Intro
Something amazing can be said about a show that resists the unavoidable lull in plot that most K-Dramas experience in the episodes preceding the conclusion. Extraordinary Attorney Woo’s strongest point has always been its compelling writing, so it’s a huge relief that the programme, which ended exactly one week ago, kept a lot of it in its later episodes.
Plot
Hotshot law firm Hanbada continues to receive challenging cases, and rookie attorney Woo Young-Woo (Park Eun-Bin), who has autism spectrum disorder, is gradually becoming more comfortable. A developing romantic relationship between her and her coworker Lee Jun-Ho (Kang Tae-Oh) and a significant family secret concerning her biological mother, in which some others appear to have a strong stake, are also present as she gets more involved in her profession.
As the show goes on, the cases that Young-Woo takes on turn out to be illuminating in many respects, providing insight into a world that is frequently complex and painfully unbalanced. In arguably the most impactful and intense episode of the programme, Young-Woo is forced to stand up for a guy who is accused of abusing a disabled woman. She is just starting a romantic connection, so the case directly affects her personal life trajectory. There is much to be unpacked here, particularly the presumptions and bias that the world views relationships in this way while utterly disregarding the agency of the individuals involved. Young-Woo is compelled to defend a sizable company that has fired multiple female employees in another case, which serves as a sobering reminder of the negative effects that discriminatory workplace rules may have on women.
All of this is expertly performed by Eun-Bin, who plays Young-Woo with a constant sincerity, without overacting or turning the character into a caricature.It would not be surprised if Eun-Bin wins every award for her performance, and director Yoo In-Shik and writer Moon Ji-Won deserve praise for this vision.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Director- Yoo In-Shik
Writer- Moon Ji-Won
No. of Episodes-16
Cast- Park Eun-Bin, Kang Tae-Oh, Kang Ki-Young
The way writer Moon Ji-Won makes sure that all of this is handled with empathy and sensitivity is another area where the programme succeeds. Fortunately, Young-Woo isn’t perfect. She stumbles a few times and struggles to balance upholding her legal profession with wanting to do the right thing. In addition, there is the extra struggle at work with her cunning coworker Kwon Min-Woo (Joo Jong-Hyuk) and a very callous and blustery senior attorney she has to work under for a while.
But Jun-Ho, her fellow lawyer Choi Soo-Yeon (Ha Yoon-Kyung), and friend Dong Geu-Rami (Joo Hyun Young) are among her supporters and friends who still stand by her side.In particular, Jun-Ho still verges on being obnoxiously flawless. Jun-Ho is so much more than just his good looks and charisma; he can be seen looking through her date list, jokingly telling her he knows what to do in case she has a panic attack, or offering to be her personal “hug chair.” He is a thoughtful, sympathetic light that is a much-needed diversion from the often sulky Chaebols (rich men) that K-dramas seem to be infatuated with.
My Viewpoint on Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Released Date: 29 June 2022
“Extraordinary Attorney Woo” feels quite light in comparison to other Korean courtroom TV dramas I’ve watched in the past, such as “The Devil Judge” or “Juvenile Justice,” or American shows like “Suits” and “The Good Wife.”
But I can understand why the show is different from all those other shows because the lead character is a lady who is autistic. The scenes are framed and photographed in a way that, in my opinion, reflects the innocence and simplicity with which Attorney Woo thinks. And in that regard, I believe that this drama’s lightheartedness helps us comprehend her point of view without overly heavy-handed treatment of the themes.
I found the pacing to be a little slow, and it took me some time to become interested in the characters. Overall though, I found the drama to be really interesting and watching it took minimal mental and physical effort, even though I did find myself fast-forwarding parts a few times.
“Extraordinary Attorney Woo” is a must-watch television programme if you’re searching for a cheery, optimistic courtroom drama.
Conclusion
The way that Extraordinary Attorney Woo depicts autism has generated debate, but it has also received a lot of well-earned acclaim for its excellent storytelling and incredibly endearing characters. Watching the first season ending gives one with a sense of contentment that Young-Woo herself best puts into words.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo Trailer