Another Chinese drama on the list. I feel like they are very easy to watch and easily accessible. Shine On Me follows the story of an energetic and lively girl, Nie Xi Guang, as she starts her campus life. During her university life, she gets a crush on Zhuang Xu, a top student. However, during her work life, she meets Lin Yu Sen, a former surgeon who now works in the solar industry. Both are drawn to each other.
Let me start by saying that this drama was so hella confusing that I wished I had not watched it. So let me start with the plot. It was a slow-burning romance; however, every other thing that was added to slow down the romance was so boring. Nothing was making sense; it was all about work, which I found not entertaining. The plot was not engaging; I rather found it repetitive. The second lead, Zhuang Xu, was a headache. What in the world is he thinking that every girl will pursue him while he is still confused about his feelings? This part made the drama more frustrating.
Let’s move on with our female lead, Nie Xi Guang. She belongs to a wealthy family, and every friend of hers makes her realise how privileged she is. To be honest, her character is average during university. But the way she became so powerful during her work life was amazing to watch.
Then, we have our male lead, Lin Yu Sen. The female lead stands out more than he does. Definitely, he was more towards the emotional side with what happened to him. He is a green flag as things move forward. I didn’t find the chemistry between the couple at all. It’s a slow burn, but I was not able to anticipate them together.
It’s a very predictable drama, but with a lot of things happening, which made it frustrating and boring, especially the kind of awkward love triangle.
I won’t recommend this drama.
Total Episodes: 36
My Rating: 5/10
Genre: Romance, Friendship, Drama
Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.
“Don’t think you’re not good enough and have no value, you’re just hurt by a bad relationship. Love yourself and live well, that’s the most important thing you can take your time with everything else that said, if possible, I do hope you can heal a little faster” – He Su Ye
I think every drama’s vibe can change, except Chinese dramas. They are always on track with what and how to provide. I don’t think I once thought that C-dramas are losing their charm. You know how sometimes you need a detox by watching a drama that is just a basic love story with nothing major. And ‘The Best Thing’ C-drama is one of a kind. It follows the story of a hotel manager, Shen Xi Fan, who is a workaholic and has insomnia. So to cure it, she visited a Chinese medicine doctor, He Su Ye.
I absolutely loved the storyline, simple and beautiful. I loved the bonding between the leads, the way both will meet and just spend time together, getting to know each other. It was so fresh to see them being friends and happy without any awkwardness.
He Su Ye, a green flag. I loved his way of understanding. It is important to appreciate green flags who never take anything for granted and give perfect advice. His eyes are so expressive, so who wouldn’t fall in love with him?
Shen Xi Fan, first of all, is absolutely breathtaking. For me, she made the cinematography more beautiful. A beautiful character that deserves everything. Her family dynamic is so good.
I feel like in this drama everything was positive. No problem, nothing, just straight away two people meeting, becoming friends and falling in love. The chemistry is insane. Their scenes after dating were so beautiful, and it never felt awkward.
I have to say the cinematography of the drama is top-notch. I don’t think so, I have watched a drama where every scene has a beautiful background. The trees, the cherry blossoms, the music, the colours, and their outfits fit so well that I wish to exist in their world.
I want one of their houses. Just breathtaking and something I wish to just get lost in. The storyline is very simple but memorable. It felt like a palette cleanser for me.
I highly recommend this drama.
“A relationship is about two people; happiness and joy should go both ways. For me and for you, it should be the same. So if one day I make you feel miserable or I make you feel unhappy, you have to tell me. I’ll make changes.”
Total Episodes: 28
My Rating: 8/10
Genre: Romance, Friendship, Comfort
Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.
“When my life was hanging by a thread… she saved me.
When I was in despair… she gave me her love.
I didn’t realise my life was worth living until I met her.
I will never betray her… not until death do us part.” – Xie Zheng to Fan Changu
The first office drama of 2026 that I watched, and back with the review. To be honest, for a long time, no drama was able to capture my attention until my entire feed was filled with this drama. And literally after watching two to three videos, I picked up this drama and finished it. We meet two characters, Xie Zheng and Fan Changu, who meet when she saves him, and their entire lives are shifted.
