When the Phone Rings (2024)

A Tense Thriller That Keeps You HOOKED!

*When the Phone Rings* is one of those K-dramas that keeps you at the edge of your seat, with its pulse-pounding suspense and a story that digs deep into the fragility of trust and human connections. The premise itself is chilling—a seemingly happy arranged marriage slowly unravels after a terrifying phone call from a kidnapper, leading to a series of events that reveal painful truths about the characters. I was hooked from the very first episode, constantly wondering where it was all going.

What I really appreciated about the show was how it made me question not just the couple's relationship, but the very nature of guilt, secrets, and the things people hide behind closed doors. The chemistry between Yoo Yeon-seok and Chae Soo-bin felt real, and they both delivered some truly raw and emotional performances, especially when their characters were put under pressure. The writing does an excellent job of creating tension that doesn’t let up, and each twist felt like a blow to the gut.

*When the Phone Rings* was a thrilling ride, and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves a tense psychological drama. It's a reminder of how easily things can fall apart, and how sometimes, the hardest thing to face is the truth we’re too afraid to acknowledge. The journey was definitely worth it.

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It's better than I expected

I'm afraid that this is ONE OF THE BEST DRAMAS of 2024 or even as a whole.

The episodes kept us so immersed 🤤
The actor's deserve a raise for portraying the emotions so well,😭
they did justice to the characters.
Yoo yeon seok, the man you are. Damm he's so good at his work😵‍💫❤️‍🔥 and Chae Soo Bin she killed it, so good. Impressive acting all around, I never felt like they were acting or trying too hard. They perfectly embodied their characters. In the beginning the tension and angst was so palpable.
The chemistry btw the leads is just top tier 🫠💕
The second leads were also cute 🥹💓
Everything about this drama was just perfect and nothing else. 🫡
The last episodes were so intense and dramatic. Their love is so swoon worthy.
I don’t give a crap about the commotion people are causing in the comments because they are cry babies or can't grasp simple plots.

I personally loved it and totally worth every hype it got. Whoever is reading this, please watch the drama you will not be disappointed!

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Final Thoughts

When The Phone Rings is a mesmerizing romantic thriller that masterfully intertwines suspense with emotional depth. It tells the story of Baek Sa Eon, a stoic yet enigmatic figure, and Hong Hee Ju, a resilient woman battling selective mutism and a haunting past. Their relationship evolves amidst a backdrop of mystery, love, and healing, as Hee Ju’s veiled threats and Sa Eon’s protective instincts unravel secrets that bind them together. The show balances a slow-burn romance with gripping tension, delivering powerful themes of trust, growth, and vulnerability. With its poignant storytelling, dynamic character arcs, and atmospheric visuals, it leaves a lasting impression as both a love story and a captivating thriller.

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What Works

Compelling Character Dynamics
The relationship between Baek Sa Eon and Hong Hee Ju is the heart of the show. Their love story is slow-burning, grounded in mutual understanding, and layered with vulnerability. Sa Eon’s stoic demeanor contrasts beautifully with Hee Ju’s quiet resilience, creating a relationship that feels both realistic and deeply moving.

Intriguing Mystery
The thriller aspect, involving Hee Ju’s veiled threats and the unraveling of her past, adds a gripping element to the narrative. The balance between romance and suspense is masterful, ensuring that neither overshadows the other.

Themes of Healing and Growth
The show explores how love and support can lead to healing, especially for Hee Ju, who learns to trust and open up despite her struggles. Similarly, Sa Eon’s journey from a guarded and distant individual to someone who embraces vulnerability is equally compelling.

Cinematography and Direction
The show’s visuals are striking, using muted tones and symbolic imagery to reflect the characters’ emotional landscapes. The direction ensures that every scene feels purposeful, whether it’s a quiet, tender moment or a high-stakes confrontation.

