REVIEW: ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo,’ Episode 1

Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a Korean legal drama series streaming on Netflix. Woo Young Woo is ready for her first day as a legal attorney. She heads out her door, stops by her dad’s shop to get food and then is on her way. But for Woo, the challenges aren’t just those that any new attorney may face. Woo is also on the autism spectrum. And while this sometimes adds more complexities to Woo’s life, it also gives her a unique view of the whys, what’s, and hows of being an attorney in Extraordinary Attorney Woo Episode 1.

To put it plainly, I love Extraordinary Attorney Woo Episode 1. I feel like the show approaches its charming protagonist with a wonderfully kind touch. Woo’s many tendencies that seem unusual to those around her never feel like they are being played for laughs. Rather, they are shown simply as what they are, her way of doing things. She is seen having setbacks and triumphs both large and small, which allows her to feel like a real person who is simply doing the best she can.

This fair look at Woo keeps this story grounded and happily never strays toward the “inspiration porn” mentality that many stories featuring those with disabilities tend to dwell in. The world as a whole is not pitted against Woo. Some people support her, others scoff at her, and many are left in an awkward middle ground grasping for exactly what the right response should be. And Woo doesn’t look for any special treatment from the world. She simply wants to be an attorney because she loves the law.

Extraordinary Attorney Woo Episode 1 takes Woo through her first case. An argument between a husband and wife ends with the husband being rushed to the hospital and the wife is charged with murder. Woo’s unique way of thinking quickly leads her to details and circumstances surrounding the case’s broad strokes that everyone else glosses over. Seeing Woo work through the various glitches and hiccups of the case is thoroughly engaging. The show avoids having her just magically know everything through some autism-fueled instinct. The viewer sees her work through the problems just like anyone else would. It is simply where she starts from that is so different from everyone else. This way, the show avoids any feeling that Woo isn’t smart or hard-working, or that her autism grants her some mystical insight that allows her to succeed. She is more than just her autism.

When all is said and done, Extraordinary Attorney Woo Episode 1 provides a truly extraordinary experience. I think that the show does a great job of delivering a charming protagonist that feels like a truly well-rounded character as well as a well-rounded look at how the world interacts with her.

Extraordinary Attorney Woo is streaming now in its entirety exclusivey on Netflix.