common drama about law just added an extra spice
I wanna start this review with the main character Woo Young-Woo. The way Park Eun Bin portray her is so adorable that's why she deserve the award she won for this drama. I like everything about her character, the way she obsess about whales, the way she speak truthfully to other people, and when she is in the court already. But there are still a lot of flaw in this series.The first flaw that annoys me is the force "romance" between Lee Junho and Youngwoo. On episode 4, Junho likes her already even though they only had minimal interaction with each other. They are both cute, but the romance is so out of the place in the first episodes. Second, Kwon Minwoo's character confuses me? it's like they didn't write his character well. This drama did start good, but the last episodes were so bland and boring for me. It could have been better, but the point of view(?) were scattered, I rarely see Youngwoo's character and pov.
The twist where the attorney have autism is refreshing, but overall, I don't think this is the best law drama. I'll give it a 7/10.
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Suspense and law based drama
This is really good story i didn't know how long i watched until I reached at 16 episodes wonderfull story evry episode the cases caught my attention wonderful drama for the people who likes suspense and law based dramas but still many plots left behind and it will be aired in season 2 i hope in season 2 we can see much more sweet moments between lead actors i didn't felt more scenes were given to lead actors romantic moments how they develop feelings to each other but it was good and neat and everyone can watch it no regrets really its good to watch each epsiode you won't get bored hoping for season 2 all the bestWas this review helpful to you?
In an ordinary world, our lives are valuable and beautiful
Extraordinary Attorney Woo was a drama that drew me in for the romance but had me infatuated with the case stories and curious about the journey of Woo Young Woo as she navigates herself around society. It is safe to say that this show brought me a lot of warmth and comfort and will continue to do so. I thoroughly enjoyed this show, thus I am looking forward to what season 2 has installed for usThe story centers around Woo Young Woo, a newly appointed rookie attorney at Hanbada who is on the autistic spectrum. It shows her journey as an attorney and how she navigates the varying new social challenges that come her way in the outside world, such as prejudice/discrimination and romance. Her explanations and expression of feelings that are slipped into conversations every now and then were valuable and meaningful as they enabled me to learn more about autism and how they view the world. There were some stereotypical elements that were shown about autism, thus accuracy of representation can be negotiable. Young Woo's quick-witted and creative thinking definitely was a highlight of the show and I loved her development in the series.
Young Woo's story also delves into the relationship between her and her Father. I enjoyed the fact that the drama explored the hardships, but also the highlights of being a single Father. I admire the writers for breaking down the stereotype regarding men and accepting the responsibilities of raising a child
Each episode entails a new case with some minor continuations into the next episode here and there. As each episode progresses, this is where Young Woo's past begins to unravel in the epilogues. The case stories were profoundly moving and impactful and they make your mind boggle as to which party is right or wrong. I loved the diversity in the cases that were explored in the show. The drama showcased a lot of political, moral, lawful, and ethical elements which made the show an all-rounded insightful watch and the discussions between Young Woo's team about the cases in between trials were very useful too. They delivered each episode in a way that does not over-dramatise everything whilst finding the balance between the comedic and serious scenes.
My only downside was that with some cases shown, it seemed as if they rushed the endings for some cases. Whilst they narrate the results in the attorneys' discussions, it would have been nice to squeeze in a few more minutes to see the true endings for the parties involved.
I loved the blossoming family-like relationship between them. Their bond brought out a lot of hysterical moments that are truly unforgettable to the show. Talking about a few characters specifically:
Whilst there was not a lot of background information about Lee Junho that was shown nor delved into the show compared to many other male leads in other dramas, his significance to the show and to Young Woo's life is just as endearing as it should be. He is what you would call "a walking green flag": patient, warmhearted, caring, calm-natured, but also direct and honest. He is the definition of perfection, but he also is an individual with flaws. As he raised many of our standards in ideal partners, it just shows that you do not necessarily need an extensive story for a character to win the hearts of many.
