The Number You Have Dialed (2024)

Unnecessary ending

I have mixed feelings. I really enjoyed the start of this drama. In the halfway I was a bit lost but still it was entertaining. BUT these two last episodes were so messy and the Argan plot was so unnecessary. Who even made that plot? It didn't make any sense and I felt like watching a completely different drama. Why did they have to ruin a good drama with a floppy ending???

Instead of the bad Argan plot, they should have given us the crumbs of Sang U and Yu Ri!!! They build up a great relationship between them just to randomly announce their marriage in the last episode... like c'mon that was so badly written. The actors had great chemistry together and they were very cute but the writers still wasted their potential. How sad :((

One thing I did really like was Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin's chemistry. They acted so well together and looked so cute together. Great chemistry!! Even the intimate scenes were good and didn't seem awkward. They're good kissers xD I'm glad they got the happy ending they deserved.

This drama would have gotten a better rating from me if they had focused on Sa Eon and Hui Ju and the phone. I really loved the conversations between Sa Eon and 406 (Hui ju). Instead they made it messy and added that ridiculous Argan plot, therefore I have to lower my rating. But because I still enjoyed the drama, I will give it an 8.

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Inspite of having a lot to criticize, it was a fun watch

When the phone rings has a intriguing plot, a wife threatening her husband on a phone call, YES. a hot and tsundere husband, YES. it had a lot of elements which made it attractive to watch as a viewer. but once you get into the drama, you'll realise how absurd some things are, which will just make you LAUGH.

I'll start with the pros. Why was it so hyped, it had some good reasons.
1. VERY GOOD CHEMISTRY. the leads just did so well, acting was good, chemistry was good, angst, feelings and everything else, they were an amazing couple.

2. the story, overall, was good. I liked the intense and very confusing plot which will make your mind spin for a minute. yes its a thriller afterall. i think things will not make a lot of sense until like 10th episode.

3. No love traingle, noone who tries to sabotage the couple. im glad they didnt add any 3rd person to the already very intense plot which i anticipated at the hint of fml's sister. i appreciate it <3

4. the pacing. i liked how things were revealed about the fml to ml at a very good speed. it didnt take him forever to figure about out what was going on like in other dramas where main leads discover everything about each other on 12th episode, then 2 episodes of heartbreak and finally happy ending. no, i loved how emotionally stable they were and how things were handled.


now to the cons.

1. very first it was, scientifically speaking, absurd. girlie fell from a cliff, didnt even break a bone. a man died while suffocating on a pillow while oxygen tube was connected to his nose? just remove that damn tube??? these things, where you should feel shocked/sad, you cant help but just laugh at it.

2. execution. as i said i liked the story but the way it was shown was BAD. i did not understand what the heck was going on until 10th episode. everything was just very mixed up and jumbled that you would want to pause and give your brain a break. and then they'll reveal EVERYTHING on 11th episode like you'll have to just take it all.

3. plot twists. the ones you'll guess easily, they'll show it like it was the greatest discovery made. but the ones you wouldnt even recognize as a possibility, they'll show them to you in a whim like it didnt really matter and just go with it. i had to rewind and watch some parts again to understand if what they said was real lol.

4. the fml was lowkey dumb at a lot of parts, especially when she was 406. at first when she threatened him, it was great. but gradually she gets emotionally driven, speaks stuffs that you will NEVER hear from a kidnapper. i can understand why he would think it was an affair partner. she has no real plan, just wants a divorce and has no clue how she'll get that. when ml discovers its her making threat calls, he made it quite obvious that he knows. but she till the end, she doesnt even give it a thought that the boy may already know. and when i tell you SHES SHOCKED TO THE CORE when she discovers it like yeah...

5. the last epsiode. ik they wanted to move the boy somewhere remote so that he's not discoverable but a warzone? and what exactly was he doing there? freeing hostages waiting to get killed? im sorry but when did he become a superman, bro didnt even have a fist fight in the whole drama 😭 the 1st half was so unnecessary just because they wanted to stay true to the novel. okay. also again, the girl easily got into the rebel region, i dont think the writers knew how it works because u cant just get in that easily.

