Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)

Woo to the Young to the Woo

“She didn’t know how to be semi-interested in something. She was either indifferent… or obsessed.”: extracted from “The Kiss Quotient” (2018) by Helen Hoang, the book explores the life of an autistic lady Stella who hires an escort so as to learn social intimacy. The drama, on the other hand, lets an autistic young girl, Young Woo go out and spread her wings, in the process of which, she unexplainably finds herself in intimacy. Whatsoever, the drama revolves around her and focuses how she uses her abilities, disguised as disabilities, to solve and sort out issues, that seem difficult to the so-called normal beings surrounded to her.

Combinedly produced by AStory, KT Studio Genie and Nangman Crew, ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo (이상한 변호사 우영우)” is very much a legal genre drama with little amount of romance, mystery and politics, in limited proportions. Written by Moon Ji Won and directed by Yoo In Shik, the drama was originally broadcasted on ENA and internationally distributed by Netflix.

The story follows the extraordinary 27yo autistic girl, Woo Young Woo (Park Eun Bin), who has graduated from SNU with top marks and becomes an attorney at one of the top law firms of the country, Hanbada. Despite her limited abilities to communicate with others, she quickly wins over her colleagues with her impressive memory and brilliant reasoning skills while solving cases and bringing forward the justness each time. Keeping her at the center and the team she is a part of, the drama introduces new cases every episode and the way they are dealt with, including their consequences.

Lee Jun Ho (Kang Tae Ho) is a member of the litigation team at Hanbada and the closest to Young Woo, while Jung Myung Seok (Kang Ki Young) is a senior attorney and Young Woo’s mentor. Choi Soo Yeon (Ha Yoon Kyung) and Kwon Mi Woo (Joo Jong Hyuk) are also rookie attorneys in the same team as Young Woo. Other regular actors in supporting cast, both experienced and rookie, are Jeon Bae Soo, Baek Ji Won, Jin Jyung, Joo Hyun Young and Im Sung Jae. For each case, there have been many familiar faces, in fact and I’m sure y’all will be delighted.

Plot development is episodic in nature, almost approximately standalone episodes, with few minor and continuous plotlines developing in the background which have their own climax. The introductory episode throws light upon Young Woo’s childhood and a leap showing her current life in late 20s. And in that episode, itself, we get to see a case and the courtroom battle that is solved by Young Woo’s wittiness. Since the plot is not a steady one, with each case in each episode, we witness her growth as a person and as an attorney plus the shades of different people surrounding her. A mystery to her past, her reception at the workplace as well as by her colleagues, her relationship with her father and friend and more importantly her love interest: all these as a part of the story, however, are put behind how she deals with each case along with her team. The peak of her story towards the ending of the drama was interesting though a bit painful, nevertheless, was very well wrapped up.

Upon reading the synopsis when the drama came out, I was immediately reminded of the 2019 Korean movie “Innocent Witness”; autism, courthouse, laws and justice, same elements though a different plot and an unusual storyline. I was in fact gladdened to discover that the drama is created by the same writer as the movie, Moon Ji Won jakka-nim, and it obviously made me expect something extraordinary out of it. And leaving no doubt, it lived upto the expectations, not just mine but of many hearts. The comedy incorporated was basic yet impactful.

People with autism spectrum are as special as others and can take the things they do and learn the best they can. In the world where we constantly seek love and validation, autistic people are those who demand a little more than us and when empathy slides through heart, it’s a feeling of trueness. I love how the writer sketched and nourished the character of Young Woo and let us see the world through her glasses of innocence.

Yoo In Shik PD is an ace and he didn’t fail at this either. With multiple qualitative hits, it was unlikely to become another average drama. Directing such a drama with multiple cases, introducing new stories each episode isn’t really easy and requires good understanding of the individual plot essences. The modern urban setup with light hue and solid yet undemanding palettes were sumptuously pleasing. The cinematography did wonders at place, especially the sunset-watching scene in the village, the scenery of Seokdong including the huge tree premise, etc. were beautifully done.

There are 6 OSTs in total and all likable
# “Brave” by Kim Jong Wan is a heart-touching warm song from the very moment it starts, till its ending, that is dedicated to Young Woo’s innocence and journey of self-discovery.
# “Beyond My Dreams” by Sunwoojunga is a prosperous ballad with beautiful lyrics that reflects one’s hearty words of love and emotional intimacy.
# “Better Than Birthday” by O3ohn is a soft electric track about confessions.
# “Tuning In To You” by Wonstein is a R&B jolly track that expresses mutual feelings of fondness.
# "Inevitable" by Bae Suzy is a softcore ballad with the feels of an old Kdrama OST that portrays the urge of letting out your feelings.
# “The Blue Night of Jeju Island” sung by uri Young Woo (Park Eun Bin) is the cover of the original by Choi Sung Won (1988) and popularized by Sung Si Kyung (2004) which truly one of the most recalled epitomes that defines the beauty of the place.

The best thing about Extraordinary Attorney Young Woo as a legal drama is that it introduced very very very untypical topics to the courtrooms, which are rarely portrayed in Kdramas, provided Kdrama legal shows only have handful types of cases debated over that ultimately lead to a politico-legal fight at the end. From false homicide to defamation to property disputes, from patent battle to North Korean defector issues to public interest cases involving regional land disputes and from sum settlements to discriminatory terminations to heritage tax issue, etc.; the writer has introduced a very wide range of cases that felt fresh and were interestingly alimented throughout.

