Extraordinary Attorney Woo

This drama has to be one of the most enjoyable ones I've seen in a while since It's Okay To Not Be Okay. Just basing from the first two episodes, the drama already has so much potential with the theme. The casting is amazing, and I especially love the choices for the female and male lead (who is such a green flag by the way). While it could be said that there were some instances of exaggeration and pacing issues, it still remained as a positive and honest depiction of how autism really is for many who are on the spectrum. Another thing I like about this drama is the honesty. Instead of depicting her as some sort of detached white male savant, her intelligence seems very realistic and according to how human intelligence really does function in real life, unlike some certain depictions of autism in western media. In other words, she's smart and tops her class, but she isn't unrealistically smart.

I really hope the creators do this drama much more justice in the rest of the episodes, especially since this drama has so much potential to be on the hall of good K-dramas, especially with the Netflix promo, but with the quality we've seen in the first two episodes, I don't doubt it.

It is very rare for me to review a series before finishing it, but this was so darn delightful that I could not stop myself sharing the good news. After 3 episodes I wrote that if you are not watching this you are missing out. Also that Eun-bin Park is simply wonderful as the autistic attorney at the centre of this drama, coping so movingly with the challenges she faces.

Having now watched the whole series my opinion has not changed. This is a joy to watch. All the usual elements of good K drama are here: fine acting, well drawn characters, believable relationships, deft plotting. I could go on: K dramas do so many things well.

But the absolute clincher is the performance of Eun-bin Park. She makes us believe in her character's difficulties. But she also makes us believe in her ability to find a path through that does not contradict her autism. You are on her side the whole series through. She managed to convey a character that struggled with emotions but also gave us those emotions. Remarkable. Utterly believable.

I am no expert on autism. I have read reviews here from those with experience of the condition both decrying and lauding the accuracy of the portrayal. Perhaps another reviewer got it right when he/she said that the condition is a spectrum, so those with experience can find that it varies considerably.

Before I get to the critique part, I just want to say that I love this show, I think it's brilliant and the lead actor is truly exceptional! It is one of the best representations I have seen of an Autistic character, but with caveats (below). Probably the best I have actually seen is Asa Butterfield's character in the film "X+Y".

However... as the parent of a gifted Autistic son with similar IQ as the main character, who is at University aged 14, I can say there is quite a lot wrong with the representation of Autism here. This depiction is filled with clichèd stereotypes. It's as though she has taken every trait any individual Autistic person has ever experienced and put them into one person. That's not how it works; it's very much a spectrum, and each individual experiences this neurodivergence differently (and differently at different times). This performance is very exaggerated, particularly in the light of the fact that such high IQ Autistic individuals often hugely compensate with their intellect, and also develop very good masking ability. This is especially true of females on the spectrum; they often present quite differently and are sometimes not diagnosed until significantly later as a result... even more so when they are profoundly gifted like this character. The fact that she is completely 'out' with her Autism (not the diagnosis itself so much, but the physical manifestations) would be highly unusual; there is an expectation that people conform to the 'norm' in society, and I shouldn't think that's so different in South Korea.

That being said, I understand it may not have had the same impact or humour had they made the characterisation more subtle, and whilst the manifestations themselves are largely exaggerated (at least while she's in public), they are truthful aspects of what it is like to be Autistic. The lead actor's delivery and timing is superb, the rest of the cast are excellent, and the show is a complete joy.

Not sure what's better the Autism theme or the acting by the main lead, she is just so cute and funny in her delivering of this character, we will see how this plays out but so far its fantastic.

With 8 episodes in have to say this is the best most enjoyable KD ive seen to date. This makes good KD look average at best.

Only two hours left and a lot to sew up this should have a great finish, come on writers dont blow it now.

Good new 2nd season announced,

If there was ever a KD series that warranted 20 episodes it's this one but we only get 16.

Tired of superheroes? South Korean stuff. Bored to death by old and overused tropes? South Korean stuff. Cringing at awful acting? South Korean stuff. Vomited in your own mouth again thanks to a sophomoric script? South Korean stuff.

Weird Lawyer Woo Young Woo is the umpteenth example that South Korean TV regularly gets right the myriad things that Hollywood can't or won't do. Treat yourself to this all-around awesome series.