This review may contain spoilers
Good entertainment but bad drama
Before reading please note that this review can contain some spoilers.I must admit that zi had a great time with this drama for most of the time. However in my personal opinion kdramas are geting worse and worse this days.
The strongest part of this drama was acting. Actors surely nailed their roles and made the climate so it was very enjoyable to watch. And that would be end of good parts.
As I watched literally hundreds of kdramas the plot was rather predictible. Maybe two or three things suprised me. So the story itself wasn't anything special or innovative. I would say it was full of typical kdramas cliches.
I didn't like the relation between the FL and ML. This guy literally was treating his wife like invisible for three years but when she wanted a divorce he had a change of heart. As always it was also unbelievable for me that FL suddenly fell in love with ML after being ignored for about three years.
And the ending... i know it was also in the web novel but still it could be made better.
To sum up you can have a good fun watching but sorry this drama definitely is not a masterpiece.
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WATTPAD MEETS K-DRAMA
This k-drama is only two episodes in and I am already HOOKED!! It has all my favorite tropes: arranged marriage, she fell first he fell harder, cold male lead who secretly cares for the female lead, etc. The acting and the chemistry between Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin is so good! I am living for the tension and Baek Sa Eon's possessiveness/protectiveness! AND THE PLOT TWISTS!? SO GOOD!! It is also a plot that I have never seen before, especially in a k-drama. Overall, such a good k-drama that has me hooked since episode one!Review update now that I have finished:
First off I want to thank this drama for giving me something to look forward to every weekend! It is one of my new favorites and will always hold a special place in my heart! Now onto the review!
I did take off .5 stars from my initial 10/10 rating since the imagination/dream bit was a bit repetitive and some things were rushed in the final episodes (In my opinion, it needed at least 16 episodes so a lot of the plot wasn’t so rushed towards the end). However, they still did a great job in executing everything with the limited episodes that they had!
This drama had ALL THE TROPES. Arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, etc. and all the tropes, in my humble opinion, were done tastefully! War trope was also thrown in last minute, but Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin actually executed it so well and not going to lie I ate it up!!
Speaking of Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin, their chemistry and acting was so good in this drama!! All the emotional scenes (especially the cliff scene) were done so well and the yearning and the tension was carried out so good! Cannot give them enough praise for the acting they did for WTPR!
They also used a lot of symbolism in this drama and a lot of the details were done with intention which I loved and appreciated!
Overall, this drama was a really good one and a plot I have never seen before in another k-drama! It’s interesting from beginning to end and one I would highly recommend for people to try and watch!
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Dysfunctional marriage with all the kisses
No major spoilers:That is so satisying. When The Phone Rings' premise needs a LOT of suspension of disbelief...but who cares right? Those kisses(omg!) alone make it all worth it. We get a delicious male lead, a heroine we can root for, an 'it's complicated' marriage in the midst of it all, with a bit of psycho killer mystery and endless taboo family secrets thrown in.
Yoo Yeon Seok's looks are not typically what I go for as male lead, but he is amazing as Paik Sa Eon, who is the epitome of what all kfangirls go weak for---dashing 24x7 in a suit, each strand of hair meticulously arranged, so competent, ruthless, and unbothered, until you threaten his wife (yup, the one he's supposed not to care for). Then he goes all bonkers. Chae Soo Bin equally embodies vulnerable yet strong-willed Hong Hee Ju well, whose life has all been about sacrifices because of her selfish mother.
Someone likened this couple to the Flower of Evil dynamic, and I see the likeness. There's something delectable about watching a dysfunctional marriage, where they clearly care about each other, but all the secrets and miscommunications are on the way.
Spoilers
Where else can you see a distant couple who can only communicate their deepest secrets and repressed feelings behind a kidnapper's burner phone? Where a wife blackmails her husband to divorce her for 20 billion won?
