Run On (2020)

Anti-climatic

I could not wait to watch this, as I love im siwan as an actor, and him finally in a romance drama was a dream come true for his comeback. This drama started so strong, it gave me butterflies and felt fresh, but... it went nowhere. I actually have no idea why anyone would recommend this drama unless you're planning to watch it in the background while doing something else. but that's just my opinion. And actually, i am the type that loves very simple slice-of-life dramas that have very obvious plotlines but this drama was missing something for me, and it just lacked charm. I honestly binged this because i was trying to get to the climax and... I was just extremely disappointed.

1. I don't understand what this drama is about after watching it. it's all over the place, did they really need 16 episodes for what happened (or did not happen) in the drama? Im sorry but the two leads love story was too plain and boring for the drama to revolve around it. They tried to make it seem different but it was very bland to me.

2. The second leads love story is the worst I've seen in drama history. I have no idea why they ended up liking each other, and the drama does not even give you any straws to grab onto to make up a reason why they love each other so passionately. I don't understand, did they even have one conversation with each other where they're not being rude or arguing? its not 2009 this doesn't cut it anymore.

In conclusion, there was potential. The acting was all amazing, very natural and plotline was unique, but they did nothing with it. I wish the drama was about the guy who was being bullied, that would have been 100x more interesting because I was way more interested in seeing his happy ending than anyone else's, but they did not give that plotline enough attention. This drama was a waste of my time. Also, i know Im Siwan is pretty no matter what but did the makeup artist have to put that much foundation on his face? lmaoo

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A decent story with great acting

First the good stuff:
The two main couples are fun to watch. they are the main reason I kept watching. They have great chemistry together. The main couple shows a pretty realistic type relationship while the 2nd lead couples are an unusual twist on a noona romance. The story is well put together and I like how the character's storylines are intermixed. The intertwined stories make it more fun to watch the side characters. I was especially interested in Woo-Shik's story and loved how they showed him working hard to get back to the sport he loved. I wish he had been shown even a bit more. In fact any time the ML, Woo-Shik and the other 1st place runner friend were together was great fun to watch and I wish it had happened more. I also wish the 2nd FL's younger brother had been a bigger part of the story. He was the character for which I felt the most sympathy.

The Other Stuff:
1st: I absolutely hated the way the younger brother of the FL was treated by both of his siblings. It was horrible and uncalled for no matter the reason. The older brother was awful so I already didn't like his character, but I was bothered by the way it tainted the way I looked at the 2nd FL and made it hard for me to fully root for her.

2nd: There is a swearing streak of F words in episode 9 that was just uncalled for and was especially annoying considering the fact that the FL is a translator and should have a better range of vocabulary than to stoop to such a thing. She was better than the Cinematographer (who seemed like a jerk) until that moment, but her foul words made her no better than him.

3rd: The Break. The reasoning for the break is dumb and could have easily been done without.

4th: The "movie scenes". To be honest, I fast forward through most of these. I just found them totally annoying.

5th: The Dads. Seriously...something is wrong with them. Also, The ML's Dad is supposed to be a Christian, but shows the most un Christlike behavior all the time. As a Christian, it offends me no end.

Overall, I liked the drama, but there were several things I wish had been different.

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The Main Romance Could Have Been Better--Mini Analysis

Note: If you would rather skip the essay—my overall summary and conclusion is at the end. :D

This drama is wonderful and beautiful. There are so many great things this production team did in creating this show that I wish I could go into all of it; however when something this good graces us with its presence, the problems are impossible to ignore. Anyone can and should be talking about how well done this show is, but there was one main problem that I want to review because it affected my view of the show so much.

The romance.

Now, I just want to give a slow clap for the second couple's performance and story as being the first time I enjoyed theirs more than the main. Their chemistry and development was fire and ice and tears and respect. I loved every moment of them.

But the main couple.

I loved how their connection was approached with the way the FL has always tended to run away from things and how the ML likes to face things head on (which is done subtly and well). They have a cute story of learning about each other's interests, but we don't really get to go deep into it where they really learn about each other as much. Instead, they learn about themselves which is also commendable but still kind of confusing when they have a romantic relationship...?

Many people have already voiced their opinions about the ML's stiff acting/character which is certainly validated. He is the type of character whom I really struggled to connect with for the first several episodes. It wasn't until around episode 7, maybe, that he began to grow on me more. How I took this was that the ML actor seems to fall into his character's head space more as the show progresses. By the end, he doesn't feel as stiff and socially awkward as everyone was confused about in the beginning. Except with the FL.

