When the Phone Rings

Breathtaking chemistry

Just finished watching this drama and it was totally worth my time ♥️.
Couldn't be a better ending of this thrilling rom-com to start my new year with. Loved the cast❤️ loved the storyline ❤️especially loved the amazing chemistry between the main leads 🥰♥️. Totally lived upto the name "When The Phone Rings" 📲 😭.
Also one of the best things that I loved about this drama is the backstory revelation 👏. Dropped a clue just when needed, let the viewer speculate the story and then final revelation just when we thought it's time ✅️ . Wow just wow 👌. And last but not the least another gorgeous couple ever in the kdrama history 😍 Baek-Hong couple no.2❤️.

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Addictive but lost its way

I have already seen the clarifications on social media re: the scene that is causing controversy, so my review is not in any way affected by that incident. Regardless, this was my cup of tea for such a short time: I was right with Hee-Joo at the beginning of the drama, and was seriously intrigued and excited for a revenge story against what to me seemed like an emotionally abusive husband. Then surprise!! He isn't that bad! Okay, not what I expected, but I'll buy it. I was then in it for the intrigue of him finding out and then that was the most anticlimatic reveal in history. Regardless, I couldn't stop watching because the chemistry between Chae Soo Bin and Yoo Yeon Seok was great, and that kept me going up until the last two episodes, in which the characters made so many nonsensical decisions they turned what could have been a solid 7.5 to a 6. Why didn't they run the murderer over with the car? Didn't even have to hit him that hard, just get him out of the way until the cops came! Then the shooting fakeout, the disappearance and the worst plot point: THE NOBLE IDIOCY!!! Characters that were relatively smart kept making idiotic choices for the sake of plot twist after plot twist and it was just... not good. Listen, I can love a "so bad it's good" drama if it's at least consistent, but those last two episodes were "so bad it's really really bad" and ultimately made a huge disservice to what could have been a guilty pleasure show for me. Such a pity.

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An Old Vibe in a Youthful Tale:From Promise to Disappointment

While the show had a promising start, several elements detracted from its overall potential. The storyline was engaging and captivating from episodes 1 to 8, but unfortunately, it lost its grip as the plot progressed. The final arc involving Argan completely killed the vibe, leaving a sour note to what could have been a memorable conclusion.


A major issue was the casting of the male lead. While he is undoubtedly talented, he simply did not suit the role. His older appearance clashed with the youthful "hubby" energy the character demanded, making it difficult to root for him.
In fact, his pairing with the actress playing his mother-in-law felt more natural, as she has aged so gracefully that they would have looked better together as a couple. This miscast undermined the chemistry between the leads and disrupted the tone of the show.It's not about age,it's his appearance. He looks almost as old as his mother-in-law, while Heejoo looks like a kid.


Moreover, the final bed scene between the two main characters was deeply uncomfortable to watch. It lacked emotional connection and felt forced amidst of kidnapping and war.


Despite its flaws, the show had a strong premise and delivered some great moments early on. However, the combination of miscasting, a faltering storyline, and an underwhelming finale left much to be desired.I still like it because of the early episodes.

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An intense thriller/romance drama with perfect chemistry between the leads

*** SPOILERS ALERT*** (review re-upload)

For starters, I don’t gain anything from defending or throwing shade at this drama, and I don’t have the egocentrism to think that I know better than anyone else on the subject. So, I will first give my honest opinion on the controversy with the last episode before commenting on anything else.

When I watched episode 12 yesterday, I was taken aback by the countries names that are 100% a reference to the conflict between Isreal and Palestine. I guess it makes sense for the drama to use references to war because of the news coverage background and the beginning of the drama in which the ML reports on a hostage situation executed by a terrorist organization. Well since he’s the spokesperson of the presidential office, it’s clear that covering such a theme is realistic. BUT was it done well? Honestly, I don’t think so… When I was watching the breaking news scene of the conflict in the last episode, I understood that the fake Palestine retaliated on the fake Isreal because the later took some people hostage, so I guess it makes the fake Isreal the bad guy but I only read the English subtitles so I can be mistaken. Honestly, they should have chosen entirely different names for this fake conflict, and I don’t even understand how they didn’t think one second that this would create outrage (understandably so), especially nowadays with kdramas being very popular with international viewers. All in all, I don’t think the show supports genocide in anyway, but it is such a sensitive and hurtful topic for many people that this kind of outcome was to be expected. (This is only my two cents on the subject, for what it’s worth.)

