When the Phone Rings Ended with 8.6% Nationwide Viewership Ratings with Finale Episode

When the Phone Rings ended with 12th episode airing last night. The nationwide viewership rating failed to achieve double digits with only 8.6% but this still marked to be their all time high personal record throughout its run. 

It was a happy ending. It turned out the secret that got revealed by 406 to Saeon was about Paik Jang Ho being the mastermind of the car accident that the Hong siblings were involved in during their childhood. It took the life of Heejoo and Ina's little brother so Saeon felt responsible and shameful to them that leads him to going far from Heejoo. Saeon ended up in Argan where rebels exists but Heejoo went after him. There, Heejoo and Saeon reunited and later marry each other as Heejoo and Yu Yeon. 

406 died in the hands of the police and his mother got life imprisonment. Ui-yong ended up losing in the presidential race showing how his public service career got ruined. Min Do Ki confessed to his sins and got imprisoned for 5 years. Heejoo's mom had a change of heart and is now a kind parent to Heejoo and same goes with her husband. Hong Ina apologized to Heejoo for how she was to her during their childhood and is now working on getting closer with her as a big sister. Park Do Jae came back to Saeon's side, Yuri and Sang Woo ended up together and everyone else was happy. THE END.

Hmmmm.... It's a happy ending but if I'm gonna be honest, I was really disappointed with the ending. I know that it's only after the webtoon but still, the ending turned out to be too much of a stretch. I was laughing my ass off when Heejoo stubbornly went after Saeon in Argan where rebels exist and ended up getting caught in the end. And obviously, Saeon came to the rescue. lol I was like, WTF was that?! Hahaha I know the writer wanted to exaggerate how much Heejoo loves Saeon that she's willing to risk her life and same goes with Saeon but still... like wtf was that! Can't they think of a better and a little 'realistic' for an ending? Suddenly they're invincible from an on-going war in Argan because love conquers all. 🤣 I find that very ridiculous. 

When the Phone Rings, I thought it was overly hyped. I admit that it started really veeeeery interesting but I dont know...when Saeon and Heejoo came together, the excitement faltered for me. Everything became overly sweet and at most, scenes were a little too cringey. But overall, it's still a decent and fun to watch drama. Kudos to the cast especially Yeon Yun Seok. 

When the Phone Rings Achieved 8.3% Nationwide Viewership Ratings with Episode 11 | Best Personal Record

January 3, episode 11 of When the Phone Rings aired and it achieved 8.3% nationwide viewership ratings. It's 2nd to the last episode of the show and it's gaining attention from the general public. Does this mean we could expect even higher viewership for the finale?! We'll see about that.

Heejoo went missing after the intentional car crash, it turned out that professor Sim Kyu Jin was the one who kept her hidden with the help of Min Do Ki. Sim Kyu Jin wanted Seaon, the son of Paik Jang Ho, to suffer the same as her for losing a loved one. She's avenging for what had happened to her and her son, 406. No wonder 406 became a psych0path, it's because she's the mother! When Sim Kyu Jin told her husband that 406 took after him, I doubted. Because 406 is took after her, they're the same crazy! 

Saeon successfully made the police arrest professor Sim Kyu Jin despite Paik U-yong being a presidential candidate. Saeon shared to the police a video of Kyu Jin killing Paik Jang Ho in the hospital. All this time, Saeon was keeping this secret as well as knowing that he's Jang Ho's son instead of Ui-yong. Once Kyu Jin got arrested, Saeon discovered the whereabouts of Heejoo through the police investigation. 

Saeon found Heejoo while she's running away from 406 but before this, Min Do Ki set Heejoo free while he chose to lock up 406. However, his plans got busted by Ui Yong who followed him after the failed press conference. This is why 406 got out and went after Heejoo and Saeon. 

In the end, 406 caught up with them and asked Saeon to get out of his car and speak to him. 406 whispered something to Saeon that made him disappear later on. I wonder what it was that he told him. Hmmm...

Anyway, last episode tonight!!

Check In Hanyang Episodes 1-4 Recap | Yeongcheonru Explained

Yongcheonru - the palace built across from the royal palace. Joseon's premier inn, built on a site blessed by a dragon. At Yeongcheonru, the guest is the king. Guests can be anyone they wanted to be in here as long as they have money. Being one of Yongcheonru's employees became the dream jobs of youth in Hangyan, social classes do not matter and talent was all that was needed to succeed. All Yongcheonru's employees were led by the innkeeper. 10 chests of gold were offered every month to the king by Yongcheonru's Cheon. The power of gold was what feeds the people and so the King just let Yongcheonru operate. 

