Written by Moon Ji-won and directed by Yoo In-shik, Extraordinary Attorney Woo tells the tale of Woo Young Woo (played by Park Eun-bin) as the first autistic lawyer of South Korea. This is not your usual story about differently abled people. The series is emotional but not tear-jerking; it is empathetic and kind. The protagonist Woo Young Woo is an autistic lawyer with a photographic memory and has an unusual interest in whales. Woo Young Woo’s story is bright, heart warming and puts a smile across your face.
In the first episode, we are introduced to the life of Woo Young Woo and the people around her. Everyone doubts her abilities to articulate well when she joins the law firm but their doubts are soon replaced by conviction. Woo Young Woo’s obsession with whales parallels her genius in solving a case. People around her are not too mean to her (except one or two) and does not judge her too much and whenever they do, they immediately apologize.
The series is extremely pleasing to watch. Even the ordinary scenes showcase great creative genius in writing and execution. One of the most beautiful scenes has to be the scene involving a revolving door where Woo Young Woo is guided by a staff in her firm to pass that door the way one does waltz. The courtroom scenes are hilarious and also reveals how compassionate and pure Woo Young Woo is.
Park Eun-bin is absolutely wonderful as Woo Young Woo. She adds life and color to the character as she portrays her as a little too organized and simple. Woo Young Woo talks about whales with as much enthusiasm as she talks about a case. The dialogues are lengthy and are delivered without a pause especially when she is talking passionately about something. The actor brings in different mannerisms and nuances from her facial expressions down to her finger tips. Her voice modulation is exceptional and suits Woo Young Woo well. We do not not know how accurate her portrayal is, but she does it with conviction.
Kang Ki-young as Jung Myung-seok is worth a mention. He is Woo Young Woo’s senior lawyer who is a little skeptical in the beginning and changes his perceptions as he feels that he underestimated her. One of the best moments from the episode is when he apologizes for talking about her not being ordinary even though it was unintentional. He adds humor, seriousness and sentiments, all at the same time to the character.
The other supporting cast are also a perfect fit in the story line. Extraordinary Attorney Woo is worth your time and it makes you fall in love wit the characters. The series is created with so much love and warmth and instructs you to shed your judgements.
Arya is a curious soul and nerd who loves books and cinema. You can read her articles on Medium. You can also follow her on Instagram where she talks about her favourite books and movies.