When the Phone Rings Episode 9 Review: The Villain is a Genius

The previous episode dives into Sa-eon and Hee-joo’s evolving relationship, starting with a tender confession from Sa-eon about his fears of falling in love after marriage. While domestic warmth gives way to rising tension, the reappearance of the masked kidnapper and new revelations about Chairman Paik’s twisted dealings complicate their lives further. Hee-joo confronts her feelings, while Sa-eon investigates the kidnapper’s trail, leading to a heated confrontation with Sang-woo, her childhood friend.

Flashbacks reveal dark secrets about Sa-eon’s past and the Paik family’s cruelty, heightening the stakes. The episode climaxes with a fire at Chairman Paik’s home, leaving Sa-eon unconscious and Sang-woo under suspicion. Amid these events, Hee-joo finds bittersweet solace in moments that reveal Sa-eon’s unspoken devotion to her.

– Contains Spoilers –

When the Phone Rings Episode 9 Recap

Episode 9 wastes no time plunging into the tangled web of secrets and emotions surrounding its characters. The drama kicks off with an intense confrontation between Hee-joo and her sister In-a. In-a reveals the damning documents that exposed Sa-eon as a fraud—not the real grandson of the Paik family. However, Hee-joo surprises everyone with her reaction. Instead of shock or anger, she confesses her own guilt, stating that she deceived Sa-eon as well.

For a brief moment, In-a’s hardened demeanor softens as she admits that she liked having Hee-joo as a younger sister, even if she never showed it. Could this signal a shift in their relationship? But before we can bask in the warmth of this sibling reconciliation, In-a drops some bombshells: the Paik family hid their supposed heir for 15 years. Why? And who sent those mysterious documents? Even In-a doesn’t have all the answers.

Meanwhile, Hee-joo’s worry for Sa-eon reaches a fever pitch when she can’t get in touch with him. In a panic, she considers calling the police but stops herself—revealing her husband’s true identity would cause chaos. Left with no other option, she turns to Sa-eon’s adoptive parents for help, unveiling two shocking truths: she can speak, and she knows Sa-eon’s secret. Her revelations open the door to even more unsettling details, including Sa-eon’s childhood surgery to alter his heterochromia—a procedure tied to the mysterious, supposedly deceased child. As the pieces of this puzzle fall into place, it becomes clear that Sa-eon isn’t the real heir. But if he’s not, then who is?

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The episode takes a dramatic turn when Sang-woo, Hee-joo’s childhood friend, becomes an unlikely hero. It turns out Sang-woo saved both Sa-eon and an elderly man from a devastating fire. Sang-woo had been investigating the case of the missing children and followed Sa-eon to a fish shop owned by Mr. Jeong Jin-seok. There, he witnessed the fire that nearly claimed their lives. While recovering, Hee-joo apologizes to Sang-woo for keeping secrets, though the reasoning behind her guilt feels somewhat unnecessary. Nonetheless, Sang-woo’s involvement deepens the mystery, particularly when it’s revealed that Mr. Jeong has critical information about the Paik family’s dark history.

In a chilling flashback, the layers of deception surrounding Sa-eon’s life are peeled back. We see a younger Sa-eon witnessing the real Paik grandson’s grandfather attempting to drown him. The horrifying truth emerges: Grandpa Paik saw the real Sa-eon as a liability and sought to replace him. Enter Mr. Jeong, who was tasked with disposing of the boy’s body but instead raised him in secret. This twist reframes everything we thought we knew. The real Sa-eon is alive, and he might be the kidnapper tormenting everyone in the present day.

The narrative shifts back to the present, where In-a crashes a Paik family press event. At first, she plays along, but her cryptic comments about the “different” Sa-eon raise eyebrows. Then, in a dramatic move, she declares she never consented to being part of the show, effectively sabotaging the Paiks’ plans. Is In-a genuinely trying to protect her sister, or is she just seeking revenge against the family that wronged her? Her motives remain murky, but her actions undeniably shake things up.

Hee-joo’s determination to uncover the truth leads her to a dangerous crossroads. She considers turning Sa-eon’s phone over to the police, but Sa-eon intercepts her just in time. Their confrontation is raw and emotional. Hee-joo confesses her guilt for causing him pain, while Sa-eon pleads with her to keep their secrets buried. Their shared anguish underscores the complex, fragile bond between them, but there’s little time to dwell on their emotions as the plot barrels forward.

The tension ratchets up when a box of bloody fish is delivered to the Paik family’s press event. Sa-eon’s mother follows the mysterious delivery man to his home, only to realize she knows him. This revelation raises more questions than answers, adding another layer of intrigue to an already convoluted story. Meanwhile, Sang-woo’s persistence pays off when Mr. Jeong wakes up and reveals another horrifying truth: the real Sa-eon had killed several children in the past. Grandpa Paik’s attempt to drown him was a desperate act to cover up these crimes.

However, the boy survived and, after losing his memory, was raised by Mr. Jeong. Could the real Sa-eon’s memories have returned, fueling his desire for revenge? In the midst of this chaos, Hee-joo experiences a rare moment of joy. She finally gets to sign for Sa-eon during a public event, a symbolic act that solidifies their relationship. Watching from afar, her father acknowledges Sa-eon as his son-in-law, offering a fleeting glimpse of happiness in an otherwise dark narrative. But this brief respite is short-lived, as the episode hurtles toward its jaw-dropping conclusion.

The final moments are a whirlwind of revelations and betrayals. Sa-eon discovers the graves of the missing children, a grim testament to the real Sa-eon’s crimes. Simultaneously, Sang-woo faces warnings to back off his investigation, suggesting powerful forces are working to suppress the truth. The biggest bombshell, however, comes when it’s revealed that Do-jae, a seemingly minor character, is actually the twin. Just as Sa-eon pieces this together, Do-jae kidnaps Hee-joo, leaving viewers with a cliffhanger that promises even more twists in the episodes to come.

When the Phone Rings Episode 9 Review

Episode 9 takes the drama to new heights, delivering an emotional rollercoaster packed with revelations, suspense, and heart-stopping twists. The episode begins with a surprising show of sisterly bonding between In-a and Hee-joo, as In-a unexpectedly softens, reminiscing about their shared past and hinting at her own motivations to expose the Paik family’s secrets. This emotional thaw is short-lived, though, as the story plunges into a whirlwind of deception and danger.

From Hee-joo’s growing fears for Sa-eon’s safety to the spine-chilling discovery of hidden surgeries and long-buried secrets, the tension doesn’t let up for a moment. The flashbacks to Sa-eon’s traumatic past add layers to his character, revealing a deeply fractured man carrying the weight of others’ sins. Every scene feels like a ticking time bomb, keeping us glued to the screen.

But just when you think the twists couldn’t get wilder, the final moments blow the roof off. From Sa-eon’s confrontation with Mr. Jeong to Do-jae’s jaw-dropping reveal as the missing twin, the episode leaves us gasping for breath. The stakes are higher than ever, with Hee-joo’s kidnapping, the murky intentions of Sang-woo, and the Paik family’s ever-darkening secrets threatening to unravel everything.

Yet amidst the chaos, the tender moments between Sa-eon and Hee-joo offer a glimmer of hope for their relationship, even as their world crumbles around them. With its perfect blend of suspense, intrigue, and emotional depth, Episode 9 masterfully sets the stage for what promises to be a thrilling climax. Fans are undoubtedly counting the hours until the next episode!

When the Phone Rings is streaming on Netflix.

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