lullaby

Aras: Don't look at me like that. I was worried about you all day, so I came. Deniz: You came because of me? Aras: Yeah. Just don't leave my mind occupied with you anymore, okay?

For a 17-year-old girl who's been deprived of love and affection, it would've been almost impossible not to catch feelings for someone like Aras. He's kind, protective, brave, and always shows up when she needs him. But this isn't the story the show is trying to tell. They are