Three reasons why the drama is different and better from other recent legal Kdramas are:
No dragged politico-legal fight between bigshots
Focusing more on laws and legalities than emotions and witnesses.
Portraying variable outcomes of each case, be it favorable or unfavorable.

The advantages and disadvantages of each result has been essentially useful messages for each episode. At times we win and adapt but learning upon defeat is necessary. Sometimes, its actually impossible to prove facts which lead to unfair results and you still fail to help it. Even in favorable conditions it matters how much confident you’re about the next time and spirited you have been in the process. Alterative ideas could surely be the way out of something when your plans go wrong but depends upon how wisely you use them. These are some of the points that I could infer from the outcomes of cases at the end of each episode.

The chemistry between Eun Bin & Jun Ho despite the little amount of romance was amazing to begin with; their first meeting at the rotating entry door and the follow-up from that point in each episode were apparent baby steps in the budding relationship of love and care; the rhythmic “dun-chak-chak” where I did melt. I understand why many people didn’t understand where it was going and were upset and complained but that is the best that could be done, provided Young is an autistic person with challenged social skills. They were not supposed to be lovey-dovey all the time even when they were in love.

Young Woo’s short responses as in “unn”, “umm”, “enn”, etc. were worth living for. They were funny and jolly at the same time. Her behavior as an autistic person were attempted to be made accurate as much as possible, from her talking habits to her reactions to certain actions, from her obsession with kimbap to her trying to stick to rules, etc. One basic point, I would have liked explanations upon is, Why exactly Young Woo was obsessed with whales or how it kicked off.

One gratifying thing was whales jumping outta water whenever some idea popped up in her mind in response to stimuli contributed by happenings and also her hair flying. Young Woo’s appearance too was very cute, with short hair of a homespun cut plus her plain skirts that went well with the huge side-bags. I loved the writernim’s attempts to make/let Young Woo learn, be it her personal or professional life and making sure that she adapts to things which she thought were difficult for her. The practicality was definitely maintained.

Attorney Jung Myung Suk’s character is one of the most likable and contradictory statements would be nullified. I thought strict, more of an evil man, who’d be an obstacle to Young Woo’s endeavors, but to my surprise, he turned out to be a fine ahjussi I’d die for. The way and the rate to which he went on to embrace Young Woo, upon realizing her abilities, was beautiful. Man, himself was so sorted and open-minded and patient, he barely was at wrong. The shades to him in the 2nd half were may be not important but the writer must have necessitated in order to portray the uncertainties in one’s life. Kang Ki Young has done so well, I swear.

I believe “empathy, not sympathy” was the key tool that drove the essence of the drama.

Like many audiences, I too feel there is no need for another season, but now that its been announced, I also feel like many others, that I would absolutely love one. The production surely is trying to piggyback on the popularity of this season but considering the type of split plotline the drama has used, I see no reason to object. It will be another interesting and fresh watch as long as the writer doesn’t bring forward typical elements.

Final Remarks… Honestly speaking, I wasn’t very excited about the drama at first despite my inclination for the 3 main cast, I thought it’d be another legal drama bearing political battle. But the buzz it created definitely helped me pick up some interest and starting the drama then made me realize how wonderful this thing is. Despite the unique plot element placed, i. e. Young Woo as an autistic attorney, I loved how simple yet influential the entire show was with fresh factors and accessories. The drama is definitely a success and I am so happy to announce that it has totally lived upto the hype. Will be eagerly waiting for 2024.

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Extraordinary Story & Characters - Finished Ordinarily

One of the most anticipated and talked about drama of mid-2022 which started on a high - with heartwarming story and characters, while showing the harsh reality of society but ended a bit-weakly. Overall, an enjoyable ride and it will definitely remain an iconic drama and in must-watch lists for time to come. Sharing my short & detailed reviews below:

✧❅✦ QUICK REVIEW ✦❅✧

Why You Should Watch It:
♥ Refreshing concept - great portrayal of person suffering from ASD
♥ Superb Acting by ALL characters
♥ Cute main-lead love story - will induce giddiness, make you curl your toes and smile ear-to-ear!
♥ Loveable and Hate-worthy Side Characters (the latter, cause we need a reminder that all in not rosy even in dramas)
♥ Good Reflection of society's good, bad and the in-between
♥ Beautiful, Addicting Soundtrack
♥ Funny and comedic relief to break-through the seriousness in storyline

What Might Bother You:
✘ No hard-core, well explained baddie/villain
✘ Some side-characters have weak character development
✘ Law cases are not as gritty and thrilling
✘ Ending is rushed (can be managed, but might leave some frustrated)

Summary:
This drama is for you if you are looking for a cute romance story, set in the backdrop of attorneys navigating their way in the society - shown through the eyes of a genius woman suffering from ASD. You get preview of her friendships and family, initial inhibition of people on accepting people with ASD, how they try to understand and sympathize, while others choose not to - and both sides are valid and real.

Watch it for - Woo Young Woo's acting, Jeon-Ho's charms, cute moments, some brilliantly executed cases, comedy from our loveable side characters and portrayal of those who suffer from ASD - so that we can learn and be kind in our real life!

........................................ || not spoiler, but some hints are there at storyline - read with caution || ..............................................

