Reviews

our very own paradise, pluto

when the mock trailer dropped i literally screamed cause the last thing i expected was film to be in a gl. after that i got to know abt the novel this show is based on and prepared myself for a toxic mess but the show and the team surprised me a lot.

a lot of the story is changed, like the team took the prompt from the novel and wrote the rest on their own. and i think that was a great decision.
aioon and may are very morally grey characters who are humanized and made very vulnerable. they don't condemn their actions nor glorify them just two people falling in love in very unique (?) situation.
i loved the pacing, the first half showing us how ai and may fall for each other and the other half addressing the elephant(s) in the room.
this was a romance which satisfied me. we see both of them learning about each other, sharing their insecurities and deepest pains and finding comfort in each other instead of rushing.
i feel like they handled may's blindness and everything related well along with oom as a part of this. i really sympathize with oom and also see her pov. they wrapped up everything nicely. from the accident, oom's ptsd, grandma's love etc

the one thing that irritated me the most was the 'first love' thing which eventually becomes the reason why oom breaks up with may. that was so dumb to me. its not even first love, its a first crush if we are pushing it. i get that oom is deeply insecure but come on, at least u could have shown may reassuring her. and the way may kind of accepts the fact that she always wanted ai??? like did may and oom dating did not mean anything???? they could have made a more solid reasoning for their breakup. also i did not like that instead of being at least 5% mad at may for being one of the reason her so called best friend(given that i thought he died cause we never see him until way later on) is disabled and a orphan, ai overlooks it. that could have added a bit more depth to may's arc
to finish off the complaints, i think the editing was off and the faults were very noticeable in certain episodes, mostly in scenes where we cut from one location to a new one. the cinematography also didn't feel right in certain places. also was not no budget to make a intro/opening sequence, cause wtf was that? we have such beautiful actress, scenes and osts and u have video sequence with so much slideshow animation.....this show deserved a better one

the jaw dropping part of this series is namtan and film. their acting and chemistry??? off the charts. especially namtan, she played both oom and aioon so well u could totally tell them apart even. i been a fan of film but this was literally her best work. no words left for the chemistry.

the osts are so good too, they lyrics match with the theme so well.

pim,pang and jan were fun to watch even though they didn't add much. kapook my girl i will get u a gl where u end up happy (kapook gl with pipoly,cize and jan as her love interest for 2026 pls gmmtv)

overall a very good series, will definitely rewatch it

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Intriguing cliche ft. ridiculous plot at the end ?

This show came out of nowhere and took majority of us down the memory lane of swooning over wattpad romances.

I only want to talk about the MLs because honestly they are only whom I was fully invested in.... The main leads are typical: Seemingly cold, rich, and no-nonsense ML and a simple, softie FL. This is so wattpad-coded: Saeon showing redflag signs (thankfully he changed) and Heejo being a damsel in distress. I've seen a lot of this dynamic yet this one just hits different. Why? I believe that the actors played their roles so well and the show really tried to flesh out their characters, their personality.

Again, the usual trope of rich family, orphan, revenge, childhood connection... Nonetheless, the way the story unfolded was definitely gripping. The pacing of every episode was perfect - enough to feed my curiosity and enough to keep me wanting for more.

With all that, I really wanted to rate this higher but fell short all because of the last episode. The plot all throughout was pretty well-explained and the turn of events are fairly sensible except the last episode.
* Their relationship was already established. They expressed their feelings which made them stronger together. So, how can Saeon suddenly went MIA? They were opening up and trusting each other. A heartfelt conversation would've helped them.
* And out of all the places he could've gone to.....A warzone.....that Heejo went to....Argan.....also with the stereotypical color filter as soon as she stepped to that country...and they made love.....in a warzone...(will just pretend that that happened at their home, on Heejo's bed)
Yes, they followed the web novel but I wish they did not with that one. Yes, this is fictional but I wish a teeny bit of logic was still considered. I'm sorry but no matter how much someone will defend this plot, I will never change my mind that this is just straight up ridiculous, the worst.

I also want to list my nitpicks here.
1. When we first heard Heejo speak, when she was with the kidnapper, I wish she stuttered first. She was on a life-threatening situation + with someone who is dangerous + has selective mutism. I would've felt more if she struggled a bit with finding her voice and words then after few tries, had the courage to speak up. Also when she was on the police car. Similar case. I'd just imagine Saeon feeling and looking even more conflicted if he heard her struggle speaking first and then she screamed...
2. I honestly did not like how Saeon made Heejo go to the amusement park. (Lol just overthinking this) I mean Saeon was so protective and concerned with Heejo's rest after the cliff fall, and then he suddenly asked her to come out of the hospital alone on a cold night to go to the park??
3. Did the selective mutism trope just vanish? How did others take that she can actually speak? I wish they also included how Heejo able to overcome it, how she was gradually able to communicate with others and build confidence to voice out herself....