It’s an historical drama; however, it went so fast that I didn’t even realise. I was literally so into it that I didn’t get bored for a second. The drama focuses heavily on the plot and the female lead’s point of view. Romance is the subplot, and it’s very common in historical Chinese dramas.
Let’s start with our female lead, Fan Changu. OMG, what a lead. She is everything needed for a historical drama. Like the girl can fight and do every single thing to exist. I absolutely loved her courage and the way she would go out of her way for her loved ones. I absolutely love a strong female lead, and she did such a perfect job in portraying her character.
Then we have the male lead, Xie Zheng, and I absolutely adored him. However, I felt the story was more focused on the female lead and her fighting, so his character didn’t stand out. Definitely, his fights and all were good, but I wanted to see a more powerful aura from him. His gaze is absolutely marvellous.
Then we have the plot, so engaging and straight to the point. The plot was actually the main thing about the drama. The cinematography is absolutely beautiful. I would watch in awe the village of Linan and wonder when I would get to live like this.
The fighting scenes were shot amazingly. I enjoyed each one of those.
The chemistry was chef kiss. The way both would talk with each other, understand each other, was amazing to watch, especially in the beginning episodes. And their gaze, their slow love, was just beautiful. Also, the found family of the female lead was amazing to watch.
Now, as I have watched the drama, I feel that there was so much missing. I wish it had more episodes to clear it up. Like Xie Zheng and Fan Changu needed more episodes for their growth, which we never saw in the end. The end was so abrupt that we never properly saw them as a couple.
Also, another thing is that now I am reading the book on which this drama is based. And in that, Xie Zheng, the Marquis, was seen as cold, and I wanted that throughout the drama. I felt that the male lead character was not shown as he should have been. Not brutal as in the book, but the aura I felt was missing. The drama is more focused on the female version.
Other than that, the drama is amazing. Fast-paced, engaging, strong leads and chemistry.
I highly recommend this drama.
“I’m not afraid of death. But I’m afraid Changning would be left without a sister. And I’m afraid I’d never see you again. I missed you so much. I was so scared you were dead. Come home with me, okay?” – Fan Changu to Xie Zheng
Total Episodes: 40
My Rating: 9/10
Genre: Historical, Romance, Drama, Action
Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.
“For you, it’s money. For me, it’s Sae-bom.” – Yi-Hyun.
My all-time favourite Korean drama out there. If somebody wants a recommendation, then I recommend this one only because it’s so freaking good. Honestly, I never thought I would love this drama this much. The drama follows the story of Sae-bom, who recently moved into a new high-end apartment complex, dreaming of starting her new life with Yi-hyun. But suddenly, a disease spread in the apartment complex, strangling them with new challenges and life at stake.
Let’s start with the character of Yoon Sae-bom, our female lead. A thriller drama needs a strong-headed, smart and badass lead, and she is the one. I love everything about her, from her fighting skills to her presence of mind. I never thought I would like this about a character, that alone in a thriller, but Sae-bom’s dressing style is top-notch. It totally made her a badass lead with loose denims and t-shirts. I want to dress like her.
Then, the character of Yi-hyun, why is he so underrated as the green flag? He loves Sae-bom so freaking much that he got ready to marry her just for her. His love was that he gave up everything for her without caring about his life. I can’t accept that people don’t talk about him enough. His action scenes are a chef’s kiss, and the expressions are just amazing. Their emotional scenes are just beautiful because they never spoke about their feelings, but through their eyes, they knew how much they were afraid to lose each other.
Sae-bom and Yi-hyun’s chemistry needs to be talked about more. Basically, Yi-hyun likes Sae-bom, but she doesn’t; however, he still agrees to enter into the arranged marriage with her, so freaking cool and cute. They were literally like husband and wife, but at the same time, best friends. I love their dynamic where they could do anything. They are seriously the couple who die for each other. Additionally, their supporting roles and collaborative efforts make their action scenes even more impressive. Without romance, they gave a lot, also their meeting again scene was my favourite. Their action scenes are amazing and worth watching.
