When the Phone Rings (2024)

amazing kdrama not so amazing final episode

we dont talk about that last episode😶
other than that a 10/10
the suspense was great. it kept you at the top of your seat the whole time and the ending of every episode left you wanting more. but i think what really stands out and makes this a great kdrama is the leads. they had phenomenal chemistry and just amazing acting overall. honestly they had some of the best kissing scenes in kdrama. loved yoo yeon seok since dr. romantic so i was already aware of his game but chae soo bin impressed me very much. BUT the last episode (and more importantly the whole argan thing) were really unnecessary and distasteful for me. following the source material so closely really was not it. i think that kdramas can really make a great show out of a not so amazing source material and honestly it was like that until episode 12. but atleast they were happy. 🤷‍♀️overall the other 11 were so good i can forget it. will definitely rewatch it (maybe skip a certain 10 minutes in ep12😗). but yeah really great kdrama exited to see whats next for both yoo yeon seok and chae soo bin🫰🎀

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Almost the best show of 2024

I can now say with clarity that 2024 was an abysmal Kdrama year. It was one disappointment after underwhelming show after trash fire show after another! All the shows that started with great hype and massive potential *cough* lovelymarrymyrunnerhusband *cough* ended up with weird third acts or just bad plotting or shoehorned actors...everything was BAD! Everyone's favorite 2024 drama worked like the strongest sleeping pill for me! I fell over my computer on 4 different occasions before I gave up on it! It was basically impossible to find a good show! The late entries of the year that I ended up giving 10 stars to, were on par with previous years' 8-stars show but given the depressing landscape of 2024, I was desperate to give them some good ratings and they ended up over-complimented in the process.
And then, When The Phone Rings started airing.
I had no intention to watch this, like most shows I watched that year. It just sort of happened. I tried the first episode and it was so tense, addictive and mysterious that I immediately went for episode 2 and then I was craving for episode three! Sure, you need to lowkey turn off your feminist brain for the show to be enjoyable and there's still a lot that is questionable/unexplained in the plot but overall, it was good at keeping the tension high and building momentum for the upcoming episode. Add to that the steamy but subtle chemistry between the leading actors, their complex personalities and the ambiguous dynamics they had which bordered on unhealthy but never quite tipped into toxic territory and that kept the show fun to watch and also added a little spice to boot. This show was fun! Was it high quality? No...no, the production is really actually bad! The set designs are so basic, you can tell they had a low budget but they kept it classy. The acting wasn't good across the board either. For the most of the run, I thought this one guy was a secret villain but it turned out that the actor just...has an intense gaze, he he (awkward...). The mother characters looked really fake and just uncomfortable when they did their crying scenes. So it wasn't perfect in technical aspects and the plot was cheesy and slightly off at parts but the overall storytelling was so enjoyable and entertaining.
There was also sweet separations from the norm, the SFL isn't vengeful or jealous. The SML while still a SML (So like, how good can he be?!) was still less pushy and didn't overstep. The characters set up to be jealous and cruel were just supportive and neutral. The villains were not omniscient gods. They were sh*t at being villains like you would expect normal humans to be sh*t at stuff. The FL, though mainly a damsel in distress, showed unexpected spunk and fire and managed to save herself a number of times. The ML, is the main reason everyone watched this, was SO HOT! And though he was gloomy and broody when he was grinding on that miscommunication train, he was at his sexiest when he started to learn communication. Love to see it! This was the kind of show that was so fun and good to watch in small doses!
And then, around episode 8 it started to get a bit slow and I found episode 9 and 10 to be less enjoyable than previous ones though they still wrapped it up nicely. But then...episodes 11 and 12 were awful! I have never seen a show ruin itself so magnificently! My god! I can't believe I'm saying this...this show did not need 12 episodes!!!! They could've wrapped this up in 10 episodes! 11 at most! The pacing was slow in 11 but in 12, the pacing was high on drugs and tripping on freaking clouds! It was confusing, it made no sense. WHY???? Why would you do this to your show?! omg...you almost had the perfect show, goddamit!
So yeah. If this was to prove anything, it proved that nothing about 2024 was good and redeemable! This was the last chance to have a perfect 2024 show but they fumbled the bag.
It's not even a mini-problem! They spent 10 episodes setting up a character who learns communication, only for him to just forget all about that character growth and just regress to "I know what's best for her" nonsense. How can you undo everything you so meticulously set up for 11 episodes, in just 67 minutes?!
And it dragged. The most boring episode of the show. Made no sense, was all over the place, suddenly we get a voiceover explaining random conclusions to plot points, the filming technique looked like daytime sitcom shows, the acting was stilted, the plot was out of the left field. And then they give you the cute resolution in the final moments but it came after the most bizarre and random episode that I didn't even enjoy it well.
Almost. It was almost the best show of 2024. What a pity.
I don't regret watching it but it ended on a really sour note and I redacted 2 points, at first but then, for the sake of all that I had enjoyed in this show, I returned one point.
Could've been a ten...but it's not. What a waste! What a pity.

