Lovely Runner- Episodes 5-6
No More Missed Chances
Episode 5 of Lovely Runner starts on a tender note as Sun-jae and Im Sol share a cab ride home. Im Sol, curious about how Sun-jae found her, learns that he spotted her asleep on the bus and made sure she didn’t miss her stop. It’s a subtle but telling moment: Sun-jae has always been looking out for her, a realization that strikes Im Sol as she reflects on how he’s been her quiet hero all along. Determined not to waste any more opportunities, she resolves to make the most of her second chance in the past.
Im Sol’s mission to bring joy to Sun-jae leads to a series of endearing—and often hilarious—interactions. From sharing rainbows to the laugh-out-loud moment when her bra accidentally lands in his yard, their growing bond is impossible to ignore. Despite Sun-jae’s insistence that they can’t be friends, his actions—like giving her his tie to avoid punishment—betray his true feelings. Their sweet moments culminate in a heartfelt promise to meet on January 1, 2023, to open a time capsule, a day Im Sol hopes to rewrite as the start of a brighter future.
But love triangles and simmering rivalries complicate things. Tae-sung’s jealousy flares as he notices Sun-jae’s closeness to Im Sol, leading to hilarious punishments and competitive laps during gym class. Meanwhile, Sun-jae grapples with whether to reveal Tae-sung’s true intentions, further fueling the tension between the two boys. Their subtle rivalry begins to spill over, with each vying for Im Sol’s attention in increasingly bold ways.
The episode also dives into Sun-jae’s struggles as he tries to move on from his swimming career while the 2008 Olympics play out on every screen. Despite her best efforts to distract him, a chance encounter with a public broadcast of South Korea’s gold medal win moves Sun-jae to tears. It’s a bittersweet moment as he reflects on his love for swimming and admits he has no regrets about pursuing the sport, even if it’s now behind him.
Elsewhere, comedic relief comes in the form of Bok-soon’s secret date and Im Geum’s budding romance with Hyun-woo, which sparks after he saves her from an oncoming bike. However, the episode takes a darker turn when Im Sol visits the police station, hoping to retrieve her phone. Instead, she learns of a murder case tied to the area where she was attacked. A chilling memory triggered by jingling keys suggests Im Sol’s accident may have been more sinister than she realized, raising haunting questions about her past and the mysterious cab driver.
The budding love triangle heats up when Tae-sung invites Im Sol to his band’s performance, only for Sun-jae to be roped into the same event by In-hyuk. Both boys try to impress her, but the real highlight is Sun-jae’s unexpected debut as a vocalist. Despite initial nerves, he delivers a stunning performance that leaves Im Sol teary-eyed, vividly recalling his last performance in the future. Sun-jae’s song wins over the crowd—and a new phone for Im Sol—but also draws the attention of Mr. Kim, the agent who sets his tragic path in motion.
Im Sol’s joy turns to frustration when she realizes Sun-jae took Mr. Kim’s card, despite his insistence that he didn’t give the agent his number. She lashes out, urging him to be selfish for once and stop worrying about others—including her. Sun-jae, confused and hurt, considers confessing his feelings but ultimately walks away, leaving their dynamic more strained than ever.
The episode’s cliffhanger is a game-changer. The next morning, as Sun-jae catches up to Im Sol at the bus stop, she listens to her iPod and discovers the recording of his drunken confession. Stunned, she’s hit with the weight of his words just as Sun-jae pulls her back from walking into traffic. He asks her directly: if she meant what she said about him being selfish, will she break up with Tae-sung?
With secrets out in the open, love rivals in play, and a looming murder mystery, Lovely Runner keeps us hooked with its mix of heartfelt romance, laugh-out-loud moments, and dark twists. What will Im Sol’s next move be, and can she truly rewrite Sun-jae’s fate? One thing’s for sure—this story just keeps getting better.
We Can’t Be Lovers
Episode 6 of Lovely Runner delivers another whirlwind of emotions, beginning with a flash-forward to the future where Im Sol listens to Sun-jae on the radio. He shares a bittersweet memory about meeting his first love during a summer rain shower but keeps her identity a secret, leaving listeners—and us—yearning to know more.
The scene shifts back to the past, where Sun-jae rushes to save Im Sol from Ga-hyun’s bullying, only to find she doesn’t need saving. Im Sol has discovered Tae-sung’s true motives for dating her and not only confronts him but also breaks up with him in the most dramatic fashion—complete with punches thrown. While Tae-sung is heartbroken, Sun-jae secretly celebrates, his hopes reignited as he races to find Im Sol and confess his feelings.
Picking up from Episode 5’s ending, Sun-jae confesses his love, but Im Sol, overwhelmed, flees onto a bus without giving him an answer. The confession leaves her reeling, questioning why Sun-jae would like her and leading to a tearful onion-peeling session. Things spiral into comedic chaos when Sun-jae finds her at a store, mistakenly assumes she’s crying over Tae-sung, and ends up getting soaked—and drunk—on spilled makgeolli after a misunderstanding with Im Geum.
This drunken escapade lands Sun-jae at Im Sol’s house, where awkward late-night shenanigans ensue. From hiding under the bed to a hilarious attempt at pretending to sleepwalk, Im Sol’s antics only deepen Sun-jae’s confusion and her brother’s suspicion.
