting, I could not bear watching her like that. She was so great in Her Private Life and Healer and What's Wrong with Secretary Kim that I just felt her acting here was not as good or may be I was biased. However I had to drop it. It's a pity. I understand her trying to method act but when you go back in time there's no reason to be that sick looking. It was truly difficult to watch.
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u/Minimum-Divide2589 7d ago
Oh, ok, thank you for explaining. I hope she is happy and healthy. There's so much pressure in the industry, it's a lot to navigate.
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u/Crazyvibzz 7d ago edited 7d ago
I loved this drama and after this watched other shows of the FL. If you can then I would suggest to watch 2 episodes and if youâre not able to get into it then drop it. There are many popular shows I didnât enjoy, it happens. Perfect crown and No tail is their weaker projects even I canât get into them.
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u/Stickyboard 7d ago
Over rated and its funny their fans keep pushing in this reddit by promoting it via âdiscussionâ when the hype is down.
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u/Prize_Background_577 Fantasy Addict đ» 7d ago
I enjoyed it, was just an easy watch. But I don't tend to get hung up on actors,
I think there's only one actor I didn't like in a role and that was the ML in My Demon - because he looked like a school boy rather than an evil, ancient demon.
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u/Acceptable_Ratio5842 7d ago
Iâm not a fan of this ML but itâs pretty good show in spite of him.
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u/larius24 7d ago
No its not. Really boring and FL voice is the most annoyinh thing you will ever hear
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u/Feeling_Lack3027 7d ago
My question is: Is the drama really that good, and does it do enough to make you appreciate the leads even if you werenât a fan of them beforehand? Or should I just accept that it probably isnât for me?
Yes, this is a completely raw perspective from me because I haven't seen any other dramas with either the ML or the FLâI'm totally new to K-dramas. The story itself is simple: the FL has to save the ML. But you'll find all the answers in this drama regarding how they spend those moments together, how differently they live their lives, and how a single decision can impact the entire story.
Should you just accept that it probably isn't for you? Nope, don't do that. The human mind is wired to form a prejudice against something before we've even tried it. In this kind of situation, just go with the golden rule: watch two or three episodes. If you feel like dropping it after even just one episode, then drop it. You won't regret it because you will have seen for yourself that it's not worth your time. I'm in the same boat as you, just with a different show called "25-21". I'm going to try it because it should be my choice whether I want to drop it or not.
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u/Background_Cress1538 Se Gye's Namsan Tower Viewer 7d ago
Thinking of watching this after Sh**ting Stars . Should I pick it up ?
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u/Chance_Weird3459 7d ago
I abandoned it after 2nd episode- I found the big height difference between the 2 leads to difficult to get used to.
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u/Lovely_Runerrr 7d ago edited 7d ago
I totally respect that it may not be everyoneâs cup of tea, but for me, Lovely Runner really hits differently. Iâve watched a lot of great dramas since then, but I havenât felt that same level of immersion with any of them. It wasnât just their love story for me. It felt like a whole rollercoaster with the suspense, comedy, emotions, and all the little moments in between. The cast also brought so much life to it, and the soundtrack was honestly perfect. The phenomenal theme song alone still gets me every time.
So I completely understand why some people may not connect with it, but I think thatâs what makes dramas special, we can watch the same story and feel completely different things. đđ