Reviews

Not as good as season 1

Overall watchable.
Comments about the story:
1. Main cast is really dumb or stupid? Does he forget in season 1 player no 001 was also the mastermind? In this season he innocently without any slight doubt 10000% trust the other no 001 player that he just met? giving the ammunition to him too! How dumb is he??

2. In the first place what's the logic of getting back into the game and trying to kill the management? First of all the place have many restrictions, does the players lost their common sense and without a background trying to kill the professional killer on their own? They outnumbered yet bravely (or I say is stupid) to try to breakout (face palm)... If they steal weapons slowly hide the weapons and disguising as the soldier that is another story which is smart, but the way the writer write this season 2, make the whole character, especially the main character looks very dumb beyond measure.

And also game wise even though he was there 3 years ago doesn't mean the whole game will be the same???

Honestly the story is really out of logic that make you want to throw brick at them.

And also he will always survive? on the last episodes the friend died on his place instead...

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When the Phone Rings" is a gripping drama that combines mystery, emotion, and suspense in a way that feels fresh and captivating. The acting performances are stellar, with each cast member bringing depth and complexity to their characters. The direction and cinematography are polished, creating an atmospheric tension that keeps you hooked.

What truly stood out for me was the emotional undertone woven throughout the story—it’s not just about the thrills but also about the human connections and decisions that shape the characters' lives. The pacing is solid, although a couple of episodes felt slightly dragged.

Overall, this drama excels in delivering a unique blend of suspense and heart. It's a must-watch for anyone who enjoys thought-provoking, edge-of-your-seat storytelling.

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Don't be fooled

I was barely two episodes in when i saw the reviews on this page, the low score actually had me intrigued since i know Ji Sung's dramas are usually the best and everyone was criticizing this one, so i kept watching till the end.

The plot kept the flow at the right pace, while it might seen like an endless loop to keep Wooshin from finding the Adamas, it made me focus more on Suhyun's POV.

I was doubting if the drama was actually bad, but boy are the reviews wrong. I admit this is not an easy watch, but this storyline is for the ones who pay attention to every little detail, the ones who like to theorize everything, but perhaps i just insert myself in the plot way too deep that i keep guessing stuff before they actually happen.

That ending does scream season 2 though; can't believe it took me almost 3 years after it's airing to start watching this drama, now at this point I'm not so sure this can get another season, but my hope prevails.

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Mostly A Crash, Very Little Romance

I tuned in to watch a mature, adult couple fall in love. I was ready for some cringey tropes because come on, that's what it's all about, man. It's all about experiencing pure, unadulterated, cringey love.
But, the story does too much OVER AND OVER.
When I started this and realized that it was going for a romance + work + hardships of life + serial killer vibes, I honestly thought of Strong Woman Do Bong Soon. Leaving the fantasy plotline aside, the plots outline is similar, wherein they're trying to do a lighthearted comedy with dark elements. I was very intrigued on how they were going to manage it.
One word: Not well.
They had too many balls up in the air. Parental pressure, college/studies pressure, a love story between two over 40 folx, a serial killer who's basically an obsessed fan/looking for a place to channel psychopathic vibes, and high school romance.
I understand what they were trying to do, I think a 20 ep show would have done better. This was far too much, too soon, too badly written.

I couldn't understand why he would propose so soon. I couldn't understand why Hae Yi would ever choose to end up with her long time best friend, and don't get me started on Yeong Ju and Hae Won? Because are you absolutely kidding me.
It's a mess, with a to-die-for cast.

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i was not disappointed in the SLIGHTEST

as someone who watched the anime, i was RLLY worried that this would be another bad live adaptation. BUT OH BOY WAS I WRONG. but also i should've expected it bc its going from manga to krama, not manga/manhwa to anime and/or live action. i could rant abt this for so long, i literally did a presentation abt the nuances of media translation from manga/manhwa to anime and how the korean and japanese entertainment environments differ and yadda yadda yadda... but you get the point.

concept: loved it. again- i did watch the anime so i kinda knew what i was getting into, but i'm glad that they took it in a diff direction. i was also scared bc i thought they would pull a solo leveling where everyone was "kim-san" and "park-san" or that they would rename at random, but bc of the diff direction, i did not have to worry abt that.
execution: great. amazing. also- rlly good cgi. so glad it didn't turn out like the japanese live action.
pacing: great. no complaints. no bumps or slowdowns, yet not repetitive either.

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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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worst zombie kdrama, insufferable characters

usually, my reviews are in a specific format. but this show... this show broke me. this was a show i speedran (aka watched at x2 speed and pressed the skip 10 sec ahead button every other second) initially. then i forgot, and i gave it an actual watch. it... was... awful... if i could, i would sue them and demand for compensation for the hours i wasted watching it. the characters are ABSOLUTELY INSUFFERABLE. INSUFFERABLE I TELL YOU. they ONLY exist to cause a problem for the main characters. there is no "main story" it's just a peak into one zombie kdrama universe. and i understand that in times of panic (like a zombie outbreak...), ppl get stupid bc society blah blah fear mongering blah blah... but this- i cannot fathom this level of stupidity. just thinking abt this show makes me angry. if i could, i would pay ppl $10 to not watch this.