I like it that Paik Sa Eon doesn't dwell too much on his hurt on Hee Ju's betrayal, he knows he wronged her a lot too, and he understood right away the reasonings behind her actions. Oftentimes it's easier to communicate behind the phone, things we cannot tell the other in person, and it was wondrous to see these two slowly fall more for each other as they open up their feelings.
Since childhood, Sa Eon found a kindred state with Hee Ju, amidst all the affluence surrounding them, they felt suffocated in a gilded cage, living a life forced upon them. There were probably some shortcuts so the story can fit into 12 episodes, so now I'm excited to tackle the webtoon and the source novel material. But undoubtedly, this is an easy recommendation, for those looking for a different spin on the 'dysfunctional marriage' trope, which I'm getting way addicted to.
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Love or Obsession? Unpacking the Complexities of "Drama When Phone Rings"
"Drama When Phone Rings" delves into the haunting dynamics of a marriage where love—if it can even be called that—lurks in silence for years, only to surface under extreme and desperate circumstances. The drama portrays a husband who claims to have loved his wife all along but failed to express it for three years, leaving viewers to question whether his so-called love is genuine or merely an unhealthy obsession.True love involves action, care, and a willingness to nurture a relationship. The husband’s three years of indifference show none of these qualities. Despite his alleged feelings, he made no effort to communicate, to make his wife feel valued, or to work on their marriage. This lack of effort and engagement suggests that his "love" might not be as pure as it seems. Genuine love inspires vulnerability and a desire to connect, but his behavior implies emotional apathy—or worse, a controlling mindset where he doesn’t feel the need to prove or share his affection.
When his wife pretends to be a kidnapper, it is a desperate act of seeking validation in a marriage that has emotionally starved her. His sudden change of heart and willingness to show affection only after this dramatic plea feels reactive and superficial. It raises an unsettling question: is this really love, or is it his obsession with possession, control, or the idea of his wife, rather than her as a person?
Obsession often masquerades as love, but it is fundamentally self-centered. It is more about holding onto someone than genuinely caring for their happiness or well-being. The husband’s years of emotional neglect, coupled with his delayed response only when provoked, make it hard to see his feelings as anything more than a possessive obsession. His actions don’t stem from a realization of her worth but from the fear of losing her—a response driven by his ego rather than true affection.
The wife’s decision to stay or accept his newfound love is equally complicated. Should she trust that his feelings are real, or should she recognize that his "love" is contingent on her begging for it? The drama challenges viewers to grapple with these dilemmas, ultimately leaving a sour aftertaste. It underscores the painful reality of relationships built on unbalanced emotional investments and the danger of confusing obsession with love.
In the end, "Drama When Phone Rings" serves as a cautionary tale about the need for communication, emotional honesty, and mutual effort in love. It leaves viewers questioning the husband’s motives, the wife’s choice, and whether a relationship like this is even worth saving.
While "Drama When Phone Rings" initially presents the husband’s actions as self-centered and emotionally neglectful, the later episodes reveal a more nuanced and heartfelt progression in his character. As the layers of their complex marriage unfold, it becomes evident that the husband’s previous indifference was not due to a lack of love but rather his own inability to express it. His genuine feelings, though buried under years of silence, begin to surface as the couple confronts their emotional wounds. His decision to respond with patience, kindness, and understanding, especially when learning about his wife’s desperate actions, marks a significant turning point in the story. Instead of reacting with anger or resentment, he chooses empathy, offering forgiveness and demonstrating the true depth of his love.
Similarly, the wife’s journey is just as transformative. Initially, she sought validation in desperate, misguided ways, but as she sees her husband’s true efforts and love, she begins to open herself up in ways that weren’t possible before. Her willingness to accept his vulnerabilities, even when she uncovers his own secret, highlights the growth of their relationship. The drama beautifully portrays how both characters, once emotionally distant and guarded, find strength in their mutual support and understanding. They both accept each other’s flaws, fostering an environment where trust and emotional honesty can finally flourish.
