When the Phone Rings (2024)

Unnecessary ending

I have mixed feelings. I really enjoyed the start of this drama. In the halfway I was a bit lost but still it was entertaining. BUT these two last episodes were so messy and the Argan plot was so unnecessary. Who even made that plot? It didn't make any sense and I felt like watching a completely different drama. Why did they have to ruin a good drama with a floppy ending???

Instead of the bad Argan plot, they should have given us the crumbs of Sang U and Yu Ri!!! They build up a great relationship between them just to randomly announce their marriage in the last episode... like c'mon that was so badly written. The actors had great chemistry together and they were very cute but the writers still wasted their potential. How sad :((

One thing I did really like was Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin's chemistry. They acted so well together and looked so cute together. Great chemistry!! Even the intimate scenes were good and didn't seem awkward. They're good kissers xD I'm glad they got the happy ending they deserved.

This drama would have gotten a better rating from me if they had focused on Sa Eon and Hui Ju and the phone. I really loved the conversations between Sa Eon and 406 (Hui ju). Instead they made it messy and added that ridiculous Argan plot, therefore I have to lower my rating. But because I still enjoyed the drama, I will give it an 8.

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OH MY GWAD!!! HEAR ME OUT!

GUYS I'm just so behind bcz of my exams but i can't stop myself from yapping about this anymore, i have watched only 5 episodes and the spoilers, acting, story, ost and EVERYTHING IS PERFECT and i have probably never got excited about a kdrama THIS MUCH before, every minute of this kdrama is amazing till now and I'm not dropping it. If a kdrama is getting me into only first few episodes like this... it's really A HIT. ALSO, I GOT AN UNHEALTHY OBSESSION. This is the best kdrama of this year for me!!! If you still haven't watched it or think it's not worth it, what are you doing with your life man?? JUST GO AHEAD AND WATCH IT BRUH 🎀😭😭✋🏻

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really enjoyed When the Phone Rings—it’s exactly the type of show I love. It has such a good vibe, with a perfect balance of mystery and drama. The couple in the series is amazing, and their chemistry feels so natural! 🍻😍

The storyline is engaging, with plenty of twists that keep you on your toes. If you're looking for a show that's not only entertaining but also gives off a positive, feel-good vibe, I definitely recommend giving it a watch.

Also, if you're into the music, the OST album is really beautiful. You can listen to it here:

https://memo.ostfly.com/album/PVGhhUNL/when-the-phone-rings-ost

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! ❤️"

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It started strong but got weak towards the end

When I started this drama I was completely hooked and invested. I absolutely loved their chemistry, the acting and the plot, at least for the first 8 episodes. During these episodes I was smiling the whole time because they were so cute. After these eight episodes it became kinda boring and the plot got weaker in my opinion. Episodes 9 to 11 were okay but could have been better. Then I began to watch episode 12 and I just really didn't like it. First, I was confused why he would just disappear and leave her alone after he has been in love with her for so many years and just as they finally became a real married couple. Then I found out that he went to a war zone because he wanted to punish himself for the fact that his father killed Hong Hee-Jos brother?? That's were I was absolutely confused and needed to laugh because for me that was like so random and didn't make sense. Why would he punish himself for something his father did??
After that Hong Hee-Jo decided to travel to this war zone and then she was kidnapped by rebels and later saved by Baek Sa-eon?? I don't know why but that was just too unrealistic and random for me.
Another thing which I didn't like was the fact that the second female lead and the second male lead (I think that's who they were) suddenly announced that they were getting married without us seeing them as a couple or even sharing their first kiss.
I was happy that they got a happy ending but I couldn't really enjoy this ending because I was so confused by what was going on.

All in all I liked the kdrama. The chemistry was there, the acting was really good and the plot was amazing, at least for the first 8 episodes. The last few episodes and especially the last episode ruined this kdrama for me a little bit.

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Great acting

The story was great in the beginning and the acting superb. But the last two episodes were very poor and really out of order and logic. Irrational twists as we came to the conclusion. luckily the acting and the two main leads saved the production. it could have been 10/10 but something was lost in the end. Of course this is my humble opinion. But honestly I didn't find necessary this irrational indulge of the blue complexity towards the ending. So, I strongly recommend it because you get addicted to this strange atmosphere in the beginning, but prepare yourself to feel a little "babo" in the end

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The phone rang , but it wasn't the drama I was waiting for!

The drama had all the right elements to be a good mystery-thriller but unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to its initial premise. The first half had me completely hooked but by the end, I felt kind of let down by the lacklustre conclusions and rushed pacing. Don't get me wrong, its wit's far from being terrible but definitely a disappointment, especially when you compare it to the intrigue and mystery that were introduced early on.

The plot itself was solid - Baek Sa Eon, a man with a prestigious fancy political background and a complicated shady past was a pretty interesting lead. The whole mystery surrounding his wife Hong Hui Ju, her kidnapping and then the phone calls had me invested The tension and suspense that built up in the beginning were great but as it went on it lost its spark when logic took the backseat.

