Extraordinary Attorney Woo

an important one; the original title is foul though

it seems like people fail to realize how important it is that people are finally gaining awareness on neurodivergency and ableism. i see it as a huge step forward and there were many scenes that made me feel represented and understood that i'd almost cry. also junho and youngwoos love is the best romance story i've ever seen in kdramas, hands down. pure love and understanding and honesty, in a way that makes both of them comfortable.

that being said, there were quite a lot of things that bothered me, that made me feel like they could have portrayed certain things a lot better.

first off, i appreciate that they translated the title as "extraordinary", but hate the fact that the original title says "weird". shitty move from whoever decided on the title, considering the entire theme is around autism spectrum disorder and they are making money off of it.

they clearly did their research though, especially with displaying ableism and the struggles of people on the spectrum. each autistic person has different upbringings and experiences and so i wasn't expecting them to cover every symptom and behaviour of everyone ever.

that being said, it is very apparent that the story is told from an outsider's viewpoint. it felt like mostly the audience never really knew what's going on in young woo's mind. it seemed like it was going to be about her life from her point of view but the way the script is written, the audience ends up so detached from her which is what we Don't want. come on now. the point is to tell people about autism and to teach people how ableist the world is and to help each other, accommodate and care for each other, be understanding of one another. but this drama made young woo seem like an alien, a different species of a human which makes me so upset because yes we might be different but that becomes a problem only when we get othered and ostracized. the entire world is built in a way that others people who have disabilities, and the 'outside looking in' point of view really didn't help.

i am also glad about some of the cases they were working on, as they tackled lgbt+ rights, the problems refugees face and other mental disabilities.

and i do Not agree with people complaining about how the actress talks in a higher voice and acts "cute and childish" it is beyond disrespectful to view that as a stereotype and as infantilizing. seems like y'all wanted a character who masks and tries to fit into your own personal standarts which, yk, is ridiculous. i'm glad young woo was herself when she had the chance to be.

hated how the second male lead had a redemption arc that felt like a jumpscare. what do you mean the petty guy who bullied and plotted against youngwoo the entire drama suddenly had a revalation and did a 180 due to the slightest display of romantic interest????? HUH????? and how come the woman who hated the guy and protected her friend from him ends up falling in love with the mf are you kidding?????? i love the actors still, they did an incredible job.

in love with the part where young woo calls her friend a spring sunshine, my favorite scene in the series.

to summarize, even though certain things were definitely handled poorly, i'm still glad a drama with an autistic lead gained this much popularity, it at least helps people gain awareness about asd and hopefully it will help them recognize things they can be accommodating with, even if it's opening a water bottle for a friend.

they should still change the fucking title though.

ALSO much love to the animation team honestly. my special interest is orcas as well and i was Crying when one swam up to young woo inside the courtroom, it was mesmerizing and so so beautiful.

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Tomato Swissue

Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Genre: Legal, Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 16
Streamed on: Netflix

Plot Summary:

Our story revolves around an autistic genius that until recently has struggled to find employment as an attorney due to her disability. As the story progresses, Attorney Woo will have to learn to navigate the legal system, workplace politics, family drama, romance and, worst of all, revolving doors.

Characters & Cast:

Main Characters:

Woo Young-Woo
Lee Jun-Ho

Other Cast:

Choi “Spring Sunshine” Su-Yeon
Jung Myeong-Suk
Dong to-the Geu to-the Rami

Best of OST:

I just realised that this calming tune was done by SUZY!!!
https://youtu.be/CzSOnojxrqk?si=AQOhPdEWw3OpRZDM

And this is a bonus. This track was sung by Extraordinary Attorney Woo herself. I believe on the plane trip either to or from Jeju.
https://youtu.be/QT93FwerODU?si=G-KtMYxKzVW5uVCl

Good luck not hearing this every time you attempt revolving doors from now on…
https://youtu.be/Wz0cqovS730?si=zLb-3WcuFn0Iz2cv

From the intro, to the special song sung by Park Eun-bin in the later episodes, the OST is catchy and memorable, complimenting the show rather than outshining it at any point.
https://youtu.be/OvbEvBXrzkw?si=uI2TYi3yrdZy433O

Writing & Themes:

It’s difficult to properly assess the writing for this drama. This is because I am in no way knowledgable on:

- Autism
- Being a lawyer
- The Korean Legal System

However, I’ve heard people say that Park Eun-bin is just playing the same character she always does. I’ve seen a few of her drama’s and in this one, and in the others, she plays a radically different character. I can see the effort placed into the idiosyncrasies of her character. The emotional growth the characters go through is gold, and the legal drama is just the engine that gets them there.

