Charles Teague

Highly recommended on Netflix. “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” a Korean series with English subtitles. The storylines, casting, direction, acting, and camera work are all striking. (1) Though I have left the practice of law, lawyer TV shows have not been interesting for me, as being mostly unconnected with the real world of law. Even JAG, of which I was in the better part of my career, is not appealing. Although this series certainly offers its moments of suspense and drama, it actually revolves around real world dynamics and the fascinating intricacies of the law. (2) Produced in Korea, it takes me back to a precious year I spent living there. The Korean people are resilient and remarkable, after suffering generations of Chinese domination, Japanese occupation, and devastating warfare. In my time there (mid 1970s) the backdrop of their history was apparent, but their future was unfolding at a remarkable rate. It never surprised me that Koreans have risen to the forefront of engineering and productivity with Samsung, LG, Hyundai, Kia, and others. (3) Human psychology has been a lifelong interest, why people see the world differently and react differently. The lead character in this series is a young woman on the Autism spectrum who, though having what most would deem to be disabilities (suffering more from the attitudes of others than from her own condition) makes marvelous contributions. While I find my mind wandering though most of the fare I see on TV, that is not so with Attorney Woo.