Sa Eon’s character started off as this cold, calculated guy and I liked how complicated his character was. Being the youngest presidential spokesman sort of gave him some serious depth. There was a mystery to his persona, tough on the outside, but you could sense something softer beneath. In the first few episodes, his portrayal was spot-on and I was all in. However, as the episodes progressed Sa Eon seemed to lose that sharp edge that made him so compelling. Instead of continuing his evolution as an "intelligent, scheming and smart character", he fell into a more predictable, emotional fool arc once he started to fall in love. The transformation felt abrupt and unrealistic, as though the writers decided to abandon the complexity of his character in favour of giving us a more conventional romantic storyline (which we didn't ask for, if I might add that).

Hong Hui Ju also started with a strong, mysterious presence as well. Her selective mutism and tragic backstory created a sense of depth that initially seemed promising. But as the plot unfolded, she too began to fit into those cliche familiar tropes, damsel in distress being on the top.
After clearing the air between her and Sa Eon, she made decisions that seemed out of character, acting impulsively and putting herself and Sa Eon in danger. Instead of her being a strong, self-sufficient character which I was rooting for and saw glimpses of in the earlier episodes, she got caught up in the predictable romance too which undermined the mysterious tone it was initially trying to maintain.

Now, the romance between Sa Eon and Hui Ju? It was sweet, no doubt. They had great chemistry and the moments between them were tender and kisses were done very tastefully. But I wasn’t watching this for a love story. I came for the suspense and the mystery which was the initial setup and honestly, I felt like their relationship kind of stole the spotlight. While it had some nice moments, it pushed the darker, more exciting parts of the show to the side. As a romance drama, I would give it a much higher rating but a drama where the first two genres are mentioned as mystery and thriller, it was just not it.

The antagonists were another weak point for me. I had all these crazy theories about who was behind the kidnappings and the shady dealings of the past and the buildup created a lot of anticipation. But when the big reveals finally came, they were so underwhelming that I sorta felt disconnected from the story. The plot twists that were supposed to be shocking ended up feeling predictable, anticlimactic and just meh.

Also, can we please get a spin-off for the second couple because the chemistry was so evident! There was a certain softness in their interactions, an intimacy that didn’t need any grand gestures or dramatic declarations. I wish they got more screen time that could have actually done justice to their love story.

Overall, what could’ve been the show of the year for me turned out to be the first disappointment of 2025. While it’s not entirely bad but compared to how it started, the drop in quality is pretty hard to ignore.
I would recommend this if you're a fan of the leads and want to see what the hype was all about. But honestly, go in with tempered expectations.

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The show was solid, the ending was wacky. ⚠️ SPOILERS AHEAD ⚠️

This drama was great. The chemistry was spicy. The thriller aspect kept you going because it kept giving you new information and I really loved that because just when I thought I'd figured everything out something new would come up. The side characters were good, they were necessary but I never really felt a great attachment to them because the romance was the centerpiece of the show and it was what they focused on most of the time. I do feel like some of the drama was just done for drama's sake, like the bad guy shot his dad, but then like his dad lived and I was like; "Really, we couldn't have just killed his dad." Or we see our ML get shot but then it turned out to be a dream or she ran off a cliff, but she didn't run off a cliff.
Then he was going to be in negotiator but nothing actually happened to him and he ended up Morroco in a dangerous position But that really didn't amount to anything. I don't make some fake outs but they did that alot in this drama. They kept trying to scare the viewers into thinking we wouldn't get a happy ending, and I wasn't crazy about that. Also when the villian whispers something to our ML we already know what it is cause they revealed it earlier so there's no shock factor. I really think they could've held onto to that final secret till the end so we'd be surprised as well as Hee Joo. All that being said I loved the chemistry between these two actors. The scene at the end was so lovely. It wasn't vulgar or inappropriate and it was just very well done. I wish we could have seen their future. I would have LOVED to have seen them with children. I would have loved to have seen their wedding day. If the big Morocco scene that didn't amount to anything and the scene where he was talking to the man who raised him would've been cut we could've had a scene in the future where she even calls him on the 406 phone and have a cute back and forth to end it wouldve been better. One thing I really didn't like was the mother. She went from TERRIBLE mistreatment of her daughter to just changing in an instant because she thought she was dead. I don't know. I thought that was a bit much. This woman caused her daughter so much pain and suffering and then she just like NEVER owns up to it. Even at the end she's just like; "I did it all for you." When she's crying and she didn't, she did it for herself. This whole idea that she did it for her daughter is crap! I didn't like how they made it seem like this whole time this woman was truly just wanting what was best for her daughter, cause I don't believe that at all. The sister easily could have been removed. She didn't really have any crucial role in the show. I mean, the whole idea of the arranged marriage was big enough and then they could have found other ways to reveal that he wasn't actually the son of the 2 people without the sister. The sister just didn't really add anything to the show. There are things that she revealed that could have been revealed by anyone else. Plus you just don't really care about the sister. I understand the reasons that they had her in it. But they were reasons that could have been easily changed. Her entire character could have been taken out in my opinion. She just didn't have that big of impact. So yeah, there were just some things that could have been done better. But it was a really great drama. You could definitely tell that they were depending on these 2 actors to carry the show and they did. Their chemistry was intense, and sexy and vunerable and it just worked. If I find out that they're dating or they get married I will not be shocked because their chemistry was very deep. I'll give it that. The thriller aspect was also very good.I liked how they drug out the villain and they didn't kill him too easily so it didn't feel lackluster.At the end, I think the way they ended his story was perfect.So yeah all in all a solid drama and one I recommend and enjoyed greatly! 😊

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There's a couple here now...