Overall, I greatly enjoyed this mainly because of their chemistry. I will never forget how intense the first few episodes were as much as I will never forget the crappy Argan plot.

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Korean screenwriters and ending writing problems

First of all, we should accept this: Baek Sa Eon has a lot of problems. He kidnapped the girl. he didn’t talk with her. he never look the girl. yes he loves her he tried to protect… Guys this is not acceptable.

but story is good . very complicated. you want to wait what happen next. its good I like it…. but why argan? this soldier scene, kidnapping but then bed scene. it isn’t realistic. they already lived very bad things. she can find him when he just sat near the lake. why action. overdose action. then bed scene unrealistic.

My favorite character is sister. I thought she will be crazy bad evil girl but she is very kind and good. she care of Hye Joo and stay for her against to her father. I want to understand Hye Joo’s mom but no. I can’t she is the bad character in the story . same as level of Sa Ein’s mother in the story.

At the end, I didn’t watch last episode properly . I didn’t realize countries name. When I read other comments I understand the situation and I don’t like it. Writer did /something silly.

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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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An Old Vibe in a Youthful Tale:From Promise to Disappointment

While the show had a promising start, several elements detracted from its overall potential. The storyline was engaging and captivating from episodes 1 to 8, but unfortunately, it lost its grip as the plot progressed. The final arc involving Argan completely killed the vibe, leaving a sour note to what could have been a memorable conclusion.


A major issue was the casting of the male lead. While he is undoubtedly talented, he simply did not suit the role. His older appearance clashed with the youthful "hubby" energy the character demanded, making it difficult to root for him.
In fact, his pairing with the actress playing his mother-in-law felt more natural, as she has aged so gracefully that they would have looked better together as a couple. This miscast undermined the chemistry between the leads and disrupted the tone of the show.It's not about age,it's his appearance. He looks almost as old as his mother-in-law, while Heejoo looks like a kid.


Moreover, the final bed scene between the two main characters was deeply uncomfortable to watch. It lacked emotional connection and felt forced amidst of kidnapping and war.


Despite its flaws, the show had a strong premise and delivered some great moments early on. However, the combination of miscasting, a faltering storyline, and an underwhelming finale left much to be desired.I still like it because of the early episodes.

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It's hard to beat the original

For the first 4 episodes everything felt like you wouldn't understand a lot unless you've actually seen the original LITA. The timeline was different since Rei's (Rain) and Kai's (Sky) stories were happening at the same time. Also, some events were formed into one for example Arashi telling Rei that his time to court him was up right after spending a passionate night after the race. In the original series those two things happened on two different days. Everything felt fast paced but that's because they made less episodes and also made each episode 20 minutes shorter. If they made it a little longer and slowed things down then maybe I would've liked it more.
I don't think this version of LITA is bad but it's just not the same as the original.

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Never been let down hard enough to write a review

As an ardent k-drama fan for the last 10 years when I saw the trailers of When the Phone Rings i expected it to have everything I have come to expect from k-drama Mystery/Thriller Romances.
The first 4 eps were one of the most promising starts i have seen to a show, which, convinced me to watch it while it was on air (when i'm the type to binge watch).

Where it went wrong:

=> The calls: in the first few calls there was tension, there was anger, there was suspense but after ep 4 they just turn into banter, and somehow Paik Sae On just keeps spilling things about his personal life and just turns dumb???

=> Paik Sae On: Yoo Yeon Seok is wonderful in the role, like most of his other works his acting is incredible, but the character was written in a very amateur manner, isn't his character a master negotiator who has certification from like the FBI, and isn't a negotiator's first task is to not show any emotion to the threats but somehow to 406 he keeps losing control, like I get it, you are worried about your wife but bro you are smarter than that.

=> Hong Hee Joo's talking: Hong Hee Joo's selective mutism was just utter bullshit, after one point she just started talking to anyone and everyone???!!!! like isn't that the first point in her character sketch. Her entire deal was to not talk to anyone and only talk to him on the burner phone. Honestly it would have been better to stretch that bit out a little more.

