The Number You Have Dialed (2024)

"Drama When the Phone Rings: Cerita Klise dengan Chemistry Memukau"

Akhirnya, drama "When the Phone Rings" tamat juga! Ceritanya ngingetin banget sama drama-drama khas Indosiar—penuh konflik yang dramatis dan emosional. Tapi, ada beberapa bagian plot yang bikin penasaran, kayak "Siapa sih?" atau "Kenapa gitu?" Jadi, meskipun ceritanya agak klise, tetap bikin betah nonton sampai selesai.

Salah satu hal yang paling oke dari drama ini adalah chemistry pemeran utamanya. Mereka bener-bener cocok dan berhasil bikin penonton ikut ngerasain emosi karakternya.

Sayangnya, endingnya agak kurang nendang. Walaupun begitu, secara keseluruhan drama ini tetap asik buat diikuti.

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Great Construction, Tragic Outcome

The show as a whole is excellent, with a strong narrative, engaging characters, and well-paced development throughout most of its run. However, the last 3-4 episodes leave much to be desired, suffering from poor and rushed storytelling. There were numerous intriguing directions the story could have taken, but instead, the writers opted for a nonsensical war plot that feels out of place and disconnected from the themes established earlier. This choice not only undermines the emotional weight of the series but also feels like a missed opportunity to deliver a more meaningful and satisfying conclusion.

The subplot involving his family, which could have added depth and complexity to the story, also feels hurried and underdeveloped. It seems as though the writers were trying to tie up loose ends too quickly, resulting in a lack of nuance and emotional resonance. Additionally, the repeated focus on her fear of losing him, while initially compelling, is overused to the point where it loses its impact. What starts as a heartfelt and relatable concern eventually becomes tiresome and fails to evoke the same emotional response as it did earlier in the series.

Overall, while the show excels in many areas, the shortcomings of its final episodes detract from the overall experience. A more thoughtful and cohesive conclusion could have elevated the series to an even higher level, leaving viewers with a lasting impression. Instead, the rushed and inconsistent ending leaves much to be desired, making it difficult to fully appreciate the brilliance of the earlier episodes.

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It was good until it wasn't!

I was very excited to watch this series, and honestly speaking it delivered until it didn't. Everything was going smoothly and it kept me on the edge of my seat. Everytime an episode ended, I couldn't wait to watch another one, waiting was absolute toucher like pin in the eye toucher... 😑 but the last 2 episodes was lacking a lot, it felt like watching a derailed train.. When the phone rings could have been a 10 star series. They just had to ruin the last two episodes. The last episodes was supposed to be a wrap up, but i felt like they just opened a can of worms that was really unnecessary. At least the last 15 minutes of the show was bearable, hence i gave the overall 8.5...

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A drama where classic and modern danced eternally in a beautiful and intriguing way

*THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*
I ALWAYS LOVE marriage contract & stand-in bride's trope
First of all, i started this without any expectation, i watched the trailer in early November and thought "hmm this is interesting", i mean it's so rare (or maybe none) to have a young presidential spokesman as the main character and a girl who's suffering from selective mutism who works as a sign language interpreter. Both also comes from a prestigious & prominent family (which is again, quite rare). Also, both MC looks so gorgeous, stunning and handsome/beautiful in that trailer so it quickly gets my attention. I wasn't familiar with the ML, apparently he's well known but not as popular other popular actors. I watched Chae Soobin's dramas before (i am not a robot, a piece of your mind & rookie cops) and i quite like her but not much, just enough. I came to know later after watched the trailer that Yoo Yeonseok was in Hospital Playlist (and i haven't watch hosplay at that time yet). Teaser by teaser, trailer by trailer made me excited even more. I can sense a dark romance, wattpad-coded vibes from this drama. And i love it! It's been so long for kdrama to have this kind of vibes (i don't even remember the last kdrama who had this similar vibes).
When episode 1 & 2 aired, i knew my guesses were right. IT'S SOOOO WATTPAD-CODED & HAS A VERY FANFICT FEELS. From the character visualization, the way the director shoots a scene, the chemistry, the sexual tension between the main leads, etc. What makes this drama leaning towards wattpad-coded more is they way YYS & CSB portrayed the characters. See i'm a fool of an arrogant, alpha, dominant, cold, demanding, charismatic, bad boy-kind of male lead, but mostly from what i've read from novel, webnovel, comics, or even some short dramas, made me cringe, not only what the ML said but also the way they acted it's so random and out of place i can't feel the emotion. But here YYS successfully portrayed Baek Sa Eon, just like a live action ver of a character that's coming out straight from webtoon/wattpad without getting cringe. I also shocked by CSB, i always knew she's pretty but here she's elegantly beautiful, fragile yet strong-willed ver of FL that you usually read in webtoon/manga/novel. Both are so suitable for each other, they're sooo good together.
The story itself maybe not new/fresh but since i never watched this kind of romance thriller story, i still find it interesting and arguably very good. I like how it is so fast-paced and has no filler scene, with decent/good character development, and slow burn romance. Some plotholes and mistakes did happen, but i can overlook that as i enjoy how the drama's going and how both the MC took my attention fully. It always has plus minus from a makjang soap opera kind of drama, the writers are trying to sell you something unrealistic that's supposed to be fun and like a guilty pleasure, and i like how the story execution and brilliant performances of the lead actors that elevated the quality of this drama that is filled with cliche and common tropes. I also loved how the romance progression makes perfect sense within the genre we're in and the characters were dealing with and what makes it better is that YYS and CSB have given so much life to our trashy romantic fantasy plots and made it fun. It's like watching the stories you read come to life and in a non-cringey way.
The ending (especially the war part) felt quite random & silly (at least explain why BSE needs to go there TT) but i understand they wanted to make the ending closely like in the novel and they gave us so many sweet moments of BSE HHJ so i forgive the scriptwriter
Overall i'm very satisfied with this drama and this easily in my top 3 favourites drama of all time (i'm a kdrama sucker, i followed kdrama since autumn in my heart era and up until yesterday i'm only obsessed with 4 kdrama : boys before flowers, princess hours, moon lovers scarlet heart ryeo, alchemy of souls, but right now i can easily add when the phone rings as my new obsession)

