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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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This review may contain spoilers
Cliche done right
Cold and possessive male lead with a mysterious past , checkCute and silent female lead with a trauma , check
This has to be one of the best dramas of 2024. With such a strong start, it captivates you and keeps you on the edge.
Marriage of convenience , childhood acquaintances, estranged couple, ... these tropes were executed in a way they didn't feel cringy and further added to the plot. If you want to relive your wattpad days , its for you.
The acting, the plot, the chemistry ,the cinematography , pacing, dialogues, twists and attention to detail were so well done. The acting of not only the leads but also the supporting cast , especially the real Baek Sa-Eon amazingly done. From what you can expect from a romance thriller kdrama, it delivers. In most of the parts, there is nothing unnecessary and the plot flows seemlessly . The romance scenes also served.
Not to mention the OSTs , so beautiful . See the light has become one of my favourites.
It did a good job for most of the part . The start was impeccable . We get a couple who have been married for 3 years but just for name's sake , the male lead having liked the fl since the beginning and them slowly getting to know each other as they face problems that threatens their very being. We get angst, tension and intensity which dissipates in the later episodes. As we transition to the last few eps, they were a little underwhelming compared to the rest of the initial parts and becomes a little over dramatic and random , doing absolutely nothing to the plot . The logic flies out . But the ending make up for it so ...
Special mention to the second lead couple . They stole my heart . Their dynamic was fun and natural . I wish we had gotten more of them.
I am giving it a 9 for the overall job it did ,overlooking some subplots (*cough* argan *cough*) and for the terrific start.
If you love cliches that give you the feels , jump straight into it.
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BEST DRAMA OF 2024-25
This drama had me HOOKED from beginning to end. The acting? PHENOMENAL. The story? AMAZING. The chemistry?? HELLO DO I EVEN NEED TO SAY ANSWER THIS, THE CHEM B/W YYS AND CSB WAS SERIOUSLY OFF THE CHARTS.I will say, for a romance/thriller, the thriller part was definitely mid - but since I'm not a thriller fan! It didn't matter so much to me. To be honest, that doesn't even take much away from the drama though (unless you're a thriller fan watching the drama for that bit of thriller and you expected more). The drama was a bit cringey at some points, but it really shows how in depth the actors' acting was. They all portrayed their characters SO well. YYS's acting was PHENOMENAL, but that's NOT to say CSB's acting wasn't!!! This was the very first drama I've watched of his so his acting really stood out to me.
To be honest, I wish this drama had more episodes. I don't know how I'm going to say goodbye to this drama. WILL DEFINITELY REWATCH LATER.
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One of the best chemistry I've seen...
FL and ML for sure showed how it should be done. Natural, spicy and at the same time sweet chemistry was the whole point of the show.Supporting actors were awesome. Just wished we've seen a bit more of second couple.
Last episode was a bit of a downhill in certain situations and events, but if you'll find it a bit boring or unnecessary, just fast forward those to sweet ending! One or two episodes shouldn't impact the other 10 for it to get a huge drop in your personal ranking.
I've seen worse melodramatic, overdone moments in other dramas for sure, and in this drama they were small and just funny to observe.
Every episode kept me on edge (I watched as it aired), so binge watching is certainly a way to go!
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WTPR has everything can expect from a kdrama
Reviews are subjective but honestly I’ve never rewatched any drama as many times as this one while it was still airing… not even my beloved CLOY. For me, it’s perfect: the script, directing, camera work, the length, the tempo, no unnecessary or cringe scenes, and so many details are well thought out. The OST as well, and best of all, the acting and the chemistry between the main leads. We see a rarely seen nowadays top class acting from not only main leads but also supporting actors.Of course it has a few parts in the form of illogical and slightly realistic consequences of various accidents, but this is a common technique in this genre and is no more miserable than in other dramas, and it does not affect the story or the pleasure of watching.
To be fair, I haven’t seen a lot of the iconic and older dramas yet, but I think I’ve watched over a hundred various dramas already, and this one has everything I expect from a kdrama. For me, it’s in my top 3 and I will rewatch it more than any other series for sure.
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Ignore the comments of Haters and see this drama!
For everyone considering if they should watch this drama, please go for it! The first ten episodes are solid episodes and are totally worth your time. It's a pity the writers gave us a weak ass last episode but you see the first ten episodes? chef's kiss.It's also a pity that politics has messed up the ratings of this drama which was originally 8.9/10. But I assure you that the drama is worth every minute of your time! Ignore the bad comments from haters. They're just frustrated humans from unhappy homes who are jealous of the drama's success.
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A very nice show
It was good, some accidents were taken too lightly, you could see someone fall over 300 meters and have no major injuries, someone survive a hole explotion and walking two days later with no scars. Some scenes were not realistic enough, and some reactions of the characters were not natural either, so I found myself thinking “what is this”.I loved the acting of both main characters. Always happy to watch Yoo Yeon Sook, he is one of my favorites.
It was an exciting show overall with minor weaknesses.
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This review may contain spoilers
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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WTPR is an exceptional drama of personal growth,
second chances, love, drama and thriller all mixed into one.When the Phone Rings delivers on everything it promises and keeps you glued to your seat every episode. The OST fits the story perfectly in every scene. The characters are magnifically acted by the cast, and you can't help and root for them. They go thru so much. In the end, the journey is worth it to get the characters the ending they deserve. I like how all of them are so complicated and make you feel for them. I even ended up sympathizing with the villain one of twice. Weird, yes! But that's the token of good writing that gets you to feel even for the evilest of characters.