I will now write what I liked and disliked about the drama:
Liked:
- First and foremost, the chemistry between the leads was phenomenal!! They were the backbone of the drama and honestly without them, it wouldn’t have been the same. The tension, pining and caring coming from the leads are simply perfect. It also felt very mature, and I’m glad they chose YYS as Baek Sa Eon because I simply can’t think of any other actor who could have embodied this role as well as he did. For being an ex-war reporter to being the spokesperson of the presidential office (and many other things in between), he totally had the charisma and maturity to take on this difficult role. Also, I’m just going to say that casting an “older” actor was the perfect choice, because I couldn’t imagine taking seriously a younger guy having so many responsibilities while looking 20 at most. For the FL, CSB was also very convincing as Hong Hui Ju, at first a timid and gentle woman that gradually learned to gain confidence and use that to protect her loved one(s). Unfortunately, I don’t know a single thing about sign language, but I feel like she did a great job in this aspect. Furthermore, their relationship kinda reminded me of the main couple in Flower of Evil, only with a little less trauma maybe…? I think if you liked Flower of Evil, you could also like this drama, it’s just much heavier on romance than Flower of Evil so keep that in mind! I also really liked the “second couple” if we can call them that, sadly we didn’t get much of them as a couple, but they were still cute and interesting together. I was so glad to see HNJ here, because he made quite an impression on me when he acted as a soldier in Sweet Home lol.
- The mystery aspect was done very well in my opinion, even if some plot twists were quite obvious but it seems like the writers wanted the viewer to follow along so it’s not necessarily a negative point, just don’t expect to be mind-blown every 10 minutes and you’ll be fine!
- Acting wise, the main villain was also very good! Kudos to the actor because it didn’t seem like the easiest performance to be both menacing and still have a personality other than “I’m the big villain hahaha”. His backstory was interesting, and I guess somewhat believable, in kdrama world at least. The second supporting role that I particularly liked is Park Do Jae, the assistant/confident of Baek Sa Eon. He didn’t have the opportunity to show a lot of different expressions in this drama, but when it was done, it was done extremely well. I hope to see more of him in the future!
- Some cliché tropes were used, like in most kdramas honestly, but in a refreshing way. For example, there was a mini love triangle (Ji Sang U had a crush on Hong Hui Ju for a long time) but fortunately they didn’t present him as an obstacle in the leads’ relationship. On the contrary, it was pretty obvious early on that he would be a romantic interest for Na Yu Ri, the news broadcaster. I was also glad that they didn’t make the character of Hong In A, Hui Ju’s older sister, a villain or a jealous SFL for no reason other than to create another obstacle between the leads. The writers also used the childhood connection trope, but it was necessary for the story to develop as it did. I only whished we were shown more of their relationship as children, because he liked her since forever and I think they should have insisted a little more on this connection, to make the following events more believable but I guess time was limited, with only 12 episodes in total.
- The OST was great! It complimented the story very well and added to the tension and mystery surrendering the characters. I found the cinematography a little less impactful than the OST, nevertheless it was still a joy to watch each individual episode.
- Overall, a satisfying and happy ending, I’m not going to say too much about it, but I especially loved the final scene between the leads.

Disliked:
- Obviously, the last episode, with the mention of the “fake” conflict that I addressed in the beginning of this review.
- Overall, ep11 and 12 felt very rushed. Mainly because the Argan arc felt a little bit out of place. To be honest, when I saw the FL in the middle of the jungle with a scarf around her head like Gaby from Desperate Housewives trying to be incognito, I couldn’t help but laugh a little. All that was missing from her attire were black sunglasses to complete the look lol. Also, she was kidnapped AGAIN, and of course the ML had to save her AGAIN. The following scene was satisfying enough (the black attire was definitively a dream come true) and their reunion was definitively heartfelt and very heart fluttering, but the context around this event wasn’t well executed/well brought up.
- I also couldn’t really believe the fact that the ML would disappear like a ghost for 6 months without explaining his reasons to the FL… They learned to communicate with each other on this difficult journey and so his disappearance felt very out of place, because even if he could feel guilty about his father’s past actions, the FL already knew and didn’t find it a dealbreaker. So why punish her also? At the very least, he should have made himself clear and reassured her that he just wanted some time to sort himself out before returning to her.
- The final confrontation with the villain wasn’t perfect either, like let’s be real, couldn’t he run him over with the car instead? But at least, the ML wasn’t shot like I expected for a hot second, I even thought for a moment they would resort to the amnesia trope to occupy the last episode but fortunately (I guess?) they didn’t go down this treacherous road.
- Finally, I don’t understand the “redemption arc” of Hui Ju’s mom. Excuse me but if I remember correctly, her mom clearly wanted her to die after the accident, so to say that the only thing she wished for her in the end was a better life is completely nuts to say the least. The writers just wanted to throw in the mix a happily ever after where all is forgiven, and all is good again… That was not necessary at all in my opinion but I’m nitpicking at this point.

