‘Lovely Runner’ Puts A Korean Spin On ‘The Butterfly Effect’ With A Way Better Ending

Lovely Runner combines time travel with the alternate realities of The Butterfly Effect and the unsettling suspense of watching a true crime documentary where you already know what’s going to happen to the victim. The premise is sturdy enough to hold up against even the most astute viewers’ attempts to unravel its mysteries, but never overcomplicates itself by venturing into convoluted territory.

Im Sol is idol Ryu Sun-Jae’s biggest fan, but her life is turned upside down when they meet after his concert, before his suicide is reported later that evening. Devastated, Sol learns the watch she bought in an online auction, which used to belong to Sun-jae, possesses the power to send her back in time to 2008, where her and Sun-jae are high school students and neighbors, and the accident that left her in a wheelchair has yet to occur.

Im Sol begins a mission to change Sun-jae’s fate, but discovers in the process just how closely their lives are intertwined through a series of time hops give Im Sol a glimpse into other possible realities, where one small change to one of their lives can greatly impact the other’s. A strong cast of supporting characters makes their journey all the more memorable in this nail-biting romance you’ll be glued to til the end.