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Episode 11 of When the Phone Rings delivered a turn of events that left fans reeling. From the rescue of Hee-joo to the confrontation between Sa-eon and the real Baek Sa-eon, the drama’s storytelling has captivated audiences once again.
However, the moment that truly set the internet ablaze was the cryptic 10:00 pm phone call that tied back to Hee-joo and Sa-eon's haunting past. Fans couldn't help but notice the symbolic connection between Hee-joo’s earlier calls from the kidnapper’s phone, and the mysterious call she received at the same hour from an international number.
The phone number of Hee-joo's calls started with 406, while the number from where she got the call in episode 11 of When the Phone Rings, began with 604. The mirroring of these details sparked endless speculation, with many believing it was Sa-eon reaching out in his own cryptic way, much like Hee-joo did.
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The episode’s attention to detail, particularly in tying past and present events together, was widely praised by the viewers. When the Phone Rings fans took to social media to express their admiration for the writers’ ability to weave these connections seamlessly into the plot. One When the Phone Rings fan commented (as translated by Google):
"I love all of the detail from this drama! it's crazy! so cool! even though there are scenes that miss editing, but still amazed by the details wtpr 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼"
"ISTG THE DETAILS OF THIS DRAMA IS INSANE," said one netizen.
"writer of wtpr writing every genre & living up to the title till the end. It all started with phone ringing as 406 and now she's completing journey with phone ringing as 604, twists after twists in between🤦 what a queen!" noted one viewer of When the Phone Rings.
"OFC ITS SAEON WHO ELSE WOULD CALL HER THAT TIME HUHUUU THE DETAILS ARE DETAILING FROM HEEJOO AS 406 TO SAEON BEING 604," posted one X user.
"THE CLOSED LOOP 😭😭😭😭😭 started with calls from 406 and now ending with calls from 604 this drama never fails to amaze me omg," read one comment.
As the story hurtles toward its finale, the phone call has heightened excitement, with fans eagerly awaiting answers.
"the details… saeon called her at 22:00 (10:00 pm) just like how heejoo called him as 406 at 10:00 pm in the past 😭 6+0+4 = 10 & 4+0+6 = 10, 10 pm is when everything started 😭" remarked another fan of When the Phone Rings.
"I love how they came full circle with Her joo being 406 in the first episode or Saeon being 604 in the last," commented one more fan.
"WHO IS 604? WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THEIR IMAGINATION? HEEJOO ALONE IN THE HOUSE IS NOT IMAGINATION? SO WHO SHOT BY WHO? WHAT HAPPENED TO SAEON? WHY THE F*** DID THEY CUT THAT SCENE? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE KIDNAPPER WITH ALL THOSE POLICE AROUND?? WHY NO PREVIEW?" shared another netizen.
"And that's exactly how I lost my sanity. I have no brains cells to think anymore. I can't focus of anything. My sleep for tonight is ruined. Only one ep left. good thing is turning Happy ending will be in imagination guys🥲" added another individual on X.
A gunshot and a silent call: Episode 11 of When the Phone Rings leaves fans stunned
In episode 11 of When the Phone Rings, the tension reaches its peak as Hee-joo is finally rescued. After Sa-eon and the police relentlessly search, they locate the house where the real Baek Sa-eon's mother had imprisoned both Hee-joo and her son.
Following the mother’s arrest, Sa-eon’s father’s secretary frees Hee-joo and urges her to escape. Weak from starvation and exhaustion, she manages to get out but collapses not far from the house.
Meanwhile, Sa-eon’s father arrives at the same house and releases the real Baek Sa-eon. The moment he is freed, Baek Sa-eon shoots his father and begins searching for Hee-joo. Spotting him, Hee-joo hides but soon sees a car approaching and runs toward it.
The car belongs to Hee-joo’s husband, the fake Sa-eon, who has come with the police to rescue her. Sa-eon quickly places her in the car and rushes to the hospital, as she is barely able to stand. The police scatter to find the real Baek Sa-eon.
However, the real Baek Sa-eon intercepts their car, blocking their path with a gun. He orders Sa-eon to step out, pointing the weapon at him. Sa-eon complies and tries to negotiate, insisting he only wants to leave with Hee-joo. Unmoved, Baek Sa-eon approaches Sa-eon and whispers something inaudible into his ear.
The revelation shocks Sa-eon. Tears stream down his face as he looks at Hee-joo, devastated. Satisfied, Baek Sa-eon burst into laughter, declaring that this was exactly how he wanted to see him.
Before he can act further, the police arrive and surround the real Baek Sa-eon, demanding he drop his weapon. Trapped, Baek Sa-eon turns the gun toward Sa-eon. A gunshot rings out, and the screen cuts to black as Hee-joo looks on in horror.
The next scene transitions to Hee-joo alone in her living room, sitting before a Christmas tree. She imagines what her life might have been like if she had confessed her feelings to Sa-eon earlier.
But reality sets in—Sa-eon is gone. Consumed by regret, she repeatedly calls his number, only to be met with silence. Her phone displays a long list of unanswered calls to Sa-eon.
At 10:00 PM, her phone suddenly rings and the caller ID shows an international number starting with 604. Startled, Hee-joo quickly answers, her voice trembling as she says, “Hello?”
There’s no response. The silence on the other end makes her heart race. Trying again, she whispers another “Hello?” but still hears nothing. Her breathing quickens in hope and anticipation and finally, she asks:
“Is this you?”
Episode 11 of When the Phone Rings ends on this note, leaving viewers captivated and speculating for episode 12 which is the series finale. The 10:00 PM call mirrors Hee-joo’s own actions in earlier episodes when she called Sa-eon at the same time each night using a kidnapper’s phone starting with 406.
Fans are left eagerly awaiting the next episode to uncover the truth wondering if 604 could be Sa-eon reaching out to Hee-joo in a similar way.
For viewers who haven't yet watched When the Phone Rings, the series follows the relationship between Baek Sa-eon (Yoo Yeon-seok) and Hong Hee-joo (Chae Soo-bin), a couple trapped in a loveless arranged marriage. Their bond is shattered when Hee-joo is kidnapped, forcing both to confront their painful past and hidden secrets.
Premiering since November 22, 2024, When the Phone Rings airs on MBC every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 pm KST, with episodes available for streaming on Netflix in select regions an hour later. The series finale will air on January 4, 2025, at its regular time.