The plot is so freaking good, as you know that I love zombie dramas, everything related to it. This drama devours the plot; the storyline literally kept me hooked till the end. I think what made this drama really good was that everyone was trying to save their loved ones amidst such a dangerous situation. Not the people but the situation made the people villains, which made a lot of sense. Also, it revolves within the complex, but everything is so twisted and keeps me on the edge.
The only thing I wanted was more episodes; the ending was too fast, like literally, I wished to see more of them. I was so disappointed that they just ended it so fast.
I highly recommend this drama, please just watch it.
“If I lose Hyun, I might lose everything.” – Sae-bom.
Total Episodes: 12
My Rating: 10/10
Genre: Horror, Action, Thriller
Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.
“Who says there’s no love between me and Lady Qiao? I admit, I married her for Panyi. But after spending time with her. I saw that she’s not only beautiful but concerned for the people. She has the talent and bearing worthy of my wife.” – Shao Wei
I think every other country’s drama can change, but Chinese drama will always maintain its supremacy. I have never watched any historical Chinese drama, but heard a lot, and finally, The Prisoner of Beauty, the recent Chinese historical drama, caught my eye. The drama follows the story of Xiao Qiao, who gets married to Shao Wei, her kingdom’s rival family, in order to end the hatred between them.
In this drama, there are every kind of trope which had me hooked. There is forbidden romance, arranged marriage, a rival’s daughter, a green flag, a smart, strong and cunning female lead. You know that I am a sucker for the arranged marriage trope, as it gives tension and intensity in a drama that I absolutely love.
Let’s start with our main attraction of the drama, the female lead, Xiao Qiao. I love female leads who are smart, cunning and absolutely hold their ground. Xiao Qiao is a huge green flag because she understands her husband, even though the marriage is all about alliance, she takes the best care of him. She understands him and the situation he went through as a child. I liked that she was shown as a mature female lead rather than stubborn in the wrong ways. She is so manipulative and cunning, OMG I loved that. I loved that even though she married the rival for alliance and even took care of her husband, she still held ground with her principles. She is an absolute drama queen; the acting just to get away with things was mind-blowing.
Then we have our male lead, Shao Wei, who went through a lot, and everything he does makes sense. The boy has a traumatising childhood, obviously, he can’t trust anyone, especially the female lead. However, even though he hated her, he still treated her with utmost importance. His fighting skills are amazing. However, he is absolutely clueless in romance. When Xiao Qiao is flirting with him, he acts so clueless, making me and Xiao Qiao wonder when he will understand. I loved his clueless side. Xiao Qiao helped bring out the child in him that he had lost and was just burdened by responsibility. He is so funny and shy when it comes to romance.
Their chemistry was pure and intense. I liked that their story was relatable, given that they were rivals. Slowly, there was a development rather than just like that. He took his time understanding and trusting her, and she understood that about him. The slow development was everything as they slowly realised that love is greater than hate. The love and respect he shows her, and always stands with her, and she always defends him and takes a stand for him, is so heartwarming to watch; they truly are worthy of each other.
The plot is all about the history between Shao Wei and Xiao Qiao’s family, and to remove the hatred marriage alliance is formed, it is so good and well written. I loved that in historical drama, loyalty is shown as top-notch. Be it Shao Wei’s companion or Xiao Qiao’s companion, the loyalty they have shown was beautiful to watch. The friendship group is amazing and hilarious.
The cinematography is amazing, given that it’s a historical drama, the culture and the costumes are just beautiful. All the side characters were amazing; they made the drama more fun. Shao Wei’s grandmother, a true Queen, knows how to properly give advice, a great woman.
I highly recommend it if you want to watch an arranged marriage between rivals, which includes forbidden romance and captivating leads.
“You’re an exceptional lady. I’ve never admired any woman the way I admire you.” – Shao Wei
Total Episodes: 36
My Rating: 8/10
Genre: Romance, Revenge, Historical Fiction
Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.
“Don’t feel embarrassed just because I found out that you like me. Even so, it doesn’t change the fact that I like you more…” – Yoo Shin-jin to Kang Mo-yeon.
