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Whales in the sky ... A brilliant young lawyer .. . And a remake that this dorama fan loves, only a few episodes in!
Extraordinary Attorney Minami is every bit as good as the Korean version, Extraordinary Attorney Woo.
The first episode of this Japanese version stays very close to the original. Even the dialogue and the costumes feel very familiar. But three episodes in, the Japanese version develops its own personality.
Mana Ashida is excellent as Minami. She captures her intelligence and determination, and also her delight in the world around her.
As the series progresses, Ashida seems more fluid in the role. She’s given Minami her own distinctive movements. And watch her eyes: they tell us so much about what Minami is thinking.
We also hear more of Minami’s inner thoughts through voiceover in this series, which gives us another way into her world.
Then there’s Funai, the dashing young paralegal played by Fumiya Takahashi, a rising young talent in Japanese film and television. In their first scene together, Minami finds an ally. It’s a meeting of minds. The characters are in sync, and so are the actors. We feel that connection immediately.
The young attorney’s team leader brings a different dynamic, too. He appears older than his Korean counterpart and, beneath his professional manner, is essentially a kind man. He recognises Minami’s abilities and understands her individual needs as a lawyer with autism.
He’s also following instructions from the head of the firm, so I suspect there will be more to that story.
Two familiar faces from Hot Spot are here, too. If you missed Hot Spot last year, it was a fantastic dorama and I highly recommend it.
Here we have Akihiro Kakuta as Minami’s father and Kami Hiraiwa as the head of the law firm. I was delighted to see them both appear here. I love Hiraiwa-san’s work, and it’s fascinating to see her in a deeper and darker role.
As someone trained in law, I enjoy watching the lawyers explore different arguments and think laterally. And by episode three, we’re beginning to see Minami’s detective instincts. She connects details quickly and reaches conclusions that can change the outcome of a case and entirely flip it on its head.
The computer-generated whales take us straight into her imagination. They suggest those flashes of insight when ideas connect, and Ashida’s expression brings a sense of wonder to those moments.
By episode three, I also noticed how well the music suited each scene. One scene featured “Just as You Are” by Japanese pop-rock band muque. I enjoyed it so much, I immediately added it to my Spotify playlist.
This remake stays close to the dialogue and storylines of the Korean original while bringing its own Japanese cultural perspective. I’m curious to see where it goes next.
And if you enjoy legal dramas, I also highly recommend Japan’s Anti-Hero, starring Hiroki Hasegawa, and Korea’s Pro Bono, starring Jung Kyung-ho.
I’ll update this review as the series progresses. Mata ne!
Extraordinary Attorney Minami is every bit as good as the Korean version, Extraordinary Attorney Woo.
The first episode of this Japanese version stays very close to the original. Even the dialogue and the costumes feel very familiar. But three episodes in, the Japanese version develops its own personality.
Mana Ashida is excellent as Minami. She captures her intelligence and determination, and also her delight in the world around her.
As the series progresses, Ashida seems more fluid in the role. She’s given Minami her own distinctive movements. And watch her eyes: they tell us so much about what Minami is thinking.
We also hear more of Minami’s inner thoughts through voiceover in this series, which gives us another way into her world.
Then there’s Funai, the dashing young paralegal played by Fumiya Takahashi, a rising young talent in Japanese film and television. In their first scene together, Minami finds an ally. It’s a meeting of minds. The characters are in sync, and so are the actors. We feel that connection immediately.
The young attorney’s team leader brings a different dynamic, too. He appears older than his Korean counterpart and, beneath his professional manner, is essentially a kind man. He recognises Minami’s abilities and understands her individual needs as a lawyer with autism.
He’s also following instructions from the head of the firm, so I suspect there will be more to that story.
Two familiar faces from Hot Spot are here, too. If you missed Hot Spot last year, it was a fantastic dorama and I highly recommend it.
Here we have Akihiro Kakuta as Minami’s father and Kami Hiraiwa as the head of the law firm. I was delighted to see them both appear here. I love Hiraiwa-san’s work, and it’s fascinating to see her in a deeper and darker role.
As someone trained in law, I enjoy watching the lawyers explore different arguments and think laterally. And by episode three, we’re beginning to see Minami’s detective instincts. She connects details quickly and reaches conclusions that can change the outcome of a case and entirely flip it on its head.
The computer-generated whales take us straight into her imagination. They suggest those flashes of insight when ideas connect, and Ashida’s expression brings a sense of wonder to those moments.
By episode three, I also noticed how well the music suited each scene. One scene featured “Just as You Are” by Japanese pop-rock band muque. I enjoyed it so much, I immediately added it to my Spotify playlist.
This remake stays close to the dialogue and storylines of the Korean original while bringing its own Japanese cultural perspective. I’m curious to see where it goes next.
And if you enjoy legal dramas, I also highly recommend Japan’s Anti-Hero, starring Hiroki Hasegawa, and Korea’s Pro Bono, starring Jung Kyung-ho.
I’ll update this review as the series progresses. Mata ne!
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