It’s with a grateful heart that I can report it’s safe to finally binge Lovely Runner if you haven’t started. Lol, I know there is fear of this drama going sideways or even off a cliff and the finale today confirmed it’s a lovely and happy ending all around. Huzzah to that, and to tvN for getting it’s second buzziest hit of the year after Queen of Tears. No need to compare the two directly because one set a network ratings record of over 24% and the other ended with its own drama high of 5.762%, the former is like a giant luxury oceanliner that wowed all the passengers and the other a sleek yacht that could which delivered a memorable sailing for the ages. The other cable networks have been lackluster this year so far which usually it’s been a trade-off in hits so congrats to tvN for betting on winners.
I’m SO happy for the Lovely Runner cast and team, it’s so good to see a dark horse drama with no big name stars or hyped writer just turn us all into squealing fangirls like that lol. The finale scoring a nationwide high of 5.7 percent nationwide and 7.2 percent in Seoul on a cable network – even tvN – is indisputably a hit (apart from the ratings, there’s the insane levels of online buzz, the OSTs charting high in Korea, and of course the demand on streaming, it’s done really well and I always support more kdramas being successful because we don’t want another broadcaster pulling dramas from their time slots altogether)
The finale was good because it exploited its best asset i.e. Byun Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon’s chemistry for everything it was worth lol. One hour and fifteen minutes of fluff, sure, but it’s grade A goosedown fluff of the feelgood kind, I feel like I was internally screeching like a fangirl non-stop from the part with him cuddling her on the sofa onwards haha. They’re SO good together I get why those knetizen-made edits of them as the lead couple in Goong or a sageuk drama have like half a million views lol I really hope they do a sageuk romance some day but for now I’ll settle for hoping their future projects are as good as LR and that they get the career boost they deserve.
Wasn’t marry my husband also buzzing when it aired or did I get my facts wrong lol
Yes it did, it was on its way to becoming THE drama to beat. However it derailed quite badly in the second half (the infamous Boa character arrival, although it wasn’t her fault it was the script’s fault lol) so most people don’t have good memories of it and online buzz turned negative overnight – not against the actors themselves but the drama just left a sour aftertaste even with a happy ending. QOT and LR both had consistently good runs and their fans were overall satisfied 🙂
i love the parallel reference. And also meta reference to other kdrama like the cancelled proposal scene in King The Land, where the FL suggested that she wanted to focus on her real goal first. The wedding scene, kinda reminds me of BinJin and that’s so cute.
All in all, i’m happy enough that the writer really gives us the real happy ending in the final episode without any plot twist. This drama will not work without any of the casts cuz every single one of them brings meaning to the drama. Can’t believe a perfect kdrama did exist after all. No hint of PPl is one of the most impossible thing to ever happen but this drama did it nevertheless.
lol there’s PPL all right but fortunately very little of it and only towards the end (that K drink in a can that Sunjae drinks, the S pendant and engagement rings are also from an obvious PPL)
I think the drink was fictional one advertised by Sunjae in the drama. I have also never seen this jewelry brand though it dies look suspicious.
But imagine Kopiko candy and dates in Subway.. haha. What a way to ruin a drama.
There were very subtle with the PPL but also they had a hard time finding advertisers, this show wasn’t expected to be a hit. Hence, the PPLs were less altogether. But that reminded me how obstructive excessive PPLs can be to your experience.
It was all fictional ads.
the S pendant is from a fictional brand and so does the engagement ring. For the sake of prudency, there might be subtle ppl but maybe for the kelly beer. Luckily it only appears twice, but honestly it doesn’t feel like one.
fictional PPL? Honestly that’s a bit weirder than if it had been real.
I think Lovely Runner was also on TVing. So maybe its ratings are not an accurate measure of its actual viewership. Considering the show is so popular that they did a screening.
I’m happy with a happy ending but let’s be honest a lot of things didn’t make sense as the serial killer to name just one. But the last episode was a compilation of cheesy romantic moments of the couple , they gave what fans wanted . It reminds me of Strong woman Do Bong Soon which was a success thanks to the great chemistry between the leads . They cast the perfect actors for this one , the chemistry was great . Happy for both actors ! I will miss them .
Its where the writer does evythg right with the ending. Nothing rushed or absurd or bittersweet. Lots of reference to past memories and wishes to makes the storytelling felt cohesive and ubdoubtedly romantic. Its been a great ride with LR. Kudos to the cast for both the chemistry and heartfelt acting. I pray KHY gets offered more projects. The girl can reallly act.
I doesn’t feel satisfied with this ending. I mean I love the couple and their love story and I was very pleased with all the swoony moments we got in the last episode. But in the terme of story and characters, it was a big mess.
I sort of stopped at Episode 13 because it got so boring and repetitive but gonna complete it now that we know its at least a happy ending. Hallelujah! Yay to the leads and happy to see yet another tropey kdrama rom com doing well. Please let this be a new trend!
tvN has had some huge hits this year – the only network to do well with MBC further down as 2nd. MMH, LR and QOT with Jeong Nyeon in the second half. If not for the medical controversy happening, they would have had Resident Playbook airing currently.
And also not to hijack this thread, but I am curious if anyone knows what is happening with Ask the Stars? How have we not heard anything from such a high profile drama in well over a year?
Last we heard about Ask The Stars they are still looking for investors that can cover the huge production cost.
I dont know the budget for it, but unless it is significantly higher than Moving and Queen of Tears, it is a very odd to have no investor bite. The PD and writers are well renowned and it has ratings queen GHJ and a hallyu star…
This drama will be broadcast on tvN in 2025
Where did you get that info? Because I see that absolutely nowhere…
@Butterfly
I can’t remember where I read this, since it was half a year ago, but probably on this channel:
https://x.com/ggonigone
Info about tvN also has on Mydramalist
@Butterfly
https://x.com/sevennyLMH/status/1785955447201059320
https://x.com/LeeHeartGon1/status/1781088702925803750
Do finish it! The last 3 episodes are worth it, maybe a bit cheesy but KHY/BWS have the chemistry to carry it.
I’ve also noticed that the hit/buzzy dramas of 2024 so far seem to be ones with a more ‘classic 00s-early 2010s kdrama’ kind of story and usage of tropes. Marry My Husband was the makjang type (not my cup of tea but it is a hit), then of course Queen of Tears and now Lovely Runner.
no idea what is up with Ask the Stars considering filming was complete over a year ago. Maybe post-production work/special effects? But even Stranger Things (not Korean but a huge and effects-heavy show) doesn’t take that long to do those, by this time you’d expect at least a time slot to be announced if nothing else.
There is a new Youth drama which sounds very interesting, it may be low budget but storyline sound good. It has one of my favourite K-actor Lee Seo Jin as supporting cast.
High School Return of a Gangster (2024), only 8eps…I wonder if it will have seasons if it is popular..
so happy for this incredible little gem of a drama. all the success the drama and bws and khy have gotten is well-deserved. hope they get to reach even higher heights after this.