✧❅✦ DETAILED REVIEW ✦❅✧

❤ Lesson From This Drama: Celebrate the Extra-Ordinary in all of us! ❤

--------------------------------------------------------- ✧✦ What Works ✦✧ ----------------------------------------------------------

✦ The Concept:
Refreshing story of how a genius young woman suffering from Autism deals with her work, friends, work and other social interaction. We get to see from her lenses - the good, bad and the in-between we deal with in society. Somethings that might just seem natural to us in our every-day life, might be a task for people suffering from ASD. While the cases and characters propel how our main lead actress navigates through it all, my takeaway from it is that we need to more observant, understanding, sympathetic to people and our surroundings, cause not everyone is same, we are all different and that is okay and something to be celebrate!

✦ The Acting:
While our main lead actress is phenomenon and it is what draws audience to start watching this drama, stay and fall in love with her - it is also the other characters around her. How they in their respective roles are either supportive, begin to understand her, or are completely against her. Which is a good and solid representation in real life - some will hate thee, some will love thee. Right from characters shown in the positive or negative role - I believe if a character makes you love them or hate them, that is a job and portrayal well done. So kudos to the entire star cast, minus the glitch in certain character development, with the limelight on this show, everyone stayed true to their acting!

✦ The Cases (some of them - at the start)
This is not a courtroom drama, but more of how it is approached by a person suffering from ASD. What maybe missed by the ordinary attorneys is captured beautifully by our Extraordinary Attorney Woo. The cases in the first half are somewhat thought-provoking, nothing that that will give you sleepless nights or keep you guessing till the end, but more on the lines of breaking it to the audience that society evils persist and sometimes our perception creates or manifests evil or wrong. But seen from the lens of the innocent (like Attorney Woo) you can see past the pre-conceived notions/prejudice and see a person or situation for what it really is and make a judgement or form opinions accordingly.

This was a double-edged sword - some cases worked while some did not. But in all cased - we see our lead making some good/bad and confusing decisions in her own battle to love the law and abide by it.

-------------------------------------------------- ✧✦ What Could Be Better ✦✧ ---------------------------------------------------

✦ The love-story (or stories)
Now in a great romance - you have a build-up, the cute moments, a tragedy or hurdle that tests them and then happily-ever-after, right?

I personally fawned, curled my toes in the romantic scenes, cause it was cute, mushy and our lead pair were devastatingly good looking and convincing. But I was saddened by how the writers wrote their hurdles and ending phrase. The relationship graph went super high only to nose-dive in the end. Though some would like it and appreciate how it was tied up, but I would have preferred more explanation or some romantic/dramatic declaration of love - because we are focusing on a character who is socially meek, so more words were needed to explain those emotions.

Another weak area - the love stories of the side-characters was just done for namesake, only cause they are on screen so let's show a backstory or put 1+1 characters just cause side characters also need some love - did not work for me, sadly. Had they omitted the love angle and shown it more as a supportive friendship or hinted at a camaraderie, would make more sense.

✦ The Negative Characters' Development
Everyone loves a good villain - you may love, admire or hate them but you just cannot ignore them.
In Woo Young Woo's life too, we see such characters pop-in but with not much preamble as to why the dislike our main lead, what is their backstory and main motive to cause disruption. It is all too mellow and not sharp, vengeful or even justified. They are just there - and you would expect that the next episode would drop some insight, but are just left waiting. Talent, in this case, got wasted as well as the story arch.

--------------------------------------------------------- ✧✦ Summary ✦✧ --------------------------------------------------------

It definitely is a tale that is worth-a-watch only for the portrayal of ASD, some great acting and beautiful soundtrack.
But like me, many could be saddened at how it all tied up in the end. Because the drama was so highly anticipated and the first half really sets the bar high, to have such a mellow ending was not expected.

Usually I give a drama a rating of 10, deducting 0.5 or 1 as story progresses and characters develop. Therefore, I gave this drama a 9 at the start only to bring it down to 8 now, which can possibly share some perspective to whoever is reading this.

It is a cinematic treat - the acting, scenes and music make it easy on the eyes and ears and the story is a heartwarming tale that is worth taking a note of, at least once.

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Feels like this drama is going to be universally cherished, an instant 10!

I have rarely rated k-dramas as 10 because those kinds are truly top-tier and close to my heart. This one feels like one of them. The character is a lawyer and on the autism spectrum which the drama takes utmost care in addressing. As a psychology student myself, I can tell that its neurodiverse representation is done right in many ways, exploring many facets of ableism. (Also, it's got amazing LGBTQIAP+ rep!)

The drama portrays how her co-workers are more or less 'accepting' of her but you may observe some forms of microaggressions towards the character even from their end. She receives pity and judgement in plenitude. Hence, it would be nice to see this show explore how people around her take efforts to address and overcome their prejudices in future episodes. The series even touches upon the capitalization of women's bodies in episode 2, so look forward to that because it highlights a great narrative on intellectual and body autonomy.

Love how each episode is dedicated to a new case. This format is crucial for addressing a wide range of social aspects and the show sets out to do exactly that. It leaves you to think about a lot of its themes, about the nuances and perspectives one can use to interpret certain scenes which are all equally valid.

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The Beauty Of ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’…

“My name is Woo Young-woo, as in flower and luck. It means a lucky charm as pretty as flowers. But perhaps Young-woo as in clever and foolish would’ve been a better fit. Woo Young-woo, who remembers every single book she’s read since birth but can’t even go through a revolving door. Clever and foolish Woo Young-woo.” - Woo Young Woo ( Park Eun Bin).

