Lovely Runner Episode 9: Tears, Time Travel, and a Shocking Revelation That Changed Everything

The Shocking Truth Behind Sun-jae's Death

In Episode 9 of 'Lovely Runner,' viewers witnessed a heart-wrenching revelation as Im Sol discovered the devastating truth behind Ryu Sun-jae's death. After Sun-jae was stabbed and fell into a comatose state, Sol frantically searched for his electronic watch, desperate to make one final time leap to change their tragic fate. However, the watch was nowhere to be found in Sun-jae's home.

The episode revealed that Kim Young-soo, the serial killer who had previously attempted to kidnap Sol in 2009, was responsible for attacking Sun-jae. This wasn't a random act of violence but a calculated revenge. Through news reports and police investigation files, Sol learned that Sun-jae had witnessed Kim Young-soo's attempted kidnapping of her on May 10, 2009, and his testimony had led to the criminal's arrest. Kim Young-soo had harbored resentment toward Sun-jae and sought revenge through this brutal attack.

This revelation crushed Sol as she realized that Sun-jae's tragedy was indirectly caused by his attempt to protect her. The guilt and responsibility weighed heavily on her as she became determined to use her final time travel opportunity to prevent Sun-jae and Kim Young-soo from ever crossing paths.

The Final Time Leap to 2009

With newfound determination and the weight of guilt on her shoulders, Sol managed to find Sun-jae's electronic watch in a photograph from the crime scene. Using this last chance at time travel, she made her final leap back to 2009 - but this time, she went even further back to her university days when she was twenty years old.

This strategic time jump was carefully chosen as it predated her first encounter with Kim Young-soo, giving her the opportunity to completely rewrite their history. Sol's mission became clear: report Kim Young-soo as the perpetrator of the Juyang Reservoir incident before he could target her, and most importantly, keep her distance from Sun-jae to ensure he never becomes entangled with the dangerous criminal.

The episode beautifully portrayed Sol's internal conflict - desperately wanting to be close to Sun-jae while knowing that their connection might lead to his death. Despite her efforts to avoid him, their paths kept crossing, highlighting the theme of fate and destiny that runs throughout the series. Their mutual attraction proved difficult to resist, creating tension between Sol's mission to save Sun-jae and her heart's desire to be with him.

A University Legend and Romantic Developments

One of the most charming elements introduced in Episode 9 was the university legend that 'couples who kiss during their first MT (Membership Training retreat) will eventually get married.' This superstition added a layer of romantic tension to Sol and Sun-jae's interactions during the university retreat scenes.

The episode featured several near-miss moments between the two, with Sol trying to maintain distance while Sun-jae, confused by her hot-and-cold behavior, continued to pursue her. Their chemistry remained palpable despite Sol's attempts to push him away, creating a bittersweet dynamic that resonated with viewers.

The university setting also introduced younger versions of familiar characters, including Sun-jae's friend Baek In-hyuk and their social circle, adding depth to the story and providing insight into the characters' formative years. These scenes were particularly meaningful for fans who had followed the characters' journey, as they revealed how relationships were first established and how certain personality traits had evolved over time.

Sun-jae's Growing Suspicions

Perhaps the most pivotal moment of Episode 9 came in its final scenes when Sun-jae began to suspect Sol's true identity. After hearing Sol hum 'Sonagi' (Shower), a song he had composed but never shared with anyone except his friend In-hyuk, Sun-jae became suspicious. When Sol casually mentioned returning 'to the future, to my time,' his curiosity was further piqued.

The tension escalated when In-hyuk confirmed that he had never shown Sun-jae's composition to anyone else. Confronting Sol, Sun-jae demanded answers: 'How do you know a song that I've never played for anyone except In-hyuk?' and more directly, 'Where are you going? Back to your time? Who are you? Did you really come from the future?'

This confrontation left viewers on a cliffhanger, with Sol unable to respond and Sun-jae increasingly convinced that there was something supernatural about her knowledge. The scene was masterfully acted by Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok, capturing the emotional complexity of the moment - Sun-jae's confusion and determination to uncover the truth, and Sol's fear of revealing too much and potentially altering their fate in unpredictable ways.

Record-Breaking Viewership

Episode 9 of 'Lovely Runner' achieved impressive ratings, setting a new record for the series. According to Nielsen Korea, the episode recorded 4.8% nationwide and reached a peak of 5.3%, marking the highest viewership for the drama since its premiere. In the Seoul metropolitan area, ratings were even higher at 5.6% on average, with peaks reaching 6.3%.

Particularly notable was the drama's performance among the key demographic of viewers aged 20-49, where it dominated its time slot across all channels, including public broadcasting networks. This demographic recorded 3.4% nationwide and 3.6% in the Seoul area, demonstrating the show's strong appeal to young adult viewers.

The episode's combination of emotional revelations, time travel mechanics, and the central romance clearly resonated with audiences, contributing to its growing popularity. The cliffhanger ending, with Sun-jae questioning Sol's identity, likely contributed to the heightened viewer engagement, as audiences were left eagerly anticipating the next episode to see how Sol would respond to Sun-jae's direct questioning about her time-traveling status.

Viewer Reactions and Community Response

The online community response to Episode 9 was overwhelmingly positive, with viewers expressing emotional reactions to the episode's dramatic revelations and romantic developments. On platforms like Naver blogs, Daum Cafe, and various community forums, fans shared their theories about how the story would unfold and praised the chemistry between the lead actors.

Many viewers commented on the emotional depth of the episode, particularly highlighting Kim Hye-yoon's portrayal of Sol's guilt and determination. The scene where she realized that Sun-jae's death was indirectly caused by his attempt to protect her was frequently mentioned as one of the most moving moments of the series so far.

Byeon Woo-seok's performance also received significant praise, especially in the final confrontation scene where he begins to suspect Sol's true identity. Fans noted the subtle shifts in his expression as confusion gave way to realization, showcasing his range as an actor.

The time travel mechanics continued to be a topic of discussion among viewers, with many appreciating how the show maintained internal consistency while using the concept to explore themes of fate, choice, and personal sacrifice. The decision to send Sol back to her university days was seen as a clever plot development that opened up new storytelling possibilities.

Looking Ahead to Episode 10

As Episode 9 concluded with Sun-jae directly questioning Sol about being from the future, viewers were left eagerly anticipating Episode 10 to see how this confrontation would resolve. The preview for the next episode suggested that Sol might finally reveal her time-traveling identity to Sun-jae, potentially changing the dynamic of their relationship.

Key questions remained: Would Sun-jae believe Sol's explanation about time travel? How would knowing the truth about their future affect his actions in the present? Could they work together to change their fate, or would knowledge of the future create new complications?

The series had reached a critical turning point, with Sol's mission to save Sun-jae now potentially including Sun-jae himself as an active participant rather than an unwitting beneficiary. This shift promised to add new dimensions to their relationship and to the overall narrative, as the burden of changing the future might now be shared between them.

With the drama continuing to air on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8:50 PM on tvN, Episode 9's cliffhanger ensured that viewers would be counting down the days until they could see the next chapter in Sol and Sun-jae's time-crossing romance.