The ending ruined it all!!
What was supposed to be a super cool drama was spoiled by that totally unnecessary ending!! ... the characters were so well written but the ending was such a rushed one .. don't know why the writers did that to the characters and the story!! ... it was going so well .... ending was totally unsatisfactory ... started off with great power suspense drama and all but lost it's charm gradually till the end and the ending totally ruined what would've been a great drama worth rewatching!!!!! the characters were cool though it was something diffrent than most of the dramas we're getting now a daysWas this review helpful to you?
I was over the moon watching this show—and I didn’t even write a review back then?
I can be pretty picky about ongoing dramas—I usually lose interest halfway through and end up dropping them. But this one was different. I started watching it when it first aired because of Chae Soo Bin, and actually found myself patiently waiting for new episodes every week. The refreshing storyline and the leads’ intense chemistry really pulled me in. I know they both ATE when it comes to kissing scenes, but THEY REALLY ATE HARD on this one. LOLWas this review helpful to you?
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*sigh* Okay, the plot was good.
*my opinion* This is the most overrated drama I've watched.• So, here's the story that no one asked for:
- When I saw this on my Netflix, I thought "Hey, this looks interesting. I'll watch it!"
I binged the first three episodes. Then, at episode eight, I just stopped. I was like "No... This is not gonna get better, I'll just drop it".
A few weeks or months later my YouTube shorts fyp WAS FILLED with edits/clips of When the phone rings. So I thought that if so many people liked it so much, I'll like it too. Well, when I finished it I disliked it even more and found out I just wasted my time. To be honest in the end I even went to get water without pausing it because I just did not care about the characters anymore.
• What I liked:
- The plot is indeed very good! I even saw a girl recommending you only watch ep 1 to see the plot, which in my opinion is a good idea.
- The actors were very good.
• What I didn't like:
- The confusing parts in the story. Basically, to understand this more, just imagine 100 paths in front of you and you don't know which to take. The worst thing about the drama is this, because it throws many things at you and you don't really know how to deal with them. First, he wasn't really who he was pretending to be, then, he runs away, a million other things happen. LIKE WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO PROCESS?!
- I personally didn't feel sad (even though some scenes did have the point to make you cry.)
P.S The OST See the light is amazing and I still listen to it to this day.
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Highly underrated and thrilling kdrama that makes you feel all the feels
Overall: I haven’t watched such a complete and perfect kdrama in a while. I feel like WTPR had, like everyone else said, all the elements people love in a kdrama. What I really felt made WTPR stand out from other kdramas I’ve watched recently was its dark storyline. The insane chemistry of the actors also surprised me, because I was not expecting their love to be that raw and real. I think overall this drama was actually very satisfying and enjoyable to watch.Story: The story really surprised me. I initially watched WTPR because I saw edits of it on my feed and I thought it looked cute. Boy was I not expecting the many plot twists in the kdrama. I feel like so much was packed into 12 episodes but the director did a really good job of making it clear for the most part. I think there were some plot holes regarding Baek Sa Eon’s father, but it’s not that big of a deal. I was really pleasantly surprised by the depth and darkness of the story. Aside from that, I know there was also controversy around the last few episodes, but I didn’t see much of an issue with it. Also, I wanted to note that this kdrama was the first in a long time where I felt the ending was literally perfect. I didn't really want more because I was happy with how it ended. It was a good place to cutoff.
Acting/cast: I only have two words to describe Yoo Yeok Seok and Chae Soo Bin: HOLY CHEMISTRY. I was not expecting their acting to be this good. The way they convey their love for each other in the story tugged at my heartstrings SO MUCH. Their feelings are just so intense in WTPR I was literally obsessed. I was literally screaming in the last episode. I think initially the actors’ kind of turned me away from WTPR because I didn’t know either of them, but I’m glad I decided to watch because my life has been changed by their story. I will never forget Sa Eon and Hee Joo.
Other comments: I think the music wasn’t too notable, just your average kdrama music you get you in the feels. For rewatch, I definitely wouldn’t watch it again because there’s so many plot twists. I might watch some cute scenes again just to feel fluffy inside because boy were there a lot. Also, I really liked the story of the second couple. I wish they got more screen time and more for their story.
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Review: When The Phone Rings (2024-2025)
When The Phone Rings is a South Korean drama that aired between 2024 and 2025. The series blends elements of romance, suspense, and psychological drama, drawing viewers in with its intense storyline and complex character dynamics. The plot follows a young woman who becomes entangled in a dangerous situation after being kidnapped, leading to unexpected emotional conflicts and dramatic twists.The first two episodes of the series are truly engaging. Many viewers who enjoy this type of show will likely continue watching after the initial episodes. The presence of two villains and the fact that the main character hates the kidnapper even more than the girl does add an intriguing dynamic to the story. However, as the episodes progress, the narrative takes a turn that significantly weakens its impact. It is revealed that the so-called villain was never truly bad and had loved the girl from the beginning. This revelation immediately made the series less compelling for me.
