#number one priority for me is youngwoo and she got her happy ending and that is literally all i ever wanted

[fyeahfandomtrash]

Extraordinary Attorney Woo and Comforting Endings

My favorite thing about EAW’s ending was the fact it was a pretty quiet affair.

Most of the drama happened in the courtroom, and the conflict that was brewing ended up serving as a means to allow a satisfying reconciliation between characters as opposed to making it a plot-driven show for the sake of entertainment. I was honestly very worried when the tae sumi stuff was starting to look like it was getting out of control in the second half and that moon jiwon had written herself into a corner, but what i got was the opposite. The ending didn’t feel like a bandaid to a catastrophic disaster, which sometimes can happen when a show rushes a happy ending. Instead, it felt right, appropriate, and even realistic. The pacing was comfortable and not jarring. Tae sumi has irrevocably damaged her relationship with youngwoo, and youngwoo also does not wish to pursue something with the mother who abandoned her. Instead, youngwoo uses empathy to get across to tae sumi how she will irrevocably damage her relationship with her son if she were to proceed further down a path that is so wrong with her, and the resolution that follows feels perfectly in line with the show’s intention and the characters that inhabit our screens. You can argue that the plot is contrived, but that doesn’t negate how hard the emotions hit during moments like these. And besides, didn’t I just say this show is more character-driven than anything else?

Like many others I was upset when junho and youngwoo had issues in their relationship in episode 14 and was annoyed when I thought it was dragging in episode 15, but I think I had to put into perspective that this relationship between youngwoo and junho is pretty new, and there are growing pains between two people who come into this relationship pretty inexperienced in certain things. Junho and youngwoo do not need to have grand gestures to declare their love, to know that their feelings are genuine. They in fact just need to talk, to affirm to each other again and again that what they have is real, that it is precious, and that they want to continue despite the challenges that may arise between a partnership. Their love works seamlessly into their own personal lives, adapting and going with the flow.

The last scene at the restaurant was also so lovely. Seeing all those characters around youngwoo look at her with genuine love and adoration was pure comfort. Found family never gets old. We see in this scene the manifestation of youngwoo’s personal development. Finally she feels like she has found her people, people who understand her and want nothing but the best for her. Navigating the world by yourself is so incredibly lonely, but now she has people who understand her, who have seen who she is and have embraced her and instead of rejecting her. I always stood by my belief EAW was about exploring our need for connection above all else, whether that be through friendships or a significant other or family, and that scene is a perfect concluding statement to the larger point the show is trying to make.

Last but not least, we have youngwoo’s daily routine, a perfect parallel to the beginning of the first episode. We have come full circle. People have already heaped praise on that ending, so I’m not going to contribute anything new. In short, it was an absolutely perfect way to end a show. I could not think of a better ending. We don’t need something big or grand to make a statement - this show has never been about that, and what greater joy is there in life than feeling a sense of fulfillment from the small joys and accomplishments you achieve on a good day? How a good day is a good one because we have become happier with ourselves, that we understand our place in the world a bit better and are satisfied with that? We have seen youngwoo through her highs and lows, and to see that she has come out of that journey the way she has evokes nothing but immense happiness and love for this character. 

It has been an absolute pleasure being with this show for the past two months. EAW will stay with me for a very long time. Things remain up in the air for the continuation of the show, but regardless of what happens, EAW will leave an impression on me for a long time.

#extraordinary attorney woo #more thoughts to come just wanted to say i absolutely loved the ending #number one priority for me is youngwoo and she got her happy ending and that is literally all i ever wanted #word vomit i am so sorry i just have a lot of things i want to say