6. lastly , the few seconds on the end. paltima and ijmael. i wonder if they really just put random names or hinted at something entirely different. i hope its not what i think it is because its very insensitive to the real world situations. well, it didnt just sit right with me.

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Tune in, you won't regret it!

"When the Phone Rings" is an exceptional drama that weaves together a captivating storyline, powerful performances, and profound emotional resonance. It’s an absolute delight for enthusiasts of mystery and thriller genres, as well as for those who cherish narratives that delve into the intricacies of the human experience.

This thrilling romance centers on a married couple grappling with turmoil when the wife is abducted, leading to the revelation of hidden truths and deep-seated emotions within their relationship♥️

After indulging in Korean Dramas for over 10 years, I can wholeheartedly declare this drama a “Masterpiece!” It is simply “Perfection!” The electrifying chemistry between the lead actors, an outstanding supporting cast, a thoughtfully crafted plot, a fulfilling ending, and a fantastic soundtrack all come together beautifully. This drama has truly delivered what K-Drama fans have been yearning for, ensuring no one walks away disappointed. 😍

This is an absolute MUST-SEE for every K-Drama fan! 🥰

My Rating: 100/10 Perfect Drama 100% ♥️

Perfect for a binge-watching session!

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Fun but I hoped for more

After hearing a lot of hype for this, I decided to check it out. First 4 episodes are fantastic, high tempo thriller that keeps the tension, two great leads and great cast in general. OST really stuck in my mind as well. Then I think drama tried to do way too much. There is way too many plot twists and turns to the story that it overcomplicates storylines for no reason and draws attentions away from the main plot. The romance between the leads has both ups and downs for me. The chemistry is there, but significant age difference really bothered me sometimes, maybe because the female lead has a baby face and looks even younger age than she actually is. Also when it comes to romance, the writers sometimes write it very childlishly as if teens were falling in love and not two adults, when the romance is shown in a mature way that's where it shines.
The finale doesnt stick the landing. It feels as if the show run out of stream and they still needed one more episode.
Overall its a fun watch, but nothing more.

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The cast was good ,the story was perfect until the middle of series , incensario the vague excuse to leave ,the directors didn't use chapters 8-10 to explain the plot very well chapter 11 and 12 should have been the happiest , and could have explained well why the main character left that as a first point ,the second thing I didn't like the main character holding back when hugging the main character, it is known that in the novel he does the opposite and that the main character treats her mother well was like an insult to the Hong Hoo jee in the novel,as a 3 point i loved the kissing scenes and the story in general is very strong and somewhat emotional and the songs of say my name by Yoo Yeon seok amazing and also the song by Lim Yeon Numb really describe how the characters in the drama and the novel feel congratulations for the artists who made these songs, i hope and wish very much to see Yoo Yeon seok and Chae Soo Bin again in other projects together love them and missed them.

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You don't want to miss out on this drama, don't let woke stop you!

Picture this: second chances, love, drama, and a dash of thriller all blended into one tantalizing concoction.

When the Phone Rings serves up everything it promises, keeping you on the edge of your seat with each episode.

The soundtrack? It’s like the cherry on top of a sundae, perfectly enhancing every scene.

The characters? They’re acted to perfection, and you can’t help but cheer for them as they navigate their tumultuous lives.

Their struggles make the eventual payoff all the more satisfying. I almost found myself sympathizing with the villain—how’s that for a plot twist? That’s the magic of great storytelling, pulling you into the depths of even the darkest characters.

Oh, the character growth was so good, especially with Hong Hee Joo! She starts off as this gentle, comforting figure and then BAM! She morphs into a bold, fiery woman who knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to snatch it up. No more Ms.. Nice Girl—she’s ready to take on anyone who dares to cross her! Watching her journey is like binge-watching a rollercoaster ride. And Baek Sa Eon? He’s going through the wringer but comes out the other side like a phoenix, ready to embrace his happy ending.

When the phone rings did toss in lots of cliché moments, but honestly, THAT'S THE POINT. They were like the necessary seasoning in a dish—essential for the overall flavor and message of the drama. Anyone going into this trying to make it deep or start wars over fictional countries are so dumb.

