*Clears Throat*

After thinking it over and sitting with the ending of When the Phone Rings, here are my overall thoughts on the show. I liked it. Yes, even with that ending. I knew after the 1st ep that I will not take the show as some sort of "serious" kdrama and readied myself for a the show to have somewhat of a makjang or exaggerated narratives twang to it...

While this show wasn't a full blown makjang which I appreciate, because frankly that is just not cup of tea, it really did immerse me into the world that they created.

Was I a bit disappointed? Yes. In my opinion, the ending needed heavy reworking, and frankly I think the show would have benefited if it was extended to 14 episodes to better flush out the remaining plots.

Writing wise, I really disliked that the writer pull the noble idiocy trope last minute. They were communicating so well in the previous episodes… So what changed? I also think the ending with the "real" Baek SaEon his mother was lackluster. He was tormenting the main leads, constantly threating their lives whole lives throughout the show and yet we only hear/see quickly that he died on scene. I felt that the way it was shot/written, just left me feeling a bit unsatisfied - felt a bit to easy. I would have also loved to see a scene to provide more insight to the extended family, especially Hong In Ah.

I think with extended episodes it would have let the writer breathe and write a ending that didn't include unnecessary tropes & convince them that adding the war torn country plot was a not a good idea b/c let's be frank the fuck was that? I know it was taken from the novel but …. omitting it would have been 1000% better.

Episodes 1-10 were fantastic. Starting from ep 11, you could tell plot became a bit strained. As for the last episode, the beginning was good - brilliantly acted by Choi Soo Bin, Middle -I'm erasing it from my memory and end was fantastic. I wished writers could learn that what the audience wants is to see the leads thrive and be happy, and yes, showing the characters happy for the the whole last episode is acceptable. Other than that the overall plot was fun. It was INSANE but fun.

Also, the acting really carried the show. Point blank, without the brilliant acting of Yoo Yeon Seok & Choi Soo Bin, the show would have me saying ahnyeong by ep 2. The dialogue had to have someone execute the lines with a certain "swagger" or precision for me to not find it overly cheesy and frankly believable.

So, would I recommend When the Phone Rings to someone?… I would… with a warning. While the ending may have people thinking it was a waste of time, which is perfectly fine, everyone's opinion is valid, I rather enjoyed it until the end.... Maybe it's because I usually drop shows when I get bored of them, which unfortunately happens often.

overall rating - 8/10

I also bring you my visual representation of my thoughts...

I never do third though before, usually I have all figure out in second though..but I did not figure out why I was so blank after the ending

But now I know why..it's because the story has finished

The story of paik sa eon/paik yu Yeon and Hong hee joo has ended beautifully with them finally communicating each other truthfully.

The argan matter was necessary for parallel reason and human touch.

Parallel reason is eventually they will find each other no matter what happened to them.it show many times throughout the show ..he will find her and she will find him..it's just need effort..and both of them show effort.

Human touch as he is not perfect after all, there's stuff he don't know and knowing the info making it hard for him to process eventually making the decision to leave hee joo as a form of punishment to atone the past mistake of his father . He was distancing himself but still hopeful.

At first I disagree on why he have to leave instead he could talk it out with hee joo but he never done so before ( so I come to understand sa eon on that part)

Hee joo character change from a passive to active as she been changing throughout the show starting when sa eon did not come home due to the fire.But again human touch coz she was not that strong.

Back to parallel but now she knows the ways to find him even going as far to argan..risking her life knowing she will eventually found him.

Good job to hee joo for taking the lead to stop the waiting games as a comfort for her and sa eon of taking the burden on other people past mistake.

It also show when hee joo said to her sister to let go of the past and be happy in the present.

This drama simply a great drama till the end even it's a bit fast paced in the finale.so take time for me to process everything out..😅

I will post on ep11 (remaining) and ep12 photos afterward for the perfect closure of this beautiful drama.

It's not over till it's over completely..😅

Thank you for reading my overthinking thought

1. I was lightly spoiled for the book and it does sound like it had something in the same vein aka a war zone. I was expecting a worse ending!!! Not unhappy but worse.

2. At least Hee Joo is true to herself even if her lover goes off the rails for a bit.

3. I just laughed at the silly parts. His cliché negociator outfit was one. Her airport outfit too.

4. When they're finally on screen together, they're on fire. I forgot what came before a lil bit (that whole boring /wtf part).

5. In the end I wanted that domestic bliss for them and that's where we ended up. I love what their happiness looks like, and it doesn't feel as materialistic as I've seen elsewhere. Like they do have the house and expensive clothes and there's a ring. But I do get the sense that their happiness is about being together & not buying each other stuff.

?????? NATIONAL HERO???