Carry You and Run Episode 8: A Heartbreaking Turn After Love's Sweet Beginning

## The Promise of Episode 8: A Bittersweet Reunion

Episode 8 of tvN's time-slip romance drama 'Carry You and Run' delivered on its promise as a pivotal episode, bringing viewers both the long-awaited romantic development between the main characters and a shocking twist that has left fans devastated. Aired on April 30, 2024, over a year ago, this episode marked a significant turning point in the storyline that continues to resonate with viewers.

The episode begins with a flashback to June 2022, where we see Ryu Seonjae (played by Byeon Woo-seok) retrieving the time capsule he and Im Sol (Kim Hyeyoon) had buried years ago, just before the ground was about to be dug up. Inside the time capsule was a heartfelt letter from Sol and a wind-up watch. The letter contained touching words: "If you're reading this, I want to tell you something. Seonjae, thank you. Thank you for being alive."

Fast forward to January 1, 2023, the promised date when Seonjae waits at the Han River bridge with the time capsule, hoping to meet Sol. After waiting for over an hour with no sign of her, he reluctantly leaves, unaware that Sol would arrive just 30 minutes later – a cruel twist of fate that kept them apart once again.

## The Desperate Attempt to Stay Together

When we return to the present timeline, Sol is determined not to let history repeat itself. Seeing the same patterns emerging – snow beginning to fall, Seonjae dropping his phone – she becomes increasingly anxious. Despite hoping Seonjae wouldn't show up at the bridge, she finds him there waiting for her.

In a desperate attempt to prevent what she believes will be Seonjae's death that night, Sol makes a bold move: "Let's stay together tonight." Her unexpected proposition surprises Seonjae, but he agrees without hesitation.

What follows is Sol's determined effort to stay by Seonjae's side throughout the night. When Seonjae takes her to a hotel, Sol clarifies that she's rather conservative and didn't mean "that kind of night together," leading to a humorous misunderstanding. They end up at the hotel lounge bar instead, where they begin catching up.

When rumors start circulating on social media about Seonjae being at a hotel with a woman instead of attending the after-party, they decide to leave. Still desperate to keep him safe, Sol employs a "push forward" strategy and boldly takes Seonjae to his own home, even telling her mother she won't be coming home that night.

## Confessions and First Kiss

At Seonjae's apartment, Sol tries various tactics to extend her stay – asking for a house tour, suggesting they eat ramen, and even pretending to fall asleep. Seonjae, growing suspicious of her behavior, confronts her:

"Are you really planning to stay overnight? Are you trying to get me to sign a contract or something?"

"No, that's a misunderstanding."

"Then explain before I really misunderstand."

"I'm afraid you might die tonight."

Seonjae is baffled by Sol's cryptic statement, unable to understand her concern. The situation takes an unexpected turn when Seonjae's friend and bandmate In-hyuk arrives, forcing Sol to hide in Seonjae's closet. While hidden, she overhears In-hyuk revealing that Seonjae has never forgotten her and has been longing for her all these years.

In the closet, Sol also discovers the time capsule that Seonjae had kept. When they're finally alone again, both Sol and Seonjae confess that they had actually gone to the Han River bridge on their promised date but had missed each other. They finally reveal their true feelings:

## "I've Been Longing for You"

"So what you're saying is... you felt the same way about me back then. Is that right?"

Sol opens up about her feelings: "I liked you too. I'm sorry I hurt you by not telling you how I felt back then. This might not mean much now, but I'm still sorry. I couldn't help it then. It was painful and difficult. I always wanted to tell you if I ever met you again. That I liked you too. That I missed you. I really, really desperately wanted to see you, Seonjae. Like this, now."

With their feelings finally out in the open, Seonjae and Sol share a passionate first kiss, officially becoming a couple. The following scenes show them enjoying the sweet beginnings of their relationship – making phone calls filled with affection and planning to meet again that night.