Legal romance drama ‘ Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ attempted to make some big steps in the world of procedural dramas with a positive representation of autism and some complicated legal cases. However while the sixteen-episode series certainly soared far and high with its subject, plot and acting performances, it certainly had a few issues along the way also.

Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ is mainly focused upon upcoming law attorney Woo Young-woo (Park Eun-bin- ‘ Operation Proposal’, ‘ Do You Like Brahms?’ and ‘ The King’s Affection’) at Hanbada Law Firm. An intelligent and top-achieving law graduate from Seoul National University, Young Woo finds it hard to navigate her way through social and emotional situations due to being on the autism spectrum. Struggling with earning respect from those in the law profession as well as clients, Young Woo’s journey to make it to the top is far from easy or straightforward. However, with the surprising support and camaraderie of fellow coworker and young lawyer Lee Joon Ho ( Kang Tae-oh- ‘ My First First Love’, ‘ Doom At Your Service’ and ‘ Run On), Young-Woo is determined to continue persevering and to overcome social prejudices.

Probably best known for ‘ Innocent Witness’, screenwriter Moon Ji Won is likely not a familiar name for many K-drama watchers. Nevertheless, there is a lot to talk about when it comes to Ji Won’s writing decisions as well as subject matters. At heart, ‘ Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ is a fairly lighthearted watch. Of course, this isn’t to say the series isn’t afraid to delve into some deeper issues. (Screenwriter Ji Won was fairly open about addressing topics such as stigmatisation, assault and crime to name just a few.) However , it is important to acknowledge that ‘ Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ doesn’t expect or require viewers to have in-depth knowledge about everything addressed. Instead, ‘ Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ is a procedural drama with a big heart and attempted to remain fairly accessible to a wide audience .

It is infectiously feel good ( if not a little tiresomely at times),comical as well as surprisingly touching with its open address of real-life issues.Nevertheless, the show does admittedly run into trouble in a few moments with accurate depiction and has divided some viewers over its “factual” representation. ( Especially with regards to the portrayal of autism throughout the course of the series.)

Delving into ‘ Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ would not be complete without talking about the title namesake and main female lead, Woo Young-Woo. Played brilliantly by actress Park Eun Bin, Woo Young-Woo is a character who could’ve easily gone of one of two ways. Young-Woo is shown to be a quirky individual. She has a complete obsession and fascination with aquatic mammals ( especially whales) and has a meticulous routine with the order of things in her bedroom, as well as partaking in eating her father Woo Gwang-ho (Jeon Bae-su)’s carefully prepared kimbap on a fairly daily basis. However as the plot premise would suggest with Young Woo’s new profession, one of the female lead’s major growth points comes through having to acknowledge that real-life can rarely be so structured.

The motif of whales in the opening and ending credits, their symbolism on objects as well as passing dialogue at times by Young-Woo can often be said to wonderfully coincide with Young Woo’s character growth and journey. ( Whales are symbols of extraordinariness, strength as well as change; traits that perfectly epitomised Young-Woo’s personal journey .)

Additionally, there were moments in ‘ Extraordinary Young Woo’ which could feel a little frustrating with little frustrating to see Young Woo having taken one step forwards and one step back at times. Although in retrospect, it did help to add a touch of realism to Young Woo’s personal struggles. ( One of the most heart-wrenching moments of the series occurred when Ji-Woo openly spoke out about social stigmas held against those with autism; “ Even now, hundreds of people click the like button on a comment that says, ‘It is a national loss if a medical student dies, and an autistic person lives.’ That is the weight of this disability that we bear.” ) As mentioned previously, her autism is admittedly a topic of debate for a lot of viewers with regards to its accuracy but regardless of opinion, it seemed as though Moon Ji Won’s depiction of an autistic and successful female lead was well-intentioned.

Then of course there’s the discussion surrounding her surprising ally and coworker Lee Joon Ho, played fairly consistently by actor Kang Tae Oh. Lee Joon Ho is what many viewers would define as the “ nice guy” archetype; sweet and a good person to have in the female lead’s corner as well as a potential love interest for the writing of the show but a little staid at times also.Of course, this is certainly not a bad writing decision per say. He was fairly supportive, kindhearted, had his own struggles at times as well as remaining non-judgemental when it came to first meeting Young Woo and learning of her autism, instead valuing personhood rather than her disability. ( “I want to be on the same side as you, Attorney Woo. I want an attorney like you to be on my side.”)

However considering Joon Ho’s relevance in the storyline as well as the focus on empathy throughout the series , it felt odd that the narrative didn’t delve slightly deeper into some of these writing traits. Aside from that, his potential romantic relationship with Young Woo was admittedly a subject of debate for a lot of viewers. Although some saw this as a positive and healthy relationship as well as a good message put across for autistic characters to have love interests, others have noted that the potential relationship seemed a little enforced and took away somewhat from the initial camaraderie between the main leads.

In addition to the main leads, ‘ Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ boasts an eclectic group of side characters also. Woo Gwang-ho, played by Jeon Bae-su, was a surprisingly heartwarming side character as Young Woo’s single father, senior attorney at Hanbada, Jung Myung-seok ( Kang Ki Young) was Young Woo’s stern boss and mentor, Choi Su-yeon ( Ha Yoon-kyung), played the role as the female lead’s coworker and her former classmate at law school, Han Seon-young ( Baek Ji Won) was the CEO of Hanbada law firm and her father’s old friend from university, Kwon Min-soo ( Joo Jong-hyuk), Young Woo’s peer at work, and Dong Geu-ra-mi ( Joo Hyun-young), Woo Young’s close friend and associate.

