What a HOT show!
OMG, what can I say, I got captivated from start to finish. What chemistry they both have together. I am sure it is a real couple to be. And those kisses, heartfelt, passionate. Oh wow. A real masterpiece! I totally loved the timeline, the way they made you travel past to present. I was not expecting the ending drama note, it was so perfect. Leaving us with love and passion to remember!Was this review helpful to you?
Those who haven’t read the book can’t understand how perfect this is.
This drama was as close to the book while retaining its own essence. People hating in attitude details in the last episode have obviously not read the novel and why it was added. I do wish his reason for going and disappearing was made same as the book because imo it had a stronger effect but still I loved how they wrapped up everything nicely. if you know the novel is pretty long and I was worried how it would be composed in only 12 episodes. I do love the drama a lot. Yoo Yeon suk will forever remain my favourite actors, he owns each character he portrays. The book however had a lot of things I found better than the drama. the reason for the car crash one of them. In A was the one who noticed that paek sa eon was different from when she saw him before. it’s she who they tried to kill. her brother wasn’t the target. Anyways the list of pros and cons between both the novel and the drama is too long. I loved them both individually. it’s a must watch drama. The chemistry is off the Charts.Was this review helpful to you?
ending completely ruined it all for me
Finale episode aside cuz I’m pretending majority of that episode didn’t happen……. I really enjoyed this show ????? idk it felt like something new while also keeping familiar tropes and all that. I love love loveeeee marriage for convenience tropes that actually result in a cute couple. And I’m glad they developed a lot of the side characters. It was silly and suspenseful and romantic, which is everything I love in a drama. We’re so back.Edit: Coming back to change my rating of this show bc someone pointed out the weird Palestine israhell reference they tried to make in the last episode and it finally clicked why the weird randomass side-plot didn't sit well with me at all. Actually insane and disgusting.
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A must watch k-drama
Overall this drama was excellent. A compelling and intriguing storyline and cliffhangers that made me anxiously awaiting the new episodes on Friday and Saturday. The chemistry between the ML & FL was sizzling hot. A classic makjang drama where certain logic must be disregarded. I am not usually into romances but I have watched this series a total of 5 times since it first aired.Episode 1-10 were great
Episode 11 was good up to the last 10 mins when ML confronts kidnapper. Why did he get out of the car? That didnt make any sense but I can live with that.
Episode 12. What was that? The writers literally lost the plot during the first half of this episode. I have read the novel and he disappears in that but the context was different and did not translate well into the drama. I get that he needed time to 'punish' himself etc but why leave FL in the dark. After all they had been through and were finally able to communicate with each other, he pulls that stunt! If she hadnt gone to Argan to get him would he have even bothered going back to her? It seemed totally out of character. This storyline did not sit well with me. It was lazy and I felt cheated after being so invested in this drama.
In saying that, the second part of the episode was fine though. Glad they got their happy ending.
They came so close to a perfect 10/10 but ultimately failed in the last episode.
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Great Start, Underwhelming Finish
Many people have been quick to give this series a perfect 10 after watching just a few episodes, but in my opinion, it doesn't quite deserve that praise. The show started off with a great concept and an exciting premise, and for the first few episodes, it was genuinely engaging. However, as the story progressed, it lost its momentum and began to feel like a typical, average K-Drama.The character development was lacking, and the characters didn’t evolve in a meaningful way, which made it hard to stay connected to them. Though the acting was solid, I never fully immersed myself in it; there were moments where it felt like the actors were merely performing, not truly living their roles.
I do believe reviews should be written after watching the entire series, not just the first few episodes. This is definitely not a 10/10 in my book.
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Loved this....
Beautiful drama with beautiful cast.... everything is perfect... the actors played really well... the flow of emotions, expressions at each interval is just so perfect... i don't know why people are hating this... it didn't showed anything that negatively... the last episode only followed the novel and no any particular place was named in the war scene...These people are making us regret for liking this drama...
The place were there was war is shown as Argan which in real means tree...No any particular country or place was named there.....
People can create hate without any reason...
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This review may contain spoilers
Not worth picking up
The drama asks a lot of leeway to be given, to root for the romance, but it fails to earn them with the two important categories which is the writing and the chemistry. The two leads doesn't bring any sparks in their individual scenes let alone together. Had it been better actors that suited the roles and the romantic chemistry together, it would have brought life to the drama to the dark family secrets they bear the scars of. It was really lazy of the drama which puts so much emphasis on sign language to not spare an expository line that Hee Joo can sign both KSL and BSL because there is not just one universal sign language when she went to that political shindig on duty as an interpreter. It's ridiculous that Sa Eon decides to save her from a political arranged marriage by forcing her to marry him and proceeding to treat her coldly and harshly for three whole years until she snaps from the mistreatment, but it's all okay and romantic because he's been in love with her for decades and was doing it for her own good.Hee Joo just has the lowest bar from being horribly treated by her mother all her life. Hee Joo also has terrible survival instincts, just going back into her car that was previously shown very high jack-able. Her willingness to take the wheel from the kidnapper and drive it into death would be more impressive if she's not so callous constantly. She's repeatedly kidnapped and needs saving in some way again and again, the designated damsel. Sa Eon getting out of the car to face down the serial killer with a shotgun rather that flooring it as soon as he saw who it was, either forward or backward is really ridiculous, especially considering he does that with a whole squad of militia firing at him while he plays international batman. He shouldn't have sent her any clues, of course she would just intentionally literally walk into a warzone and just so happen to survive unharmed enough to be rescued. The political stance the show decides to randomly take at the end is pretty horrific, though it seems that may be bad translation work, which is very ironic in a show that's centered around a presidential spokesman and presidential interpreter.
