Ah, what a ride it was. Even though it seemed to have lost its footing towards the end, I still enjoyed Extraordinary Attorney Woo immensly, and most of the praise for that goes straight to Park Eun-bin, who somehow was even better than in Affection. How the heck is she doing that? She’s spectacular. And for the last time, let’s marvel at one of the beautiful ending images ❤️
(And a little praise goes to everything else: solid writing, dreamy directing, and great cast alsoKangTae-oh’ssmittengazeeee; none of it goes to Min-woo, who gave me whiplash for weeks with his sudden change)
Park Eunbin is truly a gifted actor. I can imagine how much prep she undertakes as well to convey her roles with such depth, nuance and originality but she seems to be very talented as well. I loved those drawings too. They were both whimsical and almost real.
I remain disappointed at how poorly conceived was Minwoo’s redemption attempt. I can’t even call it an arch given how sudden and thinly substantiated it has been. Redemption should involve demonstrated reflection on one’s conduct, admission of one’s wrongdoing and attempts to behave differently. Having the hots for someone as a reason for the alleged change in character was a lazy and easy way out of the toxic character that they had created. I didn’t buy that one bit.
I am also annoyed that Youngwoo wasn’t shown to have introduced Juhno to her dad and for that important encounter to have been included on screen. Her dad was such a poignant and sympathetic character and deserved more screen time. Jeon Baesoo did a wonderful job as Woo Gwangho.
And, last but not least, no where enough scenes with Youngwoo and Juhno. It was annoying to have hyped that aspect of the drama so much and then, leave the audience begging for more. Even if a second series is a remote possibility, Kang Taeoh will be in the military so won’t be able to participate.
@dncingemma: Agreed with everything you said. Park Eun-bin is a joy to watch onscreen because you just know she’ll deliver a career-defining performance every single time. There hasn’t been a single time where I’ve seen her and she has disappointed. Truly one of the best actresses working today across any industry. Maybe a bold claim but I will stand by it. If there was only one reason instead of many to give Extraordinary Attorney Woo a chance, it’d be for her.
Min-woo’s arc is frustrating because I can see a better written drama where his character could’ve been fully explored and given more depth, which would’ve led to a redemption arc more naturally and coming more from his own self-improvement and feelings of regret instead of a sharp turn just because the writer suddenly wants it. Not to mention that a man suddenly turning “good” simply because he likes a woman veers way too close to the “a good woman can fix a broken man” trope than I can stomach. It’s regressive and we need to stop using it.
Young-woo and Jun-ho were cute beyond words (solid rank in my top 2022 OTPs), but yes I wish we got more of them together. I also thought Jun-ho felt a tad underdeveloped as a person outside being Young-woo’s boyfriend/love interest, but I understand that the story is about her first and foremost and not the guy she’s with, so I can tamp my annoyance down. As for Kang Tae-oh returning for a potential season two (ooh boy I have mixed feelings on that), they’re gunning to have a 2024 release date earliest, so I don’t think he’d have much of an issue participating post-enlistment.
I do have one other complaint about the show and how it handles motherhood, reproductive rights, forced birthing and a mother’s “responsibility”, but that’s an essay for another day. Truthfully, my thoughts on it are still evolving and a haphazard mess and part of me is terrified to make such a heavy analysis/criticism of such a universally-beloved piece of media. Especially since it’s such a controversial and relevant topic with a wide range of beliefs and opinions. Idk, I just have opinions and have to share it somewhere and DB will be my ranting ground.
@ladynightshade: As usual, very well put! I agree with you too. Your last point is a very important one and it was on my mind too but I lost sight of it. I’m really glad you mentioned it. Women not raising the children they have given birth to and surrendering them to the male parent is still such a taboo in most parts of the world. The patriarchal notions of parenthood situate caregiving squarely as women’s work and their responsibility so it is heretical for a woman not to assume the maternal role willingly. I certainly recognise that Youngwoo’s dad was a dedicated, loving and present parent who willingly assumed parenthood in a situation which might have resulted in Youngwoo’s abandonment to an orphanage if he had not been willing and able to become a care-giving parent.