This really affects the chemistry and overall romance between him and the FL. Both characters are rather closed off which is not only a writing problem but also a directing and acting problem. No need to blame anyone--it's just how it happened. The characters never really communicate well throughout which makes all of their scenes feel like a first, awkward date. This makes them seem innocent and sweet which I can see being appealing (and I think that ends up being the intended perspective the director went for), but something about the FL rubbed me wrong the entirety of the show.

She seems to be the type of person who is interested in him more as one might be interested in a pretty vase (@MyLoveFromTheStar). We as the audience are also interested in him because he is a unique character, but to me this never really feels like love as she doesn't support him the way he is literally supporting everyone else on the show.

Mostly the problem I had with her was the same one I had when I first watched her performance on "Rookie Historian." I felt Shin Se Kyung and Cha Eun Woo had more of a sibling relationship which I summed up to them being about 10 years apart and didn't think much of it until now. Even at around the same age, Se Kyung as the FL felt somewhat condescending towards Syeon Gyeom as she treats him like a child. Which I suppose I can see, but she does it so much that it is rather off putting.

CONCLUSION

I have more in my analysis of this relationship that I could go into (I'm ridiculous), but basically I felt as though the main romance suffered in awkwardness and slow pacing; for the first several episodes, there is little progression in the show. I think it could easily have even been cut down to 12 episodes. The way sexuality and real life jobs, and just real life in general is dealt with is done beautifully. As a film major, I certainly got excited with the references and little things that are just a part of my world.

However, it's missing some of that spark to make it more entertaining which I've put a lot of weight on the main romance as it's a foundational piece of the show. Aside from the difficulty to engage with the show, it is certainly worth the watch. Not a binge watch for me, but still worth seeing.

My music rating always includes overall sound as well, and then my rewatch rating is always my entertainment rating instead. As always, so much work clearly went into this project, and I am so grateful that I got to see it! Cheers!

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Final thoughts on Run On: They did a lot of stuff well. It was simple and had some heartwarming moments. They touched on a lot of topics or issues that are important, and I liked that, but by the end of the show I'm not sure they fully handled most of those issues. I liked that they had characters meet random other people from their lives that never came back in - it gave a sense that they have lives outside of the events we're seeing.

However, there were some supporting characters that felt forgotten that weren't meant to be. Like the gay character's coming out. We could tell he was throughout so him coming out was a given to happen, but then the outing scene was oddly sudden and out of place and then never really covered ever again. It's like he was forgotten once he came out. And I didn't like the fact that there was an asexual character who, at the very end, met the 'right guy' and suddenly wasn't asexual anymore. Like, they could've handled that better. Said something like, she's still asexual but she loves him romantically, or that their relationship had nothing to do with sex, or something. I did like that the second female lead apologized to the actually gay character on the show for the fact that she'd used the lie that she was a lesbian to keep her family from forcing marriage on her when people who were actually gay really struggled with it.

I also wish there had been more development of the second couple, because the second female lead didn't change enough for me to honestly think their relationship is going to go well. She still needs to learn empathy. I would've liked a scene where she blatantly does something for someone else's benefit, where she was scene to understand their emotional state and respond appropriately. A scene that didn't involve her love interest.

Oh, and I adored the second female lead's little brother. More of him, please. I love him. He's so cute.

But over all, I did enjoy the show. I liked the development in the male lead, and I loved his mom's final mic drop moment with dad. And I LOVED every scene with the male lead and his running buddies. I would watch a whole series just of them and their antics and him being an agent with one hype man and one guy who roasts him all the time.

I wish we'd heard more of the backstory between the female lead and her roommate/boss/friend, because their relationship was also good. We got flashbacks of a few moments in the lead's lives, and I wish one of them had been about a time earlier in these two's relationship.

Oh yeah, and near the end of the show - and in the final montage of 'what happened after' - we're shown scenes that are meant to make us feel bad for the male lead's dad. Sorry. No. No pity for that man. No forgiveness. He did nothing to earn it and so he shall not receive it.

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A romance grounded in reality

Run On is a story that perfectly depicts the process of getting to know and fall in love with somebody, without the exaggerated "drama" that typically defines the genre. There's no love triangle; there's no saving the girl from attempted murder; there's no ridiculous breakup and get get back together; there's no ridiculous success story, no fairy-tale. You get the gist.

What this show truly gets right, is the little details, and it all starts with the initial awkwardness - you know, those moments of silence where both people are enjoying one another's company but have no idea what to say next - and the actors really capture the emotions and facial expressions of those instances against a backdrop of beautiful cinematography. The making excuses to see one another, the learning from one another, making food for one another, the fumbling around going for the first hand holding, the first hug, the first kiss. All of these little scenes are cute, awkward, uncomfortable yet comfortable. Acted perfectly.

It's dialog heavy, but touches on patriarchy, feminism and learning to love oneself, ultimately a far more mature approach to relationships than I've seen in any other kdrama. If you're fed up with clichés, I implore you to watch this.

