Extraordinary Attorney Woo - Ep 1 Thoughts
This WILL contain spoilers and screencaps. Thoughts and opinions (with an ASD focus) on Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022) / 이상한 변호사 우영우 drama series Ep 1.
This is one of the most well-rounded and detailed autistic characters from a show that I’ve seen before. I can feel that a lot of care and thought has gone into the creation and portrayal of this character.
The portrayal:
I'm really impressed with the details that I can relate to either my own experiences or those of people I know.
The stimming, the self-soothing, the sensory experiences as well as the accommodations for overcoming it (namely headphones).
Always carrying (and consistent usage of) headphones in environments that may be sensorily overstimulating.
The touch aversion, how she goes out of her way on the train and walking to work to avoid physical contact with strangers. Additionally, even with loved ones and people she knows she still shows this.
The acknowledgement of the necessity of removing the sensory nightmares that are clothing tags. Loved that.
The room decorated fully with her special interest (whales) - the images on the wall, the bedding, the plushies, the figurines. This was a wonderful depiction for me because it felt like seeing my own room (different animals but a similar decorating ethos i.e. everywhere in the room).
The routine of eating the same food every day as well as the sensory challenges that can come with food: "alarmed by unexpected texture or flavour". I especially like how there's very little judgement on this aspect from her loved ones, they support and accommodate this.
Her first appearance in the courtroom where she doesn't answer the judge to confirm her presence/is unresponsive definitely reads like a shutdown.
Overall it's a very detailed, consistent and comprehensive portrayal.
The prejudice and judgement:
The show did a good job of portraying the prejudice and judgement faced, both obvious/explicit as well as subtle.
The explicit prejudice - the disbelief that someone disabled could be competent, that someone autistic could be just as good, if not better, than you.
The casual ableism of referring to "ordinary attorneys" (with strong implications of 'normal') when supposedly actually meaning 'allistic'. I thought they weren't going to address this but I was so pleased when the character who said it immediately apologised and acknowledged what he was doing.
The subtle judgement that autistic behaviours are 'annoying'. The characters 'banning' echolalia and Myung Seok sighing, the implied exasperation, when he sees Young Woo pausing before entering his door. These behaviours harm nobody and have very little actual effect on the surrounding people and yet they're still judged and/or prohibited.
(The ban on info-dumping (about whales) is sadly understandable though in the professional setting, with the emphasis and specific definition society puts on so-called 'professionalism').
The revolving door:
The issue Young Woo had with the revolving door was a great way to show the different reactions one can face/receive when needing accommodations or extra support.
A positive experience -
Joon Ho provides a suggestion and then guides/supports her through it but ultimately lets her accomplish it on her own. He gives her autonomy but also support alongside her and there's no judgement present. He doesn't try to limit her and make her use the other door and instead facilitates an opportunity.
A negative experience -
Soo Yeon sticks her arm in the door to stop it, she "helps" without being asked to and then makes a big show about the inconvenience of it all. She tries to limit what Young Woo can do/should be allowed to do when Young Woo knows herself best and what she wants to try.
Soo Yeon: “If the revolving door is difficult just use the other door […] are you an idiot?” And the reaction:
You're made to feel 'othered' and lesser because of it. When your differences are made to feel like deficiencies. That any extra support or accommodations that you need to succeed or experience life ‘like everybody else’ feel like a burden, that if it's difficult you shouldn't try because you're an inconvenience.
I'm pleased that they showed both aspects as they're both realistic experiences/reactions. You'll have people in your life that will understand your needs and others that won't. People that will try to limit you with your disability when you try to achieve the opposite and others that will support you in your attempts at liberation and growth.
The positive realities:
She has friends, has fun and jokes around. She's not isolated because of her autism.
ASD is not portrayed as some almighty superpower (despite the implication of savant syndrome). It's believable and everything she achieves has hard work just like everyone else.
Out of everyone, she was the one to spot the truth of the emotions - that the woman, Yeong Ran, did in fact love her husband. It's derived from a logical conclusion based on her understanding of actions and motivations but so what? that's the point. It’s no less valuable than purely empathetic conclusions, it’s just as good, if not better because she’s the only one to truly see it.
Her opening statement in the court essentially boils down to: 'I have ASD and I might be different but I’m no less than others'.
I think the show does a good job of showing the positives, negatives as well as the realities. It feels very balanced. I like it so far.
