Nostalgic Time-Travel and Laugh-Out-Loud Moments: A Fun Ride Through '90s K-pop Drama

This drama might be polarizing, but I genuinely enjoyed it, even rewatching some of the funnier episodes. What captivates me the most is its nostalgic evocation of the '90s.

The story follows Yoo Hyun Jae (Yoon Shi Yoon), a self-absorbed K-pop boyband star from the early '90s who time-travels to the present day. In this modern era, he encounters his former manager, ex-girlfriend, and, to his surprise, his future son. The series is brimming with humorous moments, as Yoon Shi Yoon masterfully portrays how a '90s star would react to today's world—interacting with smartphones or navigating automatic water taps—creating endless laugh-out-loud scenes. Additionally, I love how they recreated the vibe of a ‘90s hip hop music video. It was so authentically old-school and perfectly captured the essence of that era. I couldn't stop smiling while watching it.

Yoo Hyun Jae starts off as a self-centered character, and the drama centers on his journey of self-discovery and redemption. Expect some unlikable actions from him, but they are essential to the main theme. Some viewers have found his relationship with the main female lead, Choi Woo Seung (played by Lee Se Young), uncomfortable due to their significant age gap and the fact that she is his son's crush. However, I see no issue since Yoo Hyun Jae has time-traveled to the present. His mind and appearance are still those of someone in their 20s, and he has no knowledge or experience of fatherhood.

Some also found the character Choi Woo Seung a bit annoying and criticized Lee Se Young's portrayal. While I agree this might not be her best work, the character is intended to be a hardworking girl from a humble background, striving to achieve her goals. This is meant to create a sharp contrast with the main lead and highlight the "opposites attract" dynamic.

Lastly, there are plot holes in the storyline, but the main thing is that you need to put your logic lens away while watching this fantasy, time-slip, romcom drama. It's not a masterpiece, but it is a fun ride for me.

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A Delightful Romcom That Will Steal Your Heart: A Review

This drama is an utterly delightful romcom, a treat for fans of well-executed romantic clichés despite the somewhat predictable "relationship in jeopardy" trope. While I'll delve into that later, let's first highlight the film's strengths. The two leads truly shine, especially Kim Se Jeong as Shin Ha Ri. She brings genuine authenticity and charm to her role, forging a deep connection with the audience. Her clumsiness never fails to elicit laughter, and her interactions with Ahn Hyo Seop as Kang Tae Moo are both endearing and humorous.

I particularly enjoyed Ahn Hyo Seop’s embrace of the quintessential rich male lead tropes. It was delightfully old-school and silly, yet he delivered it perfectly. The supporting cast was equally amusing, from Young Seo's cousin's random English words to Tae Moo's grandfather's love of daytime dramas.

With just 12 episodes, the drama maintained a smooth flow with minimal fillers. However, towards the end, the unnecessary introduction of a "relationship in jeopardy" subplot, lacking strong writing and execution, detracted from the overall quality. This weakened the final two episodes, making the ending feel rushed and unfulfilling.

Overall, it's still a fantastic romcom for those interested in this genre.

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Hierarchically Challenged: A Series Best Watched While Multitasking

I wasn't planning to watch "Hierarchy," but curiosity got the best of me after seeing all the negative reviews. Initially, I almost abandoned it midway through episode one due to the silly and clingy dialogues. However, I decided to give it another shot while multitasking.

Unfortunately, "Hierarchy" is plagued by several issues:

* Poor acting
* Lack of chemistry between the leads
* Weak scriptwriting: the villains aren't menacing, the mean girls aren't mean, the romance is lukewarm, and the kiss scenes lack passion
* The story lacks a climax, with everything resolving abruptly

Given my low expectations, I wasn't too disappointed, but "Hierarchy" certainly didn't win me over either. If you're looking for a gripping, well-crafted series, this isn't it. However, if you need something to have on in the background while doing other tasks, it might fit the bill. Overall, I wouldn't recommend it unless you're as curious as I was. Be warned, though: you'll need to switch off your brain, as the dialogues and actions of both the kids and adults are often illogical.

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A Missed Opportunity: When a Promising Drama Falls Short

What's the target age group for this drama? Is it 13 to 18? The plot, actions, and dialogues of the characters are so childish and illogical that it's hard to believe it wasn't meant for that age range. Given a story about a centuries-old demon and a young, successful CEO caught up in a murder plot while the dealing with diminishing power, you'd expect a thrilling, suspenseful tale with lots of unexpected twists. Instead, we get clingy dialogues, endless flashbacks/slow motions, and main characters who are always outsmarted by not-so-clever villains.