Pacing & Flow:

The format of the show takes on a case-of-the-week sort of flow, with the cases in the later episodes sometimes spanning multiple episodes. Most of the show is paced really well. If there is one complaint I have, it’s that I wish we could have spent more time with the couple, and dealt with more of how their relationship would have panned out.

That said, while the romance was sweet, I understand that it wasn’t the main driver of the show.

Final Thoughts:

Extraordinary Attorney is a lovely drama that tugs at the heartstrings. For some reason this scene in particular always chokes me up no matter how many times I’ve seen it.

https://youtu.be/A4IxJj4eHWM?si=3CG0KrNtERpUe6_h

If you’re someone that empathises easily, someone that likes a good underdog story, or someone that likes a legal drama, I think that *Extraordinary Attorney Woo* is the drama for you.

Rating:
9.2/10

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Simple yet touching

The FL’s portrayal of an autistic genius attorney struggling to find her footing in a new environment was very realistic and it was the best part of this drama for me.

The writing was a good balance of introducing different cases each episode and revealing more of Attorney Woo’s personal life while we cheered her on as she gets her cute ~aha~ moments.

I also loved the romance and the realistic considerations surrounding it from both the FL’s and ML’s point of view - extremely touching and heartfelt. Not many scenes on this but when it did happen, it was perfect.

Watch this not to have your mind blown but to have your heart moved.

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best ?

Extraordinary Attorney Woo is undoubtedly the best legal drama I've watched in 2022. Its a beautifully crafted TV show with a gripping storyline, yet the acting is incredibly professional and realistic, depicting the notable experiences of an autistic attorney working at a major law firm in Korea whilst having to face prejudice of society.

The drama is fantastic in many ways. One of the biggest reasons why its a must-watch is its episodic nature. For the past couple weeks I've been craving episode after the other, wondering what happens next - yes, its entirely addictive and enjoyable to watch. Each episode is a new law case the main character Woo Young-Woo has to work on, as well as showing further progression in Woo Young-Woo and her co-worker Lee Jun-ho's relationship. Not only is the plot easy to follow, but has a refreshing flair to it, one that is light-hearted, unique, and sends a great message about how society should support and treat those physically or mentally disabled equally, and despite someone's mental dysfunctions, people should have each other's backs instead of bringing each other down.

Woo Young-Woo is one of my favorite K-Drama characters ever due to her cheerful disposition and undeniable intelligence. Her obsession with whales and dolphins is just the cutest! Likewise, her relationship with Lee Jun-ho is so adorable and carefree, and is paced very well throughout the show. The actress of Woo Young-Woo, Park Eun-bin, has a forte in playing the part and demonstrated adeptness in her ability to master difficult lines and autistic representations. To be honest, all the actors on the show are unbelievably talented in every way, and portrayed their roles with aptitude and skill.

Overall, the show was a big hit and deserves the praise it is getting. The comical dialogue, scintillating humor and workplace romance was all I needed! Needless to say, Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a totally binge-worthy K-drama with outstanding finesse and filmography, one you can sit back and relax to, promised to make your day. :)

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Heart warming and engaging

I hadn't planned to write my thoughts about this delightful and heart-warming drama till I read so many of the negative comments by fellow Mydramalisters. Many of them found the cases uninteresting but this is not, emphatically about the law but rather about how the law impacts the lives of attorneys and one extraordinary lawyer in particular who happens to be autistic. It is about tolerance and acceptance, family and community. Needless to say, Park Eun-Bin is completely convincing as Attorney Woo. You would have to have a heart of stone not to be touched by her story, her life, and her funny, quirky personality. Are autistic people disabled? Or are the abled differently.. This drama might lead you to think the latter. I also enjoyed the soundtrack, not based on songs, but variations on the opening theme. I can't wait for Season 2.

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Extraordinary show!!!!

This is my favorite drama so far this year! I loved the character, storyline, and little romance. This is definitely a feel good drama. I enjoyed the cases and how they sometimes connected to the storyline. I didn’t like the little redemption arc towards the end For Min Woo. I don’t think he did anything to redeem himself. I’m not going to lie a small part of me wishes they exposed Attorney Woo’s mother just to see how it would play out. I’m excited for season. 2 I want to see more of her and her brother together. I rated this a 9.5/10 only lost half a point due to Min Woo.