@dncingemma: I fully recognize that Young-woo’s dad is a loving and dedicated father who sacrificed a promising career and personal life in order to raise his daughter as well, but the ethics of basically forcing Tae Su-mi to carry out a full pregnancy to term and give birth when it was clearly not something she actually wanted bothers me immensely. Maybe I’m just more sensitive to stories about forced birthings and lack of safe reproductive healthcare these days given recent real-life developments, but it just struck a wrong chord in me. Part of me can’t help but feel that it kind of sends the message of “If Tae Su-mi aborted her pregnancy then Young-woo, who we all love and adore, wouldn’t exist. So maybe abortion is wrong.”
See what I mean when I say my thoughts on the subject might get controversial? I feel like most people would think I’m reading too much into this; that this is just a common kdrama secret parentage trope and I’m imposing my own beliefs onto it with little hard evidence. But I just feel like the show glossed over how much of a risk Tae Su-mi was taking in actually staying pregnant and giving birth. Pregnancies still carry a huge risk to a woman’s health. Around when episode 8 was released, I still had hope that they’d handle Tae Su-mi’s feelings on motherhood and her having to abandon Young-woo with the nuance and care it deserved because the show at that point had demonstrated that in very other subject. Alas, I was wrong and we instead were subjected to something out of a makjang.
I didn’t mean to come across as disagreeing with you. I fully agree with your point re Tae Sumi – as you said – “basically” being forced to give birth. I was merely commenting on what it meant to Youngwoo that she had ended up with at least one loving and dedicated parent who unfortunately sacrificed his career and personal goals to raise her.
And, I also agree that it would have been really welcome if the pregnancy and Youngwoo’s surrender to her dad had been portrayed more critically, with much more subtlety and as you said not out of a makjang. Given the dangerous, retrogressive and punitive approach to reproductive rights in many parts of the world, your concern is well-placed.
@dncingemma: Oh no, I didn’t think you were disagreeing with me! I was just trying to add onto what you said, but I’m sorry that my tone came off as me disagreeing with your points – which were excellent btw.
I think the show should’ve gone with the route of making Tae Su-mi someone who had to reluctantly abandon her child due to societal and professional expectations, not because she didn’t want to have the child or stay with Young-woo’s dad. After all, why even bother going through a long, dangerous pregnancy in secret if you didn’t want the child at all? Her family was shown to be affluent so I’m sure she could’ve found access to abortive services if she really wanted to. My ideal storyline for her would’ve been her struggling with her feelings of guilt now that Young-woo has “resurfaced” in her professional circle, while trying to stick to her decision to never contact her child and ex since that would hurt her burgeoning political ambitions. Instead we got that ridiculous spiel about “sending her away” that was straight out of something in Penthouse. My disappointment was immeasurable.
I apologize to @ladykrueger. You were just trying to celebrate this lovely show and Park Eun-bin’s stellar work and I just had to make it about how this hyper-specific part of it was maybe, kinda problematic. I want to reiterate that I still loved the show overall and fully agree with your words of praise.
@ladynightshade: You have expressed your liking very clearly for the drama so I don’t think that can be misconstrued. It is always good to think critically and I hope Lady Krueger agrees.
I agree with you, and I was also disappointed at all the dangling plotlines left unresolved as E16 closed. However, I am willing to wait for season 2 to get more answers, even if it doesn’t come until 2024.
