Netflix's "When the Phone Rings" has a happy ending, and it's weird.

If you've ever wanted to switch lives with someone, Baek Sa-eon's (Yoo Yeon-seok) experience of both the privilege and plight, with one being more than the other, will make you retract your hopes as his life shows it's just not worth it in the long run. This 2024 series is based on the 2022 web novel "The Number You Have Dialed," authored by Geon Eomul Nye, and is the source for the ongoing Manhwa (South Korean comic) adaptation. A spoiler warning and sensitive topics (including emotional abuse, stalking, etc.) warning are in effect! Sa-eon is a typical emotionally unavailable male lead who is strict with his mute wife, Hong Hee-joo (Chae Soo-bin), until he isn't. The kidnapping of his wife leads to several events as Hee-joo, feeling betrayed, devises a plan to escape the contract marriage unscathed.

As she pretends to be the kidnapper with the unique phone she escaped with, the kidnapper returns for the phone and much more. The Kidnapper, played by Park Jae-yoon, is the villain and the real Baek Sa-eon, who was left to die due to his odd tendencies, seen as evil and unworthy of the Baek family. This man is the creepiest stalker and killer character I've seen in a K-drama yet. Jae-yoon's performance was remarkable and truly impactful with lasting aftermath. He delivered a truly great performance especially with the Hee-joo character. Hee-joo's struggles, triumphs and other emotions are delivered excellently through Soo-bin.

There are so many sad stories within this series such as Sa-eon's mother trying to prove her real son is not evil after realizing he's still alive, Hee-joo's mother forcing her to pretend to be mute after their step family had losses, Hee-joo being restricted to using sign language and being insulted for it, Hee-joo being threatened multiple times, the death of several children, and more. Hee-joo went through a lot, and I was glad for every bit of support she gained from her coworkers at the sign language interpretation center, as well as from her stepsister, Hong In-a (Han Jae-Yi), who was nicer to Hee-joo after her return. I liked her apology and acknowledgment that she was aware of Hee-joo being mistreated and forced into silence. Watching their relationship growth was lovely. I was surprised by the intentions of Park Do-jae's (Choi Woo-jin) character, but they were understandable, and I was glad he got closure and redemption. Also, I liked the second couple, Ji Sang-woo (Heo Nam-jun) and Na Yu-ri (Jang Gyu-ri), as they added context, humour, and support to the story.

This series of 12 episodes is suspenseful, with several mysteries and tragedies, but Hee-joo and Sa-eon recall moments from their childhood as they rekindle their marriage through daily phone calls, initially assumed to be from the kidnapper. Multiple moments of their romance contributed to the light-hearted moments as Sa-eon learns to value Hee-joo more with different informed techniques of affection. One of these moments includes Sa-eon finally learning sign language to comfortably communicate with her due to his jealous motivation of Sang-woo and Hee-joo communicating that way. I loved the growth, reveals, and pacing of the series overall, but the finale ruined my experience, as the ending felt rushed and uncharacteristically happy. 

Despite the need for the characters to gain a fresh start or a happy ending after the chaotic period they went through, and the gloomy tone of the series, I was surprised that Sa-eon went to war and Hee-joo followed him into the thick of it. I enjoyed the process of Hee-joo's search for him, and it was a realistic inclusion, as he deserved a much-needed break after his identity came into question. However, going to war felt random. I was glad about them remarrying but Sa-eon's first name change felt pointless, because a surname change would have been significantly more impactful. To denounce the Baek surname he said he would return when shouting at the original Sa-eon, but he still kept it and changed his first name. It felt performative, especially since his new name seemed to stem from romance due to his openness in love and probably in life. A lot of it felt jarring, but good for them, because they will always be there for each other When the phone rings.

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