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Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 5 of Extraordinary Attorney Woo, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Park Eun-bin as Woo Young-woo, Kang Tae-oh as Lee Jun-ho, Ha Yoon-kyung as Choi Soo-yeon, Ju Hyung-young as Dong Geu-ra-mi, Kang Ki-young as Jung Myung-seok, and Joo Jong-hyuk as Kwon Min-woo. We also discuss Kang Ki-young, the versatile actor who plays Attorney Jung. We discuss:
The songs featured during the recap: Inevitable by Suzy and Spring Sunshine by Roh Young Shim.
The ethical dilemmas at the heart of this episode’s case and Woo Young Woo’s heartbreak over winning the legal battle but enabling injustice.
What open source technology is, how utility models work in Korea, and how these were central to the ATM cassette lawsuit.
Kwon Min-woo’s underhanded tactics, including excluding Woo Young Woo from meetings and trying to sabotage her standing.
The symbolic moment when Woo Young Woo’s framed Bar Code of Ethics is replaced by a sunflower painting.
Military bonding among men, especially over training locations, and how that dynamic excluded Woo Young Woo in the meeting.
The heartwarming moment when Woo Young Woo calls Choi Soo-yeon “Spring Sunshine,” bringing Soo-yeon to tears.
The adorable Cham Cham Cham scene where Woo Young Woo asks Lee Jun Ho if he likes her—and his stunned, but telling reaction.
Woo Young Woo’s explanation of how people with autism live in a world of “me” rather than “me and you,” making deception hard to detect.
The final scene with Tae Su-mi, hinting heavily that she is Woo Young Woo’s mother and hiding a past pregnancy.
Our featured actor of the week: Kang Ki-young, his background in musical theatre, and standout roles in hit K Dramas.
References
“Autistic People” vs. “People with Autism”: A Deeper Dive into Disability Language
How to Play Cham Cham Cham from Extraordinary Attorney Woo 😜 #koreangame - YouTube
Korean Intellectual Property Office Patents & UtilityModels > Korean IP System > Utility Models;
Episode 7.6 - Podcast Review of Episodes 11 and 12 of Queen of Tears With Guest Naa Evans
I love "Attorney Woo" and am so glad you're taking on this fantastic show. I had to laugh at the end of the podcast when Sung Hee confessed to being "too restless" to sit through some movies & shows -- I'm the exact same way! I probably read and listen to podcasts more than I watch tv.
ReplyDeleteSo I think it says a lot about the podcast that I'm continuing to follow your episodes on "Crash Landing" even after pretty much giving up on the show itself (I know, I know; my apologies to the millions of fans who adore this series). I'm often listening in the kitchen while making dinner or cleaning up afterwards, and listening to Joanna and Sung Hee spin this convoluted tale. I'm scrubbing a frying pan and saying "What the heck, Se-ri! why would the North Korean villagers believe such a crazy lie? What were you thinking?" etc.
So the podcast is still immensely entertaining, even if I'm not currently watching the show!
Hello, Jeff! First of all, it was wonderful to meet you during the first Kdramachat Meet and Greet. I'm so glad you're enjoying the podcast. What an incredible compliment that you listen to us even without watching the show! I don't think you're alone in not being able to get through Crash Landing, Joanna couldn't get past the first several episodes until someone (cousin Linda?) convinced her to push through.
DeleteI think we are alike in keeping busy while we listen. My biggest problem with watching Kdramas is that I can't knit while I watch, since I have to read the subtitles.
I hear you, Sung-Hee. That's why these k-dramas have worked great as my Peloton shows! Although it's accurate to say they can become so absorbing I'm definitely not hitting any PR's (personal records) this way! Sometimes I listen to the podcast and think "did I miss that part when I was reaching for my water, or adjusting my speed?" So you guys really are invaluable!
DeleteJeff, I could not get past episode 4 of Crash Landing when I first started. And yes, it was my cousin Linda who kept pestering me to finish and I'm glad I did. If we can provide you with a close enough experience, awesome. And yes, Se-ri made some questionable decisions, so did Captain Ri, and we love them for it!
DeleteThanks for joining the meet and greet! Glad to have met you! I listen to podcasts all day long, especially when I'm driving, cooking, folding laundry. Podcasts and audiobooks make laundry pleasant.
Hi Joanna, thanks -- I just wanted to make the point that the podcast can also be enjoyed in a completely unique way -- following along to a show the listener is not currently watching. It's like having brunch with two friends who are particularly good story tellers! I wonder if anyone else has ever enjoyed the podcast this way?
DeleteThe “Spring Sunshine” moment, when Choi Soo-Yeon’s playful question brought a response that surprised and touched her, was an example of the depth of the whole show. The writer of this scene had set all of us up for this, with Seo-Yeon, at times, reluctantly but firmly defending and helping Woo Young Woo whenever she felt it was the right thing to do. But up until this point, she would sometimes show her frustration with exasperated sighs and rolled eyes, kind of “here we go AGAIN!”. When she realized here that her actions meant so much to Young Woo, and the tears came, there was a bit of guilt and a lot of love there, and no more words needed to be said. Great writing, acting, directing by all.
ReplyDeleteHello, Ellen! So wonderful to meet you last weekend! This is such an insightful comment on Choi Soo Yeon's reaction to being called Spring Sunshine. I think you're right about her feeling guilty and ashamed about feeling exasperated with Woo Young Woo even as she was helping her. This was a beautiful scene.
DeleteEllen, the Spring Sunshine moment was so moving. As the show goes on, you can see how loyal and protective Choi Soo Yeon is toward Woo Young Woo. Now, protective doesn't mean you don't get mad at someone sometimes. In fact, the opposite is true. If you truly care for someone, you will try to shake some sense into them sometimes!
