Lovely Runner- (Final) Episodes 15-16
The Memories Smeared on Our Souls
This week’s episode of Lovely Runner took us on an emotional rollercoaster, blending heartfelt confessions, tense chases, and a love story that keeps pulling at our hearts.
We pick up with Sun-jae and Im Sol stuck on the Ferris Wheel, but their quiet moment is disrupted when Im Sol falls ill. Ever the caring boyfriend-in-denial, Sun-jae takes her to his house, tends to her fever, and watches her sleep. The moment he hears her softly calling out his name in her dreams? Chef’s kiss. How does this man still have any sanity left after all she’s put him through?
The next day, after a comedic mix of mistaken motives and playful jabs from In-hyuk and his bandmates, Sun-jae finds himself playing hero once again. He tracks Im Sol down to deliver her forgotten medicine, only to end up babysitting her adorable nephew. Let’s just say the little guy isn’t Team Sun-jae yet, as he “baptizes” him with baby vomit. Watching Sun-jae squirm as Im Sol cleans up the mess is equal parts hilarious and heartwarming.
And if you thought the drama couldn’t get any messier—literally—it turns out Im Sol’s family is out of the house, leaving her and Sun-jae in a very compromising situation. The tension is almost unbearable as they bicker, flirt, and scramble to avoid detection when her family comes home early. The moment Sun-jae finds her time capsule watch and vows to fix it? Foreshadowing perfection.
While Sun-jae continues to piece together fragments of their shared past, Tae-sung makes his own move. At a casual dinner, he professes his feelings for Im Sol—only to be gently friend-zoned. Meanwhile, Sun-jae takes his shot too, boldly confessing his love and asking Im Sol to give them a chance. Her response? A heart-wrenching, “I’m in love with someone else.” Watching his face fall as he promises to respect her wishes broke us.
Im Sol is clearly holding back to protect him, but how many times can she shove Sun-jae away before he truly breaks? The man has the patience of a saint.
Grandma, our unsung MVP, gives Im Sol another cryptic pep talk about memories smearing the soul and never truly disappearing. And wouldn’t you know it, Sun-jae proves her right. The moment he fixes the vintage watch, it unlocks every suppressed memory of their time together. As the floodgates open, Sun-jae is overwhelmed, collapsing in tears as their love story comes rushing back.
But the drama doesn’t let us breathe for a second. Tae-sung and his partner finally track down Young-soo, leading to a high-stakes car chase. In a terrifying twist of fate, Sun-jae stumbles into traffic during his memory overload, nearly colliding with Young-soo’s speeding car. Tae-sung saves the day with a heroic swerve, but at what cost?
The episode ends on a gut-punch: Sun-jae, kneeling in the snow, tears streaming down his face as he relives the highs and lows of his love with Im Sol. Across town, Im Sol senses something is wrong, but she chooses to walk away. Meanwhile, Tae-sung and his partner’s fates hang in the balance as Young-soo’s rampage barrels toward its climax.
Happily Ever After
The moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived, and Lovely Runner delivers a finale that’s equal parts heartwarming and tear-jerking. Our favorite couple gets the sendoff they deserve, proving that love can conquer time, tragedy, and even melodrama.
We open with chaos as Sun-jae narrowly escapes death. Tae-sung, our steadfast second lead, suffers minor injuries but manages to arrest Young-soo. In poetic justice, Young-soo attempts to flee and meets his end in a hit-and-run. Honestly, good riddance! The dark cloud that has loomed over Sol and Sun-jae’s lives is finally gone.
As fate would have it, Sun-jae wakes up in the hospital, his memories of past timelines fully restored. Im Sol, upon hearing of Young-soo’s death and Sun-jae’s accident, rushes through traffic on foot to find him. In true drama fashion, they collide on the streets, tears flowing, hearts bare, and emotions at their peak. When Sun-jae reveals that he remembers everything—including the pain of their separation—it’s impossible not to cry with them.
The reunion ushers in a blissful chapter. The couple spends every free moment together, cherishing the normalcy of dates, projects, and quiet moments at home. Sun-jae’s fear of losing Im Sol again is palpable, but she reassures him that their time loop days are behind them. And this time, the media frenzy over their relationship doesn’t faze him. Sun-jae is ready to let the world know that Im Sol is his one and only.
Even Tae-sung joins in the celebration. Over dinner, he gives Sun-jae his blessing, adding a hilarious tidbit: drunk Im Sol would call out Sun-jae’s name in her sleep. Cue Sun-jae’s smug yet affectionate grin. Tae-sung, we’ll miss you, but this ship has sailed.
