Whales represent the struggles faced by people living with autism and are an emblem of both compassion and solitude.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo has quickly won hearts around the globe with her photographic memory, warm smile, and sudden epiphanies. She enjoys both gimbap and legal cases but holds one particular passion: whales!
1. Whales are mysterious
Since ancient history began, whales have long been seen as symbols of mystery and power. Native Americans revered them as Mama-cocha while Chinese saw these large creatures as emblematic of compassion and solitude. Whales are believed to sustain civilizations through their abundant energy sources as well as creative powers; in Extraordinary Attorney Woo this symbolism was honored through repeated whale VFX that symbolized Young-woo’s unique traits.
The Savant Attorney has won many fans with her photographic memory, charming smile, and sudden epiphanies – but one of her most captivating quirks is her obsession with whales – her monologues about whales often have direct bearing on plot events!
Park Eun-bin may not be autistic herself, but she collaborated with professors who specialize in autism to portray Young-woo as realistically as possible – this gives neurodivergent viewers who feel out of sync with neurotypical peers relief; yet it should be noted that the line between autistic representation and stereotyping can often be thin.
Young-woo’s eccentricities are highlighted throughout the series, while her passion for whales helps her bond with others. For example, Young-woo often calls Jun-ho at bedtime to talk about them; this gives her an outlet to share her enthusiasm safely with someone close to her.
While it’s essential that people gain knowledge and respect of autism, it is also crucial that they see those living with the condition as whole people. Extraordinary Attorney Woo accomplishes this by showing how Young-woo’s differences make her an efficient and likeable attorney.
One popular fan theory suggests that Young-woo’s business card number, 5252, refers to Whale 52 – commonly referred to as The Loneliest Whale. First discovered in 1989 and known for emitting sounds at frequencies distinct from other whale species’ calls during mating season; no other whale can hear him and communicate with him during these interactions – this parallels Young-woo’s isolation from her neurotypical peers in kdrama.
2. Whales are go-getters
Whales have long been depicted as strong and dynamic characters in literature and media, such as Captain Ahab in Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. So it comes as no surprise that Attorney Woo has a penchant for whales too; she herself can often be found trying to find solutions even when odds seem against her; similar to their whale counterparts who are known for their strength and power.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo has received some criticism for its inaccuracy of depiction of autism; however, many viewers with autism regard the show as essential and welcome addition to television. Park Eun-bin who plays Attorney Woo worked closely with professors specializing in autism to make her character as realistic as possible – she portrays many traits associated with autism such as echolalia, noise/touch sensitivity and rigidity as well as having an obsession with whales with her monotone voice and obsessive interest.
Attorney Woo is an accomplished and tenacious legal practitioner, but she struggles with bullying and social misunderstandings. To avoid conflict or make her own path without confronting peers when she makes errors. Sometimes this results in her being seen as loner; however, this problem has been overcome through finding close friendships and colleagues to support her.
These relationships allow her to find contentment at work; she finds mentors, allies and love interests within the law firm. Furthermore, due to her hard work ethic and determination she is one of their top attorneys.
As such, whales and the ocean are central themes throughout Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Furthermore, Attorney Woo works for Hanbada Law Firm which translates into one ocean – this adds even further significance and symbolism into this show! Whether it be drama, comedy, or romance you seek, Extraordinary Attorney Woo is sure to delight and should definitely be on your watchlist!
3. Whales are motherly
Young-woo is an avid admirer of aquatic mammals, particularly whales. She often talks about them and even has a whale-themed room! Many viewers have noticed her preoccupation with them (or rather Hanbada’s whale company), calling Jun-ho at night to talk about them or teach him interesting whale facts whenever she gets the chance.
Although her fixation on whales in the drama may seem cute and playful, there’s actually more going on behind this obsession. As she’s on the autism spectrum and often struggles to adapt to neurotypical societies, this connection between herself and whales may explain why she feels such an affinity towards them.
One of the show’s more striking examples of this is its depiction of a mother whale who abandons her son; this story represents how many disabled individuals feel within a society that still needs substantial reform.
Whales have long been seen as motherly creatures. A striking example is female killer whale mothers caring for adult male offspring; both as an expression of love and as an evolutionary strategy designed to ensure survival of these offspring – studies have indicated that having their mom nearby dramatically increases odds for survival for male killer whales.
Mother whales don’t always provide care for their offspring alone; other female whales may often pitch in as well. This practice of allomaternal care occurs among species like sperm whales, dolphins and pilot whales; additionally these females may benefit from developing closer bonds through helping one mother care for another’s offspring.
Allomaternal care has become especially critical to the recovery of North America’s endangered southern resident killer whale population. While we watch their comeback, researchers hope this type of motherly love can also assist. Research also shows female killer whales will forgoing reproductive success for caregiving their adult sons – this level of dedication from animal to human alike speaks volumes about just how profoundly love for children can impact us all.
4. Whales are a symbol of power
Whales represent communication to many people as a metaphor of their ability to share with each other and understand each other, which explains why many encounter them throughout their daily lives, whether or not consciously aware. Whales convey messages of kindness and power with their blowholes; therefore, whales have long been seen symbolizing the sea. Their power of moving large masses of water makes them iconic symbols for strength in movies and TV shows alike.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a popular kdrama that draws viewers’ interest due to the titular character’s fascination with whales. While this may be surprising given that its cast and writers are composed of neurotypical individuals attempting to portray experiences they do not share personally, Park Eun-bin and his fellow writers of Extraordinary Attorney Woo have accomplished an admirable task at creating an appealing character that resonates with both autistic viewers as well as non-autistic ones alike.
Park Eun-bin may not be an expert on autism; however, she has worked closely with professors specializing in this disorder to make sure her performance was as authentic as possible. As a result, she is well liked among viewers, who relate to her struggle against peers to hide whale-related interests and “odd” behavior from them for safety purposes.
Though different from her colleagues at her firm, she uses her intellect and high IQ to tackle cases that would otherwise baffle them; hence her popularity among coworkers and viewers alike.
As our spirit animal, the whale can help us recognize our minds’ extraordinary capabilities and intuition’s potency. Additionally, it reminds us to listen closely to what’s being transmitted by our bodies, which are often just as telling. Furthermore, its symbolic message serves as a powerful reminder that our lives can transform in unexpected ways.