Run On (2020)

A beautiful story about people, compassion, and vulnerability

I first noticed this drama on Netflix because I love Sooyoung and had wanted to watch one of her dramas for years at this point, but despite my initial interest, I had to admit when I watched the trailer and it clicked for me that it was literally about running, I expected a funny but shallow, fast-paced drama about dynamic, successful young people doing their thing, and I really wasn't in the mood for it so I pretty much gave up on it. However, one of my friend who had started it encouraged me to watch it and I am so glad she did! It was nothing like I thought it would be.
Run On is a beautiful, moving story about people growing and learning together, getting to know themselves and each other through empathy and vulnerability. It's about learning to love yourself and others, about learning to be together with other flawed people, and it is beautifully done. It's also very mundane, but I mean that in the best way possible. I mainly watched really intense, epic dramas lately (which I love too) and this was a breath of fresh air. And that is not to say that there aren't big emotions here, there certainly are, but they’re not over-the-top or clichéd. Every misunderstanding is used to further our understanding of the characters as well as the characters’ understanding of one another and their journey together. Every interaction feels natural and organic, and the drama avoids all of the stereotypical beats you might expect. It's very genuine and simply beautiful. I’ve rarely, if ever, seen a drama like this, it’s something I expect more from a small, indie movie, except here we have 16 episodes to witness the lives of these characters instead of an hour and a half..
I really hope to see other dramas go that route in the future.

(The rewatch value is relatively low because I don't judge whether I would watch it again, which I absolutely will, but whether there is a lot added to it during a rewatch, and it's just not really that kind of story and that's perfectly okay.)

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An atypical love story

If you're tired of the usual sweeping love stories or cliche cutesy dramas, this kdrama is a wonderful change of pace and a breath of fresh air. The two main characters played by Im Shi Wan (Ki Seon Gyeom) and Shin Se Kyung (Oh Mi Joo) are very different people who try to make their love work.

Seon Gyeom is a strong willed, and courageous person who lives by a high set of idealistic principles. However, when it comes to women and love, he's as lost as they come. He's naive, timid and unexperienced. You can see this his interactions with his love interest Mi Joo. Even though, he clearly likes and cares for her, he has a hard time expressing it and admitting to her that he likes her. Instead he tries to show her in subtle ways with small gestures.

Mi Joo on the other hand is a strong independent woman who knows where she's going professionally, but much like Seon-Gyeom, she's very timid when it comes to matters of the heart. She wants Seon Gyeom to take the lead in their relationship by confessing to her first and reading between the lines when it comes to her feelings for him (like most women). Here's the problem. Seon Gyeom doesn't show his affections in the ways that Mi Joo wants. Which is a common thing. People don't always love you in the way you want. Not to mention, both characters are leary of the potential that the other person doesn't return their feelings. So for most of the show, you're going to see two very insecure people who clearly like each other. However, because there are so many miscommications and different interpretations of situations between the two characters, their love story progresses very slowly.

What makes this script brilliant is that it the relationship between the two leads is very realistic. Most long lasting relationships are built around communication, and being open/honest with each other. This drama shows us how to be patient and understanding with our partners. Love isn't easy and relationships take work. In my opinion, that's the main message of this drama.

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A simple, but delightful drama which was akin to spring transitioning to summer...

I hesitated at first to watch this drama. I've seen Shin Se Kyung's past dramas and I was not convinced with her acting then. In addition, there are three distinct genres that do not easily catch my attention: sports, musical, makjang, and war or period shows. Run On happened to be about sports. Still, I followed my instincts and tried to watch the first episode and to my delight, I was not disappointed at all. I think assertive characters fit Shin Se Kyung more as her acting was convincing this time.

Run On seemed more of an ambient film. It was not particularly plotless, but it was not really centered on its plot. It rather more focused on its characters—their behaviours, growth, and how they perfectly contrasted each other.


Run On still relied in some known clichés, though, it was brilliant enough to craft its own refreshing twists as it was rather progressive than just blindly confining to the conventions of such known clichés. It was great that it also gave way in empowering women.


