The acting ability of actress Chae Soo-bin, who has been in the industry for 12 years, has come under scrutiny. Due to her character’s mute condition, which requires her to act without lines, awkward and monotonous expressions were starkly exposed. In the heavy atmosphere of the drama, her performance felt out of place, breaking the immersion of the plot.
“When the Phone Rings”, which premiered on the 22nd, begins with a threatening phone call to a married couple of three years who are living a “show-window” marriage. The drama is based on a web novel of the same name. Yoo Yeon-seok plays Baek Sa-eon, the youngest press secretary in the presidential office, while Chae Soo-bin portrays Hong Hee-joo, the second daughter of the country’s largest media company, Cheongun Ilbo, and a sign language interpreter.
One of the key points is that Hong Hee-joo suffers from selective mutism after a childhood accident. As a result, Chae Soo-bin had to convey her emotions and lines through only expressions and sign language throughout the first episode. However, this setup seems to have become a disadvantage for Chae Soo-bin. Her constant expression created awkwardness, particularly in the intense kidnapping scene, where she only used her round eyes to convey emotion, breaking the immersion in the drama.
Chae Soo-bin’s character, Hong Hee-joo, is a woman who married in place of her older sister, unable to receive the treatment of a wife. She leads a frustrating life due to her mother’s gaslighting and her husband’s indifference, yet she shows a brave and quirky side, such as flipping off her husband while watching the news. Perhaps because of the complexity of her emotional journey, it was difficult for Chae Soo-bin to express it through facial expressions alone, making her consistent expression even more pronounced. The scene in which she breaks her silence and makes a threatening phone call to her husband felt somewhat disconnected from the overall tone of the drama.
Her romantic chemistry with the 10-year-older Yoo Yeon-seok is still a question mark. Though their relationship begins with animosity, there is little to find in terms of romantic sparks, with Yoo Yeon-seok constantly frowning and Chae Soo-bin merely glaring at him. Due to his overly gaunt face and lowered tone, his character comes off as somewhat off-putting.
Fortunately, Hong Hee-joo’s mutism disappears by the end of the first episode, but Chae Soo-bin’s acting still remains in question. While she speaks to her husband and when alone, she still communicates with sign language and phone memos in front of others, leading to continued awkward facial expressions.
As the plot progresses, however, if a romantic dynamic develops between the characters and the heavy atmosphere lightens, Chae Soo-bin could begin to show a more lovable side. She has previously shown stable performances in various dramas without significant acting criticism. The only way to overcome the casting controversy will be through her acting. The key now is whether Chae Soo-bin can overcome her initial shortcomings and show growth in “When the Phone Rings.”
In 2022, Chae Soo-bin met the same controversy when starring in “The Fabulous”
In “The Fabulous”, actress Chae Soo-bin assumed the role of female lead Pyo Ji Eun, who has dreamed of working in fashion since a young age. As, she’s living her dream as the PR manager of a luxury brand, and though she has to work hard in an extremely dynamic and competitive environment, Ji Eun always boasts a lively and positive spirit.
At that time, Chae Soo Bin received negative feedback for once again “playing the same character”. Several audiences commented that while she’s a decent actress, Chae Soo Bin lacks versatility and never steps out of her comfort zone. They pointed out that in her previous projects “Rookie Cops”, “A Piece of Your Mind”, “I’m Not a Robot”, and “My Catman”, the actress always transforms into happy-go-lucky, hardworking, and positive protagonists.
However, with her transformation in “When The Phone Rings,” it seems that Chae Soo-bin has yet to convince the public with her acting skills.
Source: Naver
