When the Phone Rings (2024)

Best drama of 2024 hands down ?

I recommend this drama 1000 times. I Never leave writing reviews but this drama actually deserves one. I watch it because I love soo- bin acting since I’m not a robot, watch plenty of her drama, As for yeon seok I started the interest of love because I like Moon ga-young but that drama I couldn’t bring myself to finish it. When the phone rings is a truly masterpiece, I did not know the potential of the drama or the plot very well but I dived in and what a surprise the show hooked me since episode 1. The acting and chemistry of both of the leads got me watching behind the scenes something I usually don’t do as well. The OST is amazing as well. The director, the staff and the rest of the cast did an outstanding work.


Pd: Want to add to my review that i didn’t read the manwha but I do think the last six or five minutes of the ending episode were unnecessary except from their call at the very end and park do-jae comeback but this doesn’t mean I’m going to disregard the actors hard work, when they probably didn’t even know about it, blame the director and the writers. The Argan plot I do understand because he needed to change his name plus in the early episode they mentioned as well. The drama still enjoyable and you can feel how much effort every actor put into it specially the leads.

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drama x webtoon

no webtoon ele some porque ele forja a morte em uma armadilha pra capturar o sequestrador (se não estou equivocada). e aí ele vai pra esse outro país porque ele diz que é muito bom em negociação de reféns, etc, numa tentativa de se reinventar.
amei cada um dos episódios, mesmo com os furos de roteiro ( como ela cair de um despenhadeiro e não fraturar nada, ou ele passar por uma cirurgia de 2horas e no mesmo episódio está dirigindo).
mas achei que ficou muita coisa a ser explicada no último episódio. podiam ter feito o ultimo episódio um pouco maior, tipo 1h30...
digo isso porque o ponto alto da série foi o casal central, e eles só puderam ser felizes nos últimos 20 minutos?!?! mas no geral gostei muito e com certeza recomendo.

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Watch the episodes before reading this review it's sooooo good!!!

Mahn oh mahn this drama has got me hooked literally hooked!! Infact I am writing this review out of my frustration for waiting for the next episodes. The drama is sooo good it is a perfect mix of romance, suspense,thriller, action and what not...so stop doubting and give it a chance. It's been soo long since I have waited eagerly for each episode of a drama. Each episode ends in a insanely epic cliffhanger which keeps you on your toes for an entire week. The story is finger lickin good it is I think a romance thriller. The chemistry between the leads is literally chemistrifying ;) Yoo Yeon-seoks performance in this drama is soo gooood that I would watch this drama again just for him. The cinematography, the OST, the supporting actors, direction is all upto the mark. So When the phone rings is definitely a very good watch.
I thank the korean universe for gifting me this wonderful drama to end the year 2024...

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It was close

I really enjoyed this series and waited each week for new episodes to release. The actors did their job well, the story was engaging and had some unexpected plot twists. The last episode was a bit of a letdown for me. It felt very cheesy and forgettable. It felt like 2014 daytime TV. I honestly preferred their relationship earlier in the series. Overall, I don’t think the show was a waste of time, but I do wish it had more of a serious undertone.

To add more to the review, I thought not only the main actors did well, but I thought the actors playing the parents did a great job. Maybe better than the main pair. I thought Chae Soo-bin could have done better; or maybe it was just the writing or directing of her character Hong Hee-joo; it felt very one-dimensional, even with the very clearly two-dimensional portrayal according to the storyline.

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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 Tale of Passion and Familiar Tropes

When the Phone Rings is a captivating drama that caters splendidly to aficionados of the romance genre. The sizzling chemistry between the protagonists, portrayed by Yoo Yeon-seok (YYS) and Chae Soo-bin (CSB), is palpable and undeniably a major contributor to the show's widespread acclaim. Their intense emotional connection and palpable yearning for one another follow a well-trodden path that audiences often find irresistible, which has undoubtedly propelled this drama to its considerable success.

Yoo Yeon-seok and Chae Soo-bin deliver stellar performances, breathing life into their characters with an authenticity that makes their romance both relatable and compelling. Their on-screen rapport is nothing short of mesmerizing, a testament to their undeniable talent and synergy.

However, while the romance is undoubtedly the highlight, one cannot overlook the narrative's reliance on clichéd tropes. The storyline, though competently executed, lacks a certain depth and originality, often falling back on familiar romantic conventions. The plot twist involving the mysterious "Argan" subplot towards the conclusion felt overly contrived and, frankly, a tad exhausting to endure.

A recurring motif in romantic dramas—the protagonists' decision to distance themselves for the supposed betterment of their partner—resurfaces here. This well-worn trope, while intended to evoke pathos, often feels counterproductive. It raises the question: is it not more compelling to witness characters confronting and overcoming challenges together, rather than resorting to separation as a panacea?

Despite these narrative shortcomings, the production values of When the Phone Rings are commendable. The casting is impeccable, with each actor delivering performances that enhance the drama's overall appeal. The direction, cinematography, and soundtrack further elevate the viewing experience, adding layers of emotional resonance.

In summary, while the overarching plot may leave some viewers yearning for more innovation, the undeniable romantic tension and chemistry between the leads provide a "feel-good" quality that is difficult to resist. My rating of 8 reflects the enjoyment derived from these elements, even if the story itself falls short of expectations.