I also appreciated how they portrayed each character with realistic flaws without overdramatically romanticizing them: the rational and independent, but condescending and insensitive Dan-ah; the creative and adorable, but childish Yeong-hwa; the ethical and hardworking, but socially awkward Seon-gyeom; Mi-joo, who was also independent and hardworking, but sometimes tactless. Even the supporting characters did not disappoint with the interesting character study. I also appreciated how the drama tackled the fondness for cinema; Mi-joo worked as an English subtitle translator and the name Yeong-hwa also means "film".


This was overall a simple, but delightful drama. This was akin to spring transitioning to summer. It was just a relaxing show to sit on as you relish in the four season tropical punches brought by each character's quirks and flaws.

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It is a story about "a nut job, a loser, a psychopath, a piece of trash or someone's first love"

I've always wanted to watch this one but was scared off when my roommate told me she was bored, disliked the characters, and dropped it around episode 10. Then I remembered that she and I enjoy different things when it comes to entertainment with music, shows, and movies - and ultimately decided to pick this up. I have been recently learning that things she isn't into, are usually things I really enjoy. And this drama was one of those examples. I completely loved everything about this. It played out very casually that not only was it easy to watch, but it felt like it was written like an independent movie, which is ironic as Mi Joo was a translator for mostly independent movies.

I loved how no one was "perfect" and it wasn't a traditional story about these "crap" people who needed to learn from one another to change and be better people. Nope. This was a story about imperfect people who went on a journey to find self-love with who they were already and who they wanted to be and finding a group of friends that love them for who they were.

Mi Joo was so full of wisdom and great at giving advice and sticking up for everyone, as everyone was her people. She lived a life as an orphan and decided to be her own superhero and be the person that she needed when she was growing up. She was an inspiring person to be around even though she wasn't there for herself sometimes and had a hard time forming deep relationships as she had a history of people leaving her. But she wasn't perfect, and it made me love her more as she always owned up to her mistakes and faults... eventually. There were so many different quotes about life that I took from this drama, including,

"Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up." - Oh Mi Joo

&

Mi Joo-"We will probably never fully understand each other, right?"
Seon Gyeom- "Yes... We're different after all."
Mi Joo- "You have your world and I have mine, but we could align our worlds next to each other, couldn't we? So let's not be disappointed in each other. That's impossible to do. Instead, we'll stick to whatever is possible."

I also enjoyed the "bromance" and the "womance" between the 4 mains. It got to a point where I was like, protect Seon Gyeom & Young Hwa at all costs - you make my boys cry, I will fight you.

I loved Seon Gyeom because even though he lacked certain social cues and how to act in certain situations, he did what he thought was right, even if it meant throwing himself off a bridge to save someone else. I loved watching his growth and feeling more comfortable in his own skin. He was empathetic from the beginning, but it was nice seeing him feel comfortable and still helping his people while learning to take care of himself and standing up for what he believes is right.

Dan Ah & Young Hwa are a little tricky. I believe both of them taught one another how to be mature as well as how to let loose. But, the relationship was super back and forth that I started resenting Dan Ah, when it was also Young Hwa'sfault. But like I said, their relationship was tricky as Dan Ah was his "boss bitch" and was also inspirational, and I enjoyed Dan Ah & Mi Joo bicker back and forth, but I personally have a hard time with people who lack empathy. I wanted to like her, but I didn't see how someone can treat others like "vending machines" and what they have to go through to turn off that emotion. But Young Hwa also wasn't innocent and I still loved him. I wanted to understand the morale of this drama and accept and love people's "flaws" as it is not what defines them.

I was also pleasantly surprised that after all the "sexual" jokes that this drama kept throwing out there, there was actually a story with one of the minor characters about self-acceptance about their sexuality. It was the ONLY time I cried during this drama, was when this character confessed their one-sided feelings, so they could move on from them, and then that person comforting them knowing how hard it was for the other person to have to hide who they were.

Overall, my favorite part of the drama would still have to be the beginning when Mi Joo worked as a translator for Seon Gyeom. I loved her stepping into this world that she wasn't familiar with and even though she and Seon Gyeom weren't close, she did what she thought was right and became a guardian for him and standing up for him when he felt that he couldn't. I like how Seon Gyeom was inspired by Mi Joo to be his authentic self. I also LOVED whenever Mi Joo was "in action," either with Seon Gyeom's first interview or when they were at the filming site, Seon Gyeom, sat back and watched her in awe and was like, "she is so cool" and gave her a look like, "that's my girl." The dialog itself was super sassy and very enjoyable to watch. I found myself laughing more than I have in a while, watching a drama.