Kwon Min Woo is portrayed as the obnoxious jerk in this series. His tactful and politically conformed ways of doing things can stir up tension, but I can understand why the writer decided to include this type of character. His character displays realism in a lot of people out there in this world who are striving to do their best and receive credit for their efforts. Whilst his actions in the show are not condemned, the revealing of his family background served as a moment where we could feel the character and his struggles of yearning for freedom as a young attorney. A circumstance that a lot of people can relate to.
Jung Myeong Seok is an idealistic senior attorney that every employee strives to have. He is strict but also offers a gentle and open-minded approach when he is with the attorneys. His remarkable tiny segment towards the ending made me love his character even more.
To conclude, this has been a satisfying watch. It is a law drama that is less heavy on intensity and brings a light-hearted feel, but I must say, it is a comfortable watch.
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Jack of all tropes, King of none
A result of a sloppy job of putting together the good genes (tropes) of recent kdramas. And contrary to reviews and comments that this is not a court room drama, to me, this is a 100% court room drama laced with autism-cuteness.1. This drama replicates the success of earlier dramas such as Move to Heaven, Good Doctor etc by having a lead with autism in a profession. However, the autism aspect is perhaps more to inject elements of autism-cuteness into the drama, as the protagonist’s (WYW) struggles in her life and profession are only superficially dealt with. If WYW needs to count before getting into a new space such as stepping into the lift, a room, why doesn't the drama at least show how she steps into the subway train that she takes to work every day (during rush hours)? I mean there are a number of scenes of her on the train, not? In addition, her mentor and her female colleague warm up to her all too soon.
2. The episodic court cases and court scenes are similar to those in Juvenile Justice, but the court cases are all over the place, varying from criminal cases to civil cases and family cases, and are neither intriguing nor thought provoking. Towards the end, I actually only recalled the two cases that involve autistic clients.
3. The last bit on WYW’s mother is every bit the trope of recent dramas where parents prioritised their career (key public appointment) over his/her child (Juvenile Justice, The Devil Judge, Beyond Evil).
4. The relationships are not fleshed out: The ML appears to be purely included as the love interest for the FL to give the drama a romance arc - the ML is 2D and it is not clear why he falls for the FL, other than the FL's cuteness. In addition, the FL’s relationships with her father, friends and colleagues are also only superficially portrayed. I had expected some tears from watching a drama with autistic lead, but completed the drama without a drop of tears.
5. Attorney Jung is great, and I enjoyed his performance and the many sides of him - as a legal professional, as a mentor to the rookies, singing for the seniors and poking fun of his name for the juniors and the casual live-the-moment vibe in Jeju. But assigning all 3 rookies to him without other colleagues with some experience in his team is only possible in dramaland.
In short, it is only as entertaining as a rom-com, and it lacks originality and the depth and realism related to court cases and autism to be a critical production.
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Everything Wrong with Extraordinary Woo Young Woo...
Ok let me clarify myself! I really love the chemistry of the cast members and all of them honestly exceeded my expectations of them playing their roles even if it was just a supporting role^^ The acting and production quality definitely deserve a lot of praise. What I felt ridiculous is the story content!1. The unnecessary cases used in every episode
I get it that it is a legal genre drama and the need to showcase FL's genius talents but why do I feel even me as an commoner with limited law knowledge sees through the loopholes of the cases and can easily win with the loopholes?? I don't think people working in law industries studied so many hellish years just to be so careless and not detail oriented like what was showed in the drama...
Eg. first case FL handled was her former landlord and they actually debated so long forgetting the fact the doctor's diagnosis may be biased as he clearly say his examination is based on police reports as well... In the lottery case felt the most stupid one for me! I can't believe they used such a case just to deepen the ML and FL's relationship... Like every bloody gambler understands the serious trouble they will face if they ever steps into court for whatever reason and here the client just casually ask for a court settlement as though he's from some alien planet who's not tied to any legal regulations and even after the settlement, I'm shocked they weren't caught for illegal gambling when the court and police knew about it... This just give the wrong impression to young audiences that legal feuds are superficial and not the true reality.