=> The emotional abuse: Paik Sae On literally abuses Hong Hee Joo for 3 years only to be forgiven in one dialogue. Like sis where is your self respect?? and she justifies it by saying that its okay as she also lied about not being able to talk. Did he give her the safety of talking about it... no... so did she have to tell him also... no.

=> The entire last ep: not required... the arden arc... the 2 billion won... the name change.... just no.

In my opinion the only smart and sane person here was Hong In-A cause she left when she realized what was going on, got herself fixed, came back to save her sister, asked her father to take action, and supported her sister when she was alone.

Never been this disappointed with a show that started this well.

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Half a season

There are some interesting premises and character dynamics here: reunited exes, Gi-hun and the Front Man, the perspective of No-Eul as a guard...but nothing really comes to fruition because S2 feels incomplete. I think calling it S2 and S3 is kind of a stretch; it's S2 part 1 and S2 part 2. I like seeing the push-and-pull between the character pairings, and the show does a good job of adding tension using dramatic irony, but other than that, it's a lot of set-up without any pay-off.

I have the patience to wait for S3, but it just feels like Gi-hun, as a returning character, is quite under-utilized. I'm not sure I buy into the idea that he's some kind of revolutionary leader who everyone falls in line behind, and I also feel like he's approached the games on too much of a surface level. He yells for everyone to listen and follow him to overthrow the game makers, but doesn't spend actual time thinking about why the games exist, or if they planted a player the way they did in the last game. Wi Ha-jun's character (whose name I can't even remember) is underutilized too. He's on a boat, but largely irrelevant.

I also think the games just aren't as good. I understand that the show needed to go beyond the games this time and couldn't just have the same thing play out again, but I felt like there was a missed opportunity here. Now that we have a guard character, I imagine — what if the protagonists planted people in the guards the same way the antagonists had planted a player? Or what if the players found loopholes to the games? Part of the chart of S1 was that the games were very simple: cut out this shape, pull the rope, cross the bridge, play marbles. This time, in making the game so complicated — have a team of five with each person playing a different childhood game as you walk around the track with your legs tied together — it felt like we lost something. We didn't get to see how each character approached a simple game because there were too many characters and games and we were just flashing through all of them.

Regardless of all this, I think this season is a decent set-up for whatever comes next.

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Good performances but laboured writing and overdone direction.

I really tried hard to talk up this drama, but it became increasingly hard and all my excuses eventually fell by the wayside. Compared to something like See You in My 19th Life, the plot held together reasonably well but was built around standard and somewhat tired tropes. The performances by the leads were good. You Yeon Seok did a good job of bringing subtlety to his tsundere character. And Heo Nam Jun as the villain, when he wasn’t being required to overact, was credible. But there’s the problem for you in a nutshell, the directing… the job of the director is to set the tone for the whole production, and direct the actors and cinematographer to harmonise with it. Here it was just too over the top. Melo on steroids.

It had the hallmarks of a 1920s silent film, grandiose gestures, limp women and stoic men, dramatic low camera angles and slow leaden footsteps at every opportunity.

The cost of overplaying things is that it fails to capture you and attach you to the story and the characters. The problem with overhyped dramatisation is that there is nowhere to go, no room to build, it’s full on from the get go, and bye bye subtlety. With the result that instead of being moved I’m always at the point of laughter.

To make it believable you have to follow through on a set up. Too often the characters would not do the obvious in order to prolong the plot. The result is a lot of eye rolling, sighing and FFS exclamations for the viewer. Completely cutting through any credibility, but much more seriously, any sympathy for the characters.

The pacing was sacrificed to an over-detailed explanatory style, leaking tension all over the place. It needed less words and more faster paced action to fulfil its role as a thriller. Frequent, unnecessary repetitions of scenes in the editing did not help either.

The performances were good, it’s a pity that the directing, writing and editing were so laboured.

What my rating means: 6+ Some aspects of it were OK but it had serious flaws. It will pass the time but you can find something better.

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The SkyNani Effect

Let’s begin by saying that I’ve never watched the original Korean series and solely started binge-watching this after falling in love with several SkyNani edits on social media. And now I understand the hype and became obsessed with their whatevership. This is a bromance with a silent ‘b’.

When we get into the drama’s plot, we have several: tension, character development, bonding, lessons, and, most importantly, love confessions. This show gives me butterflies more than other BLs that aired last year. Saint and Shin are like a broken couple that reconciled and defines that love is sweeter the second time around. Sky showcases how years of experience hone him as an actor. There’s no doubt that he is the main character here, alongside Nani, who also carries out an outstanding performance. Their chemistry is top-notch!

