EXTRAORDINARY ATTORNEY WOO First Look [2022 Korean Drama]
Just like the title indicates, this will be our first impression of the currently airing, high-ranking K-Drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Korean title: 이상한 변호사 우영우 which translates to Strange Lawyer/Attorney Woo Young Woo.
The plan, as usual, is to keep this spoiler free, but who knows. Once the brain activates my inner fangirl, it’s like that plan never existed in the first place.
This partial review reflects our thoughts based on the first 6 episodes of the drama. And that’s enough babbling, let’s get on with it.
Cast
- Park Eun-Bin as Attorney Woo Young Woo
- Kang Tae-Oh [5urprise] as Lee Jun-Ho
- Kang Ki-Young as Attorney Jung Myeong-Seok
- Baek Ji-Won as CEO Han Seon-Young
- Ha Yoon-Kyung as Attorney Choi Su-Yeon
- Joo Jong-Hyuk as Attorney Kwon Min-Woo
- Jin Kyung as Tae Su-Mi
- Jeon Bae-Su as Woo Gwang-Ho
- Joo Hyun-Young as Dong Geurami
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Single father Woo Gwang-Ho (Jeon Bae-Su), [who honestly deserves every father-of-the-year award out there] raised his daughter Woo Young-Woo (Park Eun-Bin) by himself. Gwang-Ho, after graduating with a law degree, did not take the bar exam in favor of looking after his daughter. He instead opened a small restaurant to be able to spend time with her.
Worried about Young-Woo’s delay in speaking, he takes the child to the hospital. There the doctor tells him that his daughter has autism spectrum disorder and what this entails. Understandably upset by these news, the loving father is in for another surprise. While watching her father fend off the attack of a jealous neighbour, a distraught Young-Woo starts reciting the legal repercussions this could have for the offender.
It quickly dawns on Gwang-Ho that his little daughter has been reading and memorizing the extensive collection of his law study books lying around their residence. The proud father goes on to encourage his daughter’s dream of becoming a lawyer.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
The single thing more fascinating to Young-Woo besides the law are whales. She has an extensive knowledge of all the different species and could talk about them for days. Anything can prompt her to bring up the topic of whales. Thinking of whales helps her to focus and relaxes her in stressful situations.
Young-Woo graduates from university at the top of her class, a place she has maintained throughout her years of study. Despite her excellent specs, law firms reject the application of the young woman due to her condition.
Until one day her father’s old school friend Han Seon-Young (Baek Ji-Won) and current CEO of the prestigious Hanbada Law Firm offers her a place as intern. Although at first hesitant about Seon-Young’s real intentions, Gwang-Ho ultimately accepts to let his daughter work for Hanbada.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Young-Woo’s entry into the law firm is all but smooth sailing. Senior Attorney Jung Myeong-Seok (Kang Ki-Young) responds rather negatively to the late addition to his team. However, CEO Han quickly shuts down his arguments. She tells him matter-of-factly to give Young-Woo a chance before dismissing her based on her disorder.
Kwon Min-Woo (Joo Jong-Hyuk) and Choi Su-Yeon (Ha Yoon-Kyung) are the two other trainee attorneys under Attorney Jung’s care. Min-Woo is ambitious and smart in his own right, but also seems to feel threatened by any success on Young-Woo’s part. Su-Yeon is no stranger to Young-Woo as the two graduated from the same university. She is all too familiar with her former classmate’s extraordinary mind and knows better than to underestimate her.
Lee Jun-Ho (Kang Tae-Oh) works as legal aide for Hanbada law firm and gets assigned as Young-Woo’s guide. He will accompany her to court but also to random places part of her investigation into current cases. Jun-Ho’s friendly manner makes him popular among the firm’s employees especially the female staff. Everyone vies to catch his undivided attention, only to be politely and gently refused.
Since day one, Jun-Ho notices Young-Woo’s odd behaviour due to her autism. In line with his usual behaviour, he proceeds to help her out when seeing her facing difficulties. However, he does so in a way that will help her deal with these things on her own going forward and without making it a big deal.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Young-Woo learns swiftly that she can trust and rely on Jun-Ho. Plus, he is also willing to listen to her talk about whales without complaining and even seems to enjoy it. Both Young-Woo and Jun-Ho soon start questioning if their initial friendship perhaps has led to feelings of deep affection.
While navigating this new chapter in her life, Young-Woo counts on the advise of her childhood friend Dong Geurami (Joo Hyun-Young). Although the two could not be more different on the outside, they share a close sister-like bond since high school. When a bullied Young-Woo was helped by the loner Geurami, she repaid her by offering the brash girl her company. This arrangement between the unlikely pair would bloom into a beautiful friendship.
Facing all these new challenges as attorney in training and on a personal level causes Young-Woo to reflect on different aspects of her life. They help her to become more independent and self assured as a person and a professional.
Author’s Note
I don’t always feel this way about popular dramas but Extraordinary Attorney Woo so far is well deserved of all the praise it has been receiving. The characters are extremely well written and each add their own flavor to the overall taste of the drama. Be careful not to discard or trust anyone too soon, as the writer seems to have some twists up his/her sleeve.
Individual characters also represent different feelings/opinions and reactions towards different social issues or persons considered societies outcasts. Every one or two episodes a new case becomes the highlight of the drama, introducing temporary characters or cameo appearances. The main character’s plot still manages to develop throughout each story.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Kang Ki-Young finally receiving the role of a smart and put together character has me experiencing all sort of happy feelings. The actor has long since captured my attention even though he would usually play minor supporting characters. Unless you are new to the K-Drama world, I’m sure you can also list off the top of your head several dramas where he portrayed the goofy friend/colleague/relative of the main character. Savvy King of High School, W-Two Worlds, and Weightlifting Fairy come to mind.
The drama’s writer Moon Ji-Won appears rather new to the Korean drama world but I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on her. Her only other work currently listed is the 2019 movie Innocent Witness (lit. title Witness) which sounds like a good watch as well.
Additionally, I found out the director of Extraordinary Attorney Woo is Yu In-Sik, who also directed some other favorites of mine. To name a few: You’re all surrounded (2014), Mrs. Cop 1 & 2 (2015-2016), and Vagabond (2019).
Until we drama again,
Cee