I can see why my roommate didn't enjoy this drama, but I can completely say, that I fully enjoyed this. The only thing that I didn't enjoy was that the plot itself fell off a little in the middle and ending, but I enjoyed it as well because I loved the conversations and the overall dialog. I definitely feel like I came out on the other side a better person.

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This drama is a “slice of life” that intends to muse the viewer into the life of 4 individuals that finds themselves entangled and falling for each other in spite of their different socioeconomic and emotional circumstances. These characters will have to face difficulties from dysfunctional familial relations and interference to personal insecurities and other dilemmas that, although somehow seem to find a good level of resolution, there is a sense of emotional disjointedness by the end of the drama. The cast did well delivering their characters but the dialogues, although they were well written, sometimes felt muddle and erratic due to the complexity of the characters’ thoughts, feelings, actions, and reactions. The last episode seems rushed but the very end is creative and fun to watch. Although the most emphasized part of the drama seems to be the relationship between the lead and secondary couple, there is no romantic chemistry; but they developed a nice friendship by the end. The drama’s synopsis end with the question: Could romance be in the cards for these two couples? The answer is yes, but the romance lacks character and definition, to say the least.

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Run on but know when to stop!

We have all been, since our childhood, told that it's important to run after our dreams and passions or even success. But we are never told that it's okay to pause, if not stop. Most of us feel lost if we take a break and find ourselves frustrated. This drama has touch those parts of our lives but lightly enough for us to be able to relate to it but not feel to emotional.

The drama starts in the most dramatic way but it's a good way to keep the viewers in place. When you first read it, it doesn't have a very extraordinary storyline. The story is loosely tied together but does not fall apart in the set 16 episodes.

There are not many dramas that I've seen with the such distinct characters or even character traits. Seon Gyeom always looks calm, doesn't show many emotions, gets stepped over and is the complete opposite yet similar to Mi Joo who speaks up she should. Not only the lead cast but even the support characters are very well matched and are sometimes similar yet opposites. The cast has done a very well job in portraying what was needed of them.

Since it's a Netflix drama, the soundtrack and OSTs are exactly what I was expecting. The music is slow but not boring and fits the drama like a custom-made shoe.

If not again, you should watch it at least once. Since it's slow and not exactly looking for an absolute or concrete end some people may not like it in the beginning but once the story is set it gets interesting. This drama has the vibe of spring and winter combined. It's a perfect drama for the ones who like to watch a drama which is easy flowing and not very complicated.

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Just one word to describe it all, beautiful!

I really really really like this show. Words are not enough for me to explain how much I love this show. Some aspects I love are listed below, just because I can’t mention all

1. I like the character arcs for all the people involved. All of them show incredible growth, and great backstories that are well-explored, explained and enacted. There is a sense of depth to the characters, even if it is someone like Myung Min whom you just don’t like.
2. I also quite like how they end up covering all their bases. All of the characters see an ending, whether good bad happy or sad, but an ending of sorts. Nothing is up in the air that you’re left wondering at the end as to what happened to them. So, it’s a well-scripted show that both starts and ends strong.
3. I quite liked the story. It was something refreshing and new for me and I’m glad I gave this a chance. I absolutely love mellow and slice-of-life shows with a little romance and this one gave me both of the first along with lots of romance (slow burn or not) and I’m all for it. I also enjoyed all the couples quite a lot and did not skip any parts.
4. My SONE heart was so full watching Soo Young excel at that role. All the actors have done really well, especially Choi Jae Hyun - absolutely loved his character.

The only place where I struggled was with the movie references. As someone who’s not into movies, I was not able to relate to many of the movie-talk. But it was not a bummer or anything. This part might be even more fun for people who like to watch movies.