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Addicting first half that manages to flounder in the middle just to drown right at the finish line

When the Phone Rings hooked us with its trailer and the expectation of a suspenseful thriller that appeared to boast of intense chemistry and exciting action. And those first 6 episodes? The did deliver a good portion of that. The chemistry between the main cast, the riveting characters and their secrets, the well paced and engaging movement of the plot. It was all there and kept me as a viewer addicted to the screen waiting for the next episodes to appear. But then the show pivots from the thriller we were enjoying into a romance that morphed the characters, slowed the plot, and threw logic out the window. Ultimately leaving a bad taste in your mouth by the end of the finale.

We begin with Baek Sa Eon, a high profile political figure from a prestigious family, marrying the youngest daughter of another prestigious family. For the selectively mute youngest daughter, Hong Hui Ju, the marriage is but a cage where she is the replacement for her sister and used to connect the families for political reasons. She is told never to reveal that she is married to him and he treats her with a cold indifference while living in the same home for 3 years. But someone becomes aware of her existence and attempts to use her to threaten Baek Sa Eon by kidnapping her. This is where the plot really begins. While Hui Ju manages to get away from the kidnapper she also takes with her the phone that he used to call Sa Eon and ends up using it to try to escape her marriage thus unknowingly beginning to unravel Sa Eon's true nature and intentions. Now caught between learning more about her husband and being used by the kidnapper threatening him Hui Ju and Sa Eon race to find answers and undo misunderstandings.

Beautifully shot, well styled, well acted, and with a great OST this drama had the beginnings to become a really great drama. Then the second half began and this is where you see both characters fall in love and we lose the interesting, intelligent, and cold Baek Sa Eon to the fool for love version of himself and the strong, independent, snarky, and determined Hui Ju to the stereotypical damsel in distress. The reveals are predictable at this point and the plot dissolves into a bit of nonsense. The antagonists aren't given enough development to make their movements and motivations completely believable and the last two episodes fail to bring any excitement and instead deliver more annoyance than anything. The final episode was the last straw as the first 40minutes offer only ridiculous choices made through motivations that make no sense and could have been completely removed to only see the last 20minutes.

While I did really enjoy the first half of this show the second half managed to remove all the original good things about the show and ultimately delivered a disappointing, nonsensical mess.

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Wow! Buckle up....You're in for a Ride

Last episode:
I liked the last episode but didn't love it. I thought including the two main leads coming back to each other in a war-torn country was a bit much. I'm not sure that was really necessary. Regardless, the last episode does wrap everything up nicely and gives us viewers plenty of romance between the two main leads. There are three strengths with this Kdrama that I believe made it a hit. 1) The chemistry between the ML and the FL. They were really good, and very believable in their attraction and love for each other. 2) The writer (or the director, or even the actors themselves) allowed the two leads to show us they were in an adult relationship with each other. There weren't any awkward physical interactions that seem to occur in so many of these dramas. This boosted the romance so much, and made their story together that much better for the viewer. 3) Lastly, the intrigue was top notch. The storyline of the parents ambition, the coverups and substitutions that occurred to keep the family image intact, the revenge, and, of course, the 406/phone/kidnapper angle--all came together to give the viewer the suspense needed to keep you dying to see the next episode. A really good Kdrama!! Congrats to all the cast and crew on this one!!! And with that.....I think I'll go watch it again.

Just watched the 11th episode:
#$@% what a story!!! I'm overdosing from the climatic endings and the "what will happen next" cliffhangers!! This is very well written. I am reminded of Reborn Rich which wove an intense and unbelievable plot around all these characters. And, just when you think you have it figured out....bam!!....there is another twist. The twist and turns of this story have kept me glued to my screen. I can't wait for the last episode to see how this ends. One of the best Kdramas of 2024-2025!!!

After 7 episodes:
The major theme--the children of terribly ambitious parents who grow up trying to please these selfish parents but realize how damaging it has been to their lives. In the end, the two main leads try to fix their wrongs into rights so they can be happy with each other. It's a wonderfully romantic story that is set in a thriller/mystery/political corruption drama that really keeps you glued to the story. I love that the main leads are able to express their love for each other in an adult manner. There is no stupid, juvenile embarrassment when expressing affection. It is real, and the actors do a superb job expressing the characters love for each other. I don't know what will happen next, and that is a BIG part of the appeal. The suspense is huge!

After 4 episodes:
I just wanted to post quickly and say that THIS Kdrama is good!! It's got the best hook that grabs you and won't let go. A mystery in the relationship between the ML and FL, with maybe a psychological thriller twist that makes you want to keep watching to see what happens next. Great acting by the cast. They are supremely evil, mysterious, timid, intense, comedic, and all sorts of divinely abnormal. The mothers are vicious. They all roll together to take you on the ride of your Kdrama life. We need to get a poll/wager going on who the real 406 is.

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This has me hooked with the first episode

I came across this series via a TikTok and it had me wanting more and I couldn’t stop … except I caught up and now must wait for the next episode.
I love these characters and the episodes just give us more bread crumbs for the story.
I really really hope this all works out and it doesn’t loose its appeal after 3-5 episodes.
but I do have a good feeling about it.

the story follows a government official who comes from a very esteemed family. He is forced to marry into a media tycoon family.
he agrees but makes a couple of conditions for his new wife. she can’t ask for a divorce, especially during a election year and no one must know she is his wife. if she breaks any of these rules … she owes him 2 billon won.

The wife he agrees to marry has selective mutism. she works as a sign interpreter for a news agency.

one night her car is hacked and she os kidnapped. the kidnapped tells her husband, he doesn’t believe the kidnapped has his wife and tells him not to call again. if he does he better have killed her.

what comes next is a battle of cat and mouse …. it will have you hooked!!!

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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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