The couple’s shared vulnerability becomes the cornerstone of their evolving relationship. While the drama started with an unsettling question of obsession versus love, it ultimately leads to a more hopeful message: love can be redefined, even after years of neglect, if both partners are willing to face their fears, be vulnerable, and rebuild their emotional connection. The husband’s and wife’s journey toward mutual support and acceptance not only heals their individual wounds but also lays the foundation for a more balanced, loving partnership.
"Drama When Phone Rings" ultimately celebrates the power of communication, emotional growth, and mutual care, showing that love can be rediscovered, even in the most challenging circumstances. Both characters, in accepting each other’s secrets and supporting one another’s growth, prove that a strong, loving relationship is built on the willingness to understand, forgive, and evolve together.
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The most stupidest ending
There are 2 versions of me: before I watched episode 12, and after.First let me start of by saying that ep 1 - 11 were genuinely very good episodes. They were interesting, fast past, the leads had chemistry. Nothing felt out of place or like it was just for filler.
The problem with this drama was ep 12. The controversy was ofc so unnecessary and dumb but I digress, even the plot of the episode is stupid, so let's get into that.
Lets start with the fact that the episode prior Sa Eon was saying that the thought of not knowing if his wife was dead or alive was torturous and it was killing him blah blah blah, he THEN proceeds to just disappear and makes his wife go through the same thing he just did. AND on top of that he also spent the prior episode regretting that he didn't communicate with his wife enough and they lost so much time, only to... yep you guessed it - abandon her and waste even more time. What a great husband. And you dear reader must be thinking. huh, I wonder what valuable piece of information he learned that caused him to leave everything he's ever known and move to a war torn country. Well let me enlighten you: it was something she already knew and didn't have a problem with. So really it was all pointless.
But now left move on to the actual episode because it doesn't end there. So we learn that he has moved to a war torn country because he really loved the sunsets there (or some BS like that), and hee joo decides she's gonna go to the place were he would watch them - oh except she can't, because it's been occupied by the rebels. But that actually doesn't matter cause she decides to go anyway. Now the whole point of this trip is to find Sa Eon, so why would she think that her husband would go to a place that's so obviously dangerous?????? But guess what she's actually right, because after she gets captured by rebels, Sa Eon ends up saving her, because for some reason he's there saving people (I don't know).
And at last the two are reunited, only narrowly escaping the close hot breath of death. So what do they decide to in this incredibly tense and dangerous situation? You guessed again reader: fight! and not even like a harsh whispering fight, they're full on yelling and crying and mind you there are literal rebel cars going past them as this is happening and I just can't help but think: are you guys stupid. This is all so incredibly stupid. In fact, I think this is the stupidest thing I've every seen.
Anyway in the end they get married (again) and this have cringy scene where they're all having dinner and everything is all right and then nothing more happens cause the show ends, and I closed netflix, opened a new tab, wrote kisskh and shared with you all just how much of a waste of time this was.
So thank you for reading, and if you also didn't like it, let me know, because TRUST, I want to hear it.
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Inspite of having a lot to criticize, it was a fun watch
When the phone rings has a intriguing plot, a wife threatening her husband on a phone call, YES. a hot and tsundere husband, YES. it had a lot of elements which made it attractive to watch as a viewer. but once you get into the drama, you'll realise how absurd some things are, which will just make you LAUGH.I'll start with the pros. Why was it so hyped, it had some good reasons.
1. VERY GOOD CHEMISTRY. the leads just did so well, acting was good, chemistry was good, angst, feelings and everything else, they were an amazing couple.
2. the story, overall, was good. I liked the intense and very confusing plot which will make your mind spin for a minute. yes its a thriller afterall. i think things will not make a lot of sense until like 10th episode.
3. No love traingle, noone who tries to sabotage the couple. im glad they didnt add any 3rd person to the already very intense plot which i anticipated at the hint of fml's sister. i appreciate it <3
4. the pacing. i liked how things were revealed about the fml to ml at a very good speed. it didnt take him forever to figure about out what was going on like in other dramas where main leads discover everything about each other on 12th episode, then 2 episodes of heartbreak and finally happy ending. no, i loved how emotionally stable they were and how things were handled.
now to the cons.