No drama can ever be able to match the hype and the aura of this drama. This drama still holds a special place in many hearts, and I don’t think any drama will ever be able to replace it. The drama follows the story of Yoo Shin-jin, a soldier belonging to the South Korean Special Forces, who falls in love with a hardworking and beautiful surgeon, Kang Mo-yeon. However, when their relationship began, their lives took a turn, forcing them apart.
Beginning with the plotline, a soldier and a surgeon, hell yeahhhhh!!!!! I think this drama balances out the romance and the climax part so well that nothing feels overwhelming or underwhelming. The drama was way ahead of its time, and a 2016 drama, it will be forever remembered. The depth of the plotline was so intense, but then their romance balanced it out. The earthquake sequence, the surgery sequence and the ending were amazing to watch.
Talking about Yoo Shin-jin, what a marvellous character. He is such a sweetheart, but at the same time, a magnificent Captain. For a 2016 character to be funny and flirty was a huge thing, especially since there was a trend of cold-hearted male leads. Yoo Shin-jin looks so serious, however, his talks make him a hilarious character. He, as a captain, was a hell of a ride to watch; the depth of his character made him stand out.
Then we have our surgeon, Kang Mo-yeon, who is one of my favourite female lead characters. Her character is balanced so well as we get to see her being smart as well as funny, her expressions were my favourite. The way her character was written showed us some of the beautiful aspects of her and the drama.
Their chemistry doesn’t even have the right words to describe them. When you first watch, you will think how serious the drama and the couple are; however, when you actually watch this, you will realise how silly they are. I think that is what stood out because both are equally crazy and funny together. Their scenes of teasing each other were everything.
The second couple is everything, a forbidden romance between an army surgeon, Yoon Myeong-Joo and an army officer, Seo Dae-Young. I don’t think so, any second couple will ever be able to match them. First of all, their visual screams their forbidden love; we can actually see the pain and love in their eyes when they are standing apart and just looking at each other. The tension is everything, and I don’t think I will ever get over it. Their ending OMG was so beautiful to watch, even though they talk and taunt each other, we can see the care and love for each other in their eyes. Their OST will forever be engraved in my mind about the heart.
“Say it’s just a strategic retreat. Tell me to wait for you, tell me you’ll do whatever it takes to come back to me.” – Yoon Myeong-Joo.
The team of doctors were incredibly funny, I couldn’t stop laughing because each of them was one heck of a character. They made the drama more alive. The cinematography is breathtaking. The camp added such intensity to the plot, and the famous scenes that went viral were magnificent to watch. The OSTs, each of them are beautiful, and I still listen to them on auto-play. Just like how the drama is intense, the OSTs are also intense, so whenever I listen to the OSTs, I get flashbacks of the couples.
I think this drama still holds a special place in people’s hearts because of the vibe, the OSTs, the cinematography, the dialogues, the plot, and how it was so different from other dramas, and I don’t think it will ever be replaced by anything.
I highly recommend this drama, please watch it.
“You are very charming but dangerous. I don’t like it. Every time I catch your eyes, I am charmed. Should I become a girlfriend of this dangerous yet charming man?” – Kang Mo-yeon.
My Rating: 10/10
Total Episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, Action, Melodrama
Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.
“Female ghosts with a lot of regrets are strong. A saying goes that a woman’s vengeance knows no bounds. – Monk Myung Chul.
Another 2016 drama that I can’t let go of, the amount of time I have rewatched it is insane, which says how much I liked it. Something was definitely there in the year 2016 because each drama that came in that year was phenomenal, and almost a decade wrote a review on it. The drama follows the story of Park Bong-pal, who can see ghosts, and he hates it, as nobody wants to be friends with him. So he became a young exorcist in order to earn money and treat his eyes. Amidst that, he meets a female ghost, Kim Hyun Ji, who helps him send ghosts to the afterlife while waiting for her turn.
