“When The Phone Ring” Episodes 1 And 2 Review – A Typical But Solid Start

“When The Phone Ring” takes over “Doubt” time slot as THE MBC channel weekend drama, let us discuss the premiere episodes!

The combination of Yeon Seok and Soo Bin was bound to gain attention, I thought it was an interesting mix to say the least, and I am happy to report that they seem to share good chemistry so far.

So, “When The Phone Ring” is written by Kim Ji-Woon who wrote “Melancholia” in 2021. I remember that drama vaguely but I don’t recall whether I finished it fully or not. I do remember he’s that guy who wrote “Doctor John,” which I liked.

From what I recall, his scripts can be typical but are still engaging. This is also the vibe I got from “When The Phone Ring” premiere.

Honestly, I didn’t it expect it to be as typical as it turned out to be but I wouldn’t say I am complaining…. yet.

I didn’t expect she’d be the standard damsel in distress to this degree, but it honestly makes sense from the character’s perspective. By this, I mean that her mother isn’t ‘mothering’ and she’s basically throwing her into the wolves at all turns. Hence, why Sa-Eon ends up ‘rescuing her.’

It does feel that she’s pimping out her daughter and its likely because she’s a daughter from a man she doesn’t respect as we saw from episode 2. Its as if Hee-Joo is considered her ‘shameful’ past so she doesn’t necessarily feel the need to look out for her.

Devil stuff right here.

Hee-Joo is pitiful at every turn, sending that mole pic was probably a horrible idea in hindsight but she seems so desperate to get out of her situation that she’s not particularly thinking clearly. I mean, her husband is a negotiator and very skilled. Not only that, but it seems he has always liked her.

I think in her mind, she assumed he’d fold because he doesn’t care for her but what she did will likely make him even more aggressive. I think she didn’t anticipate just how much he actually cares for her.

What I kinda disliked about the premiere was how he was constantly hot and cold, I am so over such types of male characters. In some way, I am assuming he’s doing this to protect her because he genuinely considers her his weakness because he likes her.

He pushes her away but cares for her in other ways so he can continue to protect her. I get it, I just don’t particularly like such typical storylines.

I believe the drama will take a very ‘expected’ route for the story’s progression but as long as the performances seem great, I wouldn’t mind, not unless, it gets a bit repetitive, that would be a shame. Its 12 episodes long, and I am not sure for how long she’ll be able to lie to him but I am assuming that for the sake of the drama, there is a bigger fish to tackle than the kidnapper.

I am also enjoying Heo Nam Jun’s performance, he’s been on my radar since earlier this year. I wonder if he’s actually somehow connected to what happened to her.

“When The Phone Ring” is competing in the same time slot as “The Fiery Priest 2” which has a very solid fanbase, but it did well for its premiere, and I am guessing that if the drama continues to heighten tensions similarly to what it did in episodes 1 and 2, it’ll garner momentum, there is a lot of room for a breakthrough.

Overall, “When The Phone Ring” premiere was nice, typical and nice. Yeon Seok does an amazing performance, as per usual, and I am loving the supporting cast members’ performances too.

It’ll be interesting to see how the drama unfolds down the line.