The narrative of the series unsurprisingly takes an episodic format; a situation or dilemma case is presented to the characters and the audience, Young Woo’s approach or reaction to a situation is often seen as unconventional or comes under scrutiny by those around her, Young Woo is forced to work hard to prove her approach is okay, and then she is forced to confront or resolve the issue or dilemma of the episode, often resulting in a bittersweet outcome or a surprising turn of events.

Perhaps the one problem with the narrative structure came through feeling a little predictable and repetitive at times. Early episodes rarely fell into this trap but later episodes did noticeably begin to heavily rely on niche tropes which while having the possibility to be intriguing in the frame of ‘ Extraordinary Attorney Woo’, were often slightly niche. ( Cliches such as the “ traumatic backstory”, an “ envious antagonist” and the “ enemies to lovers” being noticeable in particular.)

Stylistically under the directing reigns of Yoo In Shik, ‘ Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ was a fairly slick and glossy production. The palette scheme was multifaceted; ranging and varying from scene to scene and heavily dependent on changing mood, tone and atmosphere. Although this was a fairly standard approach, it certainly did often help to animate scenes to life for viewers. (Standout examples include the ever-changing neutrals of the law firm feeling warm or harsh, the friendly and comforting tones of Young Woo’s family home and the use of rain, sunshine or nighttime background to reflect the feelings and emotions of the characters.)

The comprised OST for ‘ Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ was typically upbeat and lighthearted. A few of these tracks often bordered on being overly chirpy while others were bittersweet and serenading. Admittedly there were a few songs throughout the sounds track which did feel a little indistinguishable from one another but this was also dependent on personal taste. However, there were some songs such as Beyond My Dreams" (상상) by Sunwoojunga and “Tuning In To You" (기울이면) by Wonstein which did stand out.

‘ My Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ is a procedural series filled to the brim with heartfelt moments and empathy. Naturally the series did have its ups and downs ( especially in the latter part of the drama), but the main cast were fairly consistent throughout with their onscreen acting . (Especially actress Park Eun Bin). Overall, a fairly good watch though a little rough around the edges.

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Riddled With Stereotypes & Misrepresentations

Before I delve into this super long diatribe about Extraordinary Attorney Woo, it’s important to note that I myself am not autistic. Also, I normally hesitate to watch media portrayals depicting the autistic experience because most of my family members are autistic. While I don't have an insider perspective as an autistic individual, I am tangentially familiar enough that the inaccuracies either exhaust me with how potentially damaging they are or I just cannot relate to the characters and the experiences they portray.

TV has so much power in shaping worldviews and perspectives. It's easy to brush a drama off and say it's just a fantasy, but television is instrumental for visualizing/introducing things that are unfamiliar to us—there's a ton of potential power and responsibility residing within that fact. You could read about a topic or examine a picture, but a video (i.e. movies/tv) will always be the most immersive way to be introduced to unfamiliar concepts you haven't experienced or personally witnessed. Just throwing out a small example: it is now on my bucket-list to visit Slovenia. Why? ...Dear My Friends (one of my all-time favorite dramas) was partially filmed there and it looked absolutely stunning. I live nearly 6,000 miles (about 9,500 km) away from Slovenia and no one in my social circle has ever mentioned wanting to go—watching a drama changed that for me.

The same concept of visualization/understanding can be applied to communities of people. Watching a lot of kdramas has made me more aware of certain aspects of Korean culture than the average person in my country—from birthday customs to drinking etiquette, to even recognizing the language being spoken around me. I'm more aware and my worldview has expanded because I regularly watch dramas. A broader example of introductions to a community (or shifts in perspective) is the greater influx in the past couple decades of media portrayals depicting LGBTQ+ people. It's easier to empathize and understand a community's experiences when you can either relate to or visualize their life—TV has the power to reel you in with all of your emotions and world-build something completely different from what you experience in your everyday life.

This is why misrepresentations in media depictions of a community can potentially be harmful, or at the very least, exhausting/not fun to watch for people belonging to or people familiar with that community. If we don't have ongoing experiences with that community in our real life, there's a lot of flexibility in what we might think is accurate/realistic—whereas if we're extremely familiar with or if we belong to that community, each misrepresentation/inaccuracy is like a blaring horn. Depending on the severity of the misrepresentation, sometimes it's possible to ignore those horn blasts and enjoy all the other aspects of the drama. I unfortunately cannot do that with Extraordinary Attorney Woo—it was too damn exhausting to sit happily through.

Media portrayals always seem to limit the autistic experience to either oscillating between a portrayal of nonverbal/uncommunicative isolation, or they're an amazing genius-like savant that is used as a problem-solving tool. These two archetypes of the autistic experience are not reflective of the community at large. My entire family speaks and expresses their thoughts; they're also nowhere close to qualifying as savant geniuses. I understand why these minority autistic experiences are used in TV shows—it can propel plot (i.e. be a unique problem-solving tool) and/or tug on the emotions of viewers (a parent failing to get their child to speak to them). It's just exhausting when NONE of the portrayals reflect reality back at you, and then out in the real world people are surprised if an autistic individual speaks or lives independently, can't quickly calculate math, and/or doesn't memorize entire books in their free time. Even worse, they might try to deny the autistic individual disability services/accommodations or question the legitimacy of their diagnosis because their disability doesn't match common media portrayals of autistic life.