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Best show ever for the first 10 episodes

I was absolutely hooked on this show from the first episode. Even my husband who doesn’t care for Korean shows was hooked. The actors were phenomenal. The story was thrilling, fast paced and kept you guessing. It was so intense that it was almost stressful to watch. Loved everything about it. I’d say it’s the best show I’ve seen in a long time.
And then.. the ending just got weird. It’s like the writers of episode 12 didn’t even read the scripts for the first 10 episodes. Episode 11 was a bit out there, but they could have saved it. Episode 12 seemed to change the original story line and none of it made sense. Major cliffhanger events from episode 11 were completely ignored in episode 12. The events in episode 12 referenced a history that was never really mentioned in the previous episodes. Who got shot? Who died? How the hell did they end up THERE?!?! How is he involved with those groups? None of it made any sense. This would have been an easy 10/10 until the very end.

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Those who haven’t read the book can’t understand how perfect this is.

This drama was as close to the book while retaining its own essence. People hating in attitude details in the last episode have obviously not read the novel and why it was added. I do wish his reason for going and disappearing was made same as the book because imo it had a stronger effect but still I loved how they wrapped up everything nicely. if you know the novel is pretty long and I was worried how it would be composed in only 12 episodes. I do love the drama a lot. Yoo Yeon suk will forever remain my favourite actors, he owns each character he portrays. The book however had a lot of things I found better than the drama. the reason for the car crash one of them. In A was the one who noticed that paek sa eon was different from when she saw him before. it’s she who they tried to kill. her brother wasn’t the target. Anyways the list of pros and cons between both the novel and the drama is too long. I loved them both individually. it’s a must watch drama. The chemistry is off the Charts.

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There's a couple here now...

«There's a couple here now... The two have lived without being able to open up to each other. Would things have been different if they had been more honest and shown their true feelings? If they try to make an effort now, could they live like any other ordinary couple?»

I'm beginning in all honesty.

The opening of the show, with the almost antagonizing of our Baek (incorrectly written as Paik) Saeon, surely built up to some archetypes, or at least a certain develop of our main characters.
We were never promised a rom-com or anything similar, however, the accurate portrayal of a badass man whose past is as dark as the suits he wears, anticipated to me an undeniable progress or evolutions of the events: I was expecting way more intimate scenes, considering also the brightening chemistry between the actors. And when I talk about intimate scenes, I'm not referring to steamy or R-rated ones, but to the illustration of their mutual understanding, harmony and attraction.
On the other hand, what we got was miscommunication, secrets, unfair decisions taken solo, and a strange will from both of them (Hong Heejoo I'm talking about you) to die with the possibility of the other being alive. My woman, you're great, but shouldn't you want to live with him?

The systematic unfolding of the mystery and its repercussions on the characters, although seemingly unimportant at first (well, at least not how the last details revealed), created a perfect keenness and high expectancy for the final confession, which unfortunately wasn't that much unexpected.
I still can't understand if it was wanted or not, if the drama left voluntarily clues for us watchers; if that's the case, then they did a great job.

Although the last detail and the way they broadcasted it (the grandfather deciding to kill Heejoo's brother because the latter had seen his son's face) seemed a little useless. I mean, it was used to be added to the list of excuses for Saeon and his disappearance, but it all gave the impression of a rushed and not carefully analyzed decision of a grand finale. But I also understand this was the cinematic adaptation of a novel, if I remember correctly, so I won't be obstinate on such particulars.

As for the romances... Well, as said before, I was expecting more intimate scenes from the main couple, and honestly I was expecting anything at all from the second couple. The writers decided to give us their marriage announcement at the end, but it was completely unexpected, genuinely more than the mystery. They dropped the bomb on us without even depicting their love, not even in a single scene. I would've way more preferred if they'd remained friends. Also because, right after Heejoo and Saeon announced their new marriage, Ji Sangwoo looked kind of distressed, as if he was still into her after all those years.
I wholeheartedly decided to ignore these details.

I appreciated how Park Dojae returned as Saeon's secretary (or whatever function he had before), and frankly I hoped they would've shown us more about his redemption, but I guessed I'm asking for too much now from a miniseries.

