When the Phone Rings (2024)

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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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.

While "Drama When Phone Rings" initially presents the husband’s actions as self-centered and emotionally neglectful, the later episodes reveal a more nuanced and heartfelt progression in his character. As the layers of their complex marriage unfold, it becomes evident that the husband’s previous indifference was not due to a lack of love but rather his own inability to express it. His genuine feelings, though buried under years of silence, begin to surface as the couple confronts their emotional wounds. His decision to respond with patience, kindness, and understanding, especially when learning about his wife’s desperate actions, marks a significant turning point in the story. Instead of reacting with anger or resentment, he chooses empathy, offering forgiveness and demonstrating the true depth of his love.

Similarly, the wife’s journey is just as transformative. Initially, she sought validation in desperate, misguided ways, but as she sees her husband’s true efforts and love, she begins to open herself up in ways that weren’t possible before. Her willingness to accept his vulnerabilities, even when she uncovers his own secret, highlights the growth of their relationship. The drama beautifully portrays how both characters, once emotionally distant and guarded, find strength in their mutual support and understanding. They both accept each other’s flaws, fostering an environment where trust and emotional honesty can finally flourish.

The couple’s shared vulnerability becomes the cornerstone of their evolving relationship. While the drama started with an unsettling question of obsession versus love, it ultimately leads to a more hopeful message: love can be redefined, even after years of neglect, if both partners are willing to face their fears, be vulnerable, and rebuild their emotional connection. The husband’s and wife’s journey toward mutual support and acceptance not only heals their individual wounds but also lays the foundation for a more balanced, loving partnership.

"Drama When Phone Rings" ultimately celebrates the power of communication, emotional growth, and mutual care, showing that love can be rediscovered, even in the most challenging circumstances. Both characters, in accepting each other’s secrets and supporting one another’s growth, prove that a strong, loving relationship is built on the willingness to understand, forgive, and evolve together.

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Love this series ♥️

To be honest, I wonder if I will ever watch this drama no I did not like the trailer of the drama. That's why I thought the drama would not be good to watch. The main reason for my opinion was that I had never seen their drama before. That's why I thought the play would not be good.
But not in words, the geniuses show their skills through their work. That's what happened here. Aqib and Aqib introduced their work through their perfect acting skills.

Their laughter, mischievousness, conversation are all perfect in one word Their chemistry is simply amazing. For such a pair of them You will be bound to fall in love with them. No one else will make the same mistake I made in the first place

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when the phone rings, sometimes you answer and sometimes you just call back later

An interesting premise: a mysterious caller and kidnapper. The phone changed hands.
A ridiculous premise: stand-in, for show marriage (and some, but not all, that followed.)

Chae Soo Bin delivers a particularly strong performance, effectively conveying the escalating tension and paranoia experienced by her character. While Yoo Yeon Seok also delivers a commendable performance, capturing the evolving dynamics of his character, his portrayal may not reach the same emotional depth or range as some of his previous work.
The chemistry between the leads, while present, could have been more pronounced. I didn't feel a strong spark between them as I wanted. Their on-screen chemistry felt a bit subdued, and I found myself wishing for a more intense connection. It felt like something was missing, and it prevented me from fully investing in their relationship.

Let's talk about the 3 years of emotional abuse...
I cannot and will not, no matter the MLs justification, forgive 3 years of emotional terrorism. At best, he was unfriendly to her; at worst he is just a terrible person that deservers no forgiveness for his neglect. I don't know how that can lead to any romance (other than the tired trope of first love conquering all.) His attempted justification is even more stupid. He could have just communicated with her. Their relationship suffered needlessly due to a lack of basic communication skills. Weird how a spokesperson would traumatize his wife with a basic lack of communication.

While the lead performances provide a solid foundation, the supporting cast may appear less developed in comparison. Some secondary characters feel somewhat stereotypical, and their motivations and reactions might seem painfully predictable. This lack of depth in the supporting roles can occasionally detract from the overall narrative flow and diminish the emotional impact of certain scenes throughout the show.

It's worth noting that both lead actors likely did the best they could with the material provided. The writing, although not exceptional, had its moments. The dialogue occasionally felt stilted, and some plot points lacked the necessary depth to fully engage the audience. The narrative could have benefited from a more nuanced exploration of character motivations and a more compelling overall arc. While there were moments of brilliance, the writing ultimately fell short of its full potential.