A plot line that was almost good was Do Jae's tragic arc with him out for revenge against his brother's killer only to unwittingly end up helping the guy instead and the unyielding support is what Sa Eon unconsciously craves so much that he blindly trusted Do Jae, even more than he trusted Hee Joo. Better writing could have done more with this meaty plot line, as was In A's heel turn to want sisterhood with Hee Joon randomly after all these years. They should have shown what exactly made her feel this way in the three years she was gone from the plot.
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A Masterpiece of Suspense, Emotion, and Stellar Performances
When the Phone Rings is an absolute gem that deserves every bit of praise it gets. From start to finish, this drama keeps you on the edge of your seat, blending suspense, mystery, and heartfelt emotions seamlessly.The storyline revolves around an arranged marriage thrown into chaos by a chilling kidnapping threat, and it masterfully unfolds into a rollercoaster of emotions. The tension is palpable, and every episode leaves you wanting more, with cliffhangers that are brilliantly executed.
Top-Notch Performances -
Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo-bin deliver career-defining performances. Their chemistry is nothing short of magical. They bring such depth and authenticity to their characters that you feel every ounce of their fear, love, and determination. Watching their relationship evolve under life-threatening circumstances was a highlight of the drama.
Gripping Plot and Pacing-
The plot is airtight, with twists and turns that you won’t see coming. The suspenseful moments are balanced beautifully with emotional depth, making it much more than just a thriller.
Emotionally Resonant-
Beyond the thrilling plot, this drama is deeply emotional. It explores themes of trust, love, and resilience, making it easy to connect with the characters on a personal level.
Memorable OST-
The soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful, adding layers to every scene and staying with you long after the drama ends.
When the Phone Rings is a perfect example of how a drama can be both entertaining and deeply impactful. It’s not just a show; it’s an experience. The intricate storytelling, combined with the powerhouse performances and gripping suspense, make this drama an unforgettable journey.
Whether you're a fan of thrillers, romance, or just excellent storytelling, this is a must-watch. It’s no surprise that I rate this a 10/10 – it's simply flawless.
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interesting until the very end…
i looked forward to the episodes while it was airing and it was definitely one of the drama that i enjoyed until the last couple of episodes.the storyline was going so well until she got found and saeon just went MIA…instead of just communicating with his wife, he disappeared into thin air, like they really wanted to keep on giving wattpad till the end.
the subplot in the last episode annoyed me so much as well as the propaganda they tried to feed. it was obvious that “argan” and “izmael” and “palatime” were references to “afghanistan” and it’s political issues as well as the genocide of the palestinians by the israeli government…like there are over 200 countries in the world that the writers could’ve chosen and they chose to make references to such an crucial issue in the world atm?!?
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Booktok Type Romance
I saw someone in a comment section describe it as that, and they got it spot on. This is the first time I’ve seen a K-Drama show a couple with enough angst, tension, romance, sadness, yearning all in one.However, the plot was confusing half of the time. They did too many flashback scenes and never really elaborated and relied on the viewers to figure it out for themselves, which isn’t bad per se but they kept piling on information on you that would contradict some of the scenes they’ve shown as a piece of puzzle for you to understand.
I don’t like how some K-Dramas explicitly say what’s going on in the story and it takes a good script writer to show the plot without explicitly saying in words what it is but for this Kdrama it felt like I needed that, since the flashbacks and reveals were all over the place and completely confusing.
Another thing I wanted to complain about was, the ending where they blatantly mentioned Israel and Palestine during their wartime. I feel like so many new Kdramas keep doing this shit where they do something racist or add something political (as in, something thats currently politically happening in the world), what’s worse is that they seemed to have made Palestine the villain and Israel the victim which is clearly, not the case right now. It just seemed extremely tone deaf, if they needed a story there they could’ve easily made up something. The K-Drama would’ve been a 9 if it wasn’t for that. But oh well.
Overall it was pretty good, I liked the side characters and I liked how they didn’t pin the sisters against each other because of a man. When Ina returned I was afraid they would make her the villain but fortunately she wasn’t. I like how they gave everyone a nice story and wrapped it up without leaving you wondering what happened to the rest of the characters.
But yes, some things could have easily been avoided. But oh well.
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Gripping
The entire drama pulled every emotion out in you. At times, my heart actually ached at what was going on. This is probably one of the best dramas I have ever scene. You may need to step away from this every now and then though to keep your emotions in check. The roller coaster is a bit overwhelming even though you know it is only a drama. The portrayal of these characters are so real. I can't imagine giving this less than full stars. If you are looking for a drama that grips you and pulls you in, this is it.Was this review helpful to you?
Good in the beginning, loses way towards the end
Starts amazing, with great chemistry between the characters and and interesting story. However, from episode 8 onwards, it just becomes worse and worse. And don’t even get me started on the last episode, please just skip it, it ruins the whole thing. It seems they had to fill more episodes and made the story go to shit on the last ones. If the show was 8 episodes long it would be great. They just fucked it up towards the end. I’d say it’s worth watching because the first episodes are amazing and it’ll get you HOOKED, but keep in mind towards the end it becomes a total mess.Was this review helpful to you?