2. Professionalism of senior lawyers that made my eyes rolled~
While the drama tried to show the vastly different working styles of Kim Myung Suk and Jang Seung Jun, I can only say you will never find any of these type of lawyers in huge law firms... Sure there are senior mentor lawyers who are very nice and easy to work with but seriously why do the scriptwriter had to portray Jang Seung Jun's character this way??? I know he is an small role only but I literally felt my IQ being forced to drop whenever it's his scenes!!! I have never seen such a lawyer with such poor professionalism like he just graduated from college or what. Yes it's not possible to win every single case even as a senior lawyer but I can say that lawyers from renowned law firms are super cautious with how they phrase their words in court hearings in case there are loopholes caught by the opposing party and he confidently goes on sprouting all the arrogant words in court... And the fact that he didn't do a thorough check on what's the judge's personality and level of work ethics before inviting him to a meal is laughable, categorizing as though every judge is corrupted... (well I know many law workers are corrupted but it's always better be safe than sorry)
3. Woo Young Woo's overly generalized autism
I must say I loved how she acted out during the start of the show but honestly as time goes by, her way of expressing and actions seem to become more and more like a normal person... I'm not saying it's her problem but as I've worked with colleagues with special needs, the way she could quickly accept and get over the fact that she got kicked out of one case is totally not realistic... In fact people with this condition even if it is just slight autism is unable to process new or sudden changes quickly due to the fact their brain lacks certain functioning which made it difficult to register sudden changes or denial...
So all in all, maybe because I'm seeing how real society work now that I'm in my mid twenties as compared to when I was just a teenager, it is difficult for me to overlook the issues mentioned. Maybe if I'm still in my teens, I will think these matters are not important as it doesn't affect me in anyway and just focus on the romantic parts between the FL and ML.
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With such a peculiar premise, I would have expected a stellar drama, especially considering all the praise that it has received so far from the viewers. However, for me it turned out to be just a "good" drama, definitely worth watching, but not "great".
For one, it's an episodic drama that presents a new case in each episode, and these take most of the screen time. There's some story development which usually happens in the last few minutes, and while the cases are easy enough to understand for a person that has no knowledge about law, nor is aware of the specific terminology, they still seemed as mere fillers, although they were interesting enough to follow. It's just that after 16 episodes I felt completely empty, because none of these cases had any long-lasting effects on me - they were all very forgettable. If anything, it seemed to me that I watched a 1-2h movie that somehow took 16h of my time.
The first few episodes were more impactful for me than the rest, simply because Woo Young Woo was shown as learning some valuable life lessons from the cases that she had, for example improving her understanding of behavioral patters of non-autistic people, and trying to adapt herself to them. However, after 2-3 episodes, this tendency was quickly forgotten and the drama entered a routine of the "one case per episode" that she presided as a lawyer; until the end of the drama there was little improvement from her part or attempts to warm up to / connect with the people around her, which for me was disappointing.
Secondly, aside from the fact that there's very little story development compared to the law cases, I disliked how the romance was portrayed overall. For the first time in a drama, the ML feels like an appendage of FL rather than an independent person, pretty much like any secondary character who exists only to support the FL's scenes (like a best friend for example) and who doesn't seem to have an own life and an own will besides that. The romance itself is nice and the ML is kind and fully devoted to her, yet the whole thing lacked some substance. Plus, his character development was also extremely weak and although I do like Kang Tae Oh as an actor, in this drama his character doesn't have a strong presence on the screen at all - it's not the actor's fault though, but the writers'.
The cases touch very progressive topics especially for Korean culture (LGBT relationships, pre-marital sex with a disabled person, suicide attempts due to social pressure etc.), but the writers seemed that they couldn't really decide what they actually wanted to convey. It's like they were not brave enough to state their opinion out loud, so most of the trials ended up with neither a black nor a white conclusion, but more like a grey one - perhaps letting the viewer decide what's right and wrong.