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ladykrueger
August 19, 2022 at 1:09 PM
Ah, what a ride it was. Even though it seemed to have lost its footing towards the end, I still enjoyed Extraordinary Attorney Woo immensly, and most of the praise for that goes straight to Park Eun-bin, who somehow was even better than in Affection. How the heck is she doing that? She’s spectacular. And for the last time, let’s marvel at one of the beautiful ending images ❤️
(And a little praise goes to everything else: solid writing, dreamy directing, and great cast alsoKangTae-oh’ssmittengazeeee; none of it goes to Min-woo, who gave me whiplash for weeks with his sudden change)
DancingEmma
August 19, 2022 at 2:13 PM
Park Eunbin is truly a gifted actor. I can imagine how much prep she undertakes as well to convey her roles with such depth, nuance and originality but she seems to be very talented as well. I loved those drawings too. They were both whimsical and almost real.
I remain disappointed at how poorly conceived was Minwoo’s redemption attempt. I can’t even call it an arch given how sudden and thinly substantiated it has been. Redemption should involve demonstrated reflection on one’s conduct, admission of one’s wrongdoing and attempts to behave differently. Having the hots for someone as a reason for the alleged change in character was a lazy and easy way out of the toxic character that they had created. I didn’t buy that one bit.
I am also annoyed that Youngwoo wasn’t shown to have introduced Juhno to her dad and for that important encounter to have been included on screen. Her dad was such a poignant and sympathetic character and deserved more screen time. Jeon Baesoo did a wonderful job as Woo Gwangho.
And, last but not least, no where enough scenes with Youngwoo and Juhno. It was annoying to have hyped that aspect of the drama so much and then, leave the audience begging for more. Even if a second series is a remote possibility, Kang Taeoh will be in the military so won’t be able to participate.
ladynightshade wants to be gazed at by namgoong min
August 19, 2022 at 5:01 PM
@dncingemma: Agreed with everything you said. Park Eun-bin is a joy to watch onscreen because you just know she’ll deliver a career-defining performance every single time. There hasn’t been a single time where I’ve seen her and she has disappointed. Truly one of the best actresses working today across any industry. Maybe a bold claim but I will stand by it. If there was only one reason instead of many to give Extraordinary Attorney Woo a chance, it’d be for her.
Min-woo’s arc is frustrating because I can see a better written drama where his character could’ve been fully explored and given more depth, which would’ve led to a redemption arc more naturally and coming more from his own self-improvement and feelings of regret instead of a sharp turn just because the writer suddenly wants it. Not to mention that a man suddenly turning “good” simply because he likes a woman veers way too close to the “a good woman can fix a broken man” trope than I can stomach. It’s regressive and we need to stop using it.
Young-woo and Jun-ho were cute beyond words (solid rank in my top 2022 OTPs), but yes I wish we got more of them together. I also thought Jun-ho felt a tad underdeveloped as a person outside being Young-woo’s boyfriend/love interest, but I understand that the story is about her first and foremost and not the guy she’s with, so I can tamp my annoyance down. As for Kang Tae-oh returning for a potential season two (ooh boy I have mixed feelings on that), they’re gunning to have a 2024 release date earliest, so I don’t think he’d have much of an issue participating post-enlistment.
I do have one other complaint about the show and how it handles motherhood, reproductive rights, forced birthing and a mother’s “responsibility”, but that’s an essay for another day. Truthfully, my thoughts on it are still evolving and a haphazard mess and part of me is terrified to make such a heavy analysis/criticism of such a universally-beloved piece of media. Especially since it’s such a controversial and relevant topic with a wide range of beliefs and opinions. Idk, I just have opinions and have to share it somewhere and DB will be my ranting ground.
DancingEmma
August 19, 2022 at 5:16 PM
@ladynightshade: As usual, very well put! I agree with you too. Your last point is a very important one and it was on my mind too but I lost sight of it. I’m really glad you mentioned it. Women not raising the children they have given birth to and surrendering them to the male parent is still such a taboo in most parts of the world. The patriarchal notions of parenthood situate caregiving squarely as women’s work and their responsibility so it is heretical for a woman not to assume the maternal role willingly. I certainly recognise that Youngwoo’s dad was a dedicated, loving and present parent who willingly assumed parenthood in a situation which might have resulted in Youngwoo’s abandonment to an orphanage if he had not been willing and able to become a care-giving parent.
