Lovely Runner Heads into Final Episodes with Slightly Increased Ratings But Much Higher Buzz for Leads Byun Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon
The tvN Mon-Tues drama Lovely Runner has reached the 2/3rd point of its airing, finishing episode 10 as of this week. The drama started off with 3.073% ratings and has gone up to 4% in the last 4 episodes with the highest at 4.759%. I can see it breaking 5%, and maybe even 6% in the final episode, so let’s see. The increase in ratings in a positive trajectory is good for the drama albeit not great since it’s not big increases, but what is for sure amazing is the buzz, continued positive viewer reviews, and a breakthrough performance by Byun Woo Seok and another great performance by Kim Hye Yoon. Between the two leads, he’s getting more of a career boost and from the online buzz also more interest from the viewers. For example, in the May star brand index has Kim Soo Hyun still #1 with 9M but Byun Woo Seok is a surprise 2nd place with 8M heat index. But it’s not a zero sum competition and both leads are selling the story, romance, and multiple genre twists so well.
I admit that the story is getting a bit repetitive with the noble idiocy from female lead, but I just love this couple. It’s far from perfect, but they really have a way of evoking all the feels in me. The last time I loved a couple this much is probably Strong Woman Do Bongsoon.
He has really good chemistry with KHY. I am glad this role actually allows him to emote more than his past roles which just requires him to look good and pout (aka a male vase). He has surprisingly good comidic acting, range of expressions and emotive eye acting. With this role, hes solidified his status as a credible leading man and those swoonsome looks, he can be placed in uniformed roles, saguek prince roles, chaebol roles,… list goes on. Skys the limit for him
The drama has flows but i just love this couple , as someone said the last time i liked a couple this much was Park Hyun Shik with Park Bo Young . I think that they could have have make it in 12 episodes drama . KHY is good as always and BWS is a lucky guy as it takes two to dance a tango ! As Sir Alfred Hitchcock used to say , casting the right leads is very important . So true . Queen of tears proved it . I don’t think that Strong Woman Do Bongsoon, Goong, Coffee Prince , Kim Sam Soon, would have become iconic without the perfect casting !
I watch this show for the couple & story in general but for me personally the guy can do much better acting wise. The character is very well written & that’s probably why he is still getting a pass because that’s some average acting compared to the FL who has been impressive since Sky Castle
I haven’t started this drama, even if the plot is totally up my alley because I am not a fan of BWS’s acting in past dramas and movies. It’s good that he sounds like he improved with this drama. It makes me want to start and give him a chance. Maybe I won’t be repelled like how he was in the past.
Its a little sad that KHY is not getting as much attention as BWS. For example the heat index you mentioned, the top 5 are: KSH – BWS – PSH – KJW – LJB. I get that 4/5 are from QOT, but its a little sad that KHY does not rank higher than LJB at least given her costar is actually #2 beating PSH and KJW. She is the better actor but he has the more swoon worthy character as an idol. Its a little annoying as a fan of KHY.
I read somewhere, that KHY fans mad at her agency for not promoting her properly. They said, that Byun Woo Seok agency works a lot more for him. He was in the Running man and will be in Quiz on the box, but I didn’t hear news like that about het. Maybe is it a reason?
P.S.: and I think Lee Joo Bin can be at 5th place not only because of QOT, but also because of movie Roundup, it’s very popular in Korea right now
I am a huge KHY fan but some fans really went too far. They were spamming all the BAA posts of her label mates asking for her to be promoted. Note that these are not Knetizens. They are international fans using google translate to spam her agency. Its so embarrassing as she works with A list actors like LJJ and JWS. I am fully in agreement that they need to get her more gigs in variety, but the method to get that across is not right.
Sungjae is being talked about more as a character which then transitioned to BWS as an actor. So it is not like he is some stellar actor who wowed everyone with his acting skills. KHY’s character is not as swoony as his. While it is frustrating and I hope her agency can push her appearances more, this is bound to happen because the drama is for teenagers who swoon over the guy. Unfair but thats what it is. As long as she gets recognized for her acting skills, I will be happy.
Ow, yeah, it’s a little too much. Her agency answered at that critic today, so maybe ifans will calm down and Khy will get proper promotion.
I didn’t watch LR yet, but saw a lot of prize for the drama. So, even if one of them became more popular than another, I think it will help both of them in their careers, to get more projects in the future.
P.S.: After thinking about it for a while, I think it’s even better not to be very famous. But at the same time, to be recognized by the public, directors and screenwriters as a good actress.
Popular actors have to cope with haters and sasaengs, because of their popularity they can receive more criticism in any overblown scandal. Their personal lives and any actions attract a lot of attention.
While not well-known actors can live a quiet peaceful life and at the same time filming in interesting dramas.
The only downside is the difference in salary.
Sometimes I feel like when an idol drama does well, it’s usually the guy who gets more attention than the the female. Or maybe like you all said, the female’s agency doesn’t know how to promote her
Isn’t that because most avid drama watchers are female and straight? Of course they pay more attention to male actors.
Makes sense. That’s why we always see the actors getting a lot of fan meetings and have a larger fan base.
KHY is amazing in these series. She make it believable despite fantasy plot. BWS is visually gorgeous. And they have THAT chemistry.
this drama is pulling insane online numbers rn. its online buzz/reach is even higher than queen of tears. there are several hot articles about the show/bws/khy on the qoo everyday. bws ranked higher than new jeans, who are in the midst of a comeback, and by a long shot, in rankify star index. bws has taken sk by storm. fortunately, khy is also gaining a lot of popularity, and her agency just confirmed a GQ pictorial and a salon drip 2 appearance, so hopefully, she’ll get even more love now.
Bws has become the next IT boy. I remember hating him in strong woman but he captured a lot of hearts in this drama. Khy deserves the fame too.
Byun wooseok limited weak acting, one emotion fits all, hyeyoon queen of acting made fantasy drama make sense.
Byun wooseok limited weak acting, one emotion fits all, hyeyoon queen of acting made fantasy drama make sense.