I will admit, I wasn't entirely convinced by the trailer, but it did make me curious enough to give Extraordinary Attorney Woo a chance. I can safely tell you, that I'm rather glad I did.
Frankly, this is one of the best shows I've watched in a long time. Park Eun-bin is simply brilliant as Young-woo, and deserves every accolade she receives. However, her performance alone would not be sufficient to carry the series, but as luck would have it the show works on every level. The stories are almost all excellent (and never less than good), but through it all are a selection of characters that you truly come to care about and you want to see what happens to. They're all well rounded and written, with their own quirks and personal stories.
The series can go from touching drama to small touches of comedy genius (if you're not waiting for the blowing-hair-whale-moment in each episode, then you don't know what you're missing!). To top it all, there's a slowly building and touching romance, alongside an underlying dramatic plotline that will have you waiting for every little twist and revelation.
Another element that I appreciate is the effort made to conclude events in a satisfactory manner. A lot of movies and TV shows like to go for the 'dramatic final moment', where they cut the story for maximum impact. They want to end on that, and avoid the risk of concluding in a more subdued way after the big reveals. Extraordinary Attorney Woo, on the other hand (and this is something I've started noticing in a few Korean shows), rounds things up in a relaxed way that gives you a fully rounded conclusion and deep sense of satisfaction.
I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention how well it's all filmed and edited. In many ways, this feels like the kind of story we used to get in the 90s, but with modern production values. It's a wonderful, feel-good pleasure that's sorely needed, when so many shows are mind numbingly stupid and/or pushing some 'message' over any character or plot.
I can't recommend it enough!
Frankly, this is one of the best shows I've watched in a long time. Park Eun-bin is simply brilliant as Young-woo, and deserves every accolade she receives. However, her performance alone would not be sufficient to carry the series, but as luck would have it the show works on every level. The stories are almost all excellent (and never less than good), but through it all are a selection of characters that you truly come to care about and you want to see what happens to. They're all well rounded and written, with their own quirks and personal stories.
The series can go from touching drama to small touches of comedy genius (if you're not waiting for the blowing-hair-whale-moment in each episode, then you don't know what you're missing!). To top it all, there's a slowly building and touching romance, alongside an underlying dramatic plotline that will have you waiting for every little twist and revelation.
Another element that I appreciate is the effort made to conclude events in a satisfactory manner. A lot of movies and TV shows like to go for the 'dramatic final moment', where they cut the story for maximum impact. They want to end on that, and avoid the risk of concluding in a more subdued way after the big reveals. Extraordinary Attorney Woo, on the other hand (and this is something I've started noticing in a few Korean shows), rounds things up in a relaxed way that gives you a fully rounded conclusion and deep sense of satisfaction.
I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention how well it's all filmed and edited. In many ways, this feels like the kind of story we used to get in the 90s, but with modern production values. It's a wonderful, feel-good pleasure that's sorely needed, when so many shows are mind numbingly stupid and/or pushing some 'message' over any character or plot.
I can't recommend it enough!