Sorry friends … no feedback for episode 4 (yet, maybe?) I've been a little occupied. Maybe next week, if it goes through, some will probably see it and post it here.
But here's a short one: - Attorney Woo's attention when her friend was talking about her father and uncles was on the name patterns. --- This was a good one, in some shows I've seen with an autistic character, they "explain", they "tell", even when no one asked them. Here in EAW, they "showed" it. That's a plus for me. As is usually taught in creative writing: show don't tell.
About the trait itself, yeah, many of us see patterns and get distracted, focused on it. I still do myself, sometimes I laugh by myself, and if the person talking noticed it … well … it's either rude or weird. But sorry, just noticed something. ;)
- Young Woo not laughing at with them when her friend told them the other name of her father; Young Woo's father also laughed. --- I did not get it either like Young Woo. I still laughed but I laughed because I had no idea why they were laughing. Can someone explain what was funny? If my guess is correct, it has something to do with the meaning of the name?
About the trait itself, most people laugh at jokes but we rarely do because we usually can not get the joke. Or, it just is not funny to us at all. If we do get it, we'll laugh after everyone already laughed and it was too obvious we understood the joke super late. (And then everyone will laugh because we laughed late … if the company is good, it turns into total laughter and some friendly teasing.)
- Later, her team was a bit annoyed at her for just "quitting". Her manager gave reprimanded her about it and explained that she is part of the team. --- I smiled at this one because I've been in that position too … not the quitting part but the disregard for the team. My supervisor said the same thing, you are part of the team, you don't just do this and do that, and so on.
It's not a trait per se … I think it's more of experience. We're used to doing things ourselves by ourselves so if something needs to get done we just do it. Or, in Young Woo's case, just quit. Which we both learned as rude and not acceptable because … we are part of the team. We are one team. Not a "you team" or a "me team".
It's not an autistic thing, at least I don't think it is. I attribute it more on the lack of experience working in a team when all your life you've been doing things alone.
There are more about episode 4 (and episode 3) but we'll see if I have more time to write down my thoughts.
If you are also looking for another show about autism, one of the highly recommended show is "Adam" ( https://trakt.tv/movies/adam-2009 )
Adam is one of the few which represented autism well. One notable is how they incorporated into the story what many autistics do: people watching.
Ever heard of bird watching? Yes, just change it to people watching. I myself still do that a lot, and when people notice me and ask what I'm doing or thinking, I just say, "nothing, just watching people". So when I saw them use it in Adam, I knew they did their research properly.
Another highly recommended show is: A Brilliant Young Mind (2014), original title was "X+Y". (see: https://trakt.tv/movies/x-y-2015-03-13 ) It is about a math genius who is autistic, based on a true story (but fictionalized). Pay attention to Nathan's quirks, traits, and sensitivities.
((That reminded me, I know I wrote a review of these two shows in my blog … I must find it and migrate it to the new version of my blog.))
I've been searching for some other autistics doing their own content today, it would be unwise to only have me as a resource person as I am but one of many.
My feedback also mainly comes from my own first-hand experiences as an autistic and does not mean the entire community is the same. Again, we do have [1] common traits; and [2] each traits have varying degrees of effect (or "severity" if you prefer that word); and we also have [3] traits that are not common but are no doubt autistic.
Omg are you okay now. Hope it does not traumatize you. Please be happy always.
I'm good. It has been a few years back already. But yeah, something I'll never forget. (His name I've forgotten.)
It was crazy. Most people would stop, and those I've met all of them stopped whatever they were about to say; but him … nope, he dropped the biggest bomb ever: autism is not real.
Oh well, there really are people who think autism is not real, but that was the first time I've met one personally, at work even.
I remember I even told him to be careful telling that to other people because he can be sued for it under our laws. That he got lucky I have no desire to go to the court. I hope he never said it to anyone again because it'll be just a matter of meeting someone who'll bring him to court.
He felt bad when his friend touched Young Woo and said, "hwaiting" (usually translated as 'fighting' but it's more closer to "wish you luck" or "wish you the best").
Since his friend volunteers for a PWD (Person-With-Disability) center, she noticed Woo and understood.
