When the Phone Rings (2024)

it a nice movie

This Drama is the savior of those failed to capture the heart of many kdrama fan like me. The turns and twist can makes you want more of it, the casting I mean the undeniable chemistry of the leads is quite amazing, before it aires some says it will fail as the leads age gap is huge but they prove it wrong. I watched 3 episodes, and I am already waiting for the next, there is a mystery from the past that connects the leads, and crazy how my intuition saying that the leads college friend is the mystery guy.This drama challenge the power of my intuition. Let see after more eps revealed. I hope the prod and director handle it well and not over cooked it. Kudos! we also feel the sparks between the two, it’s nice to be in love, much nicer if secretly.

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Why did the phone calls turn into marriage counseling? i was ready for a psychotic wife!!

The first few episodes of this show had me extremely interested. I generally like all the set pieces it has, like the enemies to lovers and the mysterious background. But it kind of fell apart about halfway through.
Due to a childhood accident, FL became selectively mute.
FL gets kidnapped because she's the wife of the CEO ML and some guy really hates him. She steals the kidnapper's cell phone and starts threatening her husband with it that she wants a divorce. Then she didn't want a divorce. Then he found out she did it, and they talked on the phone, even though she was mute. But she's only occasionally mute and she thinks he doesn't know it's her on the kidnapper's cell phone. xD

I'll probably finish it because right now it's just funny. The male lead is really the soul of this drama (I totally didn't realize he's the one who played Gu dong mae in Mr. Sunshine). This has got to be the most lighthearted role Choi Soo-bin has ever played.

Episode 8- the mystery of ML's past /and what their parents have done has made the plot interesting again. I still can't get over how traumatized FL is that she thinks the situation is ok and his love makes it all better now. Lol.

Music- nothing memorable to me.

Overall, I don't think this drama is worth 8.9 points. It's decently entertaining, but i felt like i was bait and switched somehow.
I think people are dying for a good Korean drama right now because I know I am.

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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!

*Will update my review once finished!

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so far still PROMISING!!!

this drama is getting better and better!
a lot has happened, romance is blooming, secrets are starting to unravel, and i’m totally seated!

Baek Sa Eon looks cold and stiff on the outside, but his heart is full of warmth for Hong Hee Joo. i was so happy when Hee Joo was looking at the photos taken during the team retreat and realized that Baek Sa Eon was looking at her with such loving eyes all the time. it’s amazing how actors can do that—one moment they show you a cold and sharp gaze, and the next, they give you loving heart eyes.

i really want to commend Chae Soo Bin for her sign language skills. her efforts truly shine through, and it’s clear she put in a lot of work. i’m sure it wasn’t easy to learn and memorize, but she comes across as both comfortable and convincing. i’ve seen a drama before where the male lead used sign language, but it didn’t feel authentic at all. that’s why i especially want to applaud her dedication and performance.

p.s. help, i find the actor who plays Ji Sang Woo so charming…

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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.

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Disappointing

This drama had the potential to be a thrilling romance story but it totally failed. I really enjoy the arranged marriage and secret identity tropes but I can't get past how boring and full of cliches this drama is. I don't like how the FL seems so incompetent too. I don't want to sound too mean and I did enjoy the casting of this drama but there's many things that could have been better.

What I'm truly disappointed about is the disability representation. I can see how they wanted to be all progressive by using sign language, deafness and mutism as part of the plot but it didn't work out how they intended.

Some spoilers ahead:

It's so boring how the ML is supposedly in love with a woman that uses sign language but doesn't even bother to learn it during the first years of their marriage. (I hope the upcoming episodes prove me wrong) And when he does show the smallest effort to learn it they try to make it seem like something great when in reality it's normal to learn your partner's language. The couple does not really even communicate until the FL starts talking which makes it seem like sign language is not a proper and functional language like any others. Their relationship sparks off after they can talk by using words..

Then the selective mutism. These characters do not understand what selective mutism is. While that is the reality for the people who really have it, this drama does not point it out at all or try to explain what selective mutism is to the viewers. The ML does not understand this condition and tries to coax the FL into speaking which pisses me off.

The bad guy's evilness is of course shown with his tic disorder and heterochromia. Really? In a drama that's supposed to be progressive about these things you use them to make someone seem off putting and weird.. How original. These different disabilies are constantly shown as something negative and I'm done with it.