1. very first it was, scientifically speaking, absurd. girlie fell from a cliff, didnt even break a bone. a man died while suffocating on a pillow while oxygen tube was connected to his nose? just remove that damn tube??? these things, where you should feel shocked/sad, you cant help but just laugh at it.
2. execution. as i said i liked the story but the way it was shown was BAD. i did not understand what the heck was going on until 10th episode. everything was just very mixed up and jumbled that you would want to pause and give your brain a break. and then they'll reveal EVERYTHING on 11th episode like you'll have to just take it all.
3. plot twists. the ones you'll guess easily, they'll show it like it was the greatest discovery made. but the ones you wouldnt even recognize as a possibility, they'll show them to you in a whim like it didnt really matter and just go with it. i had to rewind and watch some parts again to understand if what they said was real lol.
4. the fml was lowkey dumb at a lot of parts, especially when she was 406. at first when she threatened him, it was great. but gradually she gets emotionally driven, speaks stuffs that you will NEVER hear from a kidnapper. i can understand why he would think it was an affair partner. she has no real plan, just wants a divorce and has no clue how she'll get that. when ml discovers its her making threat calls, he made it quite obvious that he knows. but she till the end, she doesnt even give it a thought that the boy may already know. and when i tell you SHES SHOCKED TO THE CORE when she discovers it like yeah...
5. the last epsiode. ik they wanted to move the boy somewhere remote so that he's not discoverable but a warzone? and what exactly was he doing there? freeing hostages waiting to get killed? im sorry but when did he become a superman, bro didnt even have a fist fight in the whole drama 😭 the 1st half was so unnecessary just because they wanted to stay true to the novel. okay. also again, the girl easily got into the rebel region, i dont think the writers knew how it works because u cant just get in that easily.
6. lastly , the few seconds on the end. paltima and ijmael. i wonder if they really just put random names or hinted at something entirely different. i hope its not what i think it is because its very insensitive to the real world situations. well, it didnt just sit right with me.
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Wattpad-y type of drama but executed well
This drama brought on so many wattpad and fanfiction tropes that I savored when I was a teenager. Marriage contract, cohabitation, and giving kinda enemy to lover vibe with the wicked family history plot. The first hald was fun and intriguing, it's been a long time since we have a drama with cliche plots but somehow still running pretty well.The second half, not so much. Maybe because of the limited episodes, some scenes felt "jumped". I knew it was based on a manhwa and this was a work of fiction, but sometimes it just didn't make any sense. And for me, ep 12 was a let down, only their steamy scenes made up for it.
No complaints on the actors acting, Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soobin potrayed their roles well, and the others are fine too. Overall, just a fun drama and you didn't need to use your brain which was kinda the point.
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wasted potential
even tho i think that the tanked reviews on rotten tomato and google are deserved bc of the insensitivity to the ongoing genocide im going to be completely unbiased. this show had sm potential and the premise of the plot was really interesting but executed horribly. could have been completed in 10-12 eps it dragged way too long and what the hell was the last episode?? they completely lost the plot and threw them into a completely unrelated war like? and no hate to the actor herself, but the main female lead’s character was so annoying and useless they did not craft her personality/ambition/character well. besides that there was absolutely no chemistry between the main leads every time they came on screen i had to skip their “lovey dovey” parts. this was the first drama in a while where i was more excited to see the side couple than the main. there was so many loopholes and things that lacked basic common sense that u had to turn off ur brain and throw all logic out the window to get through an episode. it was full of cliches, and i will say that the first 4 eps were good, but after that everything was totally predictable and very boring to watch. utter doodooWas this review helpful to you?
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12 episodes of cliff falls and regrets
I finished watching When the Phone Rings out of sheer stubbornness.There is 12 episodes of this nonsense. It becomes an unintentional parody of every bad K-drama trope, taken to such ridiculous extremes that it feels like the writers were trolling their own audience.