Secondly, it appeared to his friend that Joon Ho brought Woo to the center to be registered/enrolled. It was why she asked him if he returned to volunteering to the center (because she noticed Woo).
For Joon Ho, it was rude. Joon Ho felt that he offended Woo.
Analyzing the reaction of Young Woo, it did not matter to her. She even said that it is understandable (or as NTs would say "I understand") because she's autistic and they're in front of the center, and his friend is a volunteer there. What she's saying is, it makes total sense her friend assumed Joon Ho brought her there to register/enroll her.
Then she walked like nothing happened. = Don't make a big fuss about it, it's okay, seriously, I was not offended, I wouldn't even think about it if you did not apologize.
But again … in the neurotypical society, what his friend did was rude, she assumed something and then touched her (when supposedly she already know she's autistic) and told her "wish you the best" or "good luck".
So … to make amends because it is bothering him … he looked for a gift as a peace offering.
Which well … she really doesn't care. (Which is our general reaction anyway … it's no big deal, really, seriously … but if it makes you comfortable, okay, thank you for the gift. ;) )
I once had a co-worker with a younger brother who is autistic. He knows that I am autistic too because for I disclosed it to the team (one of the rare occasions I chose to disclose it in a work environment).
One day, he asked me about autism because he's trying to understand his brother. Despite our lengthy discussion, he still ended up telling me that "autism is not real", that it is just a product of the person's imagination, that it is fake, an excuse.
No amount of discussion, examples, first-hand experiences I shared, and he himself admitted his brother also experienced some of what I've experienced, his mind is dead set that "autism is not real".
I was deeply offended. But still I tried, in the end I told him: saying "autism is not real" is denying the existence of your brother and that I too doesn't exist, and yet you grew up with your brother, you love him, and you are talking to me. Just think about it. It is who we are. It is our identity.
I rarely disconnect with anyone with no logical reason and this was one of it. I think it was a month later that I unfriended him from all SNS. I didn't want to but I was deeply hurt, forget about myself but his brother, his own brother, he's denying who he is.
It's this misconceptions and stereotype from the media (plenty of it that are wrong), discrimination, and prejudices that shapes the mind of people even within the family. His own brother, imagine that. The best support an autistic can receive is not from "special needs school" but right from home.
Yet that is not what's happening in many homes; just like how in episode 3, the parent's initially preferred to save their reputation and their eldest son's reputation and use their autistic son as the fall guy; than to outright fight for him. And this is happening a lot to this day, if something bad happens, it's either investigators concoct some story the suspect is autistic, or if the suspect is officially diagnosed as autistic they'll use his autism. It happens even in other scenarios.
Feedback on episode 3 from an autistic (probably part 1).
I've been taking down notes but in the end it has become too emotional for me.
This episode captured majority of the sentiments, complaints, and experiences of every autistic--from most "severe" to less "severe" (to borrow the show's wording).
The f**** discrimination and prejudice society have about autism spectrum, the #1 of it all: all autistics are the same. If one is unfit, all of them are. If one is violent, all of them are.
This is the reason why there are autistics who does not want to be labeled with it. Many doesn't even want to get a diagnosis. They chose to live on their own, denying who they are, just so they do not get discriminated upon or be looked down on.
This is why we hide ourselves. This is why we blend in. This is why wear masks. I learned it at young age and have carried it through adulthood. It was only a few years back that I finally was able to let my masks go and just be who I am.
I can not speak for the other autistics but masking is damn energy consuming. You have to constantly keep track of what a particular identity is. How you should act. And so on. It is even more frustrating because the masks we wear is not who we are and we feel guilty because we are lying to people. We hate lying and masking is one lie we are forced to do.
BUT we have to do it most of the time if we want to survive, or have some semblance of a … here's the stupid word again … "normal" life. (This is why I hate the word "normal" especially when it comes to this topic.)
I'll see if I can make a feedback on episode 3 itself at a later time. But right now, it's too emotional and very close to me. It deeply hurts.
Also, I’m curious if how often is it that Korean parents give repitive names?? Woo Young Woo. Genuinely curious…
Most often, it's not exactly repetitive. It just sounds like that because of the letters/words used but the meaning is different.
