Lovely Runner- Episodes 9-10
The 2009 Incident
Episode 9 of Lovely Runner is a whirlwind of emotions, revelations, and escalating tension, picking up right where we left off—with Sun-jae’s life hanging in the balance after the stabbing. This episode expertly weaves between heartfelt moments, comedic chaos, and a mounting sense of danger that keeps us on edge.
The episode begins with Im Sol watching the devastating news of Sun-jae’s stabbing. She rushes to the hospital, where she finds his dad crying outside the room. Desperate to do something, Im Sol heads to Sun-jae’s place in search of the time-traveling watch. There, she encounters In-hyuk, who blames her for the attack and is skeptical about her obsession with the watch. Despite their argument, In-hyuk reveals that Sun-jae lost the watch long ago.
Back home, Im Sol learns from the news that Young-soo, the attacker, had a grudge against Sun-jae due to his role in helping the police during the 2009 kidnapping incident. Surprisingly, Im Sol has no memory of being kidnapped by Young-soo again. Her mom confirms that Sun-jae went out of his way to ensure Young-soo was caught, risking his own safety.
Determined to understand more, Im Sol meets Tae-sung’s dad, who was the lead detective on the case. He provides her with access to the files, including Sun-jae’s heroic witness report. The account details how Sun-jae found her belongings on the street, heard her scream, and fought Young-soo to save her. It’s a stark reminder of how much Sun-jae has always been there for her, even at great personal risk.
Im Sol returns home with the files and is overcome with guilt, blaming herself for Sun-jae’s suffering. But her spirits lift when she spots the time-traveling watch in one of the crime scene photos. After learning from Tae-sung’s dad that items from the case were returned to their owners, she searches for the watch and finds it—on her grandmother’s wrist. Grandma, the unsung hero of the drama, has been keeping it safe all along.
With the watch in hand, Im Sol vows to set things right. She activates it and finds herself in March 2009, right in the middle of her college days—and perched on a horse statue on campus. Of course, she literally falls into Sun-jae’s arms, and the sparks are undeniable. Flustered, she runs away.
Im Sol files a report about her original kidnapping, handing over crucial evidence to the police. Her case gets forwarded to Tae-sung’s dad, reigniting the investigation into Young-soo. Meanwhile, she stumbles into Tae-sung, hilariously accuses him of bullying a child, and ends up catching up over a meal. Their exchange is sweet, if not chaotic, especially when their bags get swapped—leaving Tae-sung with underpants meant for his dad.
Back on campus, Sun-jae senses that Im Sol is acting strangely. In-hyuk dismisses it as her usual indifference toward him, but Sun-jae isn’t convinced. He finds himself thinking about her more and even revisits the song he secretly wrote for her. Meanwhile, Im Sol is equally preoccupied, doing everything she can to avoid him, leading to one comedic mishap after another.
During a school trip, the two keep crossing paths despite Im Sol’s best efforts to avoid Sun-jae. From an embarrassing dance in front of his group to a wild boar incident where he saves her (again), the trip is a rollercoaster of awkward and tender moments. At one point, a hurt Sun-jae asks why she’s trying so hard to stay away, leaving Im Sol unable to answer.
As if the drama wasn’t enough, Im Geum gets dumped by his girlfriend mid-trip. Hyun-joo takes the opportunity to swoop in, delivering a surprise Spiderman kiss while he hangs upside down in a trap—a moment equal parts hilarious and heartwarming.
Meanwhile, the police raid Young-soo’s hideout, only to find it burned down. It becomes clear that Young-soo is always one step ahead. The news leaves Im Sol shaken, and she packs her bag, fearing he’ll come after her next. As she rushes to leave, she runs into Sun-jae, who has been waiting for her outside her door.
Sun-jae confronts her with a question that leaves us breathless: How did she know about his unreleased song? In a flashback, we learn that while drunk on the school trip, Im Sol sang his song and confessed that she was from the future. The kicker? They accidentally kissed when he tried to carry her back to camp.
The episode ends with Sun-jae asking the one question we’ve been waiting for: “Are you really from the future?” Im Sol is left speechless, and so are we.
I Will Gladly Die For You!
Episode 10 of Lovely Runner takes us on an emotional rollercoaster as Im Sol and Sun-jae navigate misunderstandings, jealousy, and time-bending revelations. This episode delivers everything—romantic tension, heartfelt confessions, and an edge-of-your-seat twist that leaves us desperate for more.
The episode begins with Im Sol trying to explain her time-travel adventures to Sun-jae in terms he might understand—like The Terminator. But every time she tries to reveal future events, time inexplicably freezes, cutting her explanations short. Sun-jae listens intently, curious and skeptical, but ultimately gives her the benefit of the doubt.
When Sun-jae asks what she wants to change, Im Sol denies her drunken confession and apologizes for confusing him in the past. Sun-jae, visibly hurt, says he’s decided to leave for the U.S. to start fresh. Im Sol is stunned but doesn’t stop him before he walks away.
While Sun-jae grapples with the reality of time travel, his friends discuss the concept, dismissing it as an elaborate excuse for rejection. Meanwhile, Im Sol convinces herself that Sun-jae leaving might be for the best, even though it’s clear she doesn’t believe it.
Sun-jae’s departure couldn’t come at a worse time for In-hyuk and the Eclipse band, who have been accepted to a reality competition—on the condition that Sun-jae participates. Later, In-hyuk confronts Sun-jae about his plans, accusing him of leaving because of Im Sol. Sun-jae doesn’t deny it, but the tension between them grows.
