Wrong Number – Series Review & Episode Guide

Iseop is a photographer who lives alone. One night, he's woken by a random phone call. A drunken man shouts at him and demands to speak to his ex, Jiyoung. Iseop has never met this man and assumes it's a wrong number. Yet, the caller refuses to believe him and keeps asking for Jiyoung. Iseop is annoyed and ready to hang up. However, Iseop becomes alarmed when the man says he'll take his own life unless Jiyoung comes to the pub right now.

Iseop hangs up and assumes the call came from a crazy bastard. He tries to go back to sleep. However, he cannot relax because the man's threat stays in his mind. Iseop decides to visit the pub mentioned in the call. He finds Wootae, the drunken man, sitting alone and looking helpless. Iseop checks to make sure that Wootae poses no danger to himself. Fortunately, Wootae isn't suicidal, but he spends most of the time talking about Jiyoung. He clearly misses his ex after their breakup.

Wootae says he's still in love with his ex. He explains that he and Jiyoung were once engaged. In fact, the plan to marry came from her. She later ended the relationship after falling in love with another man, which broke his heart. Iseop relates to his experience because he also ended a long relationship a while ago. The pain hurt so much that it felt like death. Iseop changed his number afterward, and Wootae's ex may have done the same.

Wootae becomes too drunk to manage himself. Iseop feels conflicted about what to do. Should he leave Wootae at the bar? Or make sure he has a safe place to stay for the night? Iseop chooses to bring Wootae to his small apartment and lets him rest on the bed. When Wootae grows too comfortable and starts undressing, Iseop stops him right away. They end up sharing the bed for the night. Wootae is still drunk and tries to be touchy-feely, but Iseop focuses on maintaining boundaries.

The next morning, Wootae wakes up in an intimate position beside Iseop. He misunderstands the situation at first, and Iseop grows irritated as he explains that nothing inappropriate happened. Once Wootae understands, he apologizes repeatedly for the trouble he caused. Iseop asks him to avoid drinking recklessly or making reckless statements about self-harm, and Wootae agrees. They go their separate ways, but surprisingly, this isn't the last time they see each other…

Wrong Number is a pleasant surprise, surpassing my expectations. Made by SUKFILM, this Korean studio has a history of producing lightweight BL dramas. They make many short web series, but not all of them are good. My general impression is that they prioritize quantity over quality. Their past projects range from cheating melodramas to generic romcoms. Nothing so far has impressed me in terms of storytelling. Yet, Wrong Number feels more interesting than usual. It might be my favourite entry from this studio.

The series opens with a compelling premise. A drunken man calls the protagonist and threatens to commit suicide over a recent breakup. Wow, talk about starting your story with explosive drama! Those first few minutes are emotionally gripping. You may feel as alarmed and confused as Iseop, faced with a sudden moral dilemma from a total stranger. Does he ignore the call and go back to sleep, or intervene and try to save a life? Damn, I'm intrigued! Most BL dramas don't begin at life-or-death stakes, especially within the first 30 seconds of their introductions. Wrong Number wins a lot of points for its boldness.

Wrong Number requires more creativity than a typical BL drama, because there isn't a standard pipeline from "drunken caller" to "romantic interest". Instead of following a formula, the unusual situation pushes the series to be imaginative. The leads meet and interact under unique circumstances, making every scene memorable. As the couple turns from strangers to unlikely lovers, I stay engaged in their relationship arc. Wrong Number also finds a good balance between angst and romcom. Lighthearted moments help soften the weight of its emotional themes.

Iseop and Wootae are both recovering from broken hearts. I like the idea of them finding comfort in each other and moving on to a new relationship. Yet, this journey may be too ambitious for a 45-minute short drama. The storyline requires showing how Wootae's feelings change. If he rebounds too quickly, his heartbreak loses impact. You cried over your ex half an hour ago, and now you're making heart-eyes at another guy!? Wrong Number lacks the time to build complex emotional arcs for the leads. The romance doesn't feel as satisfying as it would in a longer series.

Iseop's actor (Jung Myeong Cheol) looks so handsome on screen. The camera loves him from every angle, making you understand why he has been cast in many BL dramas lately. His co-star (Lee Choi Hyun) also grew on me over time, and he can be endearing with those sad puppy dog eyes. Regrettably, both leads struggle with their amateurish performances. This angsty story has more challenging material than your usual BL romcom. The cast reveals their limitations in some dramatic moments, so they seem unconvincing when the story demands intense emotions.

Although Wrong Number ends happily, I wish the series had more time to develop the couple's relationship. SUKFILM should've scrapped its mediocre projects and put the resources into this drama, which shows rare potential. It needs a few extra episodes to expand the plot, including flashbacks to Iseop's time with his ex-boyfriend. I speak for all BL fans when I say we want these two hotties to kiss! Due to its limitations, Wrong Number doesn't deliver a fully satisfying romance. Nonetheless, the story has been surprisingly engaging and deserves credit where it's due.