What I found completely useless to the plot was the whole Argan thing. I mean, I can understand its insertion since we've come from 406 to 604, and Saeon's past and whatsoever, but it truly didn't make any sense for the rest. Saeon's friend (the journalist) explained how much he loved sunsets and that he really liked a spot in Argan to take pictures, but... Could've chosen, I don't know, Canada just for that? Why entering a war zone? Especially knowing your wife's going to look for you.
And let's not talk about how she tried to hide from the rebels while wearing white and a bright scarf over her head? Are you stupid? Heejoo totally called that upon herself. I'm sure if she looked around there would've been troupes of resistance somewhere.

I also appreciated Heejoo's mother redemption, although we couldn't see much about her journey, we've assisted to her breakdown and realization and then their reunion. Ina was also a key character for the show, and she was just amazing. All the other side characters, from colleagues to friends, were just perfect. The real Baek Saeon was also a mesmerizing character, and the actor portrayed perfectly his sociopathy.
About the latter, I must say I can't really put my mind around the fact that he chose to actuate his revenge on the new Baek Yuyeon instead of his family, which obviously were the real villains. On the other hand, I understand his mother: the fear of having a son with such difficulties and so much dangerous to society must've been stressing, but then I don't excuse any of her consequent actions.

Now, music? Majestic. Actors? Perfect. Rewatch value? Meh. The thing with this kind of dramas (like My Name, The Glory...) is that they're quite difficult to rewatch once you know the secrets. Although, it is true that enjoying the show once more could uncover so many details about the depiction of the series.

Overall, this has been an amazing kdrama, with lots of holes but also lots of details. I won't say it's my favorite one, I won't say it's particularly remarkable, but I'll say it's enjoyable. I also really loved the final scenes, romantic and normal, like they'd dreamt to live.

«There's a couple here now... They don't hide their true feelings and are honest with each other. They have promised to make an effort to be happy together»

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Love – Only One Phone Call Away

When The Phone Rings is a captivating drama that drew me in from the very first episode. This intricately crafted series opens with a series of thought-provoking questions that gradually unfold as the story progresses. By the time the final episode arrives, everything aligns perfectly, leading to a beautifully executed conclusion. I particularly appreciated how the drama maintained a tense atmosphere while skillfully integrating the romantic elements between the ML and FL

Having previously encountered the talents of the male lead and female lead in their earlier projects, I was particularly struck by Yoo Yeon Seok's interpretation of Paik Sa Eon. His ability to convey a broad spectrum of emotions made the character both relatable and captivating. Chae Soo Bin also delivered a noteworthy performance as Hong Hee Joo. I found her portrayal especially demanding in the initial episodes, yet she navigated it with remarkable finesse. The undeniable chemistry between Yeon Seok and Soo Bin further enhanced the appeal of their characters, making Paik Sa Eon and Hong Hee Joo so loved by me.

The OST is also worthy of praise. My personal favorite is "I Feel it Now," sung by Whee In from Mamamoo, which profoundly enriches the emotional landscape of the interactions between the male and female leads. Additionally, Yoo Yeon Seok's contribution with "Say My Name" highlights his artistic versatility.

In conclusion, this drama is a must-see, expertly blending suspense and romance while delivering exceptional performances that make it truly remarkable.

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An overall entertaining experience for what it is

I just want to preface this: I am by no means an expert on dramas. I don't write reviews, nor am I overly critical on what I watch. If I like it, I like it. THIS one got me to write a review only because it had the potential to becoming one of my top dramas (I mean honestly speaking it still is but I'll get to that).

My ratings for dramas usually stem from my overall enjoyment and how invested I am in the plot and characters, as is with most people. WTPR had me interested from episode 1 and I was glued to my seat since then. Full send binge all the way through. It didn't feel like a chore to watch. It wasn't the most groundbreaking thing but I thought the concept was fresh and I absolutely loved the leads and their chemistry. Piece of Your Mind put Chae Soo Bin on my radar and I loved her role in this one as well. It had over-the-top drama cliches and tropes but I didn't mind it all cause it felt like an exaggerated soap opera where so much was going on I was just like "yeah give me more of this unrealistic train wreck, I'm locked in." The acting and production were great and I completely understand why Yoo Yeon Seok got nominated for an award cause one of his scenes is in my top 5 performances for me out of all the dramas I've seen.

