When the Phone Rings (2024)

loved this drama! ? was ep 12 perfect? not even close.

loved loved loved this drama! 😍 was ep 12 perfect? not even close. most of it was great but I think we can all agree (surely?) some of the random bits thrown in there (whether part of the original novel or not) felt out of place and not keeping with the same atmosphere/pacing as the previous 11 episodes.

The entire scene where she went to find him was super jarring/felt like it was from a different show/not the "wrapping up" episode of an epic romance & thriller drama with only 12 short episodes. While the 1st 11 episodes did "short drama" in a most brilliant fashion with character arches, pacing, etc... episode 12 fell victim to what MOST shorter dramas do and that's throw a bunch of nonsensical scenes in there for the "dramatic effect" which instead of keeping us on the edge of our seat like it hoped to accomplish, it instead ice-water-to-the-face pulled us out of the beautiful story we were ENGROSSED in for 11 straight episodes/weeks of watching/obsessing over and that's unfortunate.

If they literally cut out that ENTIRE portion of the episode, it would have been 1000x better of a finale and NOTHING would have changed plot-wise or pacing-wise in the 12 episodes. The decision to shoot/leave those scenes was unfortunate BUT not unfortunate enough for me to hate or even "dislike" this drama. It's still one of those dramas I guarantee I'll watch many more times in the future! I'll just skip about 1/2 of the final episode when I do hahaha

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WATTPAD MEETS K-DRAMA

This k-drama is only two episodes in and I am already HOOKED!! It has all my favorite tropes: arranged marriage, she fell first he fell harder, cold male lead who secretly cares for the female lead, etc. The acting and the chemistry between Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin is so good! I am living for the tension and Baek Sa Eon's possessiveness/protectiveness! AND THE PLOT TWISTS!? SO GOOD!! It is also a plot that I have never seen before, especially in a k-drama. Overall, such a good k-drama that has me hooked since episode one!

Review update now that I have finished:

First off I want to thank this drama for giving me something to look forward to every weekend! It is one of my new favorites and will always hold a special place in my heart! Now onto the review!

I did take off .5 stars from my initial 10/10 rating since the imagination/dream bit was a bit repetitive and some things were rushed in the final episodes (In my opinion, it needed at least 16 episodes so a lot of the plot wasn’t so rushed towards the end). However, they still did a great job in executing everything with the limited episodes that they had!

This drama had ALL THE TROPES. Arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, etc. and all the tropes, in my humble opinion, were done tastefully! War trope was also thrown in last minute, but Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin actually executed it so well and not going to lie I ate it up!!

Speaking of Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin, their chemistry and acting was so good in this drama!! All the emotional scenes (especially the cliff scene) were done so well and the yearning and the tension was carried out so good! Cannot give them enough praise for the acting they did for WTPR!

They also used a lot of symbolism in this drama and a lot of the details were done with intention which I loved and appreciated!

Overall, this drama was a really good one and a plot I have never seen before in another k-drama! It’s interesting from beginning to end and one I would highly recommend for people to try and watch!

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HANDS DOWN RN FOR THE BEST OF 2024

I mean, for me it's a big surprise to still exists a well written and well made K-drama in 2024, since most of them were boring and I couldn't even finish the 1 episode, now I come across this one and I found a new top 10 favorite forever.
It's an absolute 10/10 for me.
ost is perfect.
actores were perfect
story was perfect.
ending was perfect.
I have nothing bad to say about this show, the only thing sad about it is that I came to a ending 😭
hahaha
anyway, I liked the story a lot, it wasn't full of light romance with nothing interesting at all, beside seeing the couple falling for each other, the story was good alone! The past of the family and the past of the characters all of them, it was so interesting to watch, I kept wanting to know more. I also liked the way the main "villain" was created, it wasn't a lazy excuse for me, like some drama out there that they put a random serial killer that doesn't have meaning at all, in this show the "bad guy" actually did have a reason besides being crazy. Also, I like how the show suddenly show us random enemies all of sudden, like, anyone in this show can be a potential threat. I love it!
Now let's talk about the FL. I loved her! She was so cool, not the kind of "damsel in distress" even in dangerous situations she nailed it! If you like cool and strong FL you'll surely like this one, she isn't a hero or the strongest, but she def won my heart here

Anyway! I love stories with mystery, action, secrets, romance, enemies to Lovers, and stuff like that, so this drama def got my heart. Totally recommend it to anyone!

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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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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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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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Best Drama of 2024: A Perfect Happy Ending

I will just say this is best drama of 2024. Also my 2025 year happiest by giving happy ending. If you didn’t started yet then please go and watch this drama. Each and every episode are more interesting.
The cinematography and soundtrack are equally captivating, heightening the drama's emotional and suspenseful undertones. The OST, in particular, is unforgettable and fits the narrative like a glove.

Overall, When the Phone Rings is a must-watch for K-drama fans. It offers a perfect blend of mystery, romance, and life lessons, leaving viewers deeply moved and satisfied. Don’t miss out on this gem!

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Best drama I've seen in 5 years!

When I read the caption of this drama I thought the story sounded intrestning and I started to watch it casually. As I watched episode by episode the story evolved, there's so much more story than the caption says and I was blown away. Completely hooked and I had to pause whatever I was doing to watch the drama properly. This drama is a true gem, this is the first time I would say the story is 10/11! This is definitly the best drama I've seen in 5 years! I'm giving the drama overall a 9,5 because sometimes (maybe due to language barrier) it was hard to understand, because the story was a bit complicated. You will regret it if you don't watch this masterpiece.

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when the phone rings is the best

and when i say the best, the best.

honestly speaking, it outdid qot (at least for me, but qot's good as well). everything about this drama is great, from the script, down to the cast, especially the storyline.

the story wasn't hard to understand, you can grasp the story so easily. and the best is, the story does not go in circles, qhen a question pops it'll be answered.

kudos to soobin and yeonsook (as well as the whole cast and team ^^)!!! they did such great job portraying their characters. their emotions can be felt by the audience as well, such great actors. ^^

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