For example, the Woo (우) in Woo Young Woo (우영우) more likely have a different meaning if used as a surname (우) compared to used as the second syllable in a given name (like 영우).
To get an accurate meaning for some names like 우영우, we need to know the Hanja (Chinese) equivalent of it according to the writer. From there we can learn the possible meaning of the surname (우) and the given name (영우).
If I am not mistaken, there are also slight differences in pronunciation even if the same "letter" was used, although generally pronounced similarly when they find it "cool". (I remember encountering a similar "repetitive" name but the pronunciation is different for the character that was repeated.)
In any case, Korean culture and language experts can shed more light (and corrections if any).
If Dahyun wasn't a witness then it's one of these:a. She was involved in her death (possibly accidental/unintentional);b.…
Ahh, I see it now. It fits why in the preview he said Da Hyun wasn't a witness … because she was probably involved in some way (or unintentionally got involved).
Which explains why her mother doesn't see her and Gye Hoon should be together because there is a very dark past behind her.
If Dahyun wasn't a witness then it's one of these:a. She was involved in her death (possibly accidental/unintentional);b.…
Good point, it's possible he lured her too.
Although there was a scene wherein they ran away and Da Hyun kept on looking back, unsure of something (likely unsure if it was okay to leave Gye Young behind).
Maybe Jin Geun did not lure her, instead they agreed to play together at that house. Only to discover something very bad happened, so they ran away together.
Years later, Jin Geun is pestering her about it because she saw what was in The Red Gate.
Only at episode 3 … it really sucks when you know your best friend is hitting on your lover but you still want to trust them (as in your best friend and your lover).
Let’s hope it’s not like in Beyond Evil, where ML actor also starred. SML’s sister there was hit by a car…
Yep. It would be a total … I don't know how I would take it. I mean, there's romance, family, and some cool and mysterious "Link" … only to make a sudden dark turn.
I don't even understand why I'm rooting for Gye Young. I mean, in other shows I would have brushed the character as a literary device … but in this show, I don't want to give up on her.
I guess the kid actor did great in portraying an innocent and loving sister who looks up to her brother with 'special powers' … that probably got into me. So, I hope she's alive somewhere.
I think Mr. Walking Encyclopedia Attorney is the big crime boss. A genius and a psychopath are the same, one chose the light while the other chose the dark. So, a psychopath knows how to hide and blend. It is not about satisfying their urge, it is about playing a game.
The MO of the psychopath is to burn the body then wrap it like a mummy. Maybe even dump it in some significant place. For example, the latest victim revealed in episode 4 definitely was a rich woman who looks down on others and would never go beneath. The sewers is a perfect place to dump her body. (Dang, I sound like a psychopath. Hahahaha)
Don't check the cast, the adult Gye Young is not important in the story so of course there won't be an adult Gye Young in the cast until the actor appears … as a guest (which was done a lot of times in the past).
1 
Thank you for sharing, at least it gives some context.
But here's a short one:
- Attorney Woo's attention when her friend was talking about her father and uncles was on the name patterns. --- This was a good one, in some shows I've seen with an autistic character, they "explain", they "tell", even when no one asked them. Here in EAW, they "showed" it. That's a plus for me. As is usually taught in creative writing: show don't tell.
About the trait itself, yeah, many of us see patterns and get distracted, focused on it. I still do myself, sometimes I laugh by myself, and if the person talking noticed it … well … it's either rude or weird. But sorry, just noticed something. ;)
- Young Woo not laughing at with them when her friend told them the other name of her father; Young Woo's father also laughed. --- I did not get it either like Young Woo. I still laughed but I laughed because I had no idea why they were laughing. Can someone explain what was funny? If my guess is correct, it has something to do with the meaning of the name?
About the trait itself, most people laugh at jokes but we rarely do because we usually can not get the joke. Or, it just is not funny to us at all. If we do get it, we'll laugh after everyone already laughed and it was too obvious we understood the joke super late. (And then everyone will laugh because we laughed late … if the company is good, it turns into total laughter and some friendly teasing.)
- Later, her team was a bit annoyed at her for just "quitting". Her manager gave reprimanded her about it and explained that she is part of the team. --- I smiled at this one because I've been in that position too … not the quitting part but the disregard for the team. My supervisor said the same thing, you are part of the team, you don't just do this and do that, and so on.