Now the reason why I mentioned this HAD the potential to be one of my top dramas is the conclusion... I have no clue why it went down the route it did but man, they absolutely overcooked it in my opinion. It's like when you're cooking and following a recipe and then you suddenly start deviating from the recipe. You start adding in ingredients that you FEEL would elevate the dish but it just ends up becoming worse. Some people might have differing opinions on this but I think it's completely fine to leave loose ends with the plot as long as it doesn't shake up the pacing and narrative too much. It wasn't horrible by any means, but it just ended up feeling emptier than it should've been cause it felt like they were shoving the drama out the door.

In the beginning, I felt that this heavily benefited from the 12 episode format but now that I've finished it, I think the standard 16 would've been way better with the route that the writers and producers decided to take in closing it out. I appreciate that it didn't drag out, but in this case the runtime felt like a double-edged sword. With that being said, I still rate this so highly because I enjoyed the hell out of it (but also I'm basing this out of how I've rated the ones I've seen, so others might not consider this to be as high as 9/10). Do I wish some things could've been done differently? Clearly. Would I recommend this one? I would. For what it presented itself to be, I got more than I bargained for.

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A Captivating K-Drama with Stellar Performances and Minor Flaws

This is one of the best K-dramas I’ve watched in a while. While it has its flaws, the overall production was outstanding. The plot was intriguing and, for the most part, well-executed. Watching it weekly as it aired kept me thoroughly engaged, eagerly anticipating each new episode.

Pros:
Outstanding Acting:
The performances, especially from the two leads, were phenomenal. Yoo Yeon Seok delivered a masterclass in subtlety—his ability to convey deep emotions through slight facial movements and the way his voice cracked was truly remarkable. Chae Soo Bin was equally impressive, and their chemistry was absolutely perfect.

Compelling Story:
Although the script had a few issues, I loved the story. After skimming through the novel (English translation), I truly appreciated the changes the screenwriters made. I loved the drama-version of Baek Sa Eon a lot better than the novel-version. My favorite alteration was having Hong Heejoo discover earlier on that Baek Sa Eon already knew her identity as the mystery caller. This allowed for more open communication and heartwarming interactions between the couple, which I adored. The ending tied up all loose ends effectively, although it did feel slightly rushed after spending too much time on Baek Sa Eon’s disappearance.

Brilliant Storytelling:
The narrative was beautifully presented, with thoughtful parallels and shots. For example, the line “Call me when you have a corpse” was repeated three times throughout the series, each time in a different context and evoking distinct emotions from the characters. These subtle touches added depth and richness to the storytelling.

Cons: The only con I found was with inconsistencies with the script:
Aside from the usual K-drama tropes—like characters surviving falling off a cliff with no broken bones or any visible injuries or scars magically disappearing overnight—my biggest disappointment lay in the final episode. Baek Sa Eon’s six-month disappearance felt so out of character and inconsistent with the story’s progression. For someone as considerate (especially towards the FL’s feelings and well-being) and steadfast as Baek Sa Eon, it seemed implausible for him to leave the female lead in such a manner, especially over something that was not his fault and beyond his control. This was particularly jarring given how explicitly she had shared her fears of abandonment in a previous episode. While this plot point might have worked in the novel—where the two leads did not openly communicate much—it felt forced and misplaced in the drama, where their relationship was built on mutual understanding.

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Unheard Love!!!!

My god I was really Excited when I saw the Trailer but Again I thought I will Binge Watch it after all episodes are released but of course , It is not Possible and I started watching it and I literally waited for every episode and It was worth it . The characters of Dramas and their acting were very good and The persons who I thought would mess up the Story for Main leads were Hee Joo's Senior brother ( Heo Nam Jun ) and her sister(Han Jae Yi) but turns out that they are very cute and supported her in every single way possible and I should not forget Jang Gyu Ri she is dumb but beautiful and cute here , I liked Sa Eon's secretary a lot but it turns out that he had something to do with Kidnapping and Etc , Even though it was a misunderstanding but I liked the ending with him .
Overall it is a drama where it has thrill plus Love . I think every one will Enjoy It.

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