No matter how strong the early episodes are, the later ones fail to maintain the same quality. The idea that a couple could spend three years completely misunderstanding each other feels unrealistic and frustrating. The overused theme of "it was all just a big misunderstanding, and we actually loved each other all along" makes the story feel overly simplistic and even a bit insulting to the audience’s intelligence. A similar theme appeared in Queen of Tears, where the couple initially disliked each other, but that story was written in a much more clever and engaging way.
Overall, When The Phone Rings starts off as a promising drama with an exciting premise, but its later episodes fail to deliver a satisfying conclusion.
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was good but what the heck???
At first the premise is good. Until the 5th episode the plot is consistent, fast, interesting, but then it’s predictable, well part of it because what the heck was that subplot in the last episode????? Ridiculous. the whole thing came out of nowhere, so it was a tedious big parentheses in the whole story that didn’t do anything for the plot. I get angry just remembering that.On the other hand, I’m not going to deny that the chemistry between the protagonists is sublime, and the OST is lovely.
Overall it was fun to watch till 11 episode, but for me the ending is really important when liking and rating a drama, in this case the last episode ruined everything.
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very disappointing
it was quite disappointing to me cause it started of really well but then it just went down the hill especially the last two episodes like so many things happened one after the other. Like finding heejoo wasn’t anything that important after all cause the moment he found her he himself disappeared 💀which didn’t make sense to me. I am actually really disappointed cause the show had so much potential. and the only love scenes were either them kissing or imaginary like I was expecting better.Was this review helpful to you?
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A good first few episodes and really bad one at the end
I really liked the beginning of the drama with the originality of the script and the fact that Hee Joo is mute. Her dual personality was also very interesting.However, after that, the script became empty... Total inconsistencies at the end. The last episode was nonsense: how can we go in heels in a country at war ? Aspects without explanations: the past of the parents of the "good" paik seon ?
Also quite sad that the music in the drama was almost nonexistent.
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My new addiction
This drama just makes me stay excited for every ep. the acting is great and the cast is my fav actors and actresses. the story and the tension is top tier. we got one of the best chemistry in 2024 series here. love the ost and I keep listening to it on repeat, it is amazing. love everything till now and I hope it remains great till the last. I wish I had waited for all the eps to start watching because now I have to wait every week and it's tourturing I can't wait to see the next eps. really this year is full of amazing drama and this one might top them if it goes as great as now till the endWas this review helpful to you?
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Had they just dialed down the crazy a tiny bit..
I found the early episodes awesome. It's been such a long time since I felt this way while watching a kdrama. I find the basic concept to be incredibly fun & despite the leads being a bit lacking in chemistry I felt their back and forth refreshing, interesting & even the related mysteries/thriller bits were quite well presented, for a kdrama.Unfortunately my excitement started to seriously fade around e7-8 & by 10 I felt a tremendous amount of boredom. By e8 I thought that I had most of the plot figured out & that I pretty much know what's what with the villains & how this is going to go down.
Again unfortunately I was surprised, the script really went above and beyond my expectations in a bad way. The writers escalated the makjang to absolutely insane levels, not even a hint of sanity had been left in the show. Then comes e12 & again I thought this is it now we'll just go through the motions & we'll get some kind of a cringy super unrealistic happy ending. We've ultimately gotten that alright, but the forced separation & some of the noble idiocy explanations, the dialog related to that part is again completely insane & if we add in how she ended up "there", that's just too much.
I could talk about intelligence insulting plotholes, but I'm not motivated enough to go back & rewatch some of the earlier parts to be absolutely sure this is right.
When The Phone Rings is really hard for me to rate, because on one hand the early episodes were wonderful, but on another this drama has almost everything I hate about kdramas & Brazilian soaps. The one thing it does not have is a strong love triangle & I'm greatful for that, but good gawd all the makjang classics are present & in incredible abundance at that. Epi 11 of this show is quite possibly the craziest kdrama episode I have ever watched, we really go through all the big soap tropes and more in a super condensed way...
The OST on the whole is not great, I barely felt it most of the time, but there is an instrumental track I really liked, though it only played like 3 times throughout the entire show. It's called `In Your Arms` and it can be easily found on Youtube searching for that + When The Phone Rings.
In the final episode there are some veiled references to events that are going or went down in the Middle East, I did not watch the mistranslated version & I don't really care honestly, but it's strange the production team had to go with stuff that resembles controversial real world events, why would you step on toes like that I don't know. This did not influence my rating though, I just find it strange that this was given the okay, considering the ramifications.
Then again maybe I shouldn't be too surprised, Korean writers/directors rarely care about international success & the opinions of international viewers, Netflix or not. Just look at how often Africa comes up in kdramas & how dumb it is every single time.
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Wattpad story ruined by it's final episode
When I first started this drama, I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did until the last episode.During the first two episodes, I immediately knew this story was cliché or Wattpad because I have seen so many to the point I can recognize within minutes, and it was done quite well for most of the story, but I do understand why people think this is very overhyped or hate it tbh cause I do enjoy it, but the writing is disappointing.
Despite it being a cliché, I think the acting wasn’t bad tho it could’ve been better as a longer drama, seeing how 12 episodes couldn’t wrap it up properly, and some storylines could’ve been developed more, such as the 2nd couple or how Heejo falls for Saeon.