DeleteI didn’t really care that much for the case itself, but the episode was memorable for two things for me:
ReplyDeleteLike the majority, I was surprised by the “Spring Sunshine” moment. I think most viewers were expecting some funny put down from WYW, but she came up with one the most iconic moments of the entire series. It was very heart-warming moment.
I find SuYeon character a bit more balanced than Jun Hoo. I like the fact that she gets annoyed with WYW sometimes.
I really liked that the show was willing to show that WYW is not a saint. It gives her character more depth. She clearly can manipulate the truth and ignore principles to win. But, she felt genuine remorse. I loved PEB acting in that scene when she was so ashamed of herself.
I finished watching “Light Shop”. I really liked it. Best to go blind, but be patient. First half might not be clear what is going on (unless you guess). Some find this boring, I found it intriguing. However, at the end of E04 there is a big reveal and things start to make sense.
It has stunning visuals.
Currently I am watching “One Spring Night” (Han Jin Min & Jung hae In). After 4 episodes, I am liking it very much. Maybe the most realistic Kdrama I have seen so far. It is (very) slow paced and calm. This has the potential to become an all time favourite.
Seven Seas, first of all, thank you for joining the meet and greet. You're like an old friend at this point!
DeleteI need to get back to Light Shop. It's totally my kind of show. A bit of magic, a bit of intrigue. Thanks for the nudge. And of course, I am a big fan of Ju Ji Hoon!
Re: WYW not being a saint. I realized this really only with this close watch. It's easy to gloss over that she made some questionable moves because she's such a likable, underdog character. She's learning a lot about herself by being out in the real world. She's pushing back against her dad, questioning her personal motives, questioning her profession, and navigating romance. I am here for all of it!
I did not love One Spring Night and I think one of our listeners called it when she said maybe it was because the music was so off. I appreciate a good OST so much that when it's not great, it ruins the whole show for me. One Spring Night was too slow, too dark (cinematography, not necessarily themes), too predictable, and the same show almost as Something in the Rain, which made me crazy! I bet your tastes run parallel to Sung Hee's!
Seven Seas, I am very excited to find out what you think of One Spring Night! It is one of my absolute favorites along with Something in the Rain. My understanding is that it was effectively a remake of Something in the Rain by the same director just one year later. I've read that he wanted to correct or perfect the story . Both shows star Jung Hae-in as the male lead and, famously, Gil Hae-yeon as the mother of the female lead! I'm torn between which I prefer, I think Somethin in the Rain is slightly better, maybe because it was the first, but I absolutely love Han Ji-min.
DeleteMaybe we can get Joanna and Sung-hee to a one off podcast reviewing them both together and Joanna can explain which one she hates more and why! LOL
Like I said, can't wait to hear what you think.
Whoa, don't get Joanna started on Something in the Rain!
DeleteFor me personally, I didn't love Something in the Rain because i agree with Joanna in having a problem with the two leads, especially Son Ye Jin's character, not being completely forthright. Also, the mom in Something in the Rain was quite problematic.
I actually did enjoy One Spring NIght. I thought the romance between Jung Hae In and Han Ji Min's characters was really sweet. I liked how they overcame the stigma of him being a single father and how the story ended. I can't say that One Spring Night is one of my favorites. I would be interested to know why it's so popular.
So, I would say the likelihood of a one off episode compairing Something in the Rain and One Spring NIght is pretty low. Sorry to disappoint! But then, I suppose never say never.
I must admit I have been remiss in my commenting as of late. I am visiting my family in New York, and it turns out sharing a house with your mother, sister, brother-in-law, and a three- and six-year-old, does not leave you with much time to watch K Dramas, much less comment on them!
ReplyDeleteWhile I enjoyed this Drama the first time I watched it, I am enjoying much more the second time around with Joanna and Sung Hee’s commentary. One of the things that put me off a bit was how unrealistic the lawsuits were, and how equally unrealistic the law firm was portrayed. What I would give to work at a law firm like that. Especially if someone like Ha Yoon-kyung worked there! She is also MY Spring Sunshine! As for Kwon Min-woo, there are attorneys like that in every firm who are more concerned about getting ahead of others than focusing on their own work.
For what its worth, I think Joanna and Sung-hee are more or less spot on with their discussion and analysis of the legal issues and dilemmas. As to whether people become lawyers because they want to win cases or see justice done, I think in an ideal world many lawyers would like to do both. But you can’t always be on the right side! Or the winning side for that matter. I’m usually on the winning side, but not the right side. 😉 I don’t know about other lawyers, but one of the main reasons I became a lawyer was because the law is supposed to be a fair, equitable, and organized way to resolves disputes. Whether that is actually the case is quite a different matter.
While I don’t have time to do a full run down of What’s Malcolm Watching, I can recommend Beyond the Bar on Netflix. It is another legal drama, but it is actually one of the better portrayals of law firm culture that I’ve seen in any drama – K or otherwise. I am really enjoying it.
That’s all for now. Can’t wait for the next episode – especially the part where Joanna says about a show that she’s watched multiple times: “Remember when I predicted….” LOL
I loved meeting everyone at the meet & greet. My heart was full.
ReplyDeleteSunghee, I hope you finished K-Pop Demon Hunters. I totally get everyone hyping it up. Park Sung Hoon is also my favorite actor in Squid Game 2 & 3. I do wish he gets cast in a romcom - it's either we absolutely hate his character or love it.
I'm currently still not watching any new Kdrama, just rewatching Extraordinary Atty Woo. Although I really would want to start a series soon, I'm considering Trigger on Netflix.