Let’s start with the hero himself, Park Bong-pal. His story is so sad. He can see ghosts, and because of that, he is constantly alert, which leads him to overreact. When he was a kid and all the other kids were afraid of him, and he was unable to find friends. He is a lonely boy surviving college and doing exorcisms in order to earn money and treat his eyes. His transition when he made friends was so heartwarming to watch because a lonely boy who doesn’t even know how to laugh has new people by his side. I was mind blown when I got to know how he can see ghosts and how he is connected with the female lead, Hyun Ji.
Kim Hyun Ji is your typical high school girl who lost her life in an accident, and now she is roaming around, searching for ways how she can go to the afterlife. Her and Bong-pal’s first meeting was iconic. I was laughing so much. She makes a deal with Bong-pal that she will help him find the ghosts while he will help her go to the afterlife. She is so chaotic, and a perfect magic sprinkles in Bong-pal’s dull life. I loved her so much; she was so brave in what she did, which almost cost her life.
The chemistry is also good, as in we will look at them as a couple with action. Their fighting scenes, them working together and then having a whole banter about it is so good to watch. According to the storyline, their chemistry was perfectly written. As it is a fantasy drama, falling in love becomes more tough as one is real and one is not and seeing that aspect in this drama was so heart-wrenching.
The side characters, the friend group of Bong-pal, I am in love with both of them. One of the reasons why I liked this drama was because of the friendship group. It is said that truly unexpected friends bring another kind of magic to one’s life, like Choi Cheon-sang and Kim In-rang brought to Bong-pal’s dull life. Both are so chaotic, their scenes make a breath of fresh air amidst the intense storyline. Their dialogues and banter were top-notch.
The storyline is Chef Kiss. What is not there, horror, mystery, comedy, romance, and a lot of tears. It was so intense because we audience got to know before the characters what happened, and I was so bumped up as the characters didn’t know anything. The way the storyline wrapped up around Bong-pal and Hyun Ji was brilliant. And when the secret was revealed about Hyun Ji, I was flabbergasted. In the beginning, the drama will look chill and about exorcism; however, as we move on, it will become more intense, and secrets begin to reveal how Bong-pal and Hyun Ji are interconnected. Also, a series of them capturing ghosts and the backstory of it was brilliant to watch.
The ending was amazing, I liked the fact that it was not in a hurry, but it made more sense how it wrapped up. Highly recommend this drama, please watch it if you want to go on a rollercoaster ride.
“It wouldn’t hurt to have a friend help you out when you need it.” -Kim Hyun Ji.
My Rating: 10/10
Total Episodes: 16
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Romantic Comedy
Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.
“The true beauty of perfume lies in the fact that it cannot be seen. Scent is a beautiful thing that can be felt even with your eyes closed. I believe this intangible beauty will be somewhat of a consolation to those who are sick of this world that focuses on outer beauty.” – Na Hye Sung.
Remember, it is a 2018 K-drama, and I watched it at that time, so I am writing this review based on that time, but I still like it. Honestly, this drama is still one of my OG dramas to rewatch. So, basically, this drama talks about a college student named Kang Mi Rae who decides to get plastic surgery because of bullying. At first, she thought it was successful, however, her plan backfired when people started treating her badly and calling her names because of her plastic surgery. Her difficulty increases when her former middle school classmate, Do Kyung Seok, joins the same university.
Let’s begin with the character of Kang Mi Rae. The girl has gone through a lot since her childhood. Looking at her, I have realized that once someone calls you names or teases you for your flaws in childhood, no matter what, the person will grow up hiding and living in tension because of it. The same was true with Kang Mi Rae; she loved to eat food, and because of that, she was a healthy child, but being teased about it, she thought something was wrong with her face. Her character is so relatable because it took such a long time for her to realize she is perfect the way she is and that society will never stop calling her names, but that doesn’t mean she is ugly. Her character development was everything.
Then we have Do Kyung Seok, and in my opinion, he is one of the underrated green flags out there. I like male leads who are attentive, and if they are cold-hearted, then they should be blunt and straightforward. That’s how Do Kyung Seok is. The man literally notices everything, even though he talks so little. The majority of the time, he has come to the rescue of Kang Mi Rae and noticed every little thing about her was beautiful. I loved his character as he knows how to put people in their place and can judge people perfectly. I also liked that they kept him constant throughout the drama as he never changed after listening to people; he kept it that way only.