So I think that’s it for me and my “review”. I wanted to make it a little shorter, but this drama is obviously a new favorite for me, and I will surely re-watch it again one day. Is it a masterpiece? Not really. Was it realistic? Absolutely not. Entertaining? Heck yes!! In short, give it a try if you are in the mood for leads with incredible chemistry engaging in a palpitating journey of self-discovery and thrilling romance, with a good dose of mystery and a lot of secret pining added to the mix.

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Frustrated with same old tropes & stories !

‘When the phone rings’ gave those dark romance comic book vibes in the beginning episodes but soon turns into a typical romcom story even thou its a thriller not comedy. That’s what most kdramas are doing now, they start with a unique storyline which slowly turns into same old cliches. We know whatever happens in the drama the ending is going to be lovey dovey even when it’s illogical.
There are soo many things to point out that frustrated me. But writing about all of them will frustrate me even more soo here are a few;
FL falling down a cliff and surviving without breaking any bones was soo unrealistic for a thriller drama. She survives without any injuries plus the way she falls without anyone noticing was literally peak level lame!!!
ML getting shot in the last episode is also a must in kdramas that i am soo doneee with. Please give us something new and we know they will survive getting shot as well. I was waiting for a crazy twist here that never happened.

The ML was really hot when he was acting cold but he turned soft he kinda lost the aura for me loo. 🙄I liked his harsh side more but the last episode ruined his character arc for me. Why was he guilty about something that he had no connection with!!! Why was he soo dumb to disappear like he did something wrong but it turned out to be such a stupid reason. It was stupid way to end the drama.
Nevertheless i think he was still better than the Female lead Bcz she had zero expressions on her face. Whether she was shocked , scared or angry there was literally same expressions on her face. I thought she will turn out to be some badass Queen in the end but wtf she was soo dumb! Her character arc was written poorly.

Ahhhh the lost potential

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The best kdrama in 2024.

The best kdrama in 2024.I love actors performance also the story is new and good. It is one of the best kdrama I have seen so far. I appricate all lead actors cha soobin and yoo yean seok for their best acting and also all sapporting actors for acting as well. I waited every week for coming episods . I really loved their chemistry . This drama hooked me frome the begining. The ending was rushed but still a great watch. I was amazed by how captivating this drama was the every first episode. YYS and CSB definetly deseve the 3 awards. This drama recieved a too exellent actor and exellent actress and a best couple awards in MBC awards 2024. I love how the dtama kept me emotionally engaged with moments of tension , every scene is well crafted , the actors brought the characters to life, they had such and beautiful commanding presence the actors.

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First ten Episodes are watchable but damn those last two episodes

"When the Phone Rings" is a thrilling romance that follows the complex relationship between a spokesman and a sign language interpreter who struggles with selective mutism—an aspect of her character that adds depth to the story, though revealing more would spoil the surprise. Three years into their marriage, they are anything but a typical couple; their communication is virtually non-existent, and their relationship remains hidden from the public eye, leaving her unable to openly acknowledge him as her husband.

The tension escalates when she is kidnapped, and her husband dismisses the call about her abduction, thinking it’s a scam or voice phishing. Fortunately, she manages to escape, taking with her the phone used by the kidnapper to issue threats and demand a divorce. This twist sets the stage for a powerful moment of reclaiming agency through blackmail, showcasing a side of her that starkly contrasts with the innocent persona we’ve come to know.

While the setup and premise of the drama are strong, I found her attempts at making threat calls to be somewhat lacking. It felt like she was playing a risky game without a solid backup plan, which, while entertaining, made me question her choices.

The initial episodes are beautifully intense and thrilling, capturing my attention, but as the story progressed, it began to feel a bit underwhelming for me personally.

This review reflects my personal experience, and I recognize that opinions on the show may vary widely.


There are definitely aspects of "When the Phone Rings" that I really enjoy. For starters, I absolutely love the male lead, Yoo Yeonsook. Typically, I find tsundere male leads a bit overdone, but he brings something special to the role. He embodies his character so well that I often find myself swooning whenever he appears on screen. He has that aura reminiscent of a classic Wattpad character, and his presence and dialogue make him truly engaging. His character is fascinating—not your typical green flag or red flag, but rather a complex grey. Like many male leads, he has a backstory that shapes who he is, but I won’t go into that to avoid spoilers. His character is definitely one of the highlights for me.

