When the Phone Rings is rated TV-14 by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA) due to When the Phone Rings is rated TV-14 for mature themes, emotional intensity, and implied romance, making it unsuitable for younger viewers.
Violence & Gore: The part where Hee-joo dreams of Sa-eon being shot by a kidnapper might prove to be disturbing to young audiences. The action and violence are narrated but not depicted in a detailed manner.
Hee-joo, one of the protagonists, is kidnapped by rebels in a war-torn country. However, its intensity is not so sharp, and there is nothing very violent about the scene, the concern is more about her rescue.
Stirring elements of police brutality towards Paik Sa-eon and previous incidents of violence in the Paik family house are brought up but are not described in detail, especially the confession of the death of Hee-joo’s brother.
Sexual Content: Their love-making is just implied and so Hee-joo and Sa-eon hug each other tightly and the scene dissolves to the next one where they are seen waking up half-naked on the bed. Therefore, while the scene is romantic and erogenous, it is not lecherous and very little is shown, yet young audiences may be a little sensitive to the closeness.
The conversation, and scenes of interaction, between Sang-woo and You-ri, and the remarriage, and physical affection, of Sa-eon to Hee-joo, show a realistic representation of couples in terms of affection and intimacy.
Language: There is no direct reference to profanity or abusive language, but the show might involve mild expressions consistent with the strain or eagerness. This aligns with the TV-14 rating The messages that are portrayed also convey violent content in one or many levels which responds to the TV-14 rating.
Substance Use: There is no depiction of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco use that militants this episode in a direct manner.
When the Phone Rings: Episode 12 Ending Explained
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to run after someone you loved, only to find that you have been kept in the dark for too long? When the Phone Rings becomes dramatic and ends with the 12th episode which consists of both drama and suspense along with some warmth. Even though the characters do not manage to find true happiness, the entangled plot of Fabrice and Laura’s story provokes a lot of thoughts when secrets are revealed and the main characters finally meet.
As the season is winding down, the search for Hee-joo’s missing husband, Sa-eon, continues into the final chapters of Episode 12. The boy named Sa-eon has been missing for half a year, and nobody knows what has happened to him. The fact that he had given away his inheritance and then went into hiding is the first thing that makes people start asking questions as to where and why he had vanished. The quest to find the truth regarding the ghost is dangerous for Hee-joo. Argan sends her a letter that tells her something about the location of Sa-eon, a war-torn country where she used to come every day to watch the sunset at a special place. Despite her friends’ warnings, Hee-joo goes there and gets captured by rebels before being rescued by Sa-eon himself.
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Those include arguments, apologies, sentiments, and even revelations that are emotional and oftentimes personal in nature. Sa-eon has been feeling guilty about his past actions and the fact regarding the death of Hee-joo’s brother that is why he was avoiding Hee-joo thinking she was acting as if she did not know the truth. However, the love Hee-joo has for him and her need to move forward cause them to overcome their misconceptions. This leads to a passionate and an emotional reunion where hee joo hugged sa eon hoping and they find a way back to each other after overcoming their past issues.
It also highlights aspects like forgiveness and character transformation or change that is synonymous with redemption. Sa-eon changes her name to Paik Yu-yeon and decides to marry Hee-joo again. It starts a new life for them, and they relocate to another place, and they marry with their friends present. It is rather sad, especially when Hee-joo decides to let go of her hatred towards her family members and start the process of repairing the severed bonds. The relationship between Hee-joo and her sister I-na is also given a kind of resolution where Hee-joo persuades her sister to move on in life in search of a happier existence.
As with many series finales, some aspects of the last two episodes may not be as important or seem mandatory. All in all, the Argan storyline was a bit too cinematic and overemphasised within a show which for the most part had human drama, interpersonal relationships and family struggles as its central themes. It is quite reasonable to show that misunderstandings occur in different situations, but in the case of Hee-joo and Sa-eon, it becomes monotonous towards the middle of the episodes and slightly irritating. Was it really important to prolong their reunion to the extent that it already had?
Analyzing the finale according to the characters, it is possible to state that it had its advantages and disadvantages. As for the strengths, one must identify the emotional story finale for Hee-joo and Sa-eon as one of them. Their reunion feels organic and real, and the passion between them in their love scenes is palpable. On the other hand, the growth of secondary characters like Sang-woo and You-ri remains underdeveloped and a letdown. While John and Jane Montgomery were perfect for each other, the audience gets only a short look at their engagement. We never see them being boyfriend-girlfriend or fail to witness their failures and successes as a couple, which feels somewhat regrettable, especially when they could have brought a happier facet to the finale.
The show also does a reasonable amount to wrap up story arcs that may be left open at the end of the season. Hee-joo’s new position as a sign language interpreter and Yu-yeon’s new position as the state negotiator give the audience a chance to see what the characters’ future holds after all the events depicted in the movie. Even though the end is slightly cliched, it provides a feeling of satisfaction when everything comes to the expected conclusion. The final scene where Yu-yeon receives a phone call from Hee-joo and they talk about how they will arrange their future communication, seems quite believable and heartwarming. An element of tragedy is included, but the characters are evolving and gaining new roles and hopes for a brighter future.
However, some viewers may have an opinion that the pacing of the finale is slow with all the switches between the characters and the essence of the misunderstandings. This back-and-forth does help to keep up the suspense though at times such pacing gives the impression that the show is being unnecessarily tedious and not progressing the narrative adequately.
Final Thoughts
By the time ‘When the Phone Rings’ has been quite a thrilling and emotional drama, and Episode 12 provides a bittersweet yet somewhat u0026 anticlimactic conclusion. All in all, if you enjoy dramatic twists, multilayered characters, and powerful emotions – the finale is rich in resolution. The primary romantic relationship of Hee-joo and Sa-eon is one that connects the series, and their reunion for a romantic affair is sweet and genuine. Though, the repeated miscommunications between them and the long-windedness of the Argan on-screen time could have been condensed for a better experience.
Of course, more could have been devoted to Sang-woo and You-ri in the latter half, but apart from that, the show does relatively well in addressing the main points raised during the course of the series. The concept of forgiveness and new beginning is prominent, and the series’ supporters who enjoy dramatic, pathos-oriented finales will find this end satisfying.
Director: Park Sang-woo and Wi Deuk-gyu
Writer: Kim Ji-woon
Starring: Yoo Yeon-seok, Chae Soo-bin, Heo Nam-jun, and Jang Gyu-ri