I think the initial phone conversations were fantastic. 406 should have stayed 406 until the finale (or at least much later in the show). It was really the best part of the show for me. I really wish that it was carried on for a while and was the main premise for unlocking the key relationships and key parts of the mystery. Furthermore, the show missed an opportunity to meaningfully explore the character's selective mutism, which could have significantly advanced the plot. Especially as a juxtaposition between the phone conversations.

Ultimately, it is a perfectly okay show for me (and that is okay.) I am glad I watched it, but don't think I will ever watch it again.

Pros:
• Strong Lead Performances
• The Visuals

Cons:
• Underdeveloped Characters
• Ridiculous Premise

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When the daddy turns dad, and the thriller turns makjang.

I went into this drama for the most shallow reason ever - Yoo Yeon Seok looked extremely hot in the trailers being all possessive and domineering. And since that was my only expectation, I’d say the drama did not quite meet it. It gave me other things to enjoy though.

Was it a fun watch? For most of it. The middle part became a bit too repetitive, and the ending went straight to fancy makjang territory. Some twists were more predictable than others, but overall it was a rather engaging watch. Did the plot make much sense? Not really. I mean, the majority of the characters did not even have half of the working brain cell and watching them making the wrong decisions over and over again, and being so painfully blind to the most obvious things was probably one of the most entertaining aspects of the whole drama.

On the top of that clownery we have Baek Sa Eon - for a smart guy he was really dumb. Did I care? Nope. Why? Because he was hot. Yes, that was my reasoning. Baek Sa Eon during the first few episodes was THE hot possessive toxic oppa and for that I am grateful. Whenever he went just the right amount of unhinged when something concerned Hui Ju, I went - yes! The angst, the low-key anger issues, the suits and them hands (the production team knew what they were doing with all the close ups of his hands). Exactly the guy you love to watch on the screen, and would avoid in real life. And then he did 180 in the second half and I became convinced that the perfect husband was cosplaying as toxic oppa.

Hong Hui Ju was honestly a placeholder. She had a few great moments here and there, but at the end of it all, she was just an overcooked potato. Which is fair - with the amount of trauma and abuse she went through, if she had more of a spine, she would leave. Since she stayed, we should not be expecting her to give us much spunk. Being in danger was her full time job, and saving her was Sa Eon’s life mission.

Surprisingly, the characters I got really attached to were Sang U and Yu Ri. The investigative duo with such fun chemistry. Waiting for Netflix to contact me, because I have the plot for the spin off of them already planned in my head. The way he became so conscious of her presence, and she was so oblivious about it all is my type of a connection.

The villains were villaining, but they were also so generic I did not really care for their shenanigans. So much happened plot wise, and yet it kind of still feels empty? When the Phone Rings had an extremely strong beginning, and lost its focus half way through. The issue might have been how packed the plot was -, they did not really have time to explore on a meaningful level any of the plotlines. One thing happened, and we moved to another thing - nothing felt developed, nothing had a proper closure. All had a closer, but none truly had THE closure.

Performances were mostly great. Yoo Yeon Seok aced that silent anger and concern. Whatever scene he was in, he delivered. On the other hand Chae Soo Bin… I know she is a great actress. I loved her in all the previous titles I have seen her in, but this role was just not it. Would I dare to blame the directing? Yes. Even though I thought the drama went downhill in the second half, her performance got so much better. First few episodes she was just a surprised big eyes victim with no facial muscles working.

Production was fine. As I already said, I'm grateful for the close-up shots of Yoo Yeon Seok’s hands. Some of the editing was questionable - too much repetition of what happened in the previous episodes - the viewers do not have goldfish brains like the characters, we do not need constant reminders.

Overall, what I thought would be a fun wattpad-esk romance with an entertaining dynamic between Sa Eon and Hui Ju, turned into a family mystery makjang with low level of brain energy. Still had fun though.

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Breathtaking chemistry

Just finished watching this drama and it was totally worth my time ♥️.
Couldn't be a better ending of this thrilling rom-com to start my new year with. Loved the cast❤️ loved the storyline ❤️especially loved the amazing chemistry between the main leads 🥰♥️. Totally lived upto the name "When The Phone Rings" 📲 😭.
Also one of the best things that I loved about this drama is the backstory revelation 👏. Dropped a clue just when needed, let the viewer speculate the story and then final revelation just when we thought it's time ✅️ . Wow just wow 👌. And last but not the least another gorgeous couple ever in the kdrama history 😍 Baek-Hong couple no.2❤️.

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