When The Phone Rings Review: A Suspenseful Journey That Stumbles in the End
- Urvashi Kaushal
- Jan 28
- 4 min read
A family's hidden past, a phone call, and it's impact with after math
The drama revolves around a rising political figure, Baek Sa-eon (Yoo Yeon-seok) and his selectively mute wife Hong Hee-joo (Chae Soo-bin). Their arranged marriage, which was allied to strengthen political and media family links, appears to be successful, but the relationship is fraught with unsaid emotions and hidden secrets.
Things become intense when Hee-joo gets abducted. With a dramatic twist of fate she begins contacting Sa-eon as “406”, with the intention of pressuring him to get a divorce, using a voice-modulated phone that her kidnapper accidentally left behind. However, as their nightly chats progress, emotions return and the line between love and lie starts to haze.
This emotional rollercoaster, mixed with family secrets and political drama, makes When the Phone Rings an engaging, yet uneven, voyage.
Initial Impression of When The Phone Rings
The first episode captures your attention immediately. The way Hee-joo changes from a quiet onlooker to a woman planning her escape is exciting and strong. Meanwhile, the mysterious villain raises questions about his motivations and the intensity of their animosity for Sa-eon.
Character Dynamics
Baek Sa-eon (Yoo Yeon-seok)
A typical male lead in K-dramas—smart and successful yet haunted by his past. Yoo Yeon-seok's portrayal of Sa-eon is both charming and emotionally vulnerable. His blind trust in Park Do-jae, as well as his silent devotion for Hee-joo, provide depth to his character.
Hong Hee-joo (Chae Soo-bin)
Hong Hee-joo is the emotive centre of the show. Struggled through selective mutism due to childhood trauma (or you may say forced and faked by her own mother) greatly boosts the strength of the fight to speak up after her kidnapping. Chae Soo-bin's performance begins as a victim of circumstance and progresses into a person who takes charge of her life.
Supporting Cast
Choi Woo-jin (Park Doo-jae)
As Sa-eon’s most trusted right hand, Park Doo-jae plays a pivotal role in the story. Initially loyal and dependable, his shocking betrayal when it reveals he sided with the villain shakes Sa-eon’s world. However, his redemption arc later in the series adds complexity to his character, as he grapples with guilt and attempts to make amends for his actions.
Park Jae-Yoon (Kidnapper)
Kidnapper or should I say real Baek's son. He nailed his role as a villain, complete psycho. It clearly shows why his grand father killed him and why her mother is holding him back behind the closed doors.
Kim Yeon-hu (Oh Hyun-kyung)
Hee-joo’s greedy mother who keeps pushing her to please her husband Sa-eon to gain power for upcoming presidential elections.
Ji Sang-woo (Heo Nam-joon)
The weirdness of his personality and the mystery behind his moves keep you on the edge throughout the series.
Na Yu-ri (Jang Guy-ri)
The sweet second lead who never loses her fangirl spirit, rooting for Sa-eon and maintaining the peace between Sa-eon and Sang-woo despite being a minor character.
Baek Ui-yong (Yoo Song-ju) and Sim Gyu-jin (Chu Sang-mi)
Sa-eon’s adoptive parents, whose power-hungry decisions set the stage for the drama’s explosive finale.
Hong II-gyeong (choi Kwang-il)
Another power hungry person and Hee-joo's step-father who hold the key to Baek family's past but instead of revealing their truth decided to meet hands with Baek Jang-ho for his personal gains.
Hong In-a (Han Jae-Yi)
Hee-joo's step-sister and the real bride of Sa-eon at first she gives you antagonist vibes who came back to take over everything from Hee-joo but later on, reveals that she is a caring elder sister who wants to protect Hee-joo.
Themes & Execution
When the Phone Rings starts the discussion of identity, pain, and salvation. As their personalities change from icy to affectionate, Sa-eon and Hee-joo reassure us that their passion is worthy of its intense feelings.
However, the drama over-relies on stereotypical K-drama elements, such as the sulky male protagonist and the compassionate heroine. The pace and unnecessary side storylines truly take away from the actual fun, even though there are some daring shocks mixed in, such as Sa-eon's true family history.(Although even that plot reminds me of “Graceful Family”).
Hit & Miss
Hit:
😍Layered Character: The Development of Sa-eon and Hee-joo throughout the storyline is emotionally compelling. Even the second lead pair doesn't disappoints in the field of chemistry.
😍Emotional Sledgehammer: The show isn't shy about venturing into the dark realms of love, trauma, and redemption.
😍Stellar Performance: Yoo Yeon-seok and Chae Soo-bin bring a lot of depth and sincerity to the characters they play.
Miss:
😟Overlong Subplot: Subplots, such as the war zone notion in the final episodes, feel rather unnecessary and somewhere remove from the thick of the story.
😟Pacing Issues: Repetitive scenes slow the pacing of the story, testing the patience of the audience.
😟Unnecessary Revenge: Sim Gyu-jin kidnapped Hee-joo to take revenge on Sa-eon for keeping his son away from him. While Sa-eon has nothing to do with all the family mess.
Final Thoughts
"When the Phone Rings" is a daring blend of suspense, romance, and redemption. Although the whole concept is intriguing with solid performances, the series fails mainly in the pacing field and unnecessary narrative diversions in the end. The final war zone arc feels rather forced, leaving viewers yearning for an even tighter closure.
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