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i wish for a better execution + it needs better cgi

one random thing. i get that the very concept of the show is gonna need cgi. but jesus christ it is... sigh... it's not BAD per say, but the way it's done in this show grinds my gears. they put so much focus on it, but it's just... not it. an example of well done cgi in modern kdrama is parasyte the gray, and it also is a similar style to this show. AND THE AMOUNT OF SCREEN TIME- i swear, if you add up all the scenes that are literally just body parts getting fixed, it would be more than some of the main casts' screen time.

side note: I am not the biggest fan of Go Kyung Pyo, but maybe that's just bc i've only seen him in this and love in contract. i understand that he is playing abnormal characters/characters that express a lot of apathy and/or psycho-ness, but like- apathy is still smth that you have to act. like- you need to be able to convey emotion as an actor, and that includes for weirdos and psychos. i don't think he's fit for this type of character.

concept: loved the idea. i think more effort should've been put into lore and stuff. like i get it's supposed to have an element of mystery, but what's the point when it's only a mystery to everyone except the characters...
execution: not the worst i've seen, but i am disappointed. i had high hopes for this, but i shouldn't have knowing it came from hulu.
pacing: it's like a bumpy ride, but no major stuff. it's like the car ride to the grocery store. you already know the way, it's boring, sometimes there a pothole/plothole, etc.

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it's like a boring kids ride at an amusement park

let me begin with a short tangent i guess. personally, i don't might gore or nudity when it contributes smth to the story. there is one nude scene, and i understand the purpose of it and what it's supposed to convey abt the main character, but it's WAYYYYY overkill. you know how sometimes in a kdramas, when the actors kiss it's like 2 barbie dolls aka it's just lips touching and not actual kissing? to me, this is that but like nude. it exists for shock value mostly. i am by no means conservative/traditional/modest, i just don't like things in art works that have no purpose. it might sound weird, but it creates a disconnection with me bc i no longer see it as a story, but a moneymaker. i could also rant abt how american entainment companies' investment into kdramas is changing the landscape for better and for worse, but this isn't a place for that.

concept: great idea. i like vigilante stories, but halfway through it just... stopped... like it just stopped having a plot...
execution: bad. the entire production gave up half way.
pacing: can you even say there is pacing?? i guess it was too fast, and then nothing.

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It was just Ehhhhhh

So the story of this drama is quite different from the cliche rom-coms, yet it just wasn't fulfilling. The contractual marriage plot did not make any sense and the obsessive ex-wife of the male lead was just a bad character with good acting. The plot just did not make a lot of sense, with many loopholes. It was just a high-budget drama with a not-so-likable plot. Casting I would say is the only thing that stood out in this drama as all the actors did justice to their roles. Other than that it was just ehhhh.

To anyone wondering whether to start it or not, I would say this drama is something that you can pass on. There are much better shows you can watch in the meantime.

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oh that phone calls went into a different direction than i expected...

it started strong. compelling premise, intense and the fast-paced style made it more exciting. they always end an episode with a cliff-hanger that would make you want to watch the next episode immediately. but also with this pacing, i think other parts of the show lacked in depth and development. it got really over-the-top in the end there which feels fanfiction-y too in a way which is silly but fun. again, i had a fun time but overall, not as satisfying as i wanted it to be.

the whole phone call thing part between saeon and heejoo was probably the most exciting part of the whole drama. even though, we've seen some stupid moments during that, that was the sequences that made it engaging. i was really rooting for heejoo to play that mind games with saeon but it did not really went there. when that whole thing was over, the romance got intensified. and that intensity threw me off in the end. it just didn't feel right when those two barely know each other. if anything, he treated her so badly that heejoo should've made it worse for him during those phone calls lol except for a couple of flashbacks of them when they were kids, we did not really see much of the development of their relationship. next thing you know, they would literally die for each other. i'm not mad lol but that gave me a whiplash. that whole possesive/over protective thing thing too? oh the girlies are gonna eat that up. i just wish there was more development before all that.

if it's just romance, yuri and sangwoo are the ones that made me kick my feet in the air, you know? that hyper gf and calm bf dynamic who also investigates a case together. plus they are adorable and hot? hello, i want more!

acting-wise, no complaints here. yoo yeonseok? that man can act and has range. very happy for chae soobin getting this project too. i gotta say, the scenes between chae woojin who played dojae and saeon were the ones that really moved me emotionally and probably, one of my favorite moments too.

the villains are over-the-top. it got really wild and dramatic there in the end with the plot. it did bother me at times when they did those "what if" or "dreaming" sequences. oh he actually wasn't shot? oh. lol that's just for shock value. also, i think they could've done more with the selective mutism storyline but oh well.

anyway, it's not a favorite but a good time overall. now i wish there was a version where there's no romance or more like, the two only started falling in love while they're trying to catch the real killer and also, more push back from the female lead and phone calls where they play more mind games with each other lmao writers in fanfic community, do your thing.

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Truly one of the best Kdramas of 2024

When the Phone Rings has everything in it: sadness, Happiness, and a Thriller. It is a complete package. The acting of the entire cast was top-notch. From the start, the show gave the Wattpad-coded vibes. Yet the last episode was a little boring, especially the Argan part, which I felt was really unnecessary. Instead of that, if we had been shown a little story of the Second lead's love, it would have been better. Nonetheless, the show gave everything and had a very good pacing. Neither too slow to become boring nor too fast to leave many loopholes.
The OST was beautiful and catchy. I will give a little less on the rewatch value because for me it was a one-time watch as there were many plot twists and not many couple scenes of the main leads.
To anyone wishing to start it, do watch it without hesitation. Hands off it was a very good show.

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Color me Pink I'm Blushing

Couldn't review this series without starting at the ability the two main actors have at making a kissing scene a lesson in how to do it to make the audiences toes curl By far the most believable kiss scenes just enough and not vulgar I thought that given the premise of the show that for sure it would loose the plot at some point But I am happy to say they kept you guessing intrigued & waiting for the next episode with anticipation Again with the despicable parenting Wow talk about toxic Making your daughter play mute for most of her life & the grandfather killing his own grandson just awful but makes for a killer series Going to miss it!! One critique the mother at the end crying about her son's death is just not pleasant She is not a believable cryer and yelling your cry doesn't make it more emotional just annoying

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