It's not a trait per se … I think it's more of experience. We're used to doing things ourselves by ourselves so if something needs to get done we just do it. Or, in Young Woo's case, just quit. Which we both learned as rude and not acceptable because … we are part of the team. We are one team. Not a "you team" or a "me team".
It's not an autistic thing, at least I don't think it is. I attribute it more on the lack of experience working in a team when all your life you've been doing things alone.
There are more about episode 4 (and episode 3) but we'll see if I have more time to write down my thoughts.
Adam is one of the few which represented autism well. One notable is how they incorporated into the story what many autistics do: people watching.
Ever heard of bird watching? Yes, just change it to people watching. I myself still do that a lot, and when people notice me and ask what I'm doing or thinking, I just say, "nothing, just watching people". So when I saw them use it in Adam, I knew they did their research properly.
Another highly recommended show is: A Brilliant Young Mind (2014), original title was "X+Y". (see: https://trakt.tv/movies/x-y-2015-03-13 ) It is about a math genius who is autistic, based on a true story (but fictionalized). Pay attention to Nathan's quirks, traits, and sensitivities.
((That reminded me, I know I wrote a review of these two shows in my blog … I must find it and migrate it to the new version of my blog.))
My feedback also mainly comes from my own first-hand experiences as an autistic and does not mean the entire community is the same. Again, we do have [1] common traits; and [2] each traits have varying degrees of effect (or "severity" if you prefer that word); and we also have [3] traits that are not common but are no doubt autistic.
Here are a few I recommend. They also talk about other things I haven't touched on. You'll also learn some of the terminologies commonly used (but I want to avoid). (Also see https://twitter.com/Misty_Melanie/status/1543795431246893056?s=20&t=g5Ot06onzi2zyu0gAFwy3g and https://twitter.com/Misty_Melanie/status/1543796819477598210?s=20&t=g5Ot06onzi2zyu0gAFwy3g )
1: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAspieWorld
2: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKXYTaXNKo7z6kjhNd0itWg?view_as=subscriber
3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4vurv9usYA
It was crazy. Most people would stop, and those I've met all of them stopped whatever they were about to say; but him … nope, he dropped the biggest bomb ever: autism is not real.
Oh well, there really are people who think autism is not real, but that was the first time I've met one personally, at work even.
I remember I even told him to be careful telling that to other people because he can be sued for it under our laws. That he got lucky I have no desire to go to the court. I hope he never said it to anyone again because it'll be just a matter of meeting someone who'll bring him to court.
Since his friend volunteers for a PWD (Person-With-Disability) center, she noticed Woo and understood.
Secondly, it appeared to his friend that Joon Ho brought Woo to the center to be registered/enrolled. It was why she asked him if he returned to volunteering to the center (because she noticed Woo).
For Joon Ho, it was rude. Joon Ho felt that he offended Woo.
Analyzing the reaction of Young Woo, it did not matter to her. She even said that it is understandable (or as NTs would say "I understand") because she's autistic and they're in front of the center, and his friend is a volunteer there. What she's saying is, it makes total sense her friend assumed Joon Ho brought her there to register/enroll her.
Then she walked like nothing happened. = Don't make a big fuss about it, it's okay, seriously, I was not offended, I wouldn't even think about it if you did not apologize.
But again … in the neurotypical society, what his friend did was rude, she assumed something and then touched her (when supposedly she already know she's autistic) and told her "wish you the best" or "good luck".
So … to make amends because it is bothering him … he looked for a gift as a peace offering.
Which well … she really doesn't care. (Which is our general reaction anyway … it's no big deal, really, seriously … but if it makes you comfortable, okay, thank you for the gift. ;) )
One day, he asked me about autism because he's trying to understand his brother. Despite our lengthy discussion, he still ended up telling me that "autism is not real", that it is just a product of the person's imagination, that it is fake, an excuse.
No amount of discussion, examples, first-hand experiences I shared, and he himself admitted his brother also experienced some of what I've experienced, his mind is dead set that "autism is not real".
I was deeply offended. But still I tried, in the end I told him: saying "autism is not real" is denying the existence of your brother and that I too doesn't exist, and yet you grew up with your brother, you love him, and you are talking to me. Just think about it. It is who we are. It is our identity.