Of course, the success of the series will never be complete without the excellent roles of each of the cast. Everyone nailed their characters. Mark Pakin is also the MVP as he portrayed Chadjen in the most realistic way possible. As a fan of South Korea’s school series (from 2015-latest), the primary goal of their shows is to convey to its audience the heartwarming youthful life of the students. Which, this remake version delivered it with a gratifying overall quality.

Most of us, the viewers, are students once in our life. I know that at some point, we can relate to the story. Personally, during my high school years, school is my home of peace. I will never make it without the friends that I shared joy and laughter with. Teenagers are too young to know everything and the best way to survive is by surrounding yourself with the right people. High School Fremeny is that school-based GMMTV drama that allows me to indulge in the nostalgic feeling of being a student once again.

To Saint and Shin, thank you for the beautiful story of your “friendship.”

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Laughable ending

Was totally hooked on this series. Couldn't wait for the next episode to come. Even rewatched it before the two last episodes aired... and than Korean 'writers, directors I don't know who' strike again. I don't know if it is a culturale thing/preference. But why on earth is 9 out of 10 times the final episode horrible. Seriously don't know what the makers were thinking. Even worse I think this is one of the worst final episodes of all the k-drama's I have seen. And I have seen a lot. It was so laughable and unbelievable that I had to stop several times during watching the last episode. To the point where I doubted I wanted to finish episode.

Ps I think the acting of the 'real' Sa-eon is highly underrated!

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"The call from 406 to 604 "

If you like arranged marriage, hot couple with 100/100 chemistry and most importantly a male lead who would let the world burn for his wife this show is for you :)

Story:
in fact, the story has a cliché
base with some creative points. We've already seen series about two people in love but drifted away because they can't speak their true emotion out and stuck in misunderstanding, but that phone calls were the point and watching how they develop their feelings and relationship through the phone was interesting.
The story also gives the wattpad vibe: hot and cold daddy who is madly in love without showing his true emotion +arranged marriage
Actually it was adopted from a romance novel that turned out into a webtoon and it's obviously have its spice of cliché(but it's worth-watching).
(and god bless the director it's more logical than the novel) I didn't get bored till the last moment.
Talking abt the last episode it can be like two things:
A bonus for us to watch our couple in an action-romance scene that is very hot
a what the hell is happening
(You can choose one of them...
Anyway the ending won't change)

Characters:
YES! finally the male lead we craved for a long time.
Beak sa oun is HUSBAND MATERIAL 10/10. he was madly in love with his wife, protective and  possessive. he was caring so much for his wife that it felt so real.
I felt a little hatred when he said that sentence to the kidnapper but later I found no one could really care abt Hee Joo more than him.

Hong Hee Joo showed 2 sides of her character:
the one was the shy, silent and obedient girl
and the other was the fierce Hong Hee joo (Sa Oun's favorite)
she only needed to be loved and her husband's love gave her enough confidence to develop.

The second couple were cute too and wish we could see more of them. (But the first couple were something else)

MR. KANG was MY LOVE. He was one of the cute and wise charachter in this series. A family teacher for Sa Oun and a cutie pie for us ^-^


Chemistry:
The romance really touched my heart. I could really feel the love between them. The look at love was amazing in both.
Kisses were legendary and on another level. If we had any awards to the best kissers it would belongs to Beak Sa Oun and Hong Hee Joo defiantly.


flows:
drama after drama(read it as trauma after trauma) it became JAJINGNA CHINCHA...why you don't let them sitting 10 minutes with peace and without any accident?
romance scenes were less than we expected (the true ones)
if you search for logic specially a logical wrap up it's not for you.

overall:
Come on!
watch it for the attraction.
It's worth-watching for sure.

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A Romantic Thriller? An Honest Review

★★This is my personal opinion, and we can obviously have different preferences★★
This is going to be a long review.



"When the Phone Rings" is a Kdrama that leaves a lasting impression with its blend of suspense and heartfelt moments.I adore dramas that deliver what they promise. It was promoted as a romantic thriller and it delivered that, of course, leaning more towards the romance tag.A number of people may find the synopsis "cringe" even before watching the drama. This review, however, isn’t intended for them.


The way I see it, the story is about a loving husband who has cherished his wife for a long time but couldn't express it because both of them had secrets from their pasts. While it may sound like any other drama, the performances, the background music, the screenplay—everything—elevated it and made it stand out from the rest.


