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 monotone expressions were starkly exposed. In the heavy atmosphere of the drama, his performance seemed out of place, breaking immersion in the plot.
“When the Phone Rings,” which premiered on the 22nd, begins with a threatening phone call to a couple who have been married for three years and are living in a “showcase” 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 plays Hong Hee-joo, the second daughter of the country’s largest media company, Cheongun Ilbo, and an interpreter of sign language.
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 his emotions and jokes only through expressions and sign language during the first episode. However, this setup seems to have become a disadvantage for Chae Soo-bin. His constant expression created embarrassment, particularly in the intense kidnapping scene, where he only used his round eyes to convey emotion, breaking 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 indifference and her husband’s indifference, but shows a courageous and quirky side, such as freaking out at her husband while watching the news. Perhaps due to the complexity of his emotional journey, it was difficult for Chae Soo-bin to express it through facial expressions alone, making his coherent expression even more pronounced. The scene where she breaks the silence and makes a threatening phone call to her husband felt somewhat disconnected from the overall tone of the drama.
Her romantic chemistry with 10-year-old Yoo Yeon-seok is still a question mark. Although their relationship begins with animosity, there is little to be found in the way of romantic sparks, with Yoo Yeon-seok constantly frowning and Chae Soo-bin simply staring. Due to his excessively gaunt face and lowered tone, his character is 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 talking to her husband and when alone, she still communicates with sign language and phone notes in front of others, resulting in constant embarrassing facial expressions.
As the plot progresses, however, if a romantic dynamic develops between the characters and the heavy atmosphere lightens, Chae Soo-bin may begin to show a more lovable side. He has previously shown stable performances in various dramas without significant acting criticism. The only way to overcome the casting controversy will be through his acting. The key now is whether Chae Soo-bin can overcome her initial limitations and show growth in “When the Phone Rings.”
In 2022, Chae Soo-bin encountered the same controversy when she starred in “The Fabulous”
In “The Fabulous,” actress Chae Soo-bin took on the role of female protagonist Pyo Ji Eun, who dreamed of working in fashion from a young age. As she is living her dream as a public relations manager of a luxury brand, and although she has to work hard in an extremely dynamic and competitive environment, Ji Eun always boasts a lively and positive spirit.
At the time, Chae Soo Bin received negative feedback for “playing the same character once again”. Several viewers commented that although she is 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 turns into carefree, hardworking and positive protagonists.
However, with her transformation in “When the Phone Rings,” it seems Chae Soo-bin has yet to convince audiences with her acting skills.
Source: Naver