I rarely disconnect with anyone with no logical reason and this was one of it. I think it was a month later that I unfriended him from all SNS. I didn't want to but I was deeply hurt, forget about myself but his brother, his own brother, he's denying who he is.
It's this misconceptions and stereotype from the media (plenty of it that are wrong), discrimination, and prejudices that shapes the mind of people even within the family. His own brother, imagine that. The best support an autistic can receive is not from "special needs school" but right from home.
Yet that is not what's happening in many homes; just like how in episode 3, the parent's initially preferred to save their reputation and their eldest son's reputation and use their autistic son as the fall guy; than to outright fight for him. And this is happening a lot to this day, if something bad happens, it's either investigators concoct some story the suspect is autistic, or if the suspect is officially diagnosed as autistic they'll use his autism. It happens even in other scenarios.
I've been taking down notes but in the end it has become too emotional for me.
This episode captured majority of the sentiments, complaints, and experiences of every autistic--from most "severe" to less "severe" (to borrow the show's wording).
The f**** discrimination and prejudice society have about autism spectrum, the #1 of it all: all autistics are the same. If one is unfit, all of them are. If one is violent, all of them are.
This is the reason why there are autistics who does not want to be labeled with it. Many doesn't even want to get a diagnosis. They chose to live on their own, denying who they are, just so they do not get discriminated upon or be looked down on.
This is why we hide ourselves. This is why we blend in. This is why wear masks. I learned it at young age and have carried it through adulthood. It was only a few years back that I finally was able to let my masks go and just be who I am.
I can not speak for the other autistics but masking is damn energy consuming. You have to constantly keep track of what a particular identity is. How you should act. And so on. It is even more frustrating because the masks we wear is not who we are and we feel guilty because we are lying to people. We hate lying and masking is one lie we are forced to do.
BUT we have to do it most of the time if we want to survive, or have some semblance of a … here's the stupid word again … "normal" life. (This is why I hate the word "normal" especially when it comes to this topic.)
I'll see if I can make a feedback on episode 3 itself at a later time. But right now, it's too emotional and very close to me. It deeply hurts.
For example, the Woo (우) in Woo Young Woo (우영우) more likely have a different meaning if used as a surname (우) compared to used as the second syllable in a given name (like 영우).
To get an accurate meaning for some names like 우영우, we need to know the Hanja (Chinese) equivalent of it according to the writer. From there we can learn the possible meaning of the surname (우) and the given name (영우).
If I am not mistaken, there are also slight differences in pronunciation even if the same "letter" was used, although generally pronounced similarly when they find it "cool". (I remember encountering a similar "repetitive" name but the pronunciation is different for the character that was repeated.)
In any case, Korean culture and language experts can shed more light (and corrections if any).
Which explains why her mother doesn't see her and Gye Hoon should be together because there is a very dark past behind her.
Although there was a scene wherein they ran away and Da Hyun kept on looking back, unsure of something (likely unsure if it was okay to leave Gye Young behind).
Maybe Jin Geun did not lure her, instead they agreed to play together at that house. Only to discover something very bad happened, so they ran away together.
Years later, Jin Geun is pestering her about it because she saw what was in The Red Gate.
I don't even understand why I'm rooting for Gye Young. I mean, in other shows I would have brushed the character as a literary device … but in this show, I don't want to give up on her.
I guess the kid actor did great in portraying an innocent and loving sister who looks up to her brother with 'special powers' … that probably got into me. So, I hope she's alive somewhere.
The MO of the psychopath is to burn the body then wrap it like a mummy. Maybe even dump it in some significant place. For example, the latest victim revealed in episode 4 definitely was a rich woman who looks down on others and would never go beneath. The sewers is a perfect place to dump her body. (Dang, I sound like a psychopath. Hahahaha)
Don't check the cast, the adult Gye Young is not important in the story so of course there won't be an adult Gye Young in the cast until the actor appears … as a guest (which was done a lot of times in the past).
I'm not giving up on her. Hahahahah.
a. She was involved in her death (possibly accidental/unintentional);
b. She was already dead;
c. They were going to call for help but something happened