Lastly, while the drama is overall overrated and it's less great that it appears to be, Park Eun Bin's acting on the other hand was excellent. The way she managed to portray an autistic person down to little details like specific gestures, the inability to make eye contact, social anxiety etc. was remarkable and deserves a lot of praise. Also notable was the cheerful, explosive and poignant portrayal of Dong Geurami by Joo Hyun Young.
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This review may contain spoilers
Things I disliked:The ending, it felt so rushed and convenient. Characters acted out of character and things were waaaay too “clean”.
I didn’t appreciate the “cancer storyline” regarding Jung so the “good mentor” disappeared and they’d put one whose personality and values made possible the whole “we’re using this, we’re using that” mess regarding the hacker’s statement.
I also didn’t buy kwo character. Like, at first I thought he’d be the typical coworker that is wary and a jerk but he ends up recognizing and even warms up to the mc. But with him the drama went too far, he did really shitty stuff and even the writers knew this, they made angel even say it out loud, as if by acknowledging this it’d erase that… they were really lazy in his redemption. It felt like too little too late and super forced, which ruined his character. Like the short conversation of him being the person that brings money home would just… make everything ok. And actually, before they made him way too two-faced, I shipped him with , but as the show progressed and his character did worse and worse things, I said to myself “nah, I don’t want her to end up to a selfish jerk like him”.
JunHo, eeehhh. I liked his relationship with Woo Young and the actor did an amazing work, but I wish the writers gave him more material regarding his own character backstory or interests. Like he felt a lot like Woo Young’s cheerleader rather than his own character.
I also got tired that apparently the only person that had good ideas and the cases were solved by was Woo Young. I understand the writers wanting to show that she is as capable or more than others without “autism” to do a proper work, but it did feel like the rest of the characters just… were there as background. I think they could’ve just let some of the cases be won by the other attorneys.
The two CEOs of the law firms seemed a little cartoonish to me. They had a few moments that could’ve given depth to them but were erased by “ahaha I’m so evil ad power hungry” scenes.
Regarding Woo Young Woo, I liked her character. I can’t talk myself about how the representation of autism is, since I’m not autistic myself and I don’t know a lot of people who are. But I found her character interesting and she made me smile in her relationships with others, like when she tried to find the chef of the meat noodles or said to that she was like a warm sun angel. I liked that she had boundaries but tried to navigate them regarding what she wanted or needed as she grew. I also think that this drama is good to start conversations of autism or pick people’s interest on it, for those that aren’t as knowledgeable (like myself) about it.
Her dad was so interesting, the love and frustration and him feeling powerless. And the inner fight between wanting to still protect his daughter and opening opportunities for her, but acknowledging she is her own person and becoming an adult and understanding that he has to make decitions with her or respect hers instead of the instinct of making them by himself thinking he is protecting her.
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Beautiful to begin but boring at the end.
Thumbs up for me:1) Story was good till the 12th episode. Each case was well thought out. WYW & KMS characters were well-written. Supporting characters CSY and DG were sweet which was greatly balanced out with the character KMW.
2) Park Eun Bin and Kang Ki Young's acting was realistic. They both played their part well and their mentor-mentee relationship was heartwarming. Special mention to Joo Jong Hyuk who played the negative role well but with short screen time cannot say his acting was stupendous.
3) Direction was pleasant, especially the silhouette proposal. Dialogues were engaging.
Thumbs down for me:
1) Story wise LJH's character was bland to be the main character. The usual mom trope just was disappointing. The quality of the story really dipped from the 13th episode.
2) The music was not pleasing to me. It is one of the main things which make me fall in love with drama. It wasn't bad but it was not impressive also.
P.S: I was going to give it 8 but cut 0.5 because how they started and how they ended disappointed me since I really like this drama.