The chemistry, I would say, was awkward. I definitely did not look forward to their intimacy, not that there is much. If we look through Kang Mi Rae, she couldn’t believe that a handsome man like Do Kyung Seok would like her because of that, she isn’t able to digest dating him. While Do Kyung Seok is not good with emotions so their scenes were so awkward.
However, the reason I liked the drama was because of the storyline and Do Kyung Seok’s attitude. The story line truly shows that no matter how much we do society is never ever going to be satisfied, so do what makes you happy rather than live in the dilemma of the society that will bring you nothing except insecurities.
“Why do we have to be like this? We judge faces…We throw up and have surgeries…as if we’d die if we didn’t get pretty. Why do we have to do that? From now on, I will concentrate on what makes me really happy.” – Kang Mi Rae.
My Rating: 8/10
Total Episodes: 16
Genre: coming of age, drama, romantic comedy
Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.
“I don’t know how long I was on the phone that day. And he kept watching me through the window.” – Yin Guo.
I feel like C-dramas are the best palate cleanser, they have everything from love to friendship. It brings comfort to just relax and watch. Recently I came across a C-drama that has made me think what kind of a man I want. This drama changed everything for me and I am so shocked that the actors didn’t fall in love with each other because everything was so intense. The drama I am talking about is called ‘Amidst a Snowstorm of Love’ and follows the story of Yin Guo, a billiards prodigy who gets stranded with Lin Yi Yang during a Snowstorm at a tournament. Yi Yang stopped playing billiards but as both bonded, he started to see Yin Guo’s passion that wanted him to get back at the game.
Let’s start with the star of the show, Lin Yi Yang, the man you are. You guys he literally made the already set standard higher than the sky. His character development was the best, OMG the way he worked on himself, his career and him as a human, loved every second of it. I don’t think he deserves the hate he got for his mistake. Come on, please he was just thirteen, he was just a child and the people legit gave him so much hate for a mistake he made as a child. He is one of my top fictional C-drama men, he is perfect. OMG you guys, his eyes expressed so much, the love he had for Yin Guo was everything.
Yin Guo is very shy, OMG her shyness made me pause the video, and I think it makes sense if a man like Lin Yi Yang stared so intensely I would faint right there. But sometimes she acted too immature, I don’t like the female lead who is afraid to show their relationship publicly. There are just certain scenes where I just can’t stand her. There is no character development of hers, he is just the one talking about his background but she never shared about hers which I wanted to see.
“Last year I was at a small bar that’s the first time I saw her. I didn’t go inside, instead, I stood outside and watched her for about five minutes. Of course, she didn’t know this. I can still recall my thoughts at that moment. I have to meet her I have to go inside buy her a drink and get her number tonight. I knew exactly what I was thinking I knew, I knew she was the one. But I have no idea how to approach her or what to say to impress her. She is so pretty. I was scared to make any mistakes. Trust me. I was really afraid of screwing it all up. Well, what can I even say, she is so perfect and I might need to spend the rest of my life seeking her love. So, I’m not in a hurry at all.” – Lin Yi Yang.
The plot is mostly romance, however, they focused a lot on Lin Yi Yang’s mistake that he made when he was thirteen and billiards. I really wanted the friendship group to bond more, go on trips and enjoy, if they removed some billiards and added more on this it would become so comforting to watch. The friendship group of Lin Yi Yang was everything they legit cried when he said he was coming back in the game. This drama is a very slow-burn romance, I love slow-burn romance so this drama was perfect for me.
The chemistry, OMG every scene of theirs was so romantic because Lin Yi Yang’s expressive eyes towards Yin Guo was everything. Lin Yi Yang’s act of service OMG what is not that he has not noticed about her, he did everything for her, the care and the way he makes her comfortable. There is so much romance in this drama every scene will want you to pause and look up and think when will I get a man like Lin Yi Yang. I wanted more of their conversations to show their growth but every conversation revolved around billiards, which I thought overpowered their development. He was the only one who opened up about everything while from her side she never shared much which I wanted to see. He falls in love with her at first glance and their height difference is just beautiful.