Another standout is the female lead, Chae Soobin. She portrays an innocent character forced to live without a voice, which is compelling in itself. What I really appreciate is that she isn’t just a damsel in distress. We get to see a fiery side of her when she makes those intimidating phone calls, and I wish that aspect of her personality had lasted longer or transitioned more into her physical character. Some might see her as weak, but to me, she’s not. She’s someone who yearns to find her place in the world. With a difficult upbringing and a complicated relationship with her mother, she just wants to belong, and it’s heartwarming to see how she lights up when she finally finds that sense of belonging.

The acting is also a stand out element... the leads deliver such nuanced performances that every glance and subtle expression resonates deeply. Their chemistry is palpable and feels so genuine, making their interactions incredibly engaging. The way their relationship evolves from enemies to lovers is refreshing, especially with the added layer of an arranged marriage.

The phone calls serve as a unique form of therapy for both characters, allowing them to open up in ways that push their relationship forward. It’s heartwarming to see how they begin to understand each other better, breaking down the walls that initially separated them. The development of their bond is the drama's heartbeat, and even if the thriller aspect were removed, the romance alone could carry the story effortlessly.

The direction and transitions are expertly crafted, enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative. The original soundtrack complements the scenes perfectly, adding an extra layer of emotion that elevates the viewing experience.

Now, while "When the Phone Rings" has its strengths, there are definitely some aspects that leave much to be desired. The thriller element, which should ideally add suspense and intrigue, often feels disjointed from the romance. It’s almost as if the drama is trying to juggle two separate narratives, one focusing on the romantic development and the other on the thriller plot. While I appreciate the attempts to weave in the male lead's backstory, it sometimes feels like a distraction rather than an integral part of the story, making me wish for a more cohesive approach.

Another significant drawback is the portrayal of the second leads. Their characters and motivations seem out of place, especially since they weren't part of the original webtoon. This lack of integration makes their storylines feel forced, and I found myself skipping through their scenes, as they didn't resonate with me at all. Their investigations, while seemingly connected to the main plot, often lack clarity in motivation, which detracts from the overall flow of the drama.

Overall, "When the Phone Rings" leaves me with mixed feelings. There are moments of excitement, but they are often overshadowed by the inconsistencies in the narrative. I appreciate that the show is limited to 12 episodes, as it prevents unnecessary dragging and maintains a tighter storyline. It’s an interesting watch, but it could have benefitted from a more focused approach to both its romance and thriller elements.

The last two episodes of the series were truly a disappointment, and not in a way that was entertaining. It felt like the writer had lost touch with the story, leading to a plot that was both confusing and frustrating. The constant recycling of scenes became tiresome, and the supposedly intelligent characters made decisions that were completely out of character, which was jarring to watch.

The introduction of the argan war zone plot felt like a forced twist that took up almost 40 minutes of the finale, and it seemed disconnected from the overall drama of the series. The male lead’s disappearance due to his "noble idiocracy" and his delayed return after half a year felt unrealistic. When he finally reached out to the female lead, it was hard to believe she would run into a war-torn country only to get kidnapped again. Their heart-to-heart talk and the rushed make-out scene while being chased felt poorly timed, and the subsequent bed scene seemed like a desperate attempt to rekindle the romance.

Despite the initial addiction to the series, the spark has faded significantly. While the characters themselves were interesting and the chemistry between the leads was a highlight, the lack of character development and the flawed script overshadowed the acting, which remained strong throughout. Overall, the last two episodes extinguished any remaining excitement I had for the series.

Anyways I appreciate the acting, the interesting characters who could have been properly developed or utilised, the maiznf chemistry between the leads the sensual kiss scenes and maybe the osts.

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When the Phone Rings (2024) is a great romantic thriller with Yoo Yeon Seok as Baek Sa Eon and Chae Soo Bin as Hong Hui Ju in the lead couple’s role. This drama is a fantastic thriller with an impassioned relationship between Sa Eon and Hui Ju. Sa Eon and Hui Ju spent the first part of the drama discovering each other and trying to accept and bring about the amorous feelings for each other. Once the relationship is established, they both become stronger and developed a loving, respectful, and steadfast relation that pulls on your heartstrings. The thriller portion of the plot is well developed and, in a little bit more than 13 hours, there are many secrets thrown in very direction in order to keep the audience interested in the story. The cast did an amazing job bringing their characters to life and offer the viewer an intense drama that keeps the audience entertained. Enjoy it!
This drama can be found on Netflix.