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One of the best of 2024!

This drama went straight to my list of favorites for 2024! I absolutely loved everything about it—the story, the actors' chemistry, the incredible OST, the cinematography, and those plot twists. Everything felt so well done. Waiting each week for a new episode was pure torture, but it was totally worth it. (´･ᴗ･`)

I couldn’t resist and ended up reading the novel, and while I don’t like to compare, I have to say there were things I loved more in the drama and others I preferred in the novel. But I won’t go into too much detail since I’m not planning to write a super long review.

I can’t skip over the chemistry between Yoo Yeonseok and Chae Soobin. Oh my God, those two were phenomenal! All their mukbang scenes had me kicking my feet and giggling like crazy. I swear, I’ll never get over them! (〃ﾉωﾉ) ❤️ Their connection went beyond the screen—you could even feel it behind the scenes. They’re both so professional, and it really showed in every scene they shared.

That said, while I loved the drama overall, I’m a little unsure about the ending. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoyed it, but I guess I was hoping for more romantic moments between the characters. After all, they spent years being indifferent to each other, and when things finally worked out, it’s natural to expect a bit more payoff after all that drama. Also, the whole Argan storyline felt a bit over the top to me. Even though it’s true to the novel, I think it might have worked better if they had tweaked or toned it down a bit for the drama. But honestly, I’m so in love with this that I’ll let that slide, lol. I really liked this Kdrama, and I’m really going to miss it and the characters. It’s definitely one that’ll stay with me for a long time! ❤️

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The last episode...

Even though there were a few illogical parts at the beginning, I absolutely loved the series. Unfortunately, she became much weaker at the very end. The last episode in particular took all my enjoyment out of the series. It was completely taken out of thin air and illogical just to briefly build up "tension".
I will definitely watch the series again, but only until about the middle, when everything is clear between the main characters.
Still a very emotional and beautiful show. I just wish the makers would rewrite the ending. 💔 It would be a straight 10 out of 10 without the ending.

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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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oooh yeah... yes!... common now that sounds PROMISING! :D

So I was just bored today, started this drama without any expectations and to my surprise I watched the first two episodes without even blinking!! No idea how the time went by but one thing was clear, it felt as if I myself am Hong Hui Ju hahaha.. It was so intense and yet romantic, I don't even know how to describe it. I'm a big fan of such thrilling unrequited love series!! Looks like the ML is in love with the FL way before she even knew him..
I really loved how they could keep the romantic vibes on and still make it suspenseful! Has a lot of potential to be one of the best in 2024's!

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masterpiece of 2024 shouldn't be missed!!

I started this drama mainly as I had seen it being in the first trending list of dramas here and getting a great hype about it so that made me more curious to explore this magical effect of this drama that mesmerized the mind for most of watchers when reading a lot of opinions about it...