When I first met Lin Yi Yang’s friend group, I thought many would be negative, but as the story progressed, I loved how each of them supported him so much, their tears seeing him get back on track. I hope everyone gets this kind of friendship where the friends are happier than you for you. Yin Guo’s brother, another character I thought would be negative, but he was the cupid shipper for them; I loved him.
The drama is filmed across Finland, France and China so the cinematography was top-notch.
If you love slow-burn romance and an act of service phenomenal man, then this drama is for you.
I’m not a big talker. But I want to chat with you.” – Lin Yi Yang.
My Rating: 8/10
Total episodes: 30
Genre: Sports, Romance
Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.
“The world won’t fall apart if you speak up. Everything you want to say, the things you’ve held back say whatever you want.” – Baek Sa-eon.
The last official K-drama that I followed in 2024 was ‘When the Phone Rings’ and let me tell you after the release of its first two episodes the next day I was hooked when my social media was filled with their edits and I decided to give it a go and loved it. So it follows the story of Baek Sa-eon, a rising politician and his mute wife, Hong Hee-joo. A tense marriage begins to unravel after a call from a kidnapper and their life turns upside down.
I loved this drama so much, especially the beginning. The vibe, the characters, the cinematography, the dialogues, the suspense, the music, everything was top-notch. It was the drama that sucked me in so fast that from the first episode, I was hooked. The plot was plotting and the chemistry was electrifying. I love how everything was very well balanced and the way each episode just sucked you in with its climax scenes.
Talking about Baek Sa-eon, I loved him from the beginning, especially the first 6 episodes. His aura makes him look so powerful and it increases the quality of drama as well. He is the green flag in disguise, he legit arranged his marriage with his wife and showed to the world and his wife that it was a contract marriage. When the revelation started to begin everything made sense and I was in awe. I think his character was written spectacularly and he has suffered a lot even though it was not his mistake.
“I lived because of you. I endured because of you.” – Baek Sa-eon.
Then we have Hong Hee-Joo. In the beginning, I thought she would be a weak character, but I was so shocked to see how she was one of the strongest characters. Her phone call version is my favourite personality of hers in the show. She deserves all the love she gets. The girl goes through a lot but in the end, gets what she always wanted. Her eyes speak so much, and her sign language makes her character beautiful.
Their chemistry was the reason I watched this show. They paired with each other so well and the actors actually looked like they were the characters in real life. I love that there is no misunderstanding between them. Baek Sa-eon when gets to know about Hee Joo understands without misunderstanding her, I liked that they focused on the main plot rather than adding unnecessary problems between the couple. I loved that in the later episodes they understood each other so much, their childhood story was just beautiful. I think they as a couple fit way too well and made the drama excellent. Their love for each other was so strong that they were ready to die for each other. This drama also had some of the best kisses in the whole K-drama trajectory.
“Why was I born? I always thought about it. If I have to live someone else’s life against my will, why was I born? But I think I found the answer to why I was born and why I had to leave as Baek Sa-eon. It was to meet you.” – Baek Sa-eon.
Talking about the plot, it was something different and thrilling. I loved the concept of phone calls, I also love that they let the thriller flow rather than adding too much. I loved the dark vibe at the beginning of the drama, the intense music and Baek Sa-eon’s expression made the drama quality more elegant and watchworthy. Also, the timing was perfect for everything, from revelation to the last episode. I loved that they did not add much family drama but focused on the leads. But then the last episode happened, if you are familiar with K-dramas ending you might know that they drag too much till the end and give only few minutes of happiness, this drama was the same. The last episode was like I watching a new drama’s first episode because it was such an out of the box happening but then they added the political issue and lost me.
Overall the drama is a must-watch, I highly recommend it.
“For once, I want to protect you. So that you never suffer or get hurt again.” – Hong Hee-Joo.
My Rating: 8/10
Total Episodes: 12
Genre: Melodrama, Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Till we meet again, Be Happy, Be Grateful, and Keep Smiling – a girl who likes to write.
A girl who likes to write 