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engaging romance, average plot

before watching this kdrama, i was unsure whether to give it a try. the reviews were mostly negative, and the imdb rating was only 5.6, which is quite low. even though it had a better rating of 8.0 on mydramalist (mdl), the comments were still filled with criticism. despite that, i decided to give it a shot.

the first episode immediately pulls you in. it has a strong start that makes you curious about what will happen next. however, i do agree with others that as the episodes go on, the plot weakens. still, for those who love romance and don’t mind an average storyline, this drama can be enjoyable. but if you’re someone who looks for a solid and well-structured plot, this might not be the best choice.

the storyline has both clichés and some unique elements, making it feel like something straight out of wattpad. the plot itself is nothing special, but if you’re watching purely for the romance, it won’t be an issue.

overall, i liked the drama. i had fun watching it and even laughed at some parts. the chemistry between the leads is incredible. from the very start, the tension between them is intense. the retreat incident (which i won’t spoil) really showcased sa-eon's emotions – the acting was outstanding. you can see in his eyes how deeply he loves hee-joo, and that alone made the drama worth watching.

for those who stay for the romance, this is a good watch. but looking at the plot, i believe the story could have been wrapped up in 8 episodes. it’s straightforward and doesn’t really need the full 12 episodes. while 12 episodes are still manageable compared to the usual 16-episode kdramas, the finale felt lacking. episode 12 had potential but ended up feeling pointless. the plot could have wrapped up in episode 11, and instead of dragging it, i wish episode 12 had focused more on a happy, fluffy ending to satisfy romance fans.

in the end, when the phone rings is best for those who enjoy romance and don’t mind an average plot. it’s not the most well-written kdrama, but the leads’ chemistry and the emotional moments make it an entertaining watch.

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The end that ruined everything

When the phone rings surprised me from the very start. I thought I was going to watch a crimi-like drama with lots of criminal activity, police searches with detectives and a cat-and-mouse kind of plot. But it gave me something so much deeper. I was really into it from the get-go because I didn't expect the female lead to turn out so badass.

We follow Hong Hee Jo who has to go through life as a mute due to something her mother once said when she was a young girl. But because of it she's learned sign language and has made it her job to interpret the news readings. She's made something of her life but she carries a secret with her. Behind closed doors, she's the wife of the current Presidential Spokesperson but she cannot ever show her face or appear as his wife. The marriage they have is cold and distant. And when Hee Jo gets abducted by someone who wants to threaten her husband with her life, she finds out just how cold and distant their marriage is.
Burdened by her husband's harsh words, Hee Jo crashes her car and escapes her abductor. By using his untrackeable phone she calls her husband and plots for revenge.

I was on the edge of my seat for so long. Each and every episode had me wanting more and more. The plot was quick and easy to understand. They filled up the gaps swiftly and kept the suspense going. I was binging episodes in between breaks at work and had to force myself to stop watching them when I had to go to sleep. It was so addicting. Almost every episode ends with a cliffhanger.

Positives:
- The chemistry between Hee Jo and Sa Eon was flying off the charts.
- The man who looked like a machine became a soft cinnamon roll. I'm a sucker for storylines like that.
- Arranged marriage becomes true love
- It gave me angst, a romance that made me melt, was an emotional rollercoaster, surprised me at every step and was never predictable
- The suspense was killing me
- I liked the usage of sign language. I don't know it myself but it looked very authentic. And it was so cute when Sa Eon wanted to learn it too and it became their secret language.

Negatives:
- That last episode..... it was a mess. It didn't belong in the show. It was so alien to me that I laughed at the screen the entire time, thinking: what the hell happened? Why are we in the middle of nowhere? Wasn't he shot? Why did her leave after everything they've been through? Is she really wearing that in the middle of an open warzone? 6 months?? HE LEFT FOR 6 MONTHS WITHOUT A WORD? WHY?
- The ending was dumb
- It ruined the entire show for me
- Did I mention the ending sucked?
- I wish I had skipped episode 12
- Truly, the ending didn't make any sense. It was a hot mess. I wanted to give the show a 10 out of 10 but just because I hate the ending so much it turned into an 8 out of 10.

Would I recommend? Yes. But skip the last episode. Or maybe just watch the last 10 minutes of it to save yourself the maddening frustration that comes with watching the whole thing.

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