Woo Young Woo is an amalgamation of every autistic stereotype, but the actress (and likely the directing team behind her) chose to cutesify her voice, mannerisms, and her colleagues’ and clients' reactions to her autistic traits—she was infantilized to the max and always had an 'innocent' outward expression attached to the character. This is an inaccurate and harmful misrepresentation of autism, and my suspicion is it was done for a 'heartwarming' effect and to sanitize the autistic experience (without rocking the boat too much). There was no growth in WYW learning her limitations and implementing strategies/coping mechanisms (aside from I guess that rhythm can be hard for her with revolving doors). There was a brief interlude about independence and living on her own, but it was quickly shut down and not explored. There was no philosophizing about how much she might have to rely on neurotypicals to exist in a neurotypical world and how exhausting/frustrating that can be. Instead, everyone encircled her and coddled her as if she was the office mascot or pet. It’s worth emphasizing that the infantilization with this portrayal of autism was STRONG. There were no discussions about masking or coping mechanisms, and her only feelings of overwhelm seemed to come from loud noises. There's bits and pieces of her characterization that you could attach to a large portion of autistic people: a tendency to over-explain, an inability to stray too far from literal meanings, and failing to accurately navigate social situations. But again, none of it was too disruptive or alarming to the neurotypical people around her. The drama stayed in its super cutesy and unrealistic realm. The assertion seemed to be that WYW’s sheer presence (full of stereotypes and what can only be described as cutesy quirks) was their ‘we’ve arrived’ moment deserving of heaps of praise. Which I guess they got, this is a super popular drama.

I like that the drama utilized a female character—autistic stories are usually limited solely to men. But a more accurate characterization might have been showing how difficult it is for women to even receive an autism diagnosis, or the unfortunate likelihood of a woman not receiving one until much later in her life (compared to young boys). Also, I don’t have any set opinions about WYW’s love interest. Though it is quite rare to see an autistic character get a love story, so perhaps that’s something I can place in the positive column? I really struggled with this drama; I understand why it’s popular, but I honestly think its overall impact will be harmful.

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Quirky law drama

LIKES:
Actors and actresses well selected for their roles.
The premise and execution of each episode.
A satisfactory ending, but would love a second season.
Loved the delivery of law, whale and autism facts.
Loved seeing the background whales when Attorney Woo was inspired or happy.
Just enough romance, without it being the focus of the drama (and if it was supposed to be, then they failed, lol).
Even though it had a lot of the usual trope, it was decently written and directed.
Music was mostly enjoyable, the whale sounds were cute.
I had the full range of emotions; happy, sad and annoyed.
I liked Attorney Woo’s quirks.
I liked FL & ML’s interaction and wanted more of that to be explored, end seemed a little rushed.
Cinematography and colour palette was good too.

DISLIKES:
Shaky camera syndrome typical with a lot of kdramas, (Please can people start using a film stabilizer!).
Secondary romance wasn’t necessary between Choi Too Yeon and Kwon Min Woo.
Hardly any development of supporting characters or especially ML, Lee Joon Ho.
Every case was ended too easily and not enough mixed final rulings, to show greater range of reaction from Attorney Woo.
Sometimes the background music was a bit too loud and it made hearing the actors and actresses a little hard.
No conclusion about the fates of her colleagues and how their relationships developed. It needed more of how Attorney Woo was slowly changing them too, with her honesty, etc.
There were times I fast forwarded because pacing was a little off, especially in the second half of the drama.
The autism part of the drama was very understated, although FL did a fantastic job with her character.
They failed with showing how Attorney Woo matured and showed independence, by getting a job as a lawyer and exploring romance.
Needed more suspense for it to be a good drama.

OVERALL:
It’s enjoyable to watch, but I didn’t binge it. Has it’s faults and is a bit overrated, but I would recommend it to others. Everything is very suitable for a teenage audience. I wont rewatch it, but would give a the second season a chance, if they do give us more.

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Overhyped

I've seen so many dramas of this genre and I must say, this drama isn't that great.
I think one third part of this drama was good , cases were interesting , it seemed like I'm watching something new after a long time...but after 6th episode everything becomes dull , cases weren't interesting anymore , I was like why I'm watching this ?


Park eun bin ( woo young woo)! Her acting was amazing , I've watched almost all her dramas , I'm her fan and I'm so familiar with her voice, when I first listened her voice in this drama , I couldn't understand why did she changed her tone , is she wanted to look cute ? Innocent? That's wasn't necessary! Btw She did a great job.

Autistic people are not always that cute and not even society treat them nicely just like how this drama shows !

ML was good but there isn't any information about his background or they didn't even focused properly on his character as they're going to make him ML.
I didn't even realise when did he started liking FL. There wasn't any scenes I feel that he's developing feelings for her. Same with FL, may be she felt something because he treats her nicely. But still I don't think their romance was necessary.

Honestly I didn't like any supporting characters.

Osts weren't that good .

And why season 2 ????There's no need ! Like seriously they don't need to ! They ended it fast but perfectly.

Overall this drama is over hyped . Better watch While you were sleeping , Touch your heart , Suspicious partner etc . If you like to watch law dramas .

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A pretty ordinary show with an attractive twist

There’s an aura surrounding this show that is emotionally very attractive, and all credit has to be given to Park Eun Bin for creating it so convincingly. But once you get beneath that, the show itself is nothing particularly special. It is a procedural law show that examines quirky cases over the course of one or two episodes in a particularly cerebral way and there is nothing new about it.