Actors:

Both leads, as well as the other recurring actors, excelled in their roles. The lead actress, Choi Soobin, went to great lengths to learn sign language, and the way she delivered it felt as though it was second nature to her, seamlessly integrated into her character's world. Her expressions and body language differed significantly between her home and workplace, showcasing her impressive acting range. The contrast between her portrayal of the innocent, timid wife in the first half and the more comfortable, free character in the second half was especially notable. The makeup artists and costume department also did an excellent job.


YYS, who played the male lead, needs no introduction. However, I’d like to highlight his exceptional acting in one particular episode where he portrayed a husband whose wife was missing. His performance in that scene was truly top-notch.


The actor playing the kidnapper truly nailed his character, capturing the nuances of his role through subtle micro-expressions. Overall, everyone did an outstanding job, contributing to the drama’s success.




Story:

I believe that if someone is drawn to the synopsis, they will likely enjoy the drama. The thrill in the first four episodes was impressive, and kudos to the makers for creating such an engaging start. Even though the level of thrill tapered off after that, it remained captivating and enjoyable to watch.



What I personally liked most:

Even though I enjoyed the drama as a whole, there are a few things I'd like to mention.

★Many people claim to dislike childhood/past connection tropes, but I personally love them—especially when done right, like in this drama. The childhood scenes had a significant impact on the story. It wasn’t just about following a trend; they were well-integrated and meaningful. The child actors were fantastic, especially the young actress who portrayed Heejoo. She nailed her role, conveying the silent suffering of her childhood through micro-expressions.

★The decision to avoid a third-party love angle was the best choice the makers could have made for this drama. Dramas about married couples don’t necessarily need a third angle, and I’m grateful the creators understood this. The potential third-party character, instead of being an antagonist, turned out to be a kind-hearted person with her own past struggles.

★As for the OST and its placement, I’m in the minority when it comes to not being fond of most K-drama OSTs and their placement. I’m usually happy if even one OST stands out. In this case, the drama had excellent BGM placements, and the song "See the Light" definitely deserves special mention.


What I'm not fond of:

As I mentioned, this is going to be an honest, personal review, and I’ll add this as well.

★The tone shift from episode 8 felt too sudden to handle. I wish they had balanced it out more carefully. After the leads got together, their screen time suddenly decreased, which was definitely a letdown for people like me, who lose interest in dramas once the leads are together.


★The second couple, who were not part of the original novel, were added by the makers, and they should have been utilized better. In the first half, they had several boring scenes that felt disconnected from the main story, and by the end, their arc had a half-baked conclusion, which was disappointing.


★The "redeeming parents" trope—K-dramas often have this arc where parents, who have been awful throughout the story, suddenly have a change of heart in the final episode. Sadly, this drama couldn’t escape that trope either.


★Lastly, the "last episode curse." Few dramas these days can escape the common trope of one of the main leads disappearing for a while, only to return briefly for a happy ending. While this drama wasn’t as rushed as many others, they could have executed it in a better way.



Now, do I recommend it? Obviously, as I mentioned before, if you liked the synopsis, you would likely enjoy the drama.

Will I rewatch this? This is another personal opinion. I tend to rewatch dramas that have a lot of comedy, and this is not one of them, so I might not rewatch it. However, I did revisit many scenes while it was still airing.

Overall, I would suggest giving this drama a try. It might not be a masterpiece as a whole, but it is definitely a masterpiece in its genre and a treat for fans of this trope.

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Amazing acting by NamtanFilm and a riveting story with morally grey characters

that kept me on the edge of my seat.
Namtan has proven to be an amazing actress in everything she does, she excels. And Pluto was no exception. Ai and Oom were so different. I could tell just by looking at her what character she was playing at the moment. Not just that but she broke me so many times during her scenes. This girl is immensely talented and it's a pleasure watching her. For this being Film's first GL, she did an excellent job too. I was worried she'd be awkward but not at all. Her and Namtan managed to have exceptional chemistry. Didn't sense any awkwardness either. I already knew Film was a good actress but like Namtan she proved it even more with Pluto.
As for the characters I liked that all 3: Ai, May and Oom were incredibly flawed characters blurring the lines between good and bad. It made them more real and made it easier to connect with them. I wish gmmtv made series more with these kinds of characters, so people get more used to them. Instead of instantly hating them.
There were certain parts of the story that annoyed me: like the lies and misunderstandings that lasted way too long for me and could have been cleared up with talking. And the angst in the penultimate episode too. Although needed it felt too much in a series riddled with sadness. Hence why I give this series 8.5/10 the ending also felt hollow which added to my rating at the end.

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