Lee Eun/ Lee Eun Ho, the crown prince of Joseon asked the King to let him enter Yongcheonru with an excuse to master the craft of business. But Cheon reminded him that social status ain't a thing there and so the crown prince will be treated equally as the other new apprentices that will enter Yongcheonru. When the King and the crown prince was left alone, the King brought up about a 'shadow ledger'. He mentioned that it was the only weakness he has that made him a puppet of those who knew about its existence. These people think that the throne/the King was powerless because of it and Cheon was one of them. It's why Yongcheonru became untouchable as well. Cheon and the Ministry of War were the ones who put the King to the throne to become their puppet and they have the power to put their own candidate again to ascend it. 

The crown prince offered to find the shadow ledger and so the King revealed about the 'brass key' that's the only key to the safe where the shadow ledger's located. The brass key was composed of 2 pieces, one was already in the hands of Yeongcheonru's Cheon and the other one is nowhere to be found yet.

It turned out that half of the key was in possession of Hong Deok Su whose real name was Hong Jae On. The key was passed down to her by her father, Hong Min Sik, during her childhood. Their residence was once attacked and her father asked her to pretend to be a boy to save her life. While she was escaping, she saw a very familiar person close to her and her father's hearts holding a sword covered in blood. It turned out to be the innkeeper of Yeongcheonru, Mae Hwa. It became Jae On's driving force to successfully get inside Yeongcheonru, to seek answers from the innkeeper.

Jae On managed to escape and after 12 years, she became Hong Deok Su. A woman disguising as a man. Up until this period of time, a poster was still put up everywhere in Hanyang looking for Hong Min Sik's only daughter. In the end, they're after the brass key. 

Both the crown prince and Hong Deok Su meet each other as an apprentice with individual secret goals. There. they were grouped with other apprentices who later became their close friends as they take on the tasks given to them by Yeongcheonru's masters. 

So far, I'm really loving this drama. It's a fun period drama and has less serious theme/topic involved than The Tale of Lady Ok. It doesn't make it any less though because it still remain very entertaining, all thanks to the 4 main characters involved. 

Lim Ji Yeon's "The Tale of Lady Ok" Reached 9.5% Nationwide Viewership Ratings with Episode 8 | Their Highest Record to Date

Episode 8 of The Tale of Lady Ok achieved a personal best record of 9.5% in the nationwide viewership ratings. It's so close to achieving double digits!! The show is actually really good and I'm happy that it's doing well locally (SK). This drama's run actually reminds me of Captivating the King. It has a good storyline with impressive cast, it's doing well locally but a little quiet reception from the international kdrama viewers. The drama is fighting in the Netflix top 10 tv series in my country though. So much alike of what had happened before to Captivating the King too. 

Here's a short recap and review for episode 8:

Due to Taeyoung's chosen profession of being a Legal Advocate, she inevitably gained a lot of enemies. Lady Song from the Baek family is one of them. Due to her toxic and obsessive mindset about the disparity of nobles and slaves, she has put her family in danger most especially her own son. If you could remember Baek Yi's case from the early episodes of this show, the young master took the blame of Baek Yi's death even though it was actually his mother who was the real mastermind of everything that happened to Baek Yi. So years after getting their punishment, Lady Song's husband and son (the young master) both died. And so she's enraged and became devoted to avenge their death against Taeyoung using her own daughter, Miryeong. 

Miryeong was manipulated by her own mother, Lady Song, that it was all Taeyoung's fault for the death of her brother and father. This became her driving force to deceive and take revenge against Taeyoung. She approached Do Gyum and got married with him with the thought of revenge at first but later, she found out about the real truth from Taeyoung. This ended her being manipulated by her own mother's delusions and lies. In the end, Miryeong became truly devoted to Taeyoung as well as her husband Do Gyum after coming clean and apologizing to Taeyoung. 

Yoon Gyum, on the other hand, is slowly becoming one of my hated characters of the show. TBH, I liked him in the early episodes due to his mission but now I no longer know what he's really fighting for. I do get it that he may not be informed about the real situation of what his family had gone through throughout the years but seriously, everything started from him. He should've been curious as to how it affected his family's lives because of his selfishness. Yep, I call it now selfishness because that's how I see him now. He's only thinking about his own survival, not thinking about his wife and most especially his little brother. Sigh. He's asking for everyone to understand him and the likes of him but he's not even trying to understand those people around him.

Seung Hwi and Taeyoung reunited again after Taeyoung fought and won a case for Seung Hwi. Obviously, they both still love each other and were holding back their feelings because of the situation Gudeok was in. But I hope, a time will come that the both of them will be free to express their love for each other. 