The brooding male lead isn’t mysterious; he’s just exhausting. The female protagonist is passive and poorly written. The show is held together by implausible coincidences and a complete lack of credibility. People survive falls from cliffs and car accidents like they’re invincible, only to emerge unscathed and somehow still not learn a single thing.
Every time the story builds tension like it's preparing for grand explosion, it fizzles out before the characters finally confront the big issue. So, once there’s a big confrontation it’s ruined because we already know all the secrets—so it’s just people yelling things we’ve known for episodes.
The setup had potential—cryptic phone calls, mystery, suspense. At first, I thought, “Hey, this might go somewhere.” But then the female lead escapes a kidnapping and immediately steals a phone from her captors. Brilliant move. Phones can’t be tracked, right?
Meanwhile, the male lead’s “hidden love” is even worse. He treats his wife like trash for 3 years because he’s secretly in love with her but “didn’t want to get attached.” Yeah, that makes total sense. Also, I swear there is a slow motion walk in every episode. I don’t know if the editors decided that every single step he takes must be slowed down to showcase his “raw intensity", but the only thing it achieves is that it takes him forever to reach anywhere. Also, let’s pause to appreciate the British Embassy scene. The male lead walks in, and everyone stops to gush about how handsome he looks in a suit. Are you kidding me? He’s not on a runway, and no one in real life reacts like this. Anywhere. Ever.
And don’t get me started on his elite FBI/NYPD training. Is there some magical belief in K-dramas that taking a six-month seminar in the U.S. turns you into a super-genius? I don’t care how tragic his backstory is—unless he’s a CIA operative with a clearance level so high it’s classified even to him, there’s no chance he casually got FBI training as a non-citizen.
The good news is that this show pulls itself together in the end and makes you love it all.... I'm f***ing kidding. The final episode wraps this shit up in such a ridiculous way that you feel logic becoming a distant memory.
It starts with the male lead deciding that the best way to atone for something his father did is to leave his wife and wander into a war zone, as a self-punishment apparently. This happens right after he himself was devastated when she was missing. Naturally, she follows him to the war zone, declaring “I don’t care if I die waiting for him, or get shot in a war zone—it’s all the same to me.” She’s essentially equating heartbreak with surviving war horrors. But okay. You may wonder how does she find him? Well, apparently, he loves sunsets so she’ll go to a sunset spot (I'm not kidding). No mention of navigating logistics of a war-torn country or how she's planning to locate him among millions of people in a literal conflict zone. Then what happens? Even though she’s warned that place is overrun by rebels, she still goes. And then, yes, you guessed it, she gets kidnapped by rebels. Most likely to hammer home a damsel-in-distress scene, I think. And who swoops in for the perfectly timed rescue, may I add, coincidentally? Of course her husband single-handedly stops a car full of armed rebels and rescues her, freeing and then ignoring the other kidnapped people (literally leaving them behind in the dark forest) because they’re not important to the plot. Just when I thought this show couldn’t get any dumber, it outdoes itself in a spectacular fashion. Rebels are hunting them, but do they hide quietly? Of course not. They start yelling at each other in the middle of the forest. This is when male lead delivers personally my favorite line in the entire show: “I’m being punished because you’re standing in front of me, and all I want is to hug you, but I’m holding back.” FFS. You'll be fine. After all the yelling and self-pity they make up and go back home.
This show fails to deliver a cohesive and compelling narrative. It tries to be deep and meaningful but instead ends up being unintentionally hilarious. Watching it feels like the writers bet they could get away with every cliché, plot hole, and nonsensical twist in existence, and by some miracle, they did.
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Another drama that a serial killer killed
They should’ve scrapped the unnecessary sociopathic serial killer mess and made the story about him, her and the phone.Two people living together in silence and apathy until the phone rings. What starts off as threatening phone calls grows into a shared connection. They spend their nights talking and sharing everything with each other on the phone. He falls for her without realizing and she falls for him but has to pretend to be indifferent.
And the mystery (for him) is who is the caller?