I also enjoyed the growth of the characters esp HHJ who goes from a meek, comforting character to a strong, feisty woman who knows what she wants and goes after it. She's not afraid to stand up against those who hurt her anymore and I loved that! Her journey is definitely something to watch. Just like PSE who comes into his own while basically going thru hell on earth before leading him to his happy ending.
In the end WTPR did have a couple of cliche moments but in the end they were necessary for the overall journey and message of the drama.
9/10
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Fast paced and delivers all the drama
I absolutely loved this show. It was drama at its finest. The plot moves so quickly, and the lines written for the ML are absolutely swoon worthy. I just wish I could rewatch it for the first time again.The acting is sublime in parts. I actually felt empathy for a few characters who absolutely didn't deserve it.
The writing really is top tier. It has some typical tropes, but it felt fesh and new at the same time.
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Full on tropes but are well executed.
It never promised a groundbreaking - oscar worthy masterpiece, but it was perfect on its own right.For the future watchers and those starting the drama right now. The ways you can actually enjoy this drama.
1. Always think of the drama logic. The show is for pure entertainment, a guilty pleasure. If you are here thinking it would be a realistic drama, then you won't enjoy it. Abandon the technicalities and your personal projections.
2. It is a thriller romance, so both genres are entertwined. You will feel the angst and frustration, but you will also feel the intense chemistry of the leads.
3. Plot-wise, your questions will be answered as you go along the rest of the episodes. Any other "logic" you are thinking of, please refer to number 1.
4. Instead of thinking "how/what will I do in this situation" it should be "how/why did Heejoo & BSE do that". Then you will enjoy this more. Again, point number 1.
But seriously, as a long time drama watcher, I am easy to please. As long as the leads acting are great, intense chemistry and good communication are present, idrc about the craziness around them. So for those who are like me, you will enjoy it.
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Almost the best show of 2024
I can now say with clarity that 2024 was an abysmal Kdrama year. It was one disappointment after underwhelming show after trash fire show after another! All the shows that started with great hype and massive potential *cough* lovelymarrymyrunnerhusband *cough* ended up with weird third acts or just bad plotting or shoehorned actors...everything was BAD! Everyone's favorite 2024 drama worked like the strongest sleeping pill for me! I fell over my computer on 4 different occasions before I gave up on it! It was basically impossible to find a good show! The late entries of the year that I ended up giving 10 stars to, were on par with previous years' 8-stars show but given the depressing landscape of 2024, I was desperate to give them some good ratings and they ended up over-complimented in the process.And then, When The Phone Rings started airing.
I had no intention to watch this, like most shows I watched that year. It just sort of happened. I tried the first episode and it was so tense, addictive and mysterious that I immediately went for episode 2 and then I was craving for episode three! Sure, you need to lowkey turn off your feminist brain for the show to be enjoyable and there's still a lot that is questionable/unexplained in the plot but overall, it was good at keeping the tension high and building momentum for the upcoming episode. Add to that the steamy but subtle chemistry between the leading actors, their complex personalities and the ambiguous dynamics they had which bordered on unhealthy but never quite tipped into toxic territory and that kept the show fun to watch and also added a little spice to boot. This show was fun! Was it high quality? No...no, the production is really actually bad! The set designs are so basic, you can tell they had a low budget but they kept it classy. The acting wasn't good across the board either. For the most of the run, I thought this one guy was a secret villain but it turned out that the actor just...has an intense gaze, he he (awkward...). The mother characters looked really fake and just uncomfortable when they did their crying scenes. So it wasn't perfect in technical aspects and the plot was cheesy and slightly off at parts but the overall storytelling was so enjoyable and entertaining.
There was also sweet separations from the norm, the SFL isn't vengeful or jealous. The SML while still a SML (So like, how good can he be?!) was still less pushy and didn't overstep. The characters set up to be jealous and cruel were just supportive and neutral. The villains were not omniscient gods. They were sh*t at being villains like you would expect normal humans to be sh*t at stuff. The FL, though mainly a damsel in distress, showed unexpected spunk and fire and managed to save herself a number of times. The ML, is the main reason everyone watched this, was SO HOT! And though he was gloomy and broody when he was grinding on that miscommunication train, he was at his sexiest when he started to learn communication. Love to see it! This was the kind of show that was so fun and good to watch in small doses!
And then, around episode 8 it started to get a bit slow and I found episode 9 and 10 to be less enjoyable than previous ones though they still wrapped it up nicely. But then...episodes 11 and 12 were awful! I have never seen a show ruin itself so magnificently! My god! I can't believe I'm saying this...this show did not need 12 episodes!!!! They could've wrapped this up in 10 episodes! 11 at most! The pacing was slow in 11 but in 12, the pacing was high on drugs and tripping on freaking clouds! It was confusing, it made no sense. WHY???? Why would you do this to your show?! omg...you almost had the perfect show, goddamit!
So yeah. If this was to prove anything, it proved that nothing about 2024 was good and redeemable! This was the last chance to have a perfect 2024 show but they fumbled the bag.
It's not even a mini-problem! They spent 10 episodes setting up a character who learns communication, only for him to just forget all about that character growth and just regress to "I know what's best for her" nonsense. How can you undo everything you so meticulously set up for 11 episodes, in just 67 minutes?!
And it dragged. The most boring episode of the show. Made no sense, was all over the place, suddenly we get a voiceover explaining random conclusions to plot points, the filming technique looked like daytime sitcom shows, the acting was stilted, the plot was out of the left field. And then they give you the cute resolution in the final moments but it came after the most bizarre and random episode that I didn't even enjoy it well.
Almost. It was almost the best show of 2024. What a pity.
I don't regret watching it but it ended on a really sour note and I redacted 2 points, at first but then, for the sake of all that I had enjoyed in this show, I returned one point.
Could've been a ten...but it's not. What a waste! What a pity.
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