Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo, which became one of Netflix’s most heartwarming and groundbreaking Korean series, offering authentic autism representation while delivering compelling legal cases.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo premiered in June 2022 on ENA and simultaneously on Netflix with 16 episodes, each with an average duration of 70 minutes. This Korean drama was created by writer Moon Ji-won and director Yoo In-sik, becoming a global phenomenon for its sensitive portrayal of autism and neurodiversity.
This legal drama follows Woo Young-woo, a brilliant lawyer with autism spectrum disorder who joins a prestigious law firm and navigates both complex legal cases and social relationships. The series combines elements of courtroom drama, romantic comedy, and social commentary, creating an uplifting story about acceptance, friendship, and finding one’s place in the world.
The show’s unique approach presents autism authentically without falling into stereotypes, showing both the challenges and extraordinary abilities that come with neurodivergent thinking while delivering engaging legal mysteries and heartfelt character development.
Legal Brilliance Meets Social Navigation
Extraordinary Attorney Woo centers on Woo Young-woo, a genius lawyer with autism who graduates at the top of her class from Seoul National University Law School and secures a position at Hanbada Law Firm. Despite her exceptional legal mind and photographic memory, Young-woo struggles with social interactions and workplace dynamics.
Each episode typically features a legal case that Young-woo approaches with her unique perspective, often finding creative solutions that her neurotypical colleagues miss. Parallel to the legal storylines, the series explores Young-woo’s personal growth as she develops friendships with colleagues like Jung Myeong-seok and Choi Su-yeon, and navigates her first romantic relationship with Lee Jun-ho.
The series beautifully balances case-of-the-week legal drama with ongoing character development, showing how Young-woo’s autism influences both her professional brilliance and personal challenges in equal measure.
Woo Young-woo’s Authentic Journey
Park Eun-bin delivers a career-defining performance as Woo Young-woo, portraying autism with remarkable authenticity and depth. Her character arc explores the daily challenges faced by people on the autism spectrum while celebrating the unique strengths and perspectives they bring to the world.
Young-woo’s evolution throughout the series showcases her growth in confidence, social skills, and self-acceptance without compromising her authentic identity. Park Eun-bin’s nuanced performance avoids stereotypes, presenting a fully realized character whose autism is just one aspect of her complex personality, including her love for whales, her legal brilliance, and her growing emotional connections.
Lee Jun-ho’s Patient Love
Kang Tae-oh portrays Lee Jun-ho, a paralegal who becomes Young-woo’s romantic interest and biggest supporter. His character represents acceptance, patience, and genuine love that sees beyond neurotypical expectations to appreciate Young-woo’s unique qualities.
Jun-ho’s character arc demonstrates how true love involves understanding and accommodating differences rather than trying to change someone. His relationship with Young-woo provides some of the series’ most touching moments, showing how mutual respect and communication can overcome social barriers and create meaningful connections.
Professional Recognition and Personal Growth
The series builds toward climactic moments where Young-woo must prove herself in increasingly challenging legal cases while also confronting personal obstacles related to her autism and family history. These confrontations test both her professional skills and personal resilience.
The final episodes masterfully balance Young-woo’s professional triumphs with her emotional growth, as she learns to advocate for herself and other neurodivergent individuals while maintaining her authentic identity. The resolution celebrates neurodiversity while acknowledging the ongoing challenges faced by people with autism in society.
The Hanbada Family
Extraordinary Attorney Woo features a strong ensemble cast representing different aspects of workplace dynamics and social attitudes toward neurodiversity. Jung Myeong-seok (Kang Ki-young) serves as Young-woo’s understanding boss, while Choi Su-yeon (Ha Yun-kyung) evolves from skeptical colleague to supportive friend.
These supporting characters effectively illustrate the range of reactions people have to neurodiversity, from immediate acceptance to gradual understanding, creating realistic workplace dynamics that many viewers can relate to in their own experiences with inclusion and acceptance.
Success on Netflix
Extraordinary Attorney Woo became a massive global phenomenon on Netflix, topping charts in multiple countries and sparking international conversations about autism representation and neurodiversity in media. The series received widespread critical acclaim for its authentic portrayal of autism, with autism advocacy groups praising its accurate and respectful representation. Park Eun-bin’s performance earned numerous awards and international recognition, establishing her as one of Korea’s most talented actresses. The show’s success demonstrated the global appetite for diverse storytelling and inclusive representation, contributing to important discussions about neurodiversity in workplaces and society while delivering thoroughly entertaining legal drama.
If you love heartwarming legal dramas with authentic representation and brilliant character development, Extraordinary Attorney Woo is the perfect series to binge on Netflix.
A groundbreaking series that celebrates neurodiversity while delivering compelling legal cases and one of the most authentic portrayals of autism in television history.
Series Details:
- Number of Episodes: 16
- Platform: Netflix (originally ENA)
- Rating: 9.0/10 (IMDb)
- Genre: Legal Drama, Romance, Comedy-Drama
- Protagonists: Park Eun-bin (Woo Young-woo), Kang Tae-oh (Lee Jun-ho)
- Antagonist: Societal prejudice against neurodiversity, various opposing lawyers in legal cases, and Woo Young-woo’s own self-doubt and social barriers