Plot of 'Run On' Doesn't Seem to Follow the Usual K-Drama Rom-Com Story
The ongoing Korean drama "Run On" starring actors Im Siwan and Shin Se Kyung are receiving different reactions from critics. One of the famous Asian publication called it "standard" and lacking in charm.
Many new dramas kicked off airing in the last two months of 2020, including "The Uncanny Counter," "Mr.Queen," and "True Beauty." And among the latest series that had been released, JTBC's "Run On" have been doing good so far, but some viewers and critics were not satisfied about the lead characters' chemistry and the plot.
Related Article: Im Siwan and Shin Se Kyung Look Adorable in Behind-The-Scenes Footage of 'Run On'
Im Siwan is playing the character of Ki Seon Gyeom, a former popular athlete on the national team who later on retired from the sport due to his past experience. Whereas Shin Se Kyung is Oh Mi Joo, a passionate film translator who gets overjoyed when she sees her name on movie credits.
The drama started in a glamorous film festival setting, where Ki Seon Gyeom attended the event with his mother, a top actress in their country. Oh Mi Joo was also in the same festival, having worked on one of the films, which was handled by a rising director who happens to be her ex-boyfriend.
One time, Oh Mi Joo and Ki Seon Gyeom crossed paths on the street, and something between them arose. Typically in romantic K-dramas, the standards are built within a fairly awkward structure, wherein a good looking, distant, rich young man gets attracted to a strong young woman without power or connections. It's the usual plot wherein the woman is baffled by the man's arrogance, and the woman's pride attracts the man.
Related Article: Im Siwan Shares How He Prepared Himself for His Upcoming Drama 'Run On'
Their world will collide - commonly, hers is captivated by his, which is full of traitorous family members, and eventually, they will develop feelings for each other. Then the second love interest would be a rich woman and a poor man.
Every new romantic drama somehow has similar plots, so what makes them stand out is the chemistry present between the leads. However, "Run On" is different due to the unusual works of its characters. The second romantic plot hasn't overpowered the main couple, not in the first six episodes.
More than that, it has a good standard location that includes a trip to Jeju Island and other known places in South Korea, which is sometimes involved by snappy dialogues. Aside from the main leads, there were also the second couple in every drama, just like the characters of Girls' Generation's Sooyoung as Seo Dan and Kang Tae Oh as Lee Young Hwa.
The tandem of these characters surely gives new flavors to the audience. Lee Young Hwa is a young painter who becomes attached to Seo Dan. He is bright and appealing in his role, giving the show some adorable moments, which likely would have been taken differently with other actors.
Related Article: 'Run On' Spoilers: Onscreen Couple Choi Sooyoung and Kang Tae Oh Develop Love-Hate Relationship
Shin Se Kyung may have an interesting job as a movie translator, but as Oh Mi Joo's character is said to be prickly and dull, her role fails to stand out. Im Siwan, who has excelled in many films already, has a hard time showing his character's true side. His role as Ki Seon Gyeom may have good motivations, but his behavior is baffling rather than cute, or maybe it was intended by the director.
There are still upcoming episodes that might change the relationship of one character to another and may give more interesting events, but as of the moment, some said the "Run On" is missing some worth interesting moments in the drama.
For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.
Kdramastars owns this article.
Written by Shai Collins.