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Well....I made it to episode 10 a while ago and haven't went back since. Why? Because every episode is the same: you get a mediocre case and the only person who can save the day is attorney Woo Yong Woo...I'm not going to go through the whole introduction of palondromes because it became annoying by the 3rd episode to me.

The series was fun to watch for the first few but then it became monotonous. The writers made the other attorneys mediocre compared to Young Woo. Nobody could figure things out but her. It made me grit my teeth a lot. Those kind of shows irk my nerves. At first these people were on top of their game but then they became stupid throughout the series. Made me wonder why were they there? It was like they could no longer fend for themselves. They needed Yong Woo to help.

The cast is perfect though. I like the whole cast except for the other female lawyer who worked at the other law firm. She just seemed out of place to me.

Once again there's that irksome romance scenario that always gets me. If it wasn't done in such a childish way then maybe I would be gung ho about it but I could see where it was going after the 5th episode. That was another reason I wasn't too thrilled about finishing this series.

I seen 10 episodes and I guess that was enough. Since every episode seemed the same I feel like I'm not missing anything.

There's going to be a second season in 2024. Who knows if I'll go back to finishing this. I just know I'm dropping it for now.

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GREAT STORYLINE AT FIRST........................ BUT.......................

I thought it will get better as the story goes, but sadly, no. I initially enjoyed watching this because of attorney woo and the cases in the early episodes, as one of my favourite genres to watch is legal.

But, why does the writer suddenly adds unnecessary romance? it's really unnecessary and meh. They just can stay as a friend. Why does everything need romance as if friendship isn't valuable enough? Just look at how in Law School, there's no romance, and yet their interaction is endearing. The plot of this kdrama begins to mess up around episode 8/9. I don't know why there are people giving it a solid 10??? You guys serious?

Tbvh, Lee Junho's character is off. It’s not like im not trying to watch it, I did okay but I just couldn’t continue watching it. Just because u like it, doesn’t mean others will. SO CHILL LMAO.

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Autism is my superpower the K-Drama

Upon my girlfriend's recommendation, we decided to give "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" a try, considering my personal connection to autism and my previous aspirations of becoming a lawyer.

Regrettably, the show fell short of expectations, offering a rather mundane and formulaic narrative that felt overly familiar. The storytelling lacked originality, and the exaggerated performances, especially in portraying autism, demonstrated a notable lack of nuanced understanding on the part of the writers. From the outset, Woo's characterization, initially hinting at ADHD, left me questioning the logic of whales mysteriously moving appearing in her room in the morning— a perplexing detail that was never adequately explained. The ensuing surprise at her dating someone suggested a peculiar solitude, given the apparent absence of guests in her space.

The romantic interest's age seemed incongruent with the main character's presumed youth, creating an additional layer of inconsistency. Character development was largely absent until the final episode, where seemingly inconsequential figures suddenly emerged to champion Woo, leading to yet another predictable victory achieved through her distinctive approach to handling cases.

The repetitive structure of the show, featuring quirky scenes, over stimming herself at work, filler content, and the resolution of cases through Woo's autism "powers," became a monotonous cycle, causing me to doze off multiple times during viewing.

The supposed "twists" in the storyline felt forced and unrelated, akin to discovering a family pet has cancer while simultaneously learning about an aunt's sexual orientation—interesting on its own, but bewildering in the context of the overarching narrative. The revelation about the protagonist's brother possessing autism-related hacking abilities was particularly amusing, as there was no prior indication or buildup to such a revelation.

Curiously, the genetic inconsistency within the family—where the mother seemingly lacked autism despite having two children with different partners who both exhibited ASD—further strained the credibility of the show.

In conclusion, those who claim genuine enjoyment of "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" might be overlooking its shortcomings, and perhaps a more discerning exploration of media with depth and substance is warranted.

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SuperB Series Like No Other

I've never been this excited for a series but look what we have here. Surprisingly, this series is a masterpiece on its genre. Although it is still ongoing, the amount of viral spoilers and word of mouth are dominating the social world. What I really like so far in this series is the ability to capture such beautiful cinematography and scenic artistry of events. For instance, the whale scenes are so metaphoric that they commands you to feel whatever inside you. It's contagious and I like it. I've never been this excited for a series but look what we have here. Surprisingly, this series is a masterpiece on its genre. Although it is still ongoing, the amount of viral spoilers and word of mouth are dominating the social world. What I really like so far in this series is the ability to capture such beautiful cinematography and scenic artistry of events. For instance, the whale scenes are so metaphoric that they commands you to feel whatever inside you. It's contagious and I like it.

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