I would like to say honesly that it turned to be more amazing that I thought and exceeded my expectations!! I was captivated and hooked from the first moment I started it knowing that it would be so interesting and really it wasn't disappointing at all especially this beautiful ending that I was anticipating to have it for such perfect drama!!! the mystery part of the story is so well written how made the drama more exciting towards the end when revealing gradually one after other unanswered and perplexing questions!!!

this is considered for me one of the best top notch acting ever seen in any korean drama that I would like to say hats off for this hard work of leads and all the cast of actors in this drama that performed so well!!! it started so strongly and even got to be more better with the progression of story...

yoo yeon seok was the star of this show, tailored for doing this role in utterly perfection!!!! his facial features was so realistic, his decent outfits and dazzling look!!! everything about him is a complete package of a great actor!!!! I was wondering why he would be hating his wife so much at the beginning?!?! but his inside personality gave another idea of who he is for real!! he fell for his wife from childhood but for forced being "the spokesman baek sa eon" is costing him a lot to not live a happy married life like any ordinary couples!! I like how the story progressed and how the events were written to make leads approaching more and being fond for each others!!!

the fiery and attractive chemistry of leads is something that I didn't see in any drama before!! I was surprised to ending up displaying a GIF about them in my profile picture for being impressed with the existence of such most awesome couple in a korean drama ever seen!!!

chae soo bin should be praised mainly for how she performed sign language in this skillful and outstanding way!!! she wanted to live happily with her husband but her life was always surrounded with danger paying the price for being "the hidden wife of the spokesman baek sa eon"!!! I would like to mention that I was too amazed by her acting too at the scene when she was pushed off the cliff alongside yoo yeon seok who was looking for her crazily, not believing so badly to find her, is one of the best moments that impressed me as it was the main event making the romance to blossom in this beautiful love story...

I would like to add too that the actor who played the role of kidnapper was too so good and really he performed the role of a psycopath in a realistic and wonderful way that he should be placed among the first cast of supportive characters not in the last place!!!

most people were frustrated with the fact of why sa eon left hee joo after she was rescued from being kidnapped leaving a lot of questions of what could the kidnapper whispered for sa eon a fact about hee joo that made him looking at her with sad eyes and punishing himself to be away from her for being the son of the one who caused mainly hee joo to forced being mute after the accident happened for her and her siblings... it was disappointing for many and illogical for him to do it, I can agree about this point but adding another unresolved mystery before final as a cliffhanger wasn't bad in my opoinion and what is more important that the story ended in the favor of leads!!!

one of the scenes that wasn't pleasing for a lot of people the war setting in argan scenes at the final, felt strange like watching something else in another show but I can see it in another perspective that it was an evidence hee joo would follow sa eon wherever will be in the world to find him as her soulmate and to make him know how he means for her!!! even the scene of hee joo driving the kidnapper in her car and skipping the railboard just to "protect sa eon and not suffering anymore" from the threatening existence of the kidnapper was too a marvelous scene to mention, one of my favorite scenes!!!

"406" identity caller was a great plot to add for the story as it was a main reason too to make sa eon being more tender and affectionate towards hee joo especially after he discovered that she can speaking for real but he didn't wanted to hate her and revealing this even if she used this identity for avenging him...

I don't have any complaints about this drama though the points I mentioned before about the scenes that made people upset with the show but for me it is well deserving a complete ratings of 10 as long having a happy ending and giving leads the right to live in endless joy after all the hardships they went through and for being perfect drama in everything including an ideal love story could be presenting!!!

second leads were so cute paired together!!! their charcater are so suitable for their roles and gave too some funny moments for the drama!! second female lead always was shining with her smile and second male lead was an important key in the mystery part of the story but though I think they could be having placed as support characters too, anyway I liked how all leads were harmonious with each other at the end!!!!

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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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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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