A must-watch show that I hope brings you as much happiness, joy and feels as it did to me. A very easy, emotional and engaging watch! 💜

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It’s hidden in the writing…

**** WORK IN PROGRESS****

Run On completely surprised me. I was expecting a generic but sweet romance with an emphasis on athleticism/competition and the ML’s journey to finding new dreams and accomplishing his goals… type of thing. This isn’t what Run On is about at all, and in the very best way possible. In fact, if you asked me to describe what the plot of this drama is, I would find it very difficult to put together the right words. Because this drama isn’t about the actual plot so much as it is about the underlying messages hidden in the writing.

I don’t even feel like I have to check the credits to know its a woman who wrote the script; it’s clear as day. The female lead characters have more depth and grit to them than the usual in dramas, and not just in the stereotypical strong/dominating way that tends to be depicted in dramas. (You know… FLs who portray masculine behavior to almost over-compensate for the fact that they aren’t the stereotypical “feminine” character. Although there isn’t anything particularly wrong with that if done right!) Even though they can be emotional, experience self-doubt, rely on others, be made to feel weak, they are consistent in one thing: sticking to their values. And although less uncommon, the male lead characters also display this behavior of placing an importance on their values. In fact, a majority of the dialogue

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Better Than I Expected

Okay so I wasn't expecting A LOT but I had been putting off watching this drama for a while. Mainly because it didn't look as complex/intense as how I usually like my dramas. And it's not. But it was soooo good.

I'm no way implying the story was simple or lackluster. The plot was well formed and well executed. It kept me engaged and I didn't feel bored at all while watching - I don't think I even skipped a scene! The plot and the diverse characters was refreshing to experience. There was nothing unnecessary and I loved the messages this story tells. There was also quite a bit of development within friendships and dynamics that I really appreciated and loved. It's hard to really say my thoughts on the story and such without spoiling it but I hope y'all get the idea.

I think the cast did a great job with their acting performances and everyone had great chemistry. Personally, I loved the second couple - and their chemistry - more but the main coupling was also great to see develop. Since I know a lot of people are probably wanting to know about the kisses before watching, I'll say that I've 100% seen better and there aren't many but I hardly noticed because the chemistry between the couples were great nonetheless. I didn't feel like I needed to see them kiss a lot or anything. I would say this show focuses more on character development and plot rather than fan service, which I liked.

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I was bored

I loved the ML, both the actor and his acting and the character himself, it weren't for the fact that I didn't enjoy this drama he would 100% be one of my favorite MLs. He's sweet and funny, a pushover when it doesn't matter but never when it does, he's a little weird and overall lovable. I enjoyed his storyline regarding him and Wooshik and everything else regarding track and his family. However I just couldn’t care less about the romance in this drama, I found it boring, uninteresting, unsatifying and plain. I also personally didn’t care about the FL at all, just like the romance she was also plain and overall just not an interesting character to follow. I tryied really hard to push myself to finish this because I really did love the ML but alas I just couldn’t.

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it was a light romance, about life kind of drama. very very very very light. there wasn't like a big conflict, and rather a daily life kind of drama where some small conflicts happen at times. and that's where this drama is different from others. my fav part of the drama would be the characters, they are so so relatable, it's like I could meet these kind of people in real life. oh and the lines were amazing, they are full of messages, beautiful ones. I don't fully understand some of it, but I know it's beautiful. tbh, I don't remember more than half of the drama, if someone asks me to summarise their plot I probably could do it in less than 20 words. but I guess, this is the charm of this drama. feels like it was really slow since there was no conflict but as I watched this during ongoing it's not really a big deal. it was fun, cute and very relaxing, so do watch it :)

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Run on, and on, and on….

This drama did not hold my interest. I watched the first few episodes, thinking it would get better, but it didn’t. I fast forwarded through most of it just to finish it. By the time I realized how long and boring it was starting to be, I had too much time invested in it to drop it. I’m actually surprised at the fairly high rating, because for me, it was hard to stay awake while I watched it. But to each their own, because a lot of viewers loved it. The acting was very good, some good comedic moments, some good serious moments as well. Romance was in it, but not enough for me. I at least like some passionate kissing once in a while, but nothing in this drama. I guess it was a story to teach you how to love yourself, and stand up for what you believe. This could have been done with fewer episodes. Just very drawn out, and boring.

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