If you haven’t watched this drama yet and would prefer a spoiler-free review, please click on the link below for general series information and story summary.

A handsome Presidential Spokesman and a non-verbial sign language interpreter share a marriage of convenience.  And although their union has profited both families, after three year the couple’s relationship is still strained and distant.  But when a mysterious blackmailer enters the scene, they find themselves unexpectedly drawn together.  And as secrets are revealed, they find their relationship runs much deeper than they ever imagined.

I really liked the development of Do Jae in this drama.  In the very beginning, I thought he was adorable.  But then we learn he is in on the plan to hurt Sa Eon and he becomes a villain, although still slightly pitiable.  But then he learns the truth, repents for his mistake, and helps Sa Eon bring the true villain to justice.  And in the end, we come full circle, with him next to Sa Eon, once again his trusted side-kick.  This is exactly how a full range redemption arc should look and I loved it.  

This drama uses the camera work to full advantage, to really help bring out the emotions of the scenes.  One of my favorite techniques was the overemphasis of both Sa Eon’s wedding ring and the phones.  These two inanimate objects are center stage for so many scenes, as a constant reminder of the bond of our leads and their struggle to communicate honestly.  The lighting, the angles, and the perspective all played a part in telling the story and heightening our emotional responses to it.  

I liked the characters of Sang U and Yu Ri well enough.  Their role in investigating the fire was a fun side story.  And their crushes on Hui Ju and Sa Eon fit the plot fine.  But I never really felt like I got to know their characters that much and their romance felt too flat to me.  It’s nice that they decided to get married in the end, but I didn’t really feel invested in their relationship at all.

I don’t even know what to say about this ending.  First they jerk us around and make it look like Sa Eon is dead.  And then suddenly we are in the jungles of the Argan Republic, with Sa Eon single handedly fighting rebels.  Yes, there is some vague mention of Sa Eon’s military career, but nothing that would indicate he intended to go back.  This whole sequence left me shaking my head and trying to figure out how we got here and what I missed.  It definitely is not how I thought we would be spending our final episode with this lovely couple.  

‘When the Phone Rings’  dives deep into the unknown before bringing us in for this hard fought happy ending.  First, we find out that rather than being shot like it first appeared, the kidnapper shared a chilling secret before being killed by the police; Sa Eon’s adopted parents are the ones responsible for Hui Ju’s father and brother’s deaths.  This sends Sa Eon into a guilty spiral that causes him to disappear as soon as he knows Hui Ju is safe from her injuries.

But rather than wait for him to find her again, as Sa Eon had always promised, Hui Ju tracks him to the Argan Republic after a donation is given to a sign language school there in her name.  The couple have a happy jungle reunion and decide to remarry.

With the full story of the real Sa Eon made public, Sa Eon’s adopted mother has been sent to prison and his father lost the election and all the power and prestige he has worked for.  In light of all that, Sa Eon decides to start fresh with a new name and career path.

Hui Ju becomes a sign language announcer, as she has always dreamed.  She reached out to tell her mother about her marraige and it seems like it’s not too late for them to fix their relationship.  Sa Eon becomes an international hostage negotiator.  And the couple invite their friends over for a nice party at their perfectly average new home.  Sang U and Yu Ri announce their engagement and Hui Ju and Sa Eon seem like happy little love birds.It seems like all is well.

If this review has made you curious about where your other favorites stand, here is break down of the other reviews by rating.  Links to both spoiler-free and full reviews are available on each page. Feel free to explore all the wonderful dramas I have watched.