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The songs featured during the recap: Tuning Into You by Wonstein and Growing Pains by Roh Young Shim.
The emotional flashback of how Woo Young-woo and Dong Geu-ra-mi became best friends after a bullying incident at school.
Korean inheritance law, including the now-abolished hojuje system and how remnants of male primogeniture persist, especially in chaebol families.
The legal and cultural significance of the dojang (personal seal) used by Dong Dong Sam when signing over his land.
The brilliant legal strategy Woo Young-woo employs to invalidate the “gift” of land to Dong Dong Sam’s brothers.
The jesa (ancestral rites) ceremony and why Dong Geu-ra-mi’s behavior was considered scandalous during the ritual.
The visit to Ganghwa-do, its historical and cultural significance, and its connection to real-life Korean history and even the show Mr. Queen.
The flashback scene between CEO Han and Woo Young-woo’s father, Gwang-ho, that explains how Woo Young Woo got hired at Hanbada.
The return of Woo Young-woo to her position at Hanbada, and Attorney Jung’s clever way of convincing her to return.
The growing tension with Kwon Min-woo, who sees WYW as a top competitor.
The budding romance between Woo Young-woo and Lee Jun-ho, culminating in a tender moment at Nakjo Beach and his “confession” that he wants to be on her side.
Our featured actor of the week: Kang Tae-oh, who plays Lee Jun-ho: his career trajectory, military service, and his fascinating habit of describing people in colors.
References
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Hello - thank you for another lovely episode! I am really enjoying Extraordinary Attorney Woo. I had it on my watchlist forever (I think it got burried under the many shows on that list - I bet everyone here can relate 🤭) and I’m so glad to be watching it now.
ReplyDeleteEpisode 4 was a little different with Attorney Woo no longer working at Handaba and it was really fun how the story brought her back to the Law firm. I loved it and I really loved how attorney Jung handled it. Some harder moments to watch (the bullying), but overall this episode was up lifting and heartwarming. It was great to see her story with Geurami and more of her dad. And of course, the wonderful beach scène with Lee JunHo! Thanks for chatting about Kang Tae Oh - I saw him in Tale of Nokdu and was impressed and shocked by his character in that drama he was so good. I’m adding him to my list of favourite actors now (on which on course features Park Eun Bin).
I’m looking forward to the next episode! It’s a little hard waiting and only watching one a week, but it’s also lots of fun and makes Fridays extra special. 😄
Isn't the song "Inevitable," sung by Suzy Bae, used to show the growing love between Atty. Woo and Joon Ho? I don't remember all of it being used. Very pretty song.
ReplyDeleteIf E03 was the best, then E04 is my favourite of the series.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think it was a coincidence that this episode came at this point. Viewers needed something more cheerful after all that heaviness of the previous one.
The backstory is just great!
I want here to digress to mention how I laughed about the curse Dong Geurami directed towards that girl in the class” you will be reincarnated as tambourine so you will get pounded on all day along” lol.
But, my favourite scene was when WYW was waiting for DGR.
I also love that “Woaaaaah” when said with incredulity. It is one of my top favourite noises in Kdramas! Lol.
The scene at the lake was very cinematic. SO beautiful!
I was going to talk about Lee Jun Ho, but you ladies pretty much covered it. In my opinion, he is one of the least interesting characters in the entire series, let alone from main cast.
Kwon Minu is incomparably better character (not a person, but a real, believable, and interesting character). In my opinion, he is the best character from the work place.
I will hold on one more episode, then maybe try to talk about him more.
I liked the resolution to the case, because it showed that WYW is not above some manipulation.
But, that “Do you have any evidence to support that?” at the end was such a burn lol.
This is actually the stuff that American shows love to do. One liners comebacks.
*Ok, what other Korean cultural output I consumed?
I finished The girl who Wrote Loneliness (The Original, and more apt title is: Lone Room). It is a semi-biographical novel. It runs through two timelines, but the bulk of the story is between 1979-1982. A time of significant political events in SK. The novel mixes the personal and political. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It is not though for those who are looking for a “cute” story, or something akin to kdramas where things are usually coated by many layers of sugar.
The books, at least the ones I have I read, are very different from Kdramas, except one. Through my life as a big consumer of books, and TV, I concluded that novels are way more accurate in their portrayal of society, regardless of the country.