The leads are undeniably stunning and have great on-screen chemistry. However, Kim You Jung seems too young for this role. She lacks the depth to convincingly play a successful CEO and comes off as a kid playing dress-up. As for Song Kang, it's a shame his role allowed him to be a wicked demon for only one episode; the rest of the time, he's just love-sick. The supporting cast didn't stand out either.

Ultimately, this drama doesn't quite deliver the depth and excitement you'd hope for from such a promising premise. Even though it starts with an intriguing plot and visually appealing leads, the execution misses the mark, leaving viewers feeling like something's missing. The show struggles to balance its supernatural elements with a coherent, mature narrative, making it a missed opportunity. If you're looking for a gripping and well-structured story, this drama might not meet your expectations. It’s a reminder that good looks and star power aren't enough to carry a story that lacks substance and depth.

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A Masterpiece of Romance and Fantasy: "Lovely Runner" Review

I started watching this drama because the premise seemed intriguing. Written by the same screenwriter behind "True Beauty" and starring Kim Hye Yoon, whose talent I appreciated in "Extraordinary You," I didn't have high expectations; I anticipated something similar to those other dramas. However, now that I've finished it, I can confidently say that it not only met but far exceeded my expectations in every category, surpassing even my wildest imagination.

Story

What truly distinguishes this drama from other romcom, time-slip, and fantasy series is how the story unfolds over its 16 episodes. By weaving together multiple timelines, the narrative offers characters various meet-cutes, challenging situations, delightful montages, and enlightening moments, keeping viewers engaged and intrigued throughout. Unlike other romcoms that introduce a random killer midway, "Lovely Runner’s" entire storyline revolves around the villain's actions affecting the main characters, seamlessly integrating with the plot. Additionally, the writer ensures a balanced mix of elements in each episode, preventing viewers from enduring lengthy stretches of heavy plot centered solely on the killer. The pacing was executed perfectly, ensuring viewers neither felt rushed nor bored. Every scene was given just the right amount of time, culminating in a fully satisfying happy ending in the final two episodes.

Characters

All the characters were well-crafted, with even the majority of the supporting cast being three-dimensional. Unlike many other romcoms, where the comedic burden often falls solely on the actress and a few sidekicks, this drama distributes the humor evenly. Both the male and female leads, as well as the supporting characters, share an equal amount of comedic scenes.

Ryu Seon Jae: Who can resist falling in love with this character? He loves the main lead unconditionally and is willing to sacrifice his life for her time and again. Loyal, brave, and innocent (as his father says, "pure as oxygen"), he embodies all these qualities beautifully.

Im Sol: It's impossible not to cheer for our heroine as she bulldozes through every obstacle to rescue her love. She is loud, sweet, and a force to be reckoned with. Most importantly, she is strong; despite has lived with a disability, she faced a killer without fear, confronting the villain head-on to protect what she loves.

Kim Tae Sung: A second male lead who is not annoying or clingy, but a reliable friend to our main leads. It would be even nicer to know a little bit of his backstory.

Baek In Hyuk: A fantastic sidekick, always ready to deliver the best funny moments.

Acting

Byeon Woo Seok: To be honest, I've only seen him in "Record of Youth," but I fast-forwarded through 70% of that drama. Now, I question why I wasn't aware of this great actor earlier. His performance in this drama was exceptional. He effortlessly transforms from a 19-year-old high schooler to a 34-year-old idol. His expressions were so precise that you could feel the joy, sadness, longing, and countless moments of embarrassment. Additionally, his portrayal of an idol was incredibly believable, and he sang the drama's OSTs beautifully.

Kim Hye Yoon: It's difficult to distinguish Kim Hye Yoon from her character Im Sol because her performance was so convincing. What I love most about Kim Hye Yoon is her natural, sincere, and unpretentious demeanor. When she acts cute, it never comes off as annoying due to her genuine charm. When she portrays sadness, you can't help but want to cry along with her, and since she cried quite often in this drama, it was hard not to reach for the tissue box. When she passionately sings as a kpop fan, she perfectly embodies the fervor of someone you'd find at a concert.

Final thoughts

This exceptional drama sets a new benchmark for all romcoms, time-slip stories, and fantasy genres. The "Lovely Runner" team's outstanding efforts—from the director, screenwriter, and casting director to the editor, sound crew, and actors—deserve high praise. They have truly outdone themselves.

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