Yoo Yeon Seok Held A Press Conference to Find Chae Soo Bin in "When the Phone Rings" Episode 10

Park Do Jae learned the truth about Paik Saeon's real identity at the last minute so all his efforts staying right by the fake Saeon's side were put to waste. He got fooled by the real Saeon, conspiring together to get revenge at the wrong one. Do Jae was humiliated and angered. Real Saeon stabbed Do Jae in place of the fake Saeon and ended up in the hospital. Fortunately, he survived and now will help the fake Saeon to catch and punish the real one. 

Hong Hee Joo broke free from her gas lighter mom. She got to know and experience what real love was all because of Saeon and so she realized that what her mom's love wasn't for her but for money and power. I-na was there to witness that winning moment and if only Saeon was there, he'll be really proud of Heejoo. I'm just happy that I-na turned out to be a kind sister to Heejoo now. When the actress came out of the screen for the first time, I really thought she'll do mean things to her. I'm glad that I was wrong 'coz it'll be way too stressful if she turned out to be a baddie. I mean, have you seen her in Good Partner Kdrama? lol I've had enough of her being the villain so I'm relieved that she's actually kind here. kkk

The plot twist that I didn't see coming got revealed at this episode 10. Fake Saeon turned out to be Paik Jang Ho's son and NOT a grandson. In the end, fake Saeon's real identity was more significant than being the grandson. Yep, we're still winning here. Now that I think about it, Paik Jang Ho isn't the type of person that would raise someone in his family that isn't his own. Old man is a selfish monster that's obsessed with power and honor and he won't share that outside of his family at all, unless he gains something bigger from that person. 

Last scene, 406 abducted Heejoo once again. Saeon tried to catch up with them but Heejoo told him not to and she crashed the car after into the road side barricade and fell into the river below. After that, Saeon hasn't seen his wife and 406 so he decided to hold a presscon to seek help from the public with a cost of him revealing his real identity. 

Guys, last 2 episodes left for When the Phone Rings. Are you ready to say goodbye? Waaah! I can't believe there will only be 12 episodes in total for this drama but that's just how it is. Nothing lasts forever. kk

Kim Soo Hyun Won "Artist of the Year" in Asia Artist Award 2024 | See Full List of Winners

The Asia Artist Award was held last night (Dec 27) at Thammasat Stadium in Bangkok. It was Kim Soo Hyun who took home the ceremony's highest award (Daesang) of Artist of the Year. He mentioned Kim Ji Won during his speech that quoted:

And to Kim Ji Won who brilliantly portrayed the world's Best Hong Hae In, I want to dedicate this honor to you as well. 

Congratulations, Kim Soo Hyun and the rest of the winners! You all deserved it!

Here are the full winners:

• Artist of the Year (Actor): 

Kim Soo Hyun 

• Best Actor of the Year:

Byeon Woo Seok and Park Min Young

• Artist of the Year:

New Jeans

• Song of the Year:

Rose and Bruno Mars'- APT

• Album of the Year:

DAY6- Fourever

• Stage of the Year:

NCT 127

• Performance of the Year:

LE SSERAFIM

• Queen of AAA:

Jang Won Young

• Best Actor:

Suho and Kim Hye Yoon

• Best Kpop Record:

Jung Kook, SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids

• Best Music Video:

LE SSERAFIM- CRAZY

• Best OST:

ECLIPSE- Sudden Shower (Lovely Runner)

• Best Musician Solo:

BIBI, Jimin

• Best Musician Group:

ZEROBASEONE, KISS OF LIFE

• Best Couple Award:

Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon

• Best Performance:

New Jeans- How Sweet

• Asia Star:

Sakaguchi Kentaro

• Best Band:

DAY6

• Best Creator:

Seo Hyun Ju

• Best Director:

BUMZU

• Fabulous:

Kim Soo Hyun

• Scene Stealer:

Kim Min

• Best Choice:

Do Young (NCT 127), Ten (WayV), Jo Yu Ri

• Asia Celebrity:

Byeon Woo Seok, Jang Won Young

• Hot Trend:

Kim Soo Hyun

• Icon:

&TEAM

• Popularity Award:

Lim Young Woong, NiziU, Byeon Woo Seok, Kim Hye Yoon

• Emotive:

Jo Yu Ri, Tony Yu

• New Wave:

BIBI

• Best Artist:

ZEROBASEONE, DAY6, NCT 127, NewJeans, Park Min Young, Kim Hye Yoon, aespa, IVE, KISS OF LIFE, Suho, LE SSERAFIM, TWS, BUS, Joo Won, Ryu Jun Yeol, WayV, BIBI, Kentaro Sakaguchi, Kim Soo Hyun, Byeon Woo Seok, Ahn Bo Hyun

