The K-drama has sparked many discussions about its portrayal of autism, and has come in for some well-received praise for its stellar writing and hugely likable characters.
The K-drama has sparked many discussions about its portrayal of autism, and has come in for some well-received praise for its stellar writing and hugely likable characters.
It’s incredible to be said of a show that doesn’t suffer the inevitable slowdown in the pace with which most K-dramas struggle, until the episode finale. fascinating writing was always Extraordinary Attorney WuAnd it is indeed a relief that the show, which ended exactly a week ago, has retained it in its later episodes.
Challenging cases keep coming to hotshot law firm Hanbada, where rookie lawyer Woo Young-woo (Park Eun-bin), who has autism spectrum disorder, is slowly but surely settling down. As she delves deeper into the work, there’s also a budding romance. Along with his colleague Lee Joon-ho (Kang Tae-oh), and a few others have a vested interest in a larger family secret involving his birth mother.
As the show progresses, the cases Young-woo handles prove in many ways an eye-opener to a world that is hopelessly unbalanced and often complex. In possibly the most powerful and difficult episode of the show, Young-woo has to defend a man who is accused of taking advantage of a disabled woman. The affair comes closer to the trajectory of her and her personal life, as she is just getting into a romantic relationship. There is a lot to unpack here, especially given the perceptions and prejudices that the world views relationships as, while completely ignoring the agency of the person involved. Another case is a reminder of how sexist workplace policies can go against women, and Young-woo is forced to defend a large corporation that has fired several female employees.
Eun-bin it all aces; She plays Young-woo with consistent honesty, never going over the top, or caricatures out of character. Director Yoo In-shik and writer Moon Ji-won need to be applauded for this vision, and it won’t be a surprise that Eun-bin wins all the awards for her performance.
Extraordinary Attorney Wu
Director: Yu In-shiko
Author Moon Ji-won
Number of Episodes: 16
Cast: Park Eun-bin, Kang Tae-oh, Kang Ki-young
Story: Woo Young-woo, a brilliant lawyer who is also on the autism spectrum, faces challenges in the courtroom
While the show also wins, writer Moon Ji-won makes sure it’s all done with sensitivity and empathy. Young-woo is, thankfully, not infallible. There are many instances where she stumbles, and is torn between wanting to do the right thing and staying true to her role as a lawyer. Also involved in workplace conflict is a conspiratorial associate Kwon Min-woo (Joo Jong-hyuk) and a particularly insensitive and sly senior lawyer, under whom she is forced to work for a period of time.
However, his friends and cheerleaders, including Joon-ho, fellow lawyer Choi Soo-yeon (Ha Eun-kyung), and friend Dong Gyu-rami (Joo Hyun Young), continue to rally with him. Joon-ho, in particular, continues to borderline annoyance. Whether it’s going through her list of dates, or casually telling her that she knows if she has a panic attack and is offered to be her personal ‘hug chair,’ Jun- Ho is so much more than his looks and charm. In that, we find a thoughtful, sympathetic ray of sunshine which is such a welcome change from the usual grumpy Shybols (rich men) That K-plays aren’t getting enough.
With the slightest semblance of a conflict early in the show, it is Young-woo’s bond with her boss Jang Myeong-seok (Kang Ki-young) that creates some of the most wholesome, yet laughable Loud moments in the show. Watch out for the scene where he tries desperately not to appear angry when he talks to her and quickly rearranges his face, or a panicked Young-woo runs to look at him, before He gets into surgery!
Perhaps, the only wrong move for a show that otherwise comes across as too nuanced is how it handles the Tshe story arc with Young-woo’s birth mother Tae Su-mi (Jin Kyung). She is portrayed as an unnecessary villain, all because of her choices as a young law student not wanting to have children. As a result, Young-woo’s father becomes a more caring and responsible parent than an ambitious woman who previously had a thriving career. There’s also the kind of hasty redemption that the show strives for scheming lawyer Min-woo, but here’s hoping it better addresses these two plot lines in one. Possible second season.
Extraordinary Attorney Wu Its portrayal of autism has spawned many discussions, and has come in for some well-received praise for its stellar writing and hugely likable characters. The experience of watching the season one finale leaves one with the feeling best described by Young-woo himself: a sense of fulfillment.
Extraordinary Attorney Wu is currently streaming on Netflix