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Watch this for Woo Young Woo albeit a weak storyline & no character growth for others
This is a drama about Woo Young Woo (Park Eun Bin), a lady with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She worked as an attorney in a law firm run by her father’s university junior and got the job through this private connection. And yes, she was extraordinary, despite being autistic, she proved herself to be capable and won cases time and again in the law firm. She had difficulty communicating with others, but had an extraordinary memory. She remembered laws in great details and her exceptional memory was put to great use when she had to plough through numerous documents while defending her cases.I would not say that I understand autism, so I would talk about Woo Young Woo simply based on my feelings watching her.
She was really adorable. Her hairstyle, the way she walked, the way she spoke, the things she spoke about, her obsession with whales and kimbap, even her poor ability to understand human emotions well, etc., were all adorable.
I give kudos to the actress Park Eun Bin, I have never seen her dramas before, neither did I know who she was before this, but she convinced me totally with her exceptional acting.
Due to Woo Young Woo’s poor ability to understand human emotions well, there were comical times, such as when she was trying to find out her love interest, Lee Jun Ho (Kang Tae Oh)’s feelings for her and during the times when they went on dates. For example, her male friend told her that if it were him, he would treat the other party especially nice like pulling out the chair for her, carrying things for her, opening the car door for her or allowing the other party to walk the inside of a pavement when they walked together beside a road, all these were said from her friend’s point of view as a male, but she took the advice seriously and did exactly all that LOL It was simply hilarious seeing her doing them on top of Jun Ho’s awkward and bemused reactions, like oh, errrrrr, you are opening the car door for me??? Or why are you pulling the chair out for me out of a sudden?? LOL
I especially liked Woo Young Woo’s superior. He was a pleasant yet jovial character and also enjoyed seeing the camaraderie between Woo Young Woo and her best friend, Dong Geurami. As for Woo Young Woo’s love interest, Lee Jun Ho, he existed simply as a supportive love interest for Woo Young Woo, it seemed that the scriptwriter did not want to develop or give him a complicated character.
Cases in the drama were interesting enough, but not to the extent that I wanted more of them. I think many reflected the social issues faced by the Korean society, such as gender issues in Korean companies and Korean children as young as seven years old practically had no life except studying, etc. They finished a case in one/two episodes and some people did not like this style, but I liked it because I watched this while it was being aired and it was aired only twice a week. So episodic for me meant that there was no need to recall what happened the week before when I watched a new week’s episodes.
All in all, I enjoyed this drama simply because of Woo Young Woo. The story was weak and there was almost no character development in the other characters and even if they had, they existed for the growth of Woo Young Woo, but I enjoyed watching her very much and did not mind the drama to revolve around her, given that the drama is titled ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’. Nevertheless, I did find that 16 episodes was enough, I did not crave to see her longer than that, I guess that you cannot go too long with a weak storyline and focus on one character and her growth, so it was good that there would be a two-year hiatus to season two, which I would still watch.
Lastly, this is unrelated to Woo Young Woo, but just to comment on my favourite case, or rather favourite defendant in the drama. It is the defendant in episode 9, the so-called commander-in-chief of the ‘Children’s Liberation Army’. I admire his courage to do against what the Korean society thinks should be the norm, I do not think what he did or think was wrong, the only wrong was perhaps he should have seek the parents’ consent before bringing the children out, but then again, even if he had seek their consent, would academic results-conscious Korean parents allow their precious children to skip after-school extra classes to go to the mountains to play freely for a day?
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Unhand Me!!
I feel like the overwhelming amounts of praise this drama’s getting distorts many of the minority(me included) expectations that only ends up disappointing. May i say this series is indeed a masterful creative piece, that isn’t quite for everyone? Yes that can go for any show but, to put me as an example, i came into this series quite hyped in having my expectations met. I’m extremely nitpicky but I’m also very simple, the likes of an unnecessary facial expression can set me off, though i can accept and enjoy any premise,trope,casting, age gap(legal ofc),etc. as long as it’s executed well and subtle when it needs to be. This drama unfortunately severely lacks the subtlety.Extraordinary Attorney Woo showcases its pros and cons almost as if the writer/s handed you a graph that updates the further you’re in. Beautifully handled representation, cinematography, mesmerizing chemistry amongst the cast,and pleasing soundtrack at times made me ignore my gripes as i shivered over the play button like the filthy drama addict i am convincing myself “one more should be enough”.
