Bold and persuasive, Joseon Attorney introduces a cunning protagonist with a tragic backstory.
Showcasing the courtroom in the historical period, a competent man uses the law while aspiring for revenge. Often misunderstood as a money-driven law practitioner, a deeper past comes to unfold.
Opening Week Rating:
Marcie Line watches Joseon Attorney on Viu
Joseon Attorney Opening Week Story
“The law is one fair thing to all, among noblemen, commoners, and slaves alike.”
Arriving at Hanyang, Kang Han-soo (Woo Do Hwan) feels confident in making money as an attorney along with Dong-chi. Eyeing his first case to take, Han-soo targets the case of Mr. Park against Master Jang, who owns the biggest guild in Hanyang.
After losing customers for their plum wine, Master Jang intimidates Mr. Park to give commissions for selling plum wines also. Although seeming willing to protect Mr. Park from Master Jang’s men, Han-soo watches him get beaten up.
Reaching the point of planning to leave their hometown, Han-soo sets a fire to Mr. Park’s place. Desperate even though warned by Princess Yeon-joo (Kim Ji Yeon) who disguises herself as So-won, Mr. Park hires Han-soo as his attorney.
“It is not that I believe. It is what I desire. If I wish and desire, the reality might become at least a bit better.”
Winning the case by cornering the magistrate through the statutes and invalid precedent of Master Jang’s attorney, Han-soo collects his fee from Mr. Park’s family. However, he and Dong-chi get arrested for arson as reported by Yeon-joo.
Revealing the truth of that night, Mr. Park’s mother tells how her life was saved by Han-soo who saw her nearly hanging herself. Explaining the misunderstanding on the arson case, Han-soo and Dong-chi receive twenty floggings as punishment instead.
Even after a long day, Han-soo remains confident about his next deal. Luring Master Jang’s men, Han-soo pulls Yeon-joo to hide after excitedly running to him to apologize. Admitting his fault in the arson, Han-soo refuses the apology from Yeon-joo.
“Do you know what the easiest way is to bring a person down? It is to pin the blame on them.”
Despite hiding, Han-soo and Yeon-joo get captured. Tied upside down to a pit of snakes, Han-soo positively greets Master Jang whom he eyed from the start. On his recall of his family’s tragedy, Han-soo remembers Master Jang brutally inspecting his house.
Striking a deal with Master Jang who is desperate to secure a deal with the palace, Han-soo pledges to set free Pyo and collect the painting they need from him. Yeon-joo offers herself as a surety even with Han-soo’s disagreement as she bluffs that she fell in love with him.
As a condition to strengthen Pyo’s defense, Han-soo urges Jang to testify. However, Merchant Cho tries to block that strategy because of the risk. Yeon-joo agrees with him, but secretly supports Han-soo by purposely losing their drinking battle.
Defending Pyo using Jang as a witness, Han-soo’s strategy later flips. Collaborating with Merchant Cho, Han-soo successfully frees Pyo while Jang gets framed for abducting children in his ship.
“The world is not that easy. If you hope for change, you will be trampled down.”
Jang’s guild later becomes Cho’s guild, and Han-soo collects Pyo’s painting from Sowongak. Timely bringing the painting for the envoy from the Ming dynasty, Commissioner Park becomes pleased.
Learning about Jang’s situation, Commissioner Park beats him up after being reminded of their misdeeds together. Disguised as a guard, Han-soo shows himself to Jang, introducing him as the child of the man he killed seven years ago.
Asking Jang to explain, Han-soo hears how a higher authority, the past King, was involved in framing his father. Han-soo later crosses out Master Jang on the people for his revenge.
Pyo wakes up tied on the ship of the envoy, who feels eager to punish the thief of the painting. Meanwhile, Yeon-joo requests Han-soo to take her as his assistant after also asking for help from the King.
Joseon Attorney Opening Week Musings
Though fictional, the premise of Joseon Attorney brings a fresh and interesting take on historical dramas. It has explored a profession not much highlighted in such period, which is a relevant and impressive aspect to portray.
Adding to that are the characters’ captivating stories to tell, from Yeon-joo who conceals her noble status in a merchant house to Han-soo who’s often mistaken merely as a sly attorney. The series already formulates an engaging story with a lot of potentials in its premise and genre.
Seeming to be only driven by money, Han-soo’s complex thinking is excellently brought out by actor Woo Do Hwan. Understandably, he could be mistaken as a jerk, but he’s more than that given how his family was unjustly framed.
Like a genius that wins cases, Han-soo uses his knowledge of the law tactfully to reach his goal of revenge. Despite having that goal and a strong drive for money, he still shows how important it is to save lives. What he looks like on the surface is not all that it is.
Hiding her roots, Yeon-joo becomes curious about Han-soo and wishes to tame him. However, with Jang’s final hints to Han-soo, it appears that the past King was involved in his family’s downfall. Such backstory raises curiosity, and his future partnership with Yeon-joo is definitely something to look forward to in the next episodes.
Watch new episodes of Joseon Attorney every Friday and Saturday on Viu.
Photos: MBC Drama
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