Wouldn’t have minded a whole drama with him running around trying to find the caller and pretending not to know it’s her once he does to keep the calls coming.
It also would’ve fixed the issue of him “having feelings for her for 20 years” and never learning sign language🤷🏾♀️ because in my version, there was no childhood connection or secret feelings and they really were strangers in a contract marriage.
The side plot would’ve focused on the abuse she faced in her family.
But as it stands, with the story we got…I’m gonna give it a 7/10
And that’s me being kind cause the last 2 episodes were absolute shit from a butt (and the mystery was nonsensical trash)
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Cliche done right
Cold and possessive male lead with a mysterious past , checkCute and silent female lead with a trauma , check
This has to be one of the best dramas of 2024. With such a strong start, it captivates you and keeps you on the edge.
Marriage of convenience , childhood acquaintances, estranged couple, ... these tropes were executed in a way they didn't feel cringy and further added to the plot. If you want to relive your wattpad days , its for you.
The acting, the plot, the chemistry ,the cinematography , pacing, dialogues, twists and attention to detail were so well done. The acting of not only the leads but also the supporting cast , especially the real Baek Sa-Eon amazingly done. From what you can expect from a romance thriller kdrama, it delivers. In most of the parts, there is nothing unnecessary and the plot flows seemlessly . The romance scenes also served.
Not to mention the OSTs , so beautiful . See the light has become one of my favourites.
It did a good job for most of the part . The start was impeccable . We get a couple who have been married for 3 years but just for name's sake , the male lead having liked the fl since the beginning and them slowly getting to know each other as they face problems that threatens their very being. We get angst, tension and intensity which dissipates in the later episodes. As we transition to the last few eps, they were a little underwhelming compared to the rest of the initial parts and becomes a little over dramatic and random , doing absolutely nothing to the plot . The logic flies out . But the ending make up for it so ...
Special mention to the second lead couple . They stole my heart . Their dynamic was fun and natural . I wish we had gotten more of them.
I am giving it a 9 for the overall job it did ,overlooking some subplots (*cough* argan *cough*) and for the terrific start.
If you love cliches that give you the feels , jump straight into it.
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A Must Watch!
This show was SOOOOO GOOD! I can't even begin to explain how much I loved it. The plot twists? Mind-blowing. The acting? Top-notch. Everything about it was so well-done, and the pacing? Perfect. I wasn’t bored for even a second. Every episode had me on edge, completely hooked and dying to know what would happen next.Hong Hui Ju and Hong In A’s interactions were absolutely adorable. They were so sweet as sisters, and their bond felt so genuine. I loved their little moments together; they added such a heartfelt layer to the show.
And then there’s Hong Hui Ju and Baek Sa Eon’s chemistry—WOW. They were incredible together. The way they looked at each other, those subtle moments of connection—it was everything. Their relationship had so much depth, and I loved every second of it.
Now, let me just fangirl for a minute because Yoo Yeon Seok. Oh my god, his tears? I’m not even kidding when I say they destroyed me in the best way. This man knows how to pull at your heartstrings like no one else. Every emotional scene was pure magic because of him. I’m officially obsessed and already lining up his other dramas to watch. He’s just THAT good.
The plot itself was so well-crafted. Every character had a role to play, and nothing felt out of place or unnecessary. It’s rare to find a show where everything fits together so seamlessly, but this one nailed it. Every scene and every character added something valuable to the story.
That said, the ending? Eh, not so much. I really don’t think Baek Sa Eon needed to “go missing” just to stretch things out for an extra episode. It felt unnecessary and kind of threw off the otherwise great pacing. And as much as I adore Chae Soo Bin (she’s clearly a talented actress), I have to admit Hong Hui Ju’s cluelessness got a little frustrating at times. Like, girl, please, read the room!
But honestly, those minor complaints don’t take away from how amazing this show was. The acting, the story, the emotions—everything just hit perfectly. I’m in love with this drama and already planning to rewatch it. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re seriously missing out!
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