Unimpressive Romance/Mystery, Despite Promising Premise & Great Acting
BEFORE READING: Opinions differ, and my review and rating might not align with the popular opinion. This is my honest take on the drama. If you love the drama and can't bear to see any negativity about it, please skip my review. Others who are open to a different perspective and constructive discussion, read on!I started "When the Phone Rings" with excitement due to the lead actors and the thriller-romance premise. However, two episodes in, I was confused about the direction - whether it was a mystery/thriller or romance. After learning from others that there is a novel which is more detailed and primarily a spicy romance, I realized my expectations were misplaced. Despite this, I kept watching weekly, hoping to know the mystery reveal, though poorly laid out. Sadly, the drama progressed by my hopes spiraled down as the drama's clichés didn't work for me in terms of romance or thriller, even though the actors performed well.
While I believe it is best to block/miss if this drama is calling you, breaking it down why I'm saying so:
➥ NEGATIVES:
(1) Romance:
As a woman, I couldn't imagine ever forgiving someone like the ML after years of neglect, especially after hearing what he said on the phone in Ep 1. This sentiment remains despite the fact that he was a childhood sweetheart and is now attempting to make amends. BUT How can three years of damage and indifference be justified and forgotten overnight? This was my biggest challenge, and I felt the rushed storyline didn't address it well. Even if the neglect years happened off-screen, their sudden realization of love felt implausible, even within the realm of drama logic. While these clichés are common, I've seen much better enemies-to-lovers plots, and this drama's romance angle didn't work for me at all. Even the convincingly acted intimate scenes felt forced to remain true to the spicy angle of novel, as the drama couple's arc was so weak. In my opinion, extending the drama to 16 episodes might have allowed more time to flesh out and develop the main leads' rediscovery of their old love gradually, rather than the rushed approach taken.
(2) Mystery/Thriller:
After 2 episodes, I realized my expectations for a "Gone Girl"-style mystery/thriller were misplaced. However, instead of dropping the drama, I continued watching at 2X speed each week, intrigued by the mystery surrounding the past secrets of the Paik family & the orphanage. Unfortunately, the plot did not progress well, becoming a mess especially from Ep 8's supposedly "big-reveal". The twists were obvious & revelations lacked impact. The final episode was entirely unnecessary—they could have simply provided a happy ending at the end of Ep 11, without the antagonist whispering an already known fact to the ML.
➥ POSITIVES:
(1) The Second Couple (Yuri & Sang Yoo):
Though very minimal screen-time, their romance grew slowly, organically, & felt believable. I'm seeing both the actors for the first time - they're talented & captivating especially Heo Nam Jun. Definitely going to watch their other works!
(2) Paik Sa-Eon (ML)'s acting:
Already familiar with his acting since his debut as a teen in Old Boy & he was a reason why I started this drama, as I was convinced of his talent. While his delivery was flawless as he showed a range of emotions - goofiness (elevator scene), anguish at loss of his beloved or betrayal, charm/aura as the Spokesperson, determination (when finding the culprit) - it still could not redeem this otherwise directionless drama for me.
➥ OVERALL: SKIP/One-Time Watch at best.
Personally, this drama was struggling to find its identity as a romance/thriller. The only reason I dragged myself to continue & not drop it was cause of: (1) my love for YYS as an actor (2) the hope that it will improve next week & justify the 8.9 rating (3) the end-twist will be so unique that it will shift the ground beneath my feet (4) did not want to make my dropped list longer. Alas, in the end, nothing worked for me but I am rating this as an average (5/10) purely for the actors' talent.
The drama can be a one time watch, if one likes cliches like webnovels/wattpad stories (Cold CEO is a great lover kind) - but fair warning, for me it was a romance that tried to justify the actions of a neglectful husband with a forced mystery/thriller/family secret plot that was increadibly weak.
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what a journey it was
when the phone rings is indeed a drama worth remembering because being relatively simple at its core, it brings in a tremendous psychological complexity of its characters and their relationships as well as a nicely developed plotline (though i wish some plotlines weren't so sidelined, but that's just a minor detail).a nearly perfect drama that carried us from 2024 to 2025, and i couldn't be happier about that.
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Amazing show
This show was immensly enjoyable and had me on the edge of my seat.I love a thriller that plays with your emotions and keeps you guessing. I love a romance that makes you laugh and cry and makes your heart clench. The show delivered that in spades.
The acting was wonderful. All of the cast members outdid themselves.
The soundtrack was one of the best ever. Instant download to my music library.
The plot: Wonderful
The ML is the stereotypical "cold CEO" as well as a somewhat morally-grey, handsome, rich and influencal person. He is completey in love with the FL but is unable to show it. We, the viewers, pick up on it much before the FL does.
The FL is strong, smart, kind, and very beautiful. It's beautiful to see her journey. While she is strong from the start, she holds herself back and only begins testing her boundries as the show goes on. The progression is beautiful.
The story combines elements of thriller, mystery, politics, secrets, family intrigue, and childhood trauma.
The main couple's chemistry is on fire. (The second couple is also a joy to watch.)
The evolution of the main couple from cold and adversarial with charged chemistry, to warm and open with blazing chemistry is portrayed to perfection.
Some of the plot twists are predictable while others are not. But all of the elemets of the story come together seemlesly. There are no filler scenes. The action, romance, and adventure are cobmined into a wonderful whole. I sat back and watched without blinking, entranced throughout the entire show.
What a wonderful journey.
My one complaint and the reason why I rated 9.5 is the final episode.
The happy ending was wonderful. But the leadup seemed out of place to the reaminder of the show. While the story line did follow the original novel in the majority of its aspects, somehow it was not incorporated into the show to my satisfaction.
Altogether, a terrific show and an immensly enjoyable watch.