Sun-jae’s first proposal plan is grand—fireworks, a private ferry, the whole nine yards—but Im Sol halts it, confessing that she wants to focus on her dream of becoming a movie director before taking the next step. Despite his disappointment, Sun-jae supports her wholeheartedly, once again proving why he’s drama boyfriend goals.
Months later, Im Sol achieves her dreams, and Sun-jae seizes the moment with a simpler but no less romantic proposal. Under a blooming cherry blossom tree, he gets down on one knee. This time, Im Sol says yes without hesitation. As they kiss, a vision of their wedding flashes before them, a beautiful glimpse into the future that promises a life filled with love and laughter.
The cherry on top of this already sweet episode? Sun-jae formally meets Im Sol’s family during Im Geum’s son’s first birthday celebration. Grandma, the ultimate timeline guardian, welcomes him with open arms. She even tosses the time-traveling watch away, symbolizing that their future is no longer tethered to the past. Im Geum gleefully secures a promise to act alongside his new brother-in-law, and Bok-soon softens after seeing how happy Sun-jae makes her daughter. Even Gyeon-deok grudgingly accepts Im Sol, silently impressed by the love she brings to Sun-jae’s life.
The show ends as it should: with Im Sol and Sun-jae basking in their love under the cherry blossom trees. Their embrace is a culmination of their journey through countless timelines and obstacles. As the petals fall around them, they look toward a bright future, their love finally free of tragedy.
DramaZen's Opinion
I cannot believe it’s over. How are we supposed to function without Sun-jae and Im Sol lighting up our screens? The journey has been so monumental that it feels like I’ve lived through every timeline, hairstyle, and swoony moment right alongside them. These characters have become family. The writing nailed their emotional cores, and the actors? They brought them to life with such stunning perfection that any minor inconsistencies in the story just disappeared for me. I’ve never had this much fun getting to know characters—and now I can’t bear to let them go.
Tae-sung and Sun-jae’s petty competitions? I need more! Sun-jae and Im Sol falling for each other all over again in a time loop? Sign me up! Im Sol and Tae-sung endlessly swapping roles in their one-sided crush saga? Yes! (Or better yet, can I keep Tae-sung?) The dynamics between these three, from their laughs to their heartbreaks, deserve all the awards: best OTP, best bromance, best kiss, best love triangle (can that be a category?), and maybe even best “secondary lead who deserves happiness.”
This is, without question, my favorite drama of the year, and it’s sliding effortlessly into my list of all-time favorites. When casting, acting, writing, and directing align this perfectly, it feels like a rare miracle that we’re lucky to witness.
Before Lovely Runner, I already knew I’d follow Kim Hye-yoon and Byun Woo-seok anywhere. But their performances here outshined anything they’ve done before. Byun Woo-seok demonstrated breathtaking growth and range, delivering every ounce of Sun-jae’s charm, heartbreak, and passion with palpable sincerity. And Kim Hye-yoon? She took a role that could’ve been typecast for her and elevated it into something deeply nuanced and sophisticated. She made us feelevery step of Im Sol’s journey, and it was magical.
Let’s not forget Song Geon-hee! His portrayal of Tae-sung made him more than a classic second lead—he was a scene-stealer, a heartbreaker, and sometimes the comedic relief we didn’t know we needed. He’s officially on my watch list, and I can’t wait to dive into more of his work.
At its core, Lovely Runner wasn’t just a story about time travel—it was a story about how love endures despite time, fate, or tragedy. The show tackled deep, universal themes with a perfect balance of heavy emotion and lighthearted sweetness. Its ability to transition seamlessly between sad and sweet moments proves that this is a drama that understands its audience and its heart. For a show all about time, its timing was impeccable.
I’ll forever remember the laughter from Tae-sung and Sun-jae’s hilarious antics, the tension of Sun-jae and Im Sol’s heart-stopping reunions, and the swoon-worthy moments that left me blushing for days. It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions, but I wouldn’t trade a single second of it.
This drama wasn’t just something to watch—it was an experience. To everyone involved in front of and behind the camera: thank you for this gift. You’ve created something unforgettable, and I’ll be a lifelong fan—whether or not I ever have the urge to piggyback anyone and run.
Goodbye, Lovely Runner. You’ve left an indelible mark on my heart, and I’ll cherish you forever. ❤️
