lullaby

Although it's quite late, I'd like to say a few words about the season finale as well.

I found it a bit underwhelming compared to last season's finale. It was obvious that the wedding wasn't going to end happily, but when the reason came from a place I really disliked, it made me even more frustrated.

In the first season, Alya chose to leave because of a child. In the second season finale, she once again chose to leave in order to protect a child. In fact, in both situations, there was also the intention of protecting Cihan. Protecting him from what his anger might make him do and from the damage that could be done to his heart. This time, however, it was because she was at her weakest and was being threatened by a man she knew to be utterly ruthless.

Boran did everything we thought he would never do. Raising a child to hate their own father is a whole new level of despicable. But then again, he would do something like that, because throughout the entire season Boran proved himself capable of every kind of dirty trick. Alya could have chosen to fight, after all, we're talking about a long-term plan, and there was always a chance it might fail. But when a child was involved, Alya felt helpless because she believed that fighting would inevitably harm the child in one way or another. We're talking about a child's innocence here. In a situation like that, Alya simply couldn't fight. So, believing she had already lost from the very beginning, she chose to leave instead.

That's not what I'm angry about. What really frustrates me is that Meryem and her son have completely drained the story of its appeal. I genuinely can't stand it. That's not an exaggeration. I fast-forwarded through most of their scenes anyway, but even the limited number of minutes I had to watch just to understand the plot were more than enough for me.

In my opinion, some plotlines simply should never be written. Watching a show where you're constantly wondering whether another child of the main character is going to appear from nowhere is exhausting. On top of that, it damages the main storyline. What disappoints me is that these kinds of things are written as if they're some huge, dramatic revelation. Because I don't think that's what this story deserves.

Moreover, the Turkish TV industry's shallow habit of creating storylines to fit actors instead of finding actors to serve the story could easily happen in this series as well. That's what I'm worried about. I can only hope that the actress who plays Meryem wants to leave the show of her own accord. Because otherwise, just as we had to endure watching a ridiculous creature like Boran for an entire season, we might end up going through the exact same thing here.

Sigh. They are still so wonderful together.

During the traditional Turkish henna night, it was very moving that scenes of Alya's mother, Fikriye, were shown while the song was playing. When the lyrics reached the part, "May they never look down on her, her mother's precious one" Alya remembered her mother.

But someone did look down on her. And it seemed as though Sadakat had finally realized how lonely she was. In front of everyone, she gently caressed Alya's face as if she were her own daughter. It was a very touching moment.

Alya: I put hanna on you.(*) Cihan: If I must burn, let it be by you.

(*) There is a wordplay here. In turkish "kına yakmak" means "put henna on someone's hand" and in Turkish "yakmak" means "to burn someone". So Alya said "yaktım seni" which can be translated both as "I put henna on you" or "I burned you". He gladly agreed to what she meant and used the same metaphor about being consumed by his feelings for her.

Oh boy, you have no idea what's gonna happen to you...He just should be careful with the words he chooses.

For Season 3, we could open with a time jump once the mourning period has ended and the time has come for İpek and Kaya's wedding. It was mentioned in the episode that the wedding would take place at the end of August, which is roughly when the new season is expected to begin.

I think Alya, wanting to make sure Cihan cannot reach her, will get a new phone number. She'll probably be unaware of everything that's happening, cutting off communication with everyone. As for Cihan, because of his possible travel ban, I don't think he'll be able to go abroad to look for Alya.

So the question we're all wondering is: does Alya return of her own free will, or because she's forced to? Personally, I don't think Cihan will be the one to find her and bring her back this time. However, she may be forced to return because of some issue involving Deniz. I've even imagined some truly masochistic scenarios, such as Alya hearing news of a wedding and mistakenly assuming it's Cihan and Meryem's wedding.

This show is basically Yabani High School Version.

Alya: Would you marry such a woman? Cihan: I would.

Cihan: Since the day you married me, you've never really known peace. No peace, no stability. And there never will be. Because I've always had a difficult life, and that's not going to change. You'll tell me, "Cihan, stop. Don't do it." But I won't stop. I'll do it anyway. Most likely. My family's troubles will never end. My mother will never stop hovering over us. You're a fearless woman. A woman who makes fear kneel before her. At least that's how I see you. You're brave. In fact, you're a little too brave. You even stood up to the Bulgarian mafia. You had a hundred, a thousand reasons to leave, but you didn't. You stayed by my side. You chose to stay. You chose to burn with me. That's why I could never give up on you. Look, this heart may stop beating. This body may return to the earth. But I will never give up on you. Will you marry me? Alya: I will.

This scene is a callback to the one in Episode 5 of Season 1. In that episode, Alya listed the troubles she could potentially bring into Cihan's life, then asked, "Would you marry a woman like that?" His answer was, "I would." (Turkish: "Evlenirim")

In the actual proposal scene, Cihan tells Alya that their life together will be full of challenges, that his own shortcomings and complications will frustrate her, and then asks, "Will you marry me?" Alya doesn't say "yes." Instead, she replies, "I will" (Turkish: "Evlenirim")

Because of the double meaning created by the tense structure in Turkish, they both answer with the exact same word. Alya even smiles a little, as if she's remembering that earlier moment. She also comes close to him and tilts her head like the way he did in the episode 5.

Some things never change.

Cihan: There is nothing tying Meryem to this place. But there is something tying you here. Because you are the woman of this house. You are the lady of this mansion. You are the woman of my life.

Of

Freaking

Alya is the one coughing, but Cihan looks as if his lungs are burning.

(He looks at her that beautifully and then some writer thinks it's a good idea to write that he could have a grown-up kid. Dear God, keep me sane.)

My poor heart.

They must be protected at all costs.

They way they cling to each other.