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can running get tiring?

I picked up this drama really quickly and immediately thought it was interesting. The main point that caught my interest was Ms.Oh's job, since it isn't really a job we usually think about or truly appreciate. It showed me and other viewers the importance of subtitling and strain it can cause the writers. Other than the interesting jobs, there were many downsides for me, which is why I only gave it an 8. The issue for me is that I liked the other couples way better than the main couple. Personally, I think that that isn't a problem, but in this drama the interactions between the main couple were frequent even though they were awkward. It was cute at first, but then at some point it made me feel uncomfortable. Another issue for me is that the story got too predictable near the end. Nothing came as a surprise and the drama/story got slightly boring. Of course it wasn't to the point of dropping the drama, but it took a toll on my interest for sure. In other words, the beginning of this drama had the best parts.

It wouldn't be the first Kdrama I'd recommend to my friends, but I would recommend it eventually.

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To watch or not to watch?

I just finished watching this drama, and I am in a really good mood right now, because the ending was as fulfilling as an ending possibly can be!

Let's start with the good aspects of the drama that I really enjoyed.
First of all, healthy relationships.
If you are looking for a show where the relationship between main leads aren't driven by misunderstandings and lack of communication skills, this is the one. I was honestly, really impressed by how the growth of the connection between main characters was so natural, anything wasn't rushed and it just seemed like the characters were making the best decisions for themselves and their loved ones.

Speaking of the characters, it's a really big plus for this drama. For me 50% of the show's success it's the cast, and here it is just brilliant! I could not imagine anyone else portraying ML so great in the context of this drama. If you are a regular drama watcher you also will be pleasantly surprised with a couple of surprising cameos here and there :)

To be blatantly honest, I gave this drama a 7, because even though it had great potential with its cast and the characters, the story wasn't anything revolutionary at all. Same old cliches we love and respect, same old scenarios and situations. The only positive difference, as I've already mentioned earlier, is the fact that even if "rich chairman-dad of the main character wants our female lead to break up with his son" situation feels like beating a dead horse, the way every character reacts to it feels new and refreshing, due to their logically tied actions and good motivations.

Overall: it's a nice drama to watch without thinking too much, maybe don't even binge it, just watch an episode or two when the boredom will get to you :) Get's a bit boring in the middle, but if you will get through it the drama will reward you with a lovely, warm, and satisfactory ending!

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Life is a race we need to finish, but it's okay to take a break.

Highly recommended!

This drama is so refreshing and unique in its own way. Be it the pace of the drama, the storyline, the actors or even the topics that the drama revolves around. (Also can we talk about the aesthetics please!?)

The male lead is intriguing, complex and an unreliable character as in, he himself doesn't know what he is like until he unfolds his story with us. He looks naive and weird but in fact, he is just indifferent to things that normally extract a reaction out of us which adds to the humour in the whole drama. He knows a thing or two about how the world is, never hesitates to do what he wants to do, respects the people around him and holds a special place for his juniors.

The female lead (played by Shin Se Kyung and honestly might be her best role so far!) has a rather unique job and resonates with most of us (international fans) and creates a feeling of empathy and we can relate to the problems and issues one goes through while subtitling or translating things. She is soft but mentally fierce and strong, determined and hesitant at the same time but never does her inner conflict seem annoying but rather motivating.

They are cute together on screen, Ebe it before and after they get together and honestly, have one of the healthiest relationships I have ever seen in dramas. It warms your heart, makes you smile and by the end you are looking at them with heart eyes.

The second male lead (Kang Tae Oh my god, he's a rising star!) is a clingy teen-like art student but guess what? He has layers in him which makes him so much more interesting. He makes you curious, just like the second female lead was, and pulls you in his charms. He is an amazing addition to the whole drama, giving the right push to lessons and messages conveyed.

The second female lead (and Sooyoung has won my heart!) is a girl boss, with a little stereotyped fashion and personality but even then the writers have layered her character with curiosity, naiveness, sweet and gentle undertones and straight-forwardness. She is the right spice to everything, creates the mood for you to indulge in the whole drama.

The side characters— all have great elements and stories that make the whole drama worth watching. Be it SFL's sibling relationship which totally makes your heart pain and jump with joy at the same time, or the filming crew and impromptu curse battle they have on sets. The dialogues and script are in fact very funny and the actors never overdo it to add to the humour. The story unfolds slowly without major climaxing moments which really heals you throughout. The cinematography is insane. It is aesthetic, very calming and makes you lean back on your chair to just enjoy the visuals. The OSTs are good too, perfectly suiting for the drama.


By the look of it, every character is weird, imperfect, and a little crazy which makes the subtle messages of self-love, self-worth and "life is a race we all need to finish" reach us with more impact and leaves you smiling.