«There's a couple here now... The two have lived without being able to open up to each other. Would things have been different if they had been more honest and shown their true feelings? If they try to make an effort now, could they live like any other ordinary couple?»

I'm beginning in all honesty.

The opening of the show, with the almost antagonizing of our Baek (incorrectly written as Paik) Saeon, surely built up to some archetypes, or at least a certain develop of our main characters.
We were never promised a rom-com or anything similar, however, the accurate portrayal of a badass man whose past is as dark as the suits he wears, anticipated to me an undeniable progress or evolutions of the events: I was expecting way more intimate scenes, considering also the brightening chemistry between the actors. And when I talk about intimate scenes, I'm not referring to steamy or R-rated ones, but to the illustration of their mutual understanding, harmony and attraction.
On the other hand, what we got was miscommunication, secrets, unfair decisions taken solo, and a strange will from both of them (Hong Heejoo I'm talking about you) to die with the possibility of the other being alive. My woman, you're great, but shouldn't you want to live with him?

The systematic unfolding of the mystery and its repercussions on the characters, although seemingly unimportant at first (well, at least not how the last details revealed), created a perfect keenness and high expectancy for the final confession, which unfortunately wasn't that much unexpected.
I still can't understand if it was wanted or not, if the drama left voluntarily clues for us watchers; if that's the case, then they did a great job.

Although the last detail and the way they broadcasted it (the grandfather deciding to kill Heejoo's brother because the latter had seen his son's face) seemed a little useless. I mean, it was used to be added to the list of excuses for Saeon and his disappearance, but it all gave the impression of a rushed and not carefully analyzed decision of a grand finale. But I also understand this was the cinematic adaptation of a novel, if I remember correctly, so I won't be obstinate on such particulars.

As for the romances... Well, as said before, I was expecting more intimate scenes from the main couple, and honestly I was expecting anything at all from the second couple. The writers decided to give us their marriage announcement at the end, but it was completely unexpected, genuinely more than the mystery. They dropped the bomb on us without even depicting their love, not even in a single scene. I would've way more preferred if they'd remained friends. Also because, right after Heejoo and Saeon announced their new marriage, Ji Sangwoo looked kind of distressed, as if he was still into her after all those years.
I wholeheartedly decided to ignore these details.

I appreciated how Park Dojae returned as Saeon's secretary (or whatever function he had before), and frankly I hoped they would've shown us more about his redemption, but I guessed I'm asking for too much now from a miniseries.

What I found completely useless to the plot was the whole Argan thing. I mean, I can understand its insertion since we've come from 406 to 604, and Saeon's past and whatsoever, but it truly didn't make any sense for the rest. Saeon's friend (the journalist) explained how much he loved sunsets and that he really liked a spot in Argan to take pictures, but... Could've chosen, I don't know, Canada just for that? Why entering a war zone? Especially knowing your wife's going to look for you.
And let's not talk about how she tried to hide from the rebels while wearing white and a bright scarf over her head? Are you stupid? Heejoo totally called that upon herself. I'm sure if she looked around there would've been troupes of resistance somewhere.

I also appreciated Heejoo's mother redemption, although we couldn't see much about her journey, we've assisted to her breakdown and realization and then their reunion. Ina was also a key character for the show, and she was just amazing. All the other side characters, from colleagues to friends, were just perfect. The real Baek Saeon was also a mesmerizing character, and the actor portrayed perfectly his sociopathy.
About the latter, I must say I can't really put my mind around the fact that he chose to actuate his revenge on the new Baek Yuyeon instead of his family, which obviously were the real villains. On the other hand, I understand his mother: the fear of having a son with such difficulties and so much dangerous to society must've been stressing, but then I don't excuse any of her consequent actions.

Now, music? Majestic. Actors? Perfect. Rewatch value? Meh. The thing with this kind of dramas (like My Name, The Glory...) is that they're quite difficult to rewatch once you know the secrets. Although, it is true that enjoying the show once more could uncover so many details about the depiction of the series.

Overall, this has been an amazing kdrama, with lots of holes but also lots of details. I won't say it's my favorite one, I won't say it's particularly remarkable, but I'll say it's enjoyable. I also really loved the final scenes, romantic and normal, like they'd dreamt to live.

«There's a couple here now... They don't hide their true feelings and are honest with each other. They have promised to make an effort to be happy together»

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