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So Annoying

This series is not so bad that I want to stop watching, yet I'm really annoyed by a couple of things about it. First off, just how stupid is the ML that he can't put 2 and 2 together? How many episodes is it going to take before he can finally see what's right in front of his face? IMO it should have happened in episode 2 or 3 at most. And I refuse to believe that the FL can so easily control herself in difficult circumstances so as not to reveal her big secret. I find it easier to believe in zombies and I hate zombie series. Naturally, the 2 episodes a week format isn't as enjoyable as the binge-them-all-in-one-shot opportunities. Netflix arbitrarily skipping a week didn't help. As it is I have to watch everything at 1.5 speed due to the prolonged pauses inherent to a lot of Kdramas. Overall I just want this series to move faster. Hopefully it will ripen into a good romance, but it's just a bit too green for me right now.

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Enjoyable but disconcerting.

There's a lot to enjoy about this drama - so far only half the episodes have been released on Netflix. Both leads play their roles well, especially ML is compelling. FL is less compelling, especially in beginning episodes she just didn't look that terrified at being kidnapped - but playing the quietly submissive person who pleases everyone to survive - that was convincing - having large doe eyes helps, and there is a warmth to her role that draws you in. The chemistry between the pair is great, of course, it helps they're both good to look at. The age gap between the leads is a little distracting, as they are supposed to be similar in age, but they're both too cute together for me to be bothered that much. It kind of suits the drama that he looks quite a bit older as he is quite dominating and paternalistic.

There are quite a few times where we have to suspend judgement - especially around the FL being a sign language interpreter. As a person who cannot speak, she can only interpret one way - and yet there are many situations when two way interpreting is required, so another interpreter is bought along to support her. It's also odd that she signs to the British ambassador's wife in Korean sign language as the two sign languages are not mutually intelligible. Kudos to the actress though, she did look comfortable signing and learning those sequences would not have been easy. I use sign as a second language, so it's comforting for me to see sign language taking a central role in a drama.

As in many Korean dramas, the inequality of the sexes in terms of influence and power stands out starkly to an outside observer. Often older women are portrayed as malicious and vain, and you wonder if that's because it's the only way they ever get to exert any influence. This particular dynamic is on clear display in this drama, and although it's there to add tension and not to make any kind of social commentary, it's such a force in this show that it's hard to ignore.

I am often struck too by how often the male lead tells the female lead to stand up for herself and in the next breath he orders her around under the guise that she doesn't know how to take care of herself. It seems like this is all the usual romantic trope of the powerful and commanding male lead and on screen it works a charm, but in real life it would be regarded as toxic masculinity.

So I find myself regularly suspending judgement and going a long for the ride. It's an enjoyable ride, as long as you don't think about it too much.

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Best Kdrama of 2024

When the Phone Rings is a thrilling K-drama that masterfully combines suspense, romance, and political intrigue. The story follows Baek Sa Eon, the youngest presidential spokesman in Korea, who comes from a distinguished political lineage. Despite his stellar career as a war correspondent, hostage negotiator, and news anchor, his personal life tells a different story. His marriage to Hong Hui Ju, a mute sign language interpreter and the daughter of a prominent newspaper owner, is distant and based on convenience. However, their lives take a dramatic turn when Hui Ju is kidnapped, forcing them to reevaluate their relationship and confront their true feelings.

The series excels in character development, presenting Baek Sa Eon as a man torn between duty and personal growth, and Hui Ju as a symbol of silent strength and resilience. Their journey from estrangement to genuine connection is portrayed with emotional authenticity, making their transformation deeply moving.

The drama's suspenseful pacing and brilliant cinematography keep viewers hooked, while the intricate storyline ensures there’s never a dull moment. The supporting cast adds depth to the narrative, enriching the plot without overshadowing the leads.

Why When the Phone Rings is the Best K-Drama of 2024

For me, When the Phone Rings is hands down the best K-drama of 2024. It strikes the perfect balance between emotional depth and edge-of-your-seat suspense. The show delves into profound themes of communication, vulnerability, and rediscovering love amidst adversity, making it both thought-provoking and heartwarming.

If you’re looking for a drama that keeps you captivated from start to finish while offering rich character arcs and meaningful storytelling, When the Phone Rings is an absolute must-watch. It’s more than entertainment it’s an unforgettable experience.

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Cringe Cringe and more cringe

This show had a promising trailer and synopsis, but I am finding it difficult to continue and it doesn't deserve the 8.9 rating which made me create a mydramalist account and write this review.

Promised Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Romance, Drama
What did I get to watch : cringe worthy webtoon scenes.

There is a difference between webtoon, novel and series - directors should understand that. Some stories which might look good on a webtoon would raise eyebrows when copied as such to a series. And thats what happened to this series.

So nobody knows who is his wife - but he is arranging chauffeurs, security team and other helpers, but nobody has seen his wife?

It is a nonsense series. But if you like cringe worthy series you might like it. Not for me.

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