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So... I hyped myself too much.

Run On, actually, is an amazing show, considering the fact that it's a rom-com. And we all know how horrible Korean rom-coms can be, they can be toxic, they can be boring with souless characters, they always have too many cliches etc. But Run On is different. It's 100% character-driven drama that focuses mainly on the characters and the dialogues. Truly a heaven for people who are not into plot-driven shows. The characters are interesting because they don't seem fake, they feel somewhat realistic and down to earth. They have a great character development and the good thing is that the drama focuses on the side characters too, not only on the main couple.

Talking about the main couple, they were so sweet. What I loved about them is the fact that, even though they had problems, they were honest with themselves and with each other. They don't act childishly and aren't problematic and toxic. They are two grown people who faced and accepted their problems and grew even more as people loving each other. They learn about self-love and self-acceptance. They are strong as individuals, especially the FL who I admire a lot.

The beginning of the drama was too good to be true so I hyped myself too much. I got too excited and I think that affected my personal enjoyment later on. I grew a bit tired of the show, 16 episodes is a bit too long for my liking. And the second couple didn't really suit my taste. The second female lead was supposed to be a ''baddie'' but honestly I only saw her as a disrespectful, rude bish. And I eventually couldn't get into the second couple. They weren't absolutely horrible, from a different point of you it was interesting to watch them because they were so different, with such different personalities and interests and still made it work and fell in love with each other. So from this POV, I didn't mind them that much.

Overall, I would recommend this if you're looking for comforting show to watch. As rom-com, it was good.

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This drama ran towards my heart.

Definitely a drama I enjoyed watching. Not something you found around easily. It's a heartwarming, combines comedy, drama and romance leaving you with a satisfying feeling at the end of each episode. Sure, the story is unfolding slowly, but that under no circumstances makes the show boring! There's always something happening to make you laugh and enjoy your time while watching.

The plot surely has familiar bits that you've seen before, but the writer manages to maintain the element of surprise and twists every other scene making you want more. There's a fresh point of view in stories you might already have seen and that's what makes this show different. Most importantly, this is not just a love story. Life is depicted and you see obstacles someone might have to face. The characters don't drown themselves in love, they maintain their individuality.

Speaking of characters, I love how different from each other the main characters are. All of them have distinct personalities that might seem too hard to blend together, but they still find middle ground. It's hard to play favourites, you just have to love them all. Every character is well sculptured and you always want to see more of them. Most of all I enjoyed watching their relationships developing. Not only the romance, but the friendships too. If there's a show that portrays healthy relationships, this might be it.

Overall, Run On is a show worth your time. I enjoyed watching it alone as much as I enjoyed watching it with friends. You don't have to be a kdrama addict to have a good time with this one. The plot is easy to follow, the characters charm you at first sight and their chemistry is everything!

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Simples e Divertido

Essa é a minha primeira review aqui no MDL e teve que ser com esse dorama por diversas razões. Se você está pensando em assistir ou não, a minha resposta vai ser: ASSISTA!

Já os primeiros episódios são excelentes e eu como uma pessoa que acompanhou desde o começo tive muitas esperanças e expectativas durante o lançamento e não me arrependi, mas indo direto ao ponto; O enredo num todo não é nada fora do que costumamos ver, mas os personagens e são extremamente cativantes.

O que simplesmente chamou minha atenção foi como os personagens agem e conversam, eu não esperava muito apesar de estar curiosa sobre o dorama em si, mas tudo dentro da obra flui muito bem, as conversas verdadeiras, as ações justas e "reais", é claro que existe muitas situações absurdas e bem engraçadas que são dificílimas de acontecer na vida real, mas se acontecesse qualquer um tomaria atitudes como as deles e é por isso que me cativou tanto.

Eles não agem como personagens de uma obra fictícia e sim como pessoas reais e isso é incrível. Principalmente os dois personagens principais, eu amei o fato de terem colocado uma personagem tão simples mas tão diferente ao mesmo como tempo como a Oh Mi Joo é, as atitudes dela como uma mulher adulta são de se admirar num dorama coreano e eu não posso deixar de comentar do personagem mais interessante e esquisito que já vi, Ki Seon Gyeom. Eu amo como ela mesma pergunta pro mesmo se ele já ouviu dizerem que ele é uma pessoa estranha, porque ele é e MUITO. E é isso que deixa tudo diferente, ele tem reações humanas e naturais, as conversas dele com a nossa protagonista são completamente naturais, sem enrolações, sem clichêzões e coisinhas fúteis entre os dois, ele tem tudo pra dar errado e ser mais uma obra comum, mas ele é tudo de diferente e isso não tem nada haver com a história e sim com os personagens esquisitos e humanos.

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