Muted Emotions? Chae Soo Bin’s Acting in ‘When The Phone Rings’ Criticized

Actress Chae Soo Bin is being criticized by Korean netizens regarding her recent K-drama “When the Phone Rings,” in which she’s being called out for acting with no emotion.

The drama, which first aired on Nov. 22, tells the story of an at-odds married couple whose lives become upended after receiving a threatening phone call.

Hong Hee-joo, whose second daughter from a major media company, is played by Chae Soo Bin.

Chae should use mainly facial expressions and sign language to show her feelings for the character she plays, as she has selective mutism from a childhood accident.

As KBIZoom reported, this restriction has been criticized for highlighting her acting weaknesses, especially in dramatic scenes that require emotional range.

Fans said her performance may have been “stiff” and “even a little dull,” indicating her nature was “not remaining on her toes,” especially in scenes where she should’ve been crying or feeling anything, such as during a kidnapping sequence.

One viewer commented, “The mismatch between her emotions and the feel of the drama made me out of the immersion. She was not able to grapple with the density of her character.”

Chae Soo Bin has to duck and weave through a pressing life with gaslighting from her mother and a deadpan husband.

While her character’s mutism is lifted by the end of the pilot, some feel the actress failed to impressively capture the nuances of the role.

Questions have also been raised regarding the chemistry between Chae Soo Bin and her co-star and husband, Yoo Yeon Seok. Viewers found fault in the chemistry — or lack thereof — between the two, questioning the spark of their interactions.

Chae Soo Bin is no stranger to criticism regarding her acting choice. Last year, she faced the same kind of backlash for her character in The Fabulous, where audiences felt she appeared to do nothing but fit into molds of types we are already used to seeing her as.

Fortunately, as “When the Phone Rings” goes along, fans are hoping for some character growth that could give her a chance to flex her wings as an actress.

Her past performances have largely gone over favorably, and viewers are curious to see if she can redeem the current backlash.

The plot of the series is still unfolding, and despite the mixed reception that early reviews gave the performances so far, fans don’t seem to be giving up on either Rosenthal or her on-screen character just yet.