There’s only so far i can be dragged along a series I’m not enjoying 1/4 of, i truly envy those that can finish their food no matter the taste it leaves, as i lack the tolerance. I’ll hand off my gripes with this series in a listed manner i felt the series handed them to me.
~Caricatures,aloot, literally one after another. This may be to your liking, if it isn’t, condolences.
~”Aww, look who wants to read between the lines all on their own, big boy! Here, give us your hand and i promise we’ll let go on the next one.” I would reach true insanity if i had to sit through one more cringey slowmo scene to “help” viewers read the room(no slander on the rotating doors, hell I’m still going one,two,three). And for crying out loud Choi Su Yeon, stop...fucking...blushing! I shouldn’t have to constantly witness grown adults peeping at one another and helplessly cheesing on a day to day basis with coworkers. We get it, she likes him. We get it, he likes another. Subtlety people, a hint of mature professionalism if you will.
~Hey there ;), ever watched Innocent Witness? Well if the series hasn’t persuaded you into adding to your list yet, allow me. This series executes many aspects in the same style as the writer’s previous work, perhaps too similar. The episodic nature isn’t necessarily my cup of tea, but again can be tolerated and even enjoyed,if executed well, feels as if the writer didn’t quite understand the depth a series should have in comparison to a film. The predictability of when and how the cases conclude(splash,brainstorm)and excessive amounts of caricatures lost the final bit of interest i was clanging on to.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a vibrant, detailed , comical, stunning drama full of life and effort that dare i say should at least be given a shot no matter what you’re into, as it surprised me in many ways that I can’t consider the 10+ hrs given as a waste of my time despite dropping. Does the overwhelming amounts of praise delude some into unrealistic expectations? Well, I’m proof of that minority. But I’d rather that be the case than the sheer amounts of effort put into this series go to waste by slipping under the radar with many other criminally underrated titles.
Think I’ll go cross a street or two..huh? O-no reason, just cause :\
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There's a Whale, There's a Eureka Moment ?
Each episode tells different interesting cases while we are witnessing the character development of Attorney Woo and her ordinary daily life. Ordinary? Yes. She has an autism spectrum but she is not that differ with most of us. She is able to go to work, hanging out with closed ones, eating her favourite food, arguing with family member, and even beefing with her work mate. The way she sees the world, that what makes her extraordinary. I love it how the script writer doesn't always give Attorney woo a win in the court. Yes, she's a genius and she already suffers a lot but she still needs a lot more experiences in life to shape her overall being into more extraordinary person.Was this review helpful to you?
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Versatility
I have watched so Many kdrama's and have found so many fault in it. But this drama has none. There is nothing to criticize.Hat's off to the script writer, director, producer, actors.
Park eun bin (woo young woo) her acting is so on point. she has done excellent job. This drama has been made without making fun of any autistic person and also the chemistry, the spark, the pure love between kang Tae oh (Lee Jun ho) and young woo is just so pure and real.
The kissing seen in episode 10 is indescribable. I had butterflies. The way kang Tae oh (lee jun ho) parted his lips to kiss her showes how versatile he is. O my god I love it so much.
let's not forget Joo Jong hyuk ( Kwon min woo) I know he is shown as a bad person. But if you hate him in the series that shows how good he is. The more you hate him the more you can tell he is doing his role well.
At first I was thinking what is all the hype about even after 10 episodes were released I didn't watch the drama because I was like I don't want to wait for a week for each episode so I'll watch it after all the episodes are out but the reviews, ratings, hype, reels were all 10/10 it forced me to watch this drama.
The only objection I have with this drama is that it airs every week. Waiting for the episodes is hard. The anticipation is killing me.
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