I don't like to exaggerate, nor do I like giving out 10 stars willy-nilly, but so far this show has definitely deserved it. I've seen every episode at least twice since the beginning and Wednesdays can't come any sooner!

Disclaimer: I am not an expert in autism spectrum disorders so I can't comment on the accuracy beyond trivial observations.

Story: I love the pacing so far. The first episode was perfect in establishing the main characters and making the audience ask questions to be answered next week. This set the formula for subsequent episodes, and with the watercooler effect that we're experiencing, the viewers are constantly at the edge of their seat waiting for what's to come. I really appreciate how points of conflict are addressed at the appropriate time. For example, the drama surrounding Attorney Woo's family is hinted at by the end of ep. 2, confirmed at the end of ep. 6, then talked about by the end of ep. 8, with enough room in the rest of the show's run to elaborate. That's really good pacing. Older dramas would have waited around ep. 14 to do anything about it in a cheap attempt to get viewers to stay tuned.

There's something healing about this drama, whether it's the characters or the cases or the visuals, or maybe all of it combined. Almost everyone is likeable in the show but it doesn't ever feel too saccharine because of the weight of the cases (assault, murder, copyright disputes, gentrification). Young-woo has a great supervisor, a wonderful dad, a few amazing friends, and a huge green flag of a love interest. But she also has a big rival and critics who may or may not be set in their understanding of her.

I'm not the type to seek out romance in dramas, but the one featured here is healthy and seems to ask the right questions. (Episode 10 premiers tonight so I can't say more). I like that it's not romance for the sake of romance, but because it's just a part of life that Young-woo would have to encounter at some point. And personally, I pay more attention to Young-woo's friendship with Dong Geurami and Choi Su-yeon. I love how they look out for her but also talk to her the way they would talk to any other adult.

Acting / Cast: Park Eun-bin! I think many would agree that if she doesn't get recognized at Baeksang, then something is clearly wrong with their criteria. What a layered performance. We know that Young-woo is a genius but her intelligence still has limits, like in ep 6. She can also be blindsided by passion despite being awkward with emotions. On the other hand, we know she's not stupid and has a lot of common sense. She can be blunt and misread social cues but she's never annoying or overly cute. We see all of this in every scene. Her acting at the end of ep 8 alone is worth all the awards. You can see Young-woo processing complex feelings and choosing her words very carefully to react to what's been said to her.

The same could be said about the supporting cast and guest actors. I was particularly impressed by Moon Sang-hoon who played Kim Jeong hoon (Peng-soo) in ep. 3. Overall, the chemistry between all of them is undeniable and the director has done a marvellous job balancing these big personalities on screen.

Music: Adorable, warm, optimistic OST. My personal favorites are "Beyond My Dreams" by Sunwoojunga and "Inevitable" by Suzy. But the whole OST is fitting and the editing is appropriate in the show. Not to mention Maytree doing the sound effects whenever Young-woo has one of her whale visions!


So why do I think that Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a classic in the making? It's because of the careful balance it manages to strike between sweet and realistic, funny and mature, healing and intriguing. The most beloved dramas tend to share these qualities but EAW has the advantage when it comes to its premise and setting. Young-woo's condition allows for a fresh take on emotions in a setting that deals with very emotional cases.

Midseason verdict: 10 / 10. Even if it's not a whale.