The last episode was quite a ride, to say? First half good, 2nd half you lost me cause suddenly there’s this whole argan plot and how the ML is there right now fighting as a soldier and how the FL goes into a war zone but ofc they had to make sure that South Koreans looked like saviors by donating money to people of colour who are unfortunate and “poor”.
I’ve read some comments saying how in the novel it's written out better this arc, so I’m gonna trust that with a grain of salt and I’ve also read that apparently it was the director's idea to include a new report on 🍉 and its ongoing war...
Gotta say, very insensitive even if the goal was just trying to be more “realistic”.
Overall, the drama is quite cliché, so if u enjoy a possessive ML type romance with a badly written ending, then go ahead
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IT’S A DUD!!! GOOD ACTING BUT STUPID SCRIPT, STUPID CHARACTERS
IT’S A DUD!!! GOOD ACTING BUT STUPID SCRIPT, STUPID CHARACTERSMystery thriller in the first episodes, but turned romance in the middle eps. Thrill reappeared after this slump — when the caller entered the scene again.
EARLY EPISODES
I don’t get ML’s seeming animosity towards FL. Why does he seem to HATE FL when we would learn later that he’d been protecting her and finding her as his source of comfort. And that all along he knew that she’s being treated unfairly by her mother.
So, to me, this seeming disrespect toward FL is uncalled for. Especially when he told her to take the wedding gown off. He could have said it in a more friendly and respectful manner —because FL did nothing wrong, and he knows that.
And the THREE YEARS they spent under one roof — without eating or sleeping together!! I don’t get that, really. And the reasons (given in the middle eps) were lame at best.
It seems the writer did that just to fit in the “enemies-to-lovers” trope, which is now is overused, really.
*****
Also UNINTENTIONALLY FUNNY is when FL did sign language interpretation in an event where there were no deaf or mute folks in the audience. The scene is forced — just so the two will have their first public appearance together.
🙄
JUST WHEN I THOUGHT that the story is predictable, Ep 9’s cliffhanger gave us a very unexpected revelation. I guess nobody saw that coming.
And then, ANOTHER twist soon followed (Ep 10). Wow.
*****
THE REVELATION (EP 10). When ML revealed to the whole world that he is not who they think he is, he proceeded with the drama about loving his wife. Super corny scene/script. Ok, fine.
BUT… no explanation was given as to who he really is and why he pretended to be the son of a presidential candidate??? And the media people didn’t ask why?? ALL became stupid and unthinking?? Wow. Is that realistic?? 🙄
In Ep 11 the father (presidential candidate) explained to the press “what really happened.” Okay. And this is a day or two after ML’s big revelation. I mean, hello??? What happened RIGHT AFTER ML’s revelation? No one really bothered to ask??? Not even his staff? That just seems incredible!
*****
Also in Ep 11 (penultimate ep), there’s another revelation — from the kidnapper; but he just whispered it to ML. ML was dumbfounded and teared up. What is it? And why did he look at FL?? I guess we’ll have to wait till the finale to know what it is.
But ML being the REAL son of the old rich man is not new anymore. This was revealed earlier by the professor (the mother who was arrested).
SPEAKING OF THE MOTHER, the scene where she killed the old man — that was also forced. The old man is dying!! Couldn’t she wait?? Did she really have to do that?? Stupid move from stupid character.
*****
FINALE
What?? ML disappeared (hid) from everyone — including FL?? For SIX MONTHS?!! Without giving any reason?? Another major roll-eye moment. This is as — if not more — cruel than his initial treatment of FL. Sheeez….
For whatever reason he has, SIX MONTHS is waaaay too long. Does he think his wife has no feelings??? Grrr.
Now I’m watching in 1.5x speed. Too bad, Netflix had no 2x speed.
*****
NOW, WE’VE ENTERED A REBEL TERRITORY
and we have only 30 minutes more to go.
Who watches sunsets in rebel territories??? 🙄
*****
STUPID FL RISKS HER LIFE
and stupid ML scolds her after saving her —
after not seeing her for SIX MONTHS!!!
Then, stupid ML asks, “Why are you here?”
Stupid!!! 🤣
Haha!!! Can this get any funnier???
*****
And it DID get funnier…
ML: “Can’t you see I’m holding back?”
Oh gosh. What is this, writer??? 🙄
*****
SO… we learn what the kidnapper told ML.
So what???
It was ML’s father who did that, NOT ML!!
So, why the reaction (hide from it all)???
Why didn’t he talk to FL about it?
Stupid reaction to a stupid plot twist.
Geeeez!!!
*****
OVERALL
Sorry to disappoint the fans of this series, but it’s just another makjang for me. Google makjang. So many stupid scenes. Series started okay, but it went steadily downhill and crashed at the end.
Acting from the entire cast is okay to great, but the STUPID story couldn’t save this sorry mess of a series.
Definitely not rewatching this one — ever!
🙄
ALSO: Posters for this series are duh, lazy, uncreative, unimaginative. Who did those?? High school kids??
MY RATING: 5 / 10
👎🏼
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