The following day, Im Sol confides in Hyun-woo about Sun-jae’s feelings. Hyun-woo bluntly points out that Im Sol has been sending signals all along, whether she meant to or not. Meanwhile, Sun-jae, taking advice from In-hyuk, tries to act indifferent but can’t help secretly watching Im Sol at the library.
The love triangle intensifies when Tae-sung drops by to apologize to Im Sol. Sun-jae, trying to play it cool, gives them space but agonizes over the idea of them reconciling. His relief is short-lived when he learns Tae-sung has been injured in an accident. At the same time, Bok-soon’s suspicious “vacation” turns out to be a visit to the doctor—news that deeply upsets Im Sol when she realizes her mother’s health is in jeopardy.
The episode shifts into high gear during a street cheering event Sun-jae invites Im Sol to attend. Amidst the joyous crowd celebrating South Korea’s Olympic baseball victory, the two share moments of laughter, hand-holding, and undeniable chemistry. But just as Sun-jae confesses once again—revealing how meeting Im Sol changed his view of rainy days—a phone call interrupts. It’s Tae-sung, asking them to come to the hospital.
At the hospital, the truth about Bok-soon’s illness is revealed. The man Im Sol thought was her mom’s new boyfriend is actually her doctor, and Bok-soon needs surgery. Guilt-ridden, Im Sol is overwhelmed by the realization that her encouragement to pursue happiness came across as a wish for her mom to leave. She also decides to push Sun-jae away, telling him not to have feelings for her, fearing the heartbreak she’ll cause when her time in the past runs out.
As the day of Im Sol’s accident approaches, she resolves to stay indoors, hoping to avoid her fate. But when Sun-jae heads out during a rainstorm, guilt compels her to follow him. On the way, she pieces together a memory of Sun-jae’s first love mistaking him for a delivery guy—realizing it was her all along. But before she can reach him, tragedy strikes. The ominous cab driver reappears, and the scene cuts to Sun-jae finding her umbrella abandoned on the road.
What happened to Im Sol? The haunting final moments leave us breathless, questioning whether she’s fallen victim to the mysterious killer or if fate has found another cruel way to intervene.
This episode expertly balances lighthearted humor, tender confessions, and mounting tension, leaving us desperate for answers. Can Im Sol truly escape her tragic fate, or is history doomed to repeat itself? Lovely Runner keeps us on the edge of our seats, proving once again why it’s a drama we can’t stop watching.
DramaZen's Opinion
Lovely Runner – Crime Twists, Romance Sparks, and All the Feels
Okay, let’s talk about that crime plotline because OMG! Im Sol still hasn’t fully pieced together her memories from the night of the accident, but we’re starting to get some big clues. There’s this haunting flashback of jingling keys and a creepy taxi driver. And when she lost her phone, guess who picked it up? Yep, some totally unhinged guy. If that weren’t bad enough, he has the nerve to call her house, and halmeoni, bless her trusting soul, gives him their home address to “return the phone.” (Facepalm of the century!)
Fast forward to the night of the accident, and we’re on high alert. Sol’s doing her best to avoid danger by staying home, hoping to run out the clock until the time of the accident passes. But then Sun-jae messages her, asking to talk. He’s so sweet, promising not to make her uncomfortable, just needing a moment with her. She replies no, but he doesn’t see it and heads out anyway. When she notices him leave his house, her guilt kicks in, and then it starts raining. You already know she can’t leave him waiting in the rain. She rushes out, despite her fears.
This is where everything hits you right in the feels. As Sol runs to meet Sun-jae, memories flood back—specifically, the first time they met, when she shielded him with her yellow umbrella. She recalls that radio interview where he talked about meeting his first love, and it hits her: it was her all along. The way she realizes he liked her even before her time-travel shenanigans? Chills.
But just as you’re basking in this realization, BAM—the crazy taxi driver enters the scene. He cuts her off, and Sol remembers fragments of being kidnapped and chased. Meanwhile, we see Sun-jae returning home, finding her fallen umbrella as the taxi pulls away with Sol inside. My heart dropped. What even?! This twist came out of nowhere, but it’s so intense and layered that I’m both terrified and excited for what’s next.
And while we could theorize all day about what happens next week, let’s pause to appreciate all the magic in these episodes. The dating dynamics between these characters are perfection. Sun-jae and Sol are both adorably awkward, trying not to show their cards while simultaneously wearing their feelings on their sleeves. Sun-jae, especially, is so endearing as he keeps letting his guard down just enough to reveal how much he cares, only to pull back and try (poorly) to play it cool.
And just when he feels like it’s safe to fully admit his feelings, Sol pulls the rug out from under him. It stings so much, even though we all knew it was coming. But isn’t that the beauty of it? The show delivers such a dreamy, lovey-dovey two episodes that you know it can’t last forever. Yet, like Sun-jae said about swimming: it made him happy, and he has no regrets about it being over.
That’s exactly how I feel about these episodes—pure joy, totally worth it, even if it can’t stay cloud-nine forever. Now excuse me while I sit here counting the minutes until next week! Lovely Runner, you own my heart. 💛