• Thai Star:

Gemini, Fourth

• Potential:

NCT WISH, Choi Bomin

• Focus:

WHIB

Put AAA in front of each awards name btw, if not put there some award names are so weird. lol One thing I don't like about Kpop and Kdrama awards are them putting awards that aren't even significant. I mean it felt like they just inserted these awards to make sure these popular artists' attendance so that the ceremony could actually make some noise because of their large fanbases. I'm not gonna mention what these 'weird' awards are but you can pinpoint as you read the list of winners. lol

Chae Soo Bin Learns About Yoo Yeon Seok's Real Identity in "When the Phone Rings" Episode 9

It's becoming clearer now about the orphanage that Sang Woo was investigating throughout the series. There were 4 missing children from that orphanage but only 3 were known. The sister from the orphanage said to Sang Woo before that there's another one and it's one of the twins who turned out to be Park Do Jae today. The first person to find out about Do Jae's real identity was the reporter whom Saeon promised of an exclusive interview if he learns the truth about this missing kids case from the orphanage. However, it was already too late for Saeon to confront the situation because Park Do Jae has already taken Heejoo as a hostage. If Park Do Jae was one of the twins, it means he's avenging his twin against Saeon, who I think was the suspect behind the missing kids. Remember what the grandfather said in this episode, that his grandson (real Saeon) killed not only animals but also kids his age. Anyway, now, I won't think twice anymore if Dojae's the one who pushed Heejoo from the mountains before. He's unforgivable at this point, even if I liked him before, I still want him to get punished. 

Heejoo learned about her husband's real identity and expectedly, she doesn't mind about it. Of course, Saeon didn't mind about her speaking and being the fake 406... so it's only right. lol But other than that, it's all because they really trust and love each other that they'd accept any dirty secrets they have. 

On the other hand, I-na seems to be genuinely concerned about Heejoo. I think she's really nice here, hopefully till the very end though. lol

Squid Game Season 2 Honest Review | Episodes 1-7

Squid Game season 2 finally got available for streaming on Netflix yesterday (December 26) and yours truly finished all 7 episodes in one seating as well. 1st episode really deserved the hype, Jun Ho was alive and Gong Yoo gave a spectacular performance as the suit man who we finally got to know as just another psychopath. I already had an impression in season 1 that whoever were involved in putting up this game were all psychopaths and I was right the whole time. We got the Front Man become a player of the game too and represent the number 001. He got 'friends' with Gi Hun throughout the series only to betray him in the end. It's crazy, really! Gi Hun was still too kind and trusting to even win a game against the Front Man. Speaking of Gi Hun, it was really stupid of him to think he could stop the game by invading and probably meeting the person behind all this. Tbh, I really find his mission to be very stupid and annoying. I get it, he means well and that he wants to save lives but really? Why mess with everyone's experience to become the winner of the game. They all went there in their own accord. The Front Man was trying to make him understand that but Gi Hun thinks differently. lol Oh well, that's how Gi Hun was made, if Gi Hun doesn't think differently, we won't get a 2nd and 3rd seasons at all. kkk

I got to love and hate a lot of characters in here. I love Gi Hun's team, obviously! The pair of marines, Jung Bae and Dae Ho. I love their tandem but it was a let down for me at how Dae Ho acted in the last episode. Seriously, if he doesn't know how to fight with a gun, he should've just stayed behind with the rest of the players in their quarters. Because of him, the rest of Gi Hun's team died waiting for his return with the magazines. Sigh. Jung Bae was admirable friend till the very end. Very courageous and stayed by Gi Hun's side till the very end. I'm just sad that Front Man killed him so easily like that and even in front of Gi Hun. 

My most loved character is probably Hyun Ju. Yes, the transgender one. She served in the military before when he's still a man, that's where she got her leadership and combat skills. She's very reliable! And of course, if I have my most loved character, I also have my most hated character. TBH, I was gonna say it was the addict Thanos but as I recall throughout the series, it was actually the old man Im Jong Dae (no. 100). Seriously, I wanted to slap his face every time he's on screen. lol So annoying! I was waiting the whole time for him to die and get eliminated from the game but there was nothing for this season. Hopefully in the next season! kkk 

I'm not gonna lie though, I was really annoyed by the villain Thanos here A LOT too! But what can we expect from an addict like him, anyway? 

Overall, I like the season 2 but I was disappointed that it was left hanging like that. I thought we're at least gonna have some open ending not entirely a hanging one. It looked liked Gi Hun's mission to save everyone was pointless like this. Now, we have to wait a little longer before this impression gets replaced.  Sigh.