To be honest, by the end of the series the shine had worn off for me. The supporting cast had fairly bland characters and the rivalry between the two law firms did not have any teeth with the result that there was very little tension created other than how Attorney Woo was going to win the case this time.

The romance really didn’t work for me at all and I couldn’t see why those two particular characters would be together and what the connection was between them. Joon Ho’s explanation, in the final episode, of the nature of his feelings did fit, but to be honest I felt such a basis for a relationship was pretty off. I think a totally different type of man would have been a better fit for Young Woo, one who could connect with her intellectually rather than emotionally.

One thing the show did very convincingly was to showcase the different responses to autism and illustrate effective methods of communication. It was a bit self-consciously“worthy” at times, but it definitely fulfilled its educational remit.

Park Eun Bin’s performance was outstanding. She managed to reveal so much through her facial expressions and body movements and if nothing else it is worth watching a few episodes of the show for her performance. However, I won’t be watching the sequel, there is not enough there to entice me.

What my rating means: 7+ A watchable drama, but nothing exceptional. Good enough to qualify for the race, but finished with the pack. The sort of thing that promises more than it delivers.

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The Good Lawyer

Extraordinary Attorney Woo follows the journey of Woo Young Woo, a brilliant young lawyer who is diagnosed with autism (specifically the previously-known condition of Asperger’s as well as Savant syndrome), as she navigates the challenges of embarking on a legal career, experiencing romance and dealing with complicated familial entanglements, amongst many other real world issues that she faces on an episodic basis.

Aside from presenting insights on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the accuracy of which has been and continues to be debated, this drama also showcases plenty of office politics, legal cases, power and relationship dynamics, all nicely packaged in an endearingly feel-good light hearted wholesomeness. Think of The Good Doctor (which also has an autistic lead) but with a massive infusion of Disney/ Hallmark vibes.

An ENA production that’s streamed internationally on Netflix, EAW is directed by Yoo In Sik (Dr. Romantic series, Vagabond) based on the screenplay by the award-winning Moon Ji Won. Noh Young Shim serves as music director. Special education specialist, Professor Kim Byeong Gun from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences of Nazarene University, was enlisted to provide consultation on the depiction of ASD for the drama. The characterization of Woo Young Woo was reported to be inspired by the eponymous character of the film Temple Grandin, portrayed by Claire Danes, also diagnosed with ASD. Despite the original screenplay, certain legal cases depicted are based on actual events published as case studies for South Korean law journals.

The success of EAW (in terms of popularity and ratings internationally as well as in South Korea) has not only spawned a webtoon of the same name, with the first volume published in July 2022, but also the announcement of a second season of the drama a week before the finale had aired.

The soundtrack of the drama features 7 songs, including one which is performed by the lead actress Park Eun Bin herself, an a cappella rendition by MayTree as well as Bae Suzy’s contribution in support of the director who had helmed Vagabond which she had starred in. Full listing as follows:

Courage by Jongwan Kim (of NELL)
Imagination (Beyond My Dreams) by Sunwoo Jung-ah
Better Than Birthday by O3ohn
Tilt by Wonstein
It's Not Easy Not To by Suzy
Blue Night in Jeju Island by Park Eun-bin
Flash (interlude) by MayTree

What I Enjoyed

The performance by Park Eun Bin, which is helped for the most part by the characterization and trajectory of the arc. Of course I’m not entirely certain about the accuracy of the depicted ASD, having no prior real life experience and observation particularly of the Savant syndrome. Everything I know is from films and dramas but as far as comparisons go in similar roles, Woo Young Woo had me convinced. I’ve been impressed by Park Eun Bin in each of her previous appearances in The Ghost Detective, Hot Stove League and The King’s Affection. She seems to possess this propensity for tackling challenging or at least out-of-the-box roles and thrive every single time so kudos to her for not only having the courage to do so but also demonstrating her amazing range to the wider audience. She’s one of those actresses that I always look forward to because of the variety that one can expect of her characters and versatility in performance.

I enjoyed the first half of the drama more than the latter half, probably up to episode 10 or so. It had a very strong start that captured my attention immediately, coupled with the intensity of the feels that kept tugging at the heartstrings during each episode. At certain points, especially in episode 8 for me, the “dust kept getting in the eyes”, if you catch my meaning. There was a fine balance between the heavy emotions and moments of levity which was executed to perfection.

The legal cases are generally quite interesting and revolve around the “garden variety” mundane aspects of civil litigation. Nothing mind-blowing, profound or over-the-top but instead witty and conceivable, while at times even charming with regards to the resolution of certain cases. That said, not every case is amicably or neatly concluded which at least affords a sense of realism where not everything in life goes according to plan and you can’t always win, even if you’re one of the good guys.

There are a number of supporting characters that grew on me and provided an awareness of the cast who portrayed them. None more so than Joo Hyun Young as the loveable and fiercely loyal Dong Geurami. Her adorable “bff greeting” with Woo Young Woo is unforgettable and has probably reached iconic status by now. Kang Ki Young as the nice boss Jung Myung Seok is another fan favourite, and mine as well, for his enduringly calm demeanour and all round pleasant disposition. The veterans in the show are worth a mention as well, including Jeon Bae Soo who plays FL’s dad and Jin Kyung as the head of the rival law firm, Tae Soo Mi. Each showcasing their experience and lending a palpable sense of presence to the proceedings.

