‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ review: Park Eun-bin anchors a charming, sensitive drama that constantly surprises you

every episode of Extraordinary Attorney Wu What has aired so far can be best understood from the moment of enlightenment that the show’s titular protagonist experiences: a ‘whale eureka’. As soon as the realization comes, a smile comes to his face, a strong wind ruffles his hair, and we cut out the image of a majestic whale in the sea.

When we meet Woo Young-woo (Park Eun-bin), a rookie lawyer with autism spectrum disorder, he’s all set to join the hot-shot law firm Hanbada. A framed newspaper on the walls of her father’s Kimbap restaurant tells us that she is South Korea’s first autistic lawyer to graduate summa cum laude from Seoul National University.

In the beginning, one cannot help but tend to approach the chain with some level of panic. When the protagonists in a show are neurodivergent, the writing often lacks nuance and empathy, and the characters become caricatures.

Extraordinary Attorney WuHowever, it is the perfect example of how good writing, empathy and sensitivity can unfold beautifully on screen. It is no surprise that this K-drama has garnered audiences across the globe and has seen a meteoric rise in its ratings. It is also reported that Netflix has topped the list of most-watched non-English shows for a couple of weeks.

Woo Young-woo is a genius, has a photographic memory, loves kimbap, and adores aquatic mammals… especially whales. If you’re moaning about the fact that this is yet another person on the spectrum who is depicted as a know-it-all on screen, EAW About being on the spectrum through Young-woo effectively addresses this, as she tackles workplace challenges, deals with prejudice, and forms solid friendships.

In Hanabada, Young-woo’s first brush with workplace competence is her prickly superior, attorney Jang Myeong-seok (Kang Ki-young is not happy to have her on his team. He turns to the firm’s president, and says) He ‘needs a lawyer who can meet and test clients’.

Here is his neurodivergence that stands out to him, more than his illustrious record and honors as a law graduate. His other associates in Hanbada include fellow lawyer Choi Soo-yeon (Ha Eun-kyung), who was his law school classmate, and Kwon Min-woo (Joo Jong-hyuk). There’s also the kind and sweet Lee Joon-ho (Kang Tae-oh) from the legal team, who helps her navigate the rather complicated revolving doors on her first day at work, and soon becomes her lunch buddy.

Any expectation that the show will focus solely on Young-woo’s struggles or settling down at work is quickly cancelled. He is soon assigned his first case, and it is not long before Myeong-seok is impressed; Any worries about her becoming the stereotypically difficult boss would go against Young-woo, thankfully dispelled.

Writer Moon Ji-won goes off the beaten track in portraying these workplace relationships and friendships. Young-woo, thankfully, doesn’t even stand up to the other female member of her team, Attorney Choi. They do, in fact, become loyal friends and end up getting perhaps one of the best scenes on the show, which will surely make you a mess.

K-drama has always excelled at female friendships, and whether it’s attorney Choi or Dong Gu-rami (Young-woo’s school friend who is her biggest cheerleader), there’s a lot of love, support, and warmth in it.

Each episode deals with a case that Young-woo’s team at Hanabada takes up, and through his eyes, the narrative narrows itself down to a static procedural drama. We follow her journey as she discovers something new with each case about people, morality, and the world around her.

Cases range from an elderly client dealing with murder charges against her husband, a North-Korean defender who has been accused of assault, helping residents of the quaint town of Sodak Dong take the legal route against construction of the highway. while going up against rival law firm Tesson.

Law firm Hanbada and those who EAW is a microcosm of the outside world and how it treats people like Young-woo who are on the spectrum. There are many scenes that force us as viewers to reflect on our internal biases. When Young-woo is on the move with Joon-ho, the latter’s classmate who visits him asks if he is volunteering with the disabled from a nearby home. After competence comes workplace sexism, especially when Young-woo meets a new client who doesn’t approve of her presence, as they are in a room full of male lawyers.

Park Eun-bin brings sensitivity, humor, and kindness with his portrayal of Attorney Woo. It is the career-best role for the actor, and comes close on the heels of his performance in king’s affection For which he received a Baeksang Award nomination. She’s a treat to watch, whether she’s enthusiastically arguing in court, or when she speaks quietly about her autism, and the way people perceive her.

However, there has been some legitimate criticism about Young-woo not being played by an actor with autism. But the writing and the way the character is conceived is commendable. anytime EAW Young-woo has fun, and there’s a lot to love and learn from.

Playing the ‘Greenest Flag’ Joon-ho, as fans are celebrating, Kang Tae-oh is charming and melodious. When he seeks out Young-woo, he has genuine admiration and warmth, though never pushes his boundaries professionally, and remains a silent, solid ally. It is commendable how this romance has not left its mark on all other aspects of the show and it will be interesting to see how this relationship pans out in the upcoming episodes. Seen in comedic roles in other popular K-dramas, Kang Ki-young is also a revelation as the cool, serious and yet supportive senior lawyer Jang Myeong-seok.

With ten episodes down, the K-drama is now moving into its final three weeks where six episodes will be aired. Professional challenges, drama, and a romantic relationship center around Young-woo’s birth mother. EAWBy far the biggest strength has been how effectively it has balanced the sensitivity and nuance in the writing with its heartfelt and likable characters. Sympathy and acceptance are expected to continue!

Extraordinary Attorney Wu is currently streaming on Netflix