ladynightshade wants to be gazed at by namgoong min
August 19, 2022 at 7:03 PM
@dncingemma: I fully recognize that Young-woo’s dad is a loving and dedicated father who sacrificed a promising career and personal life in order to raise his daughter as well, but the ethics of basically forcing Tae Su-mi to carry out a full pregnancy to term and give birth when it was clearly not something she actually wanted bothers me immensely. Maybe I’m just more sensitive to stories about forced birthings and lack of safe reproductive healthcare these days given recent real-life developments, but it just struck a wrong chord in me. Part of me can’t help but feel that it kind of sends the message of “If Tae Su-mi aborted her pregnancy then Young-woo, who we all love and adore, wouldn’t exist. So maybe abortion is wrong.”
See what I mean when I say my thoughts on the subject might get controversial? I feel like most people would think I’m reading too much into this; that this is just a common kdrama secret parentage trope and I’m imposing my own beliefs onto it with little hard evidence. But I just feel like the show glossed over how much of a risk Tae Su-mi was taking in actually staying pregnant and giving birth. Pregnancies still carry a huge risk to a woman’s health. Around when episode 8 was released, I still had hope that they’d handle Tae Su-mi’s feelings on motherhood and her having to abandon Young-woo with the nuance and care it deserved because the show at that point had demonstrated that in very other subject. Alas, I was wrong and we instead were subjected to something out of a makjang.
DancingEmma
August 19, 2022 at 7:11 PM
I didn’t mean to come across as disagreeing with you. I fully agree with your point re Tae Sumi – as you said – “basically” being forced to give birth. I was merely commenting on what it meant to Youngwoo that she had ended up with at least one loving and dedicated parent who unfortunately sacrificed his career and personal goals to raise her.
DancingEmma
August 19, 2022 at 7:19 PM
And, I also agree that it would have been really welcome if the pregnancy and Youngwoo’s surrender to her dad had been portrayed more critically, with much more subtlety and as you said not out of a makjang. Given the dangerous, retrogressive and punitive approach to reproductive rights in many parts of the world, your concern is well-placed.
ladynightshade wants to be gazed at by namgoong min
August 19, 2022 at 7:28 PM
@dncingemma: Oh no, I didn’t think you were disagreeing with me! I was just trying to add onto what you said, but I’m sorry that my tone came off as me disagreeing with your points – which were excellent btw.
I think the show should’ve gone with the route of making Tae Su-mi someone who had to reluctantly abandon her child due to societal and professional expectations, not because she didn’t want to have the child or stay with Young-woo’s dad. After all, why even bother going through a long, dangerous pregnancy in secret if you didn’t want the child at all? Her family was shown to be affluent so I’m sure she could’ve found access to abortive services if she really wanted to. My ideal storyline for her would’ve been her struggling with her feelings of guilt now that Young-woo has “resurfaced” in her professional circle, while trying to stick to her decision to never contact her child and ex since that would hurt her burgeoning political ambitions. Instead we got that ridiculous spiel about “sending her away” that was straight out of something in Penthouse. My disappointment was immeasurable.
I apologize to @ladykrueger. You were just trying to celebrate this lovely show and Park Eun-bin’s stellar work and I just had to make it about how this hyper-specific part of it was maybe, kinda problematic. I want to reiterate that I still loved the show overall and fully agree with your words of praise.
DancingEmma
August 19, 2022 at 7:56 PM
@ladynightshade: You have expressed your liking very clearly for the drama so I don’t think that can be misconstrued. It is always good to think critically and I hope Lady Krueger agrees.
Ghost of Tim (eccentric observations from a male perspective)
August 20, 2022 at 6:58 AM
I agree with you, and I was also disappointed at all the dangling plotlines left unresolved as E16 closed. However, I am willing to wait for season 2 to get more answers, even if it doesn’t come until 2024.