Fans of the K-drama Lovely Runner eagerly anticipate each episode, which builds the romance between the two protagonists. But is it really a romance?
Something about the show keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. One fan theory circulating on X (formerly Twitter) adds an extra layer to the plot and may reveal that it's not just a romance drama as we’re expecting.
Spoiler Warning: This article includes spoilers for Lovely Runner episodes 1, 2, 3 and 4, so proceed with caution.
Plot and Romance in Lovely Runner
Lovely Runner is a time-slip drama, a popular Korean subgenre in which characters magically, and usually inadvertently, travel to or communicate with the past. This subgenre includes shows ranging from Signal to A Time Called You.
The K-Drama’s plot poses the ultimate question for K-Pop fans: "What would you do if you had the chance to save your ultimate bias?" Kim Hye Yoon takes the lead as Im Sol, a loyal fan deeply affected by the passing of her favourite idol from the fictional idol group Eclipse, Ryu Sun Jae, portrayed by Byeon Woo Seok.
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Unfortunately, when Sun Jae takes his own life, Im Sol embarks on a journey through time to prevent his tragic fate. From there, we witness the love story between Im Sol and Sun Jae unfold as she alters their fates in 2008.
Lovely Runner Might Actually Be a Thriller
A tweet from user @hellobungz has garnered over 14,000 likes. The tweet speculates that the timeslip romance drama could also be a thriller with a murder case at its core. Their theory suggests that Im Sol is connected to the Juyang Reservoir Murder case, and the taxi that appears in episodes 1 and 4 is involved.
You can check out their thread below:
They mention that due to the timeslip, many things have changed in the future, like the fire accident Sol's mother avoided, yet it's revealed in episode 3 that Sun Jae still passes away. The only difference is the headline that delivers the sad news.
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In episode one, the headline about his death read: "Sad News of Eclipse Ryu Sun Jae's Death," when Sol returns to the present time, she’s disappointed that Sun Jae didn’t avoid his tragic fate. However, the news headline now reads, "Autopsy Scheduled Late for Ryu Sun Jae," which suggests his death might be a murder.
Quick Recap of Lovely Runner Episodes 3 and 4
In episode three, we delve into Sol and Sun Jae's blossoming romance. Fans were thrilled when the drama deviated from the typical K-Drama formula by not saving the protagonists' first kiss for the eighth episode. However, the third episode leaves viewers hanging on a cliff when Sol abruptly returns to the present.
Then, in episode four, Sun Jae distances himself from Sol after her past self agrees to go out with Kim Seo Sung (played by Song Geon Hee). Luckily, Sol was able to return to the past in 2008 thanks to Seonjae's watch. Despite the hurdles in her romance with Seonjae, she's determined to make sure he does not become an idol.
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The fourth episode ends with Sol getting into a situation with a drunken old man chasing her, almost getting run over, and falling over a bridge into deep water. Luckily, Sun Jae saves her from drowning. The episode ends with an intense moment between the two, but only the next episode will tell if Sol could change Sun Jae's fate.
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