Im Sol revisits her statement with Tae-sung’s dad, learning that the police have found DNA evidence tying Young-soo to the reservoir case. As she recounts more details about her kidnapping, Im Sol identifies Young-soo’s truck, adding another critical piece to the investigation.
At school, Im Sol notices her brother, Im Geum, avoiding Hyun-joo after their unexpected kiss. Meanwhile, Sun-jae becomes the focus of a new girl’s attention, and Im Sol tries (and fails) to act indifferent. Later, their paths cross at a bar, and a mix of misunderstandings ensues.
When Im Sol sees the new girl confessing to Sun-jae, she misinterprets the scene and assumes he reciprocated. Chaos unfolds as her phone rings, exposing her eavesdropping under the table. In an attempt to escape, she covers her head with a garbage bin and runs out, earning Hyun-joo’s loud and hilarious cheers.
Sun-jae’s friends question why he’d entertain another girl when it’s clear Im Sol likes him. Sun-jae, however, doubts her feelings, frustrated by her mixed signals.
A drunk Im Sol vents to Im Geum about her jealousy, while Sun-jae passes by and overhears. When confronted, Im Sol denies her jealousy, breaking Sun-jae’s heart further. He asks if she’s ever liked him in any timeline, and she looks him in the eye and says no. But her eyes betray her, and Sun-jae can’t shake his hope that she cares more than she lets on.
Meanwhile, Tae-sung reenters the picture, carrying flowers and gifts for Im Sol. Sun-jae’s imagination runs wild, picturing a tearful love confession between them. In reality, Tae-sung is there to warn Im Sol about Young-soo. Im Sol uses the opportunity to ask Tae-sung to protect Sun-jae in 2023, confusing him further but earning his promise to help.
Later, a burst pipe at Im Sol’s house forces her and Sun-jae to work together. Tae-sung joins the fray, turning the task into a competition for Im Sol’s attention. Grandma clearly favors Sun-jae, praising his muscles, while Bok-soon praises Tae-sung’s charm. The rivalry escalates into a fight, nearly leading to electrocution when a loose bulb falls. Im Sol intervenes just in time, cutting the power and saving them both.
With the pipe fixed, Bok-soon suggests Tae-sung stay over, but both Im Geum and Sun-jae vehemently oppose the idea. Sun-jae offers his place instead, further fueling the tension between the two.
At Sun-jae’s place, Tae-sung notices his plane ticket and questions why he’s leaving. When Sun-jae hears that Im Sol asked Tae-sung to protect him in the future, he’s taken aback but refuses to pry further. Instead, he quietly begins piecing together Im Sol’s motives.
As the band auditions without Sun-jae, Im Sol learns about his imminent departure. She rushes to the airport but arrives too late, watching his plane take off. Convinced that his leaving is the only way to save him, she tries to accept the loss.
But later, while walking home, she spots a truck resembling Young-soo’s and panics. She runs into Sun-jae and collapses in his arms, sobbing. To her shock, he shows her the watch from the time capsule. Sun-jae didn’t board the plane—instead, he went to retrieve the capsule and finally put the pieces together.
Sun-jae tells Im Sol he knows she’s trying to save him from dying in 2023. But, in an emotional confession, he declares that he doesn’t care if he dies protecting her. He asks her to stop running and embrace the time they have together. Im Sol’s eyes fill with emotion, and when Sun-jae cups her face and kisses her, it’s a tender, passionate moment that speaks volumes about their connection.
The episode ends with a surprising twist: in 2023, instead of announcing Sun-jae’s death, the news reports Eclipse’s new album—without Sun-jae as a member. What happened to him in this alternate future?
DramaZen's Opinion
Lovely Runner – Tears, Kisses, and Endless Theories
What a couple of absolutely jam-packed episodes! The push-pull tension is off the charts—holding, kissing, jealousy, and, oh my god, the heartbreak. While past weeks had me squealing and making high-pitched noises, this is the first time the show brought me to actual tears. My heart ached for Sun-jae approximately every three seconds, and I am not okay.
But let’s talk about the good stuff for a moment, shall we? Of the three timelines we’ve seen so far, Sun-jae’s fashion in this one about killed me. Sneakers, hoodies, sweats, and letterman jackets? Yes, please! Streamlined casualwear is officially my weakness—right up there with Tae-sung’s bad-boy attitude. And listen, I’m firmly Team Sun-jae (for Sol, obviously), but I was not expecting Tae-sung’s return to be this enjoyable. He brought just the right amount of flair to these angst-filled episodes.
Speaking of angst, the kiss. THE KISS. It was everything, but it also left us with so many questions. What happens in the future? Based on that final scene, it’s clear Sun-jae didn’t become a singer. Is he even alive? If so, what has he been up to? The tension between hope and dread is so real, and I can’t stop theorizing about where the story is headed.
With only six episodes left, Lovely Runner continues to be a masterclass in storytelling. The script is sharp, the twists keep us guessing, and the emotional depth is just chef’s kiss. Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon are absolute powerhouses. Their ability to bring such nuance to their characters is a huge part of why this show hits so hard.
Think about it: this project is no easy feat. They’re jumping between timelines, shifting between teenage and adult personas, and making it all feel seamless. And they’re not alone in delivering standout performances. Seo Hye-won as Hyun-joo deserves a special shoutout for her comedic timing and heartwarming presence. The entire supporting cast is knocking it out of the park.
So, what’s next? I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds, but I’m also bracing myself for whatever emotional devastation the writers have in store. In the meantime, let’s theorize: What do you think happened to Sun-jae in the future? Is he safe? Why didn’t he stay with Eclipse? Drop your thoughts—I need to hear them!