What Could’ve Been Better

The second half of the show or from around episode 11 onwards. I think it was a combination of the story running out of steam and the lack of meaningful plot development as well as depth to a number of the characterizations for the various supporting characters. Admittedly I lost a bit of the initial spark which somewhat led to a lack of interest in what transpires towards the end. I was also rather dissatisfied with the eventual outcome of certain character arcs, most notably the so-called redemption arc of a certain “villainous/ antagonistic” character whom I shall not name to avoid spoiling. Suffice to say, it is not the closure I had been craving for.

The romance aspect involving the FL, while sweet and captivating at first, in the end became somewhat distracting and overly emphasised. It’s cute but finally became a little too cutesy, which kind of glossed over the complications that such a relationship would have realistically exacted on all parties involved. To be honest, I wanted to observe more growth in other facets of their relationship and not merely their interactions.

While some of the legal cases are based on real life, I was often more amused than thrilled. This is perhaps due to the focus being mostly on corporate-based and civil litigation instead of dealing with criminal cases that involve the more sinister and darker side of the law, but even then do not expect smartly-written legal proceedings and quick-fire courtroom action either. This is still officially a legal drama but in reality the legal aspects are more of a side show than the main content itself.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, this is a feel-good drama that is meant to be uplifting and hopeful, rather than being taken too seriously. EAW created an awareness of ASD in general and not just the typical Savant syndrome of genius eccentrics, while the overall performance of Park Eun Bin were the major highlights for me. I really wanted to love the drama as much as I did when it first premiered but in the end I feel that it did not end as strongly as it had started. Certain events and characters were so infuriating and, in my opinion, were not given the outcome that they deserved. Granted, the producers may want to explore further the various characters in the second season but hopefully the writing improves to inject a more believable turn of events and character development. Only time will tell…

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Don’t be blinded by what you can see. Keep in mind the essence of what lies beyond that.

From episode 1, I was immediately hooked and my satisfaction with this show continues to grow more and more. Following this show week by week has been such a treat.

The show revolves around the main character Woo Young Woo who is a the most endearing genius lawyer that has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). The show really emphasizes how Woo Young Woo deals with societal situations and just life in general as someone on the autism spectrum as well as touches on how society views her from the outside looking in (especially the discrimination, ablesim, and harrassment that those on the autism spectrum can face). I am glad that the show has characters that stick up for her and look after her and then contrasting characters who view her autism in a negative light. I think it's important to show both sides because there are people out there who view autism negatively and who are discriminatory even in this day in age. I like that the show is honest with its portrayals of people's reactions to autism in general. I also like that the show emphasizes that not everyone who has autism is the same.

The actress Park Eun Bin who plays Woo Young Woo has done such a wonderful job playing this character as well. It was revealed that Park Eun Bin rejected playing this role a few times because she didn't think she would do the role justice and she didn't want to hurt anyone by playing this character but she ultimately decided to play this role with the support of the crew. The director waited a year for her to appear in the show. She is playing this character with much respect. Not to mention, the other main characters are doing such a wonderful job too. Each character in this show feels like they were written with care and written thoroughly too. We don't just get one-dimensional characters, we get people with some depth. Everyone is playing their roles wonderfully.

I love that each episode deals with a new case and brings up new issues that the audience can learn from as well. The show balances the line between serious/informative and humorous very well. I love the slightly quirky nature that the show has too. With this show, I go from laughing to crying to smiling to squealing to anger and I wouldn't have it any other way. With my short attention span, this show manages to keep me engaged all the way.

I do have to point out that with the last few episodes, I feel like the show lost some of its spark. Some of the story lines that were added and character arcs that were done I found unnecessary and I wasn’t as intrigued by the cases as I was in the first half of the series so that’s why my initial rating went from a 10 to a 9.5. But, don't let these minor gripes keep you from watching. I also heard that there will be a second season. I really don’t see the need for a second season. I feel like having one season is enough but I will tune in when a second season happens in the future.

I am just going to say it now that this is one of the best k-dramas I have ever had the pleasure of viewing! This type of show is a rarity and I believe it's going to stay with me in the future. If you haven't seen this drama yet, I highly suggest it.

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Acting was good but last few cases messed up

I was waiting for this drama and I'm so disappointed.
It was going great in first few episodes then eventually it was unbearable to watch it. After skipping most of the scenes of romance & courtroom in last 8- 10 episodes I finally finished it. I was hoping that it'll get better with time but it didn't.
Eun bin is an amazing actress, I've watched almost her all dramas, she was great in this one too, versatile actress I must say, but they showed her too intelligent that it was hard to watch.
Kang tae Oh had nothing to do much, he didn't even get the screen time which he deserved, coz he's the love interest of FL. There wasn't much background info, specially why and when he Started liking FL. I think that there wasn't any need to show their romance at all. They could show their strong and understanding friendship. But....
Side characters wasn't interesting at all. Specially kwon, they didn't have to show him good in the end. I mean in just last 2 episodes, why ??
Only starting few cases were strong enough to watch and made me curious, but later... they all were so boring, when they went jeju, it all got messed up there and I started skipping scenes after that.
At last I'm highly disappointed, I suggest you to watch Eun Bin's other dramas or there're so many good courtroom dramas. You should watch them instead of this one.
Ummm why this drama need season 2, I don't understand. Let's see what they want to show in it's sequel in 2024.

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