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The storyline is engaging, with plenty of twists that keep you on your toes. If you're looking for a show that's not only entertaining but also gives off a positive, feel-good vibe, I definitely recommend giving it a watch.
Also, if you're into the music, the OST album is really beautiful. You can listen to it here:
https://memo.ostfly.com/album/PVGhhUNL/when-the-phone-rings-ost
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! ❤️"
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this is why I never pick up unknown calls
The best way to describe When the Phone Rings is "tropey". In a way, it feels like the essence of classic kdramas. The contract marriage setup, the ML's cold and domineering personality, even the way the leads fall in love -- nothing is particularly fresh or new. Still, the writers spun an engaging idea out of a kidnapper's call that had the potential to create a tense, sizzling dynamic between the leads, but unfortunately, this potential was never fully realized.The fundamental issue lies with the leads. Our FL is void of personality, will, clear goals, basically anything that makes a character a compelling person. Although her actions are consistent with her backstory, it would've made a far more interesting story if the FL were more of a ruthless, decisive character. Instead, we got a passive character with little resolve, little intelligence, and lots of scared expressions. It felt more like things kept happening to her rather than her taking control of the narrative.
The ML is... really something. They really did bring back the classic tsundere trope for him and I was not a fan. He has little personality other than being domineering, although he was pretty good at that. Maybe a little too good. I was kind of fed up with his bitchiness that he later tried to brush off. Like give my girl some free will, please. i.e. He's either inconsistent to an insane degree or has the maturity of a ten-year-old, take your pick.
Put these two together and the sizzling romance you wanted becomes a flat one. Their chemistry in the beginning is basically just Sa Eon: bursts into the room. Hui Ju: looks scared. Sa Eon: walks closer. Hui Ju: looks scared. Sa Eon: gets in her face. Hui Ju: looks scared. Then miraculously, one day Sa Eon wakes up and suddenly decides he doesn't want to be a jerk to Hui Ju anymore. Because he really needed someone to kidnap and threaten her in order to treat his wife with decent politeness. So the hope for good chemistry was already pretty low. But the little chemistry that could possibly have been siphoned out of this setup is completely lost because seriously, no one understands why they like each other. I believe the issue here is also that instead of the characters' actions furthering their relationship and the plot, outside factors and events seem to just be pulling this passive couple around.
The plot itself is not bad. The middle feels both useless and draggy, but the story ramps up near the end. The twists, reveals, and stakes were enough to keep me watching.
BUT FINALLY, the real reason I kept watching through it all! Yu Ri and Sang U. The most adorable second lead couple that has graced the screen. And I say this as someone who has never liked second lead couples. Yu Ri and Sang U, from the get-go, have far more palpable chemistry than the lead couple. Their "overdramatic fl x matter-of-fact ml" dynamic is so cute to watch, and I loved Yu Ri's cheerfulness and Sang U's casual quirks. Props to Sang U's actor, honestly. Did I watch 12 hours of this show for their meager 15 minutes of screentime? Yes, yes I did. Did I add .5 to the rewatch value because I will be rewatching their scenes? Yes, yes I did.
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This review may contain spoilers
When Your Wife Calls
I thought this series would lead me back to Kdrama. Unfortunately, it failed me again. This is your another clichéd Kdrama full of murder, crimes, political and family rivalry. I'm here supposedly for the romance. But, the romance I am hoping for took a back seat in the story. Oh yes, it started again with that aloof, domineering, snob character of the ML. Which expectedly would make a turn towards the end of the drama. Yes, everything is predictable, from the crime itself, the childhood flashbacks, the orphanage and the romance itself. Very poor storyplot. Lots of unnecessary characters like the sister of the FL who didn't play a significant role at all, FL's colleagues in the court or judiciary.The idea of the burner phone is too lame for me just to express ones feelings. Even poor execution of crime solving. Like, a car that can be easily hacked and operated by a culprit but a simple burner phone cannot be easily located or even decoded by the Office of the President. Like, how inefficient such office can be?
Anyways, this is a wasted potential. If only the writers focused on the romance, instead of the too overly used crime trope, it would have been much more interesting. Yes, this is a total slowburn. Why let the audience wait for the finale for a married couple to get intimate? Can't it be at least halfway thru? or better yet, after the wedding ceremony itself since the feeling is mutual anyway. Would have been much better if they have kids in the finale.
Mysterious Love or My Lethal Man Cdrama is way better than this.
I was suppose to give this a 7.0 for the minimal romantic interaction between the leads. The actors were all awesome. My first time to watch Yoo Yeon Seok in a drama. Second time for Chae Soo Bin as first seen her in I'm Not A Robot. Still, gave an overall rating of 8.0 for the intimate finale scene. Definitely, chemistry was there. Another overrated drama.
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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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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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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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Best couple of the year
superb chemistry, the couple of the year 2024 for me and loved the OST, I really liked it and I was glad that I saw it all at once. I love the kisses scene, finally a FL that know yo kiss and be in a lovely, mature scene.The last episode seemed to be from another kdrama. They need to rewrite it. I liked the beauty of it but Argan place... why when you had so many things to unfold and to show to have a great finale.
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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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This review may contain spoilers
Strong start, but a letdown in the end
I really enjoyed the first few episodes. I liked how fast-paced the 406 storyline was, but episodes 11-12 were such a letdown. From the start, I thought the series felt like a Wattpad story, and even with the whole Argan arc, it still felt that way, but I didn’t like it. One reason I started watching K-dramas is because of their unique plots. It started strong, but the lack of mature communication and unrealistic plot choices disappointed me. I'd recommend this to those who enjoy dramatic, Wattpad-esque romance, but don't mind a storyline that lacks consistency.Was this review helpful to you?