This drama was so much fun to watch. I gave it a solid 10/10 and plan on rewatching soon. But thanks to the woke brigade, it feels like we can’t just kick back, relax and enjoy dramas anymore. The comments section is a mess and bots / fake accounts keep leaving 1 star reviews to tank the ratings while also downvoting others. It's honestly laughable the lengths they go to, before they channel this same energy for other actors are still getting hired even though they have been perpetrators and committed serious offenses and violent crimes or worse. They are ridiculous... I bet some of these kids don't even put even a smidge of this same energy into their schoolwork 🤡

Seriously, these keyboard warriors need to step outside and get a whiff of reality. All this performative activism for what? I’d wager most of them haven’t even donated any money much less a can of soup for those in need.

Don't pay any attention to the woke. These psychotic dumbos are in for a rude awakening! LOL.

Anywho, grab some popcorn, kick your feet up and dive into this drama without letting the haters rain on your parade. You will not regret it. It's so delicious! The chemistry is a 1000/10.

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The show was solid, the ending was wacky. ⚠️ SPOILERS AHEAD ⚠️

This drama was great. The chemistry was spicy. The thriller aspect kept you going because it kept giving you new information and I really loved that because just when I thought I'd figured everything out something new would come up. The side characters were good, they were necessary but I never really felt a great attachment to them because the romance was the centerpiece of the show and it was what they focused on most of the time. I do feel like some of the drama was just done for drama's sake, like the bad guy shot his dad, but then like his dad lived and I was like; "Really, we couldn't have just killed his dad." Or we see our ML get shot but then it turned out to be a dream or she ran off a cliff, but she didn't run off a cliff.
Then he was going to be in negotiator but nothing actually happened to him and he ended up Morroco in a dangerous position But that really didn't amount to anything. I don't make some fake outs but they did that alot in this drama. They kept trying to scare the viewers into thinking we wouldn't get a happy ending, and I wasn't crazy about that. Also when the villian whispers something to our ML we already know what it is cause they revealed it earlier so there's no shock factor. I really think they could've held onto to that final secret till the end so we'd be surprised as well as Hee Joo. All that being said I loved the chemistry between these two actors. The scene at the end was so lovely. It wasn't vulgar or inappropriate and it was just very well done. I wish we could have seen their future. I would have LOVED to have seen them with children. I would have loved to have seen their wedding day. If the big Morocco scene that didn't amount to anything and the scene where he was talking to the man who raised him would've been cut we could've had a scene in the future where she even calls him on the 406 phone and have a cute back and forth to end it wouldve been better. One thing I really didn't like was the mother. She went from TERRIBLE mistreatment of her daughter to just changing in an instant because she thought she was dead. I don't know. I thought that was a bit much. This woman caused her daughter so much pain and suffering and then she just like NEVER owns up to it. Even at the end she's just like; "I did it all for you." When she's crying and she didn't, she did it for herself. This whole idea that she did it for her daughter is crap! I didn't like how they made it seem like this whole time this woman was truly just wanting what was best for her daughter, cause I don't believe that at all. The sister easily could have been removed. She didn't really have any crucial role in the show. I mean, the whole idea of the arranged marriage was big enough and then they could have found other ways to reveal that he wasn't actually the son of the 2 people without the sister. The sister just didn't really add anything to the show. There are things that she revealed that could have been revealed by anyone else. Plus you just don't really care about the sister. I understand the reasons that they had her in it. But they were reasons that could have been easily changed. Her entire character could have been taken out in my opinion. She just didn't have that big of impact. So yeah, there were just some things that could have been done better. But it was a really great drama. You could definitely tell that they were depending on these 2 actors to carry the show and they did. Their chemistry was intense, and sexy and vunerable and it just worked. If I find out that they're dating or they get married I will not be shocked because their chemistry was very deep. I'll give it that. The thriller aspect was also very good.I liked how they drug out the villain and they didn't kill him too easily so it didn't feel lackluster.At the end, I think the way they ended his story was perfect.So yeah all in all a solid drama and one I recommend and enjoyed greatly! 😊

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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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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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