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[Ishani's Picks] The Whimsical Charm Of "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" Lies In Its Realism & Here's Why

There's a brand new K-Drama taking over the world, and it is none other than "Extraordinary Attorney Woo". Viewers all over the world are falling in love with the drama and, more importantly, its colourful characters. Here's why the success of "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" is owed to the realism it portrays, coloured in magic.

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"Extraordinary Attorney Woo", starring Park Eun-bin, Kang Tae-oh, Kang Ki-young, and more, tells the story of Woo Young-woo (Park Eun-bin), the first attorney with autism spectrum disorder in the Republic of Korea, who steps into a new chapter of her life as a practicing lawyer at the nation's 2nd biggest law firm, Hanbada. Even though she is faced with predictable prejudice at first, it quickly transforms into esteem and awe in light of Woo Young-woo's competence.

We soon find out that as a child, Woo Young-woo was fascinated by her father's law books, and as an adult, she is captivated by whales. The drama wonderfully incorporates the imagery of whales throughout the episodes with some exceptional CGI, amplifying our immersion into Woo Young-woo's world. Now, one would think that this love for whales would really have nothing to do with her job. However, her vast knowledge and interest in the same allow her to be imaginative and discover new and unique perspectives in cases where there are no obvious solutions. This leads her to continued success despite adversities.

This outstanding success, however, does not come without its fair share of realistic dilemmas and ethical concerns. Woo Young-woo struggles between wanting to win and fighting for what's right while navigating her professional responsibilities. She is faced with competition from her coworker, which clouds her judgement, albeit momentarily, and bias from her opponents that shakes her self-worth, but she gets back on her feet each time. Similarly, she also deals with meaningful cases that help her understand herself better and give her a sense of fulfillment. She makes mistakes and learns from them, gains inspiration from her seniors and continues to grow as a lawyer. Woo Young-woo's life as an attorney is not only tireless and eventful but also deeply significant.

At work, Woo Young-woo meets Lee Joon-ho (Kang Tae-oh), who becomes an ally and something more than a friend. Woo Young-woo doesn't hope to be loved in a conventionally romantic way, but that doesn't change the fact that she is infatuated with him nonetheless. Lee Joon-ho, on the other hand, feels the same way about Young-woo but is too careful about expressing his emotions. He does, however, support her to her fullest, is attentive, and cares for her in his own way. His behavior towards Woo Young-woo is never impacted by the fact that she has autism spectrum disorder, even when he meets her for the first time. Instead, it is powered by mutual respect, appreciation, understanding, and comfortability, just like any healthy relationship.

In conclusion, the extraordinariness of "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" comes from the fact that at the end of the day, Woo Young-woo is just an ordinary human being. She is a brilliant attorney but also a wonderful woman, and it is this side of hers that is enchanting the audience. The drama doesn't attempt to typify ASD, which is something the mainstream media has been guilty of in the past. Rather, it normalizes the representation of the same on screen, especially by emphasizing that autism is a spectrum. It is educational and increases awareness, contributing to the global discourse about ASD. The fact that it manages to be both culturally relevant and entertaining is worth high praise, and we must applaud the cast for doing such a fantastic job with the message of the show.

If you haven't started watching "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" yet, it is time you jump on the bandwagon. The drama is now streaming on Netflix, with new episodes every Wednesday and Thursday.

By Ishani Sarkar.

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"Extraordinary Attorney Woo" is directed by Yoo In-sik, written by Moon Ji-won, and features Park Eun-bin, Kang Tae-oh, Kang Ki-young, Jeon Bae-soo, Baek Ji-won, Joo Jong-hyuk. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2022/06/29~Now airing, Wed, Thu 21:00 on ENA, Netflix.

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