I have also watched “The Match” on Netflix. A decent movie that I enjoyed, but it didn’t make huge impression on me. I will give it a credit though for not being completely predictable.
I don’t play GO, but I understand the aim of it. I even have a set. I am very strong amateur Chess player though. I play in club, and tournaments. The vibes are similar.
I am halfway through “Light Shop” (only 8 episodes) It is on Disney+ and have a stellar cast, including Park Bo Young, Kim Min Ah, and Lee Jung Eun. It is a mystery with some horror, and Supernatural. Best to go completely blind.
My only worry is that they end it on a cliffhanger, because it has an American format of 8x45mins.
I am also reading “The Plotters” by Kim Un-su. My first foray into Korean crime novels. I am liking it, but I will be going back to literary fiction. I wanted to have a bit of flavour though.
"Korean cultural output" LOL!
DeleteLee Jun Ho seems bland because he represents us, the observing audience. He finds Young Woo as endearing as we do, and also admires her determination to do the right thing. And you’re a guy, so you can’t appreciate how adorable he is! As Joanna and Sung Hee have observed, he’s a green flag guy.
Delete"Lee Jun Ho seems bland because he represents us, the observing audience. He finds Young Woo as endearing as we do, and also admires her determination to do the right thing"
DeleteI am afraid I disagree with that, or at least highly doubt it.
To me, he is just the romantic interest, or maybe a handbook of “how you should behave towards an Autistic person”. I don’t see him as stand in for Audience.
I also would like to challenge the assertion that everyone is admiring WYW.
On contrary, I would say the whole point of the series is to challenge the society and change their preconceived ideas about Autism. It wants to challenge the audience and make them ask themselves hard questions.
If the audience were like Jun Ho, then there is no problem, and the world is peachy.
"And you’re a guy, so you can’t appreciate how adorable he is! As Joanna and Sung Hee have observed, he’s a green flag guy."
I completely disagree.
This has nothing to do with me being a guy.
First of all, I LIKE Jun Ho. If he was a real person I want him to be my best friend. But that is not the point.
I completely see how adorable and handsome and wonderful he is. Some call him a forest of green flags. Well, I am happy if people call him a planet of green flags.
But that still will not change the fact that he is very uninteresting character from a dramatic sense.
(I don’t want to go into details, because some people might be watching for first time)
The two things are not mutually exclusive.
As for Joanna& Sunghee..well, they also acknowledged that he is completely unrealistic character.
Seven Seas, you have a point about the show challenging assumptions on Autism, and that the entire audience may not admire WYW. Perhaps I should have qualified by saying most of the audience, but I would bet that most of the non-admirers were gone by the end of Episode 3, since it did a great job of challenging the preconceived ideas. Those not open to revision of their prejudices would probably not continue.
ReplyDeleteDramas often contain a character who represents the audience, and that character is often bland and unrealistic like this one. They ask the characters questions we would ask if we could, and serve as a vehicle for exposition, or the explanation of things the audience needs to know.
So I agree with you. I interpreted your saying that he wasn’t interesting as not liking him, and you’ve now cleared that up. My apologies for the misunderstanding.
I’ll just say I think he served a purpose beyond being the romantic interest. An example is Jerry Seinfeld on Seinfeld, the Everyman in a cast of eccentric, loveable weirdos. He’s us. That’s my opinion on this guy.
Ellen,
Delete"Dramas often contain a character who represents the audience, and that character is often bland and unrealistic like this one. They ask the characters questions we would ask if we could, and serve as a vehicle for exposition, or the explanation of things the audience needs to know."
I strongly agree with that statement.
Sometimes in various media there is also "the author insert".
So, I would say, in principle we agree, but where we seem to have a different view is about how much Jun Ho represents the audience.
You feel it is on the higher level, while I feel on the lower. But, hey! what are some percentages between friends :)
"So I agree with you. I interpreted your saying that he wasn’t interesting as not liking him, and you’ve now cleared that up. My apologies for the misunderstanding. "
Glad that the misunderstanding is cleared, but don't worry about it :). I can assure you I wasn't upset, or offended. It is just the absence of any facial expressions and body language might give the wrong impression.
..Finally, I have never watched Seinfeld, but I am of course aware of the series and the character.