Seonjae asks about the meaning of the wind-up watch from the time capsule. Sol explains that she wanted his time to continue flowing rather than stopping. Seonjae feels that his time, which had been frozen until now, is finally moving forward properly.

## A Shocking Turn of Events

Just as viewers are basking in the joy of seeing Sol and Seonjae finally together, the episode takes a devastating turn. While Sol is busy dealing with a 14-year-old stalker who had been following Seonjae (a surprisingly mature interaction where she buys the young fan tteokbokki while giving her a gentle lecture), she sees breaking news on TV.

The news reports that Seonjae has been attacked and rushed to the hospital. The suspect is revealed to be Kim Young-soo, the same taxi driver who had kidnapped Sol years ago and was recently released from prison after serving time for murder since 2009.

The episode ends with this shocking revelation, showing Sol frozen in horror as she sees Seonjae undergoing emergency surgery. The cruel twist of fate strikes again – just as they had found each other and confirmed their feelings, tragedy separates them once more.

This cliffhanger ending left viewers in shock, especially considering that the couple had just begun their relationship. The timing of the attack suggests that Sol's fears were justified, though the target turned out to be Seonjae rather than herself.

## Viewer Reactions and Ratings

Episode 8 of 'Carry You and Run' recorded a nationwide average viewership rating of 4.1%, showing an upward trend from Episode 7. The episode generated significant buzz online, with viewers expressing both delight at the romantic developments and distress at the shocking ending.

Community reactions were overwhelmingly emotional, with many viewers expressing frustration at the cruel timing of the attack. Comments like "They finally got together and this happens?" and "Just when I thought they would be happy!" dominated discussion forums.

Fans particularly praised the chemistry between Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hyeyoon, with their confession scene and first kiss being highlighted as perfectly executed emotional moments. The natural progression of their relationship, despite the supernatural elements of the plot, felt authentic and earned to most viewers.

Many viewers also noted the clever narrative structure, appreciating how the show balanced sweet romantic moments with the underlying tension of Sol's knowledge about the potential danger. The revelation that Kim Young-soo was targeting Seonjae rather than Sol this time added an unexpected twist that kept the story fresh despite following similar patterns from earlier episodes.

## Looking Ahead to Episode 9

The preview for Episode 9 revealed that Sol would use her final time slip to return to their college days, now understanding that Seonjae's death wasn't suicide as previously believed, but murder connected to her. This revelation adds a layer of guilt to Sol's motivation to change their fate once more.

Viewers expressed excitement about seeing Sol and Seonjae's college days, a period only briefly referenced in earlier episodes. The change in setting promised to add new dimensions to their relationship while maintaining the central conflict of Sol trying to prevent tragedy.

The cliffhanger ending of Episode 8 ensured that viewers would be eagerly awaiting the next episode, with many commenting that the week-long wait until Monday would feel unbearable. This kind of emotional investment demonstrates the strong connection the show had established with its audience by this point in the series.

## The Significance of Episode 8 in the Series

Episode 8 stands as a pivotal moment in 'Carry You and Run' for several reasons. First, it delivers on the romantic promise that had been building since Episode 1, giving viewers the satisfaction of seeing the main couple acknowledge their feelings and begin a relationship.

Second, it reveals crucial information about the antagonist, Kim Young-soo, establishing him as a threat not just to Sol but to Seonjae as well. This expands the scope of the danger and raises the stakes for Sol's mission to change their fate.

Third, it sets up the final time slip, with Sol now having a clearer understanding of what she needs to prevent. The revelation that Seonjae's death was actually murder rather than suicide completely recontextualizes her mission.

Looking back at this episode a year later, it's clear that it represented a turning point that propelled the story into its final act. The emotional highs of the confession scene followed by the devastating low of Seonjae's attack created a memorable viewing experience that continues to be discussed by fans of the series.

As the series progressed beyond this episode, the foundation laid here – particularly the confirmed mutual feelings between Sol and Seonjae and the revealed threat of Kim Young-soo – would prove essential to the emotional impact of the story's resolution.