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From Kidnappings to Kisses Why This Kdrama is Unmissable

This kdrama is a fast-paced rollercoaster filled with suspense, romance, and mystery, balanced perfectly with moments of lightheartedness to keep it grounded. From the very first episode, you’re thrown into a gripping kidnapping tied to an intense international political crisis—a thrilling entry point that keeps you on the edge of your seat while introducing the characters.

As the story unfolds, expect twists galore—ransom calls, child-swapping, and missing orphans—all woven together in fresh and unpredictable ways. Adapted from a K-webnovel, the drama makes some changes, like adding new characters, toning down adult content, and refining the plot for smoother storytelling. Despite these tweaks, it stays true to the core narrative, with the sizzling chemistry between the leads taking center stage.

What sets this drama apart is the depth it brings to its characters and their relationships. Yoo Yeon Seok shines as Baek Sa-eon, transitioning from a composed presidential spokesman to a vulnerable, lovestruck man in a way that’s raw and emotionally gripping. Chae Soo Bin is equally incredible as Hong Hee-joo, a mute character whose powerful performance relies entirely on sign language. Together, their chemistry is electric and genuine, delivering one of the most passionate and unforgettable kissing scenes in kdrama history—brimming with emotion and intensity.

Adding to the charm is Im Chul Soo as Kang Yeong U, Sa-eon’s hilarious and down-to-earth colleague. His humor and heart bring warmth to the story, making him a standout supporting character.

While the drama uses familiar tropes like arranged marriages, political intrigue, and childhood connections, it reinvents them with clever twists and well-developed characters—even the villains are layered, with motives that go beyond basic clichés. Every moment feels purposeful, and the tightly woven storyline leaves no room for dull moments, demanding the viewer's attention throughout.

Suspend your disbelief, settle in, and let this kdrama take you on an emotional, thrilling ride. From the captivating romance and unexpected twists to the unforgettable characters, this is a drama you won’t want to miss.

The final episode might not be as strong as the rest, but it stays faithful to the novel, wrapping up the story in a way that honors its original source material.

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Cliche melodrama

It was good from the start i must say. I waited for every episodes everyweek till episode 6. It was interesting to watch the relationship between both fl and ml. I thought there would be some depth in the story. Cause i watched dramas like this more than 10 years ago. So it was normal for me to expect something new and different. I agree ir was kinda different from the start. The episodes cliffhanger made me curious too. After 6th episode it was so hard to watch i just skipped all the parts . I still dont why it has so much hype. Like there's nothing other than the cast.

It's totally my point of view. But if you're an old kdrama watcher i doubt that you will like this. Eventually new kdrama watchers won't like this too ig. I had hopes with this drama but umm this disappointed me specially the ending too.

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My new addiction

This drama just makes me stay excited for every ep. the acting is great and the cast is my fav actors and actresses. the story and the tension is top tier. we got one of the best chemistry in 2024 series here. love the ost and I keep listening to it on repeat, it is amazing. love everything till now and I hope it remains great till the last. I wish I had waited for all the eps to start watching because now I have to wait every week and it's tourturing I can't wait to see the next eps. really this year is full of amazing drama and this one might top them if it goes as great as now till the end

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De mis favoritas

"The Number You Have Dialed" me pareció una joya dentro de las historias de amor contemporaneas. La conexión entre los protagonistas es increíble, tan real que te hace sentir cada momento como si lo estuvieras viviendo. Los actores lo hacen perfecto, transmiten tantas emociones que es imposible no encariñarse con ellos. Los diálogos son lindos, a veces graciosos o profundos, pero siempre te llegan al corazón. Y todo está tan bien filmado que cada escena se siente como una postal.
La historia avanza sin aburrirte, con momentos que te tienen al borde de la sila y otros que te sacan una sonrisa o hasta una lagrimita. Sin embargo, el último capítulo me dejó algo agridulce. La parte en la que él decide alejarse para "proteger" la relación o darle espacio a su pareja me pareció un poco innecesaria. Después de todo lo que habían pasado juntos, ese giro se siente forzado, como si buscaran añadir drama donde ya no hacía falta. No digo que arruine la serie, pero creo que podían haber cerrado esa parte de una manera más natural.
A pesar de eso, el final logra rescatar todo. Te recuerda por qué te enganchaste desde el principio: por esos personajes que tanto querés y por cómo manejan los temas de amor y sacrificio.

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Good entertainment but bad drama

Before reading please note that this review can contain some spoilers.





I must admit that zi had a great time with this drama for most of the time. However in my personal opinion kdramas are geting worse and worse this days.

The strongest part of this drama was acting. Actors surely nailed their roles and made the climate so it was very enjoyable to watch. And that would be end of good parts.

As I watched literally hundreds of kdramas the plot was rather predictible. Maybe two or three things suprised me. So the story itself wasn't anything special or innovative. I would say it was full of typical kdramas cliches.

I didn't like the relation between the FL and ML. This guy literally was treating his wife like invisible for three years but when she wanted a divorce he had a change of heart. As always it was also unbelievable for me that FL suddenly fell in love with ML after being ignored for about three years.

And the ending... i know it was also in the web novel but still it could be made better.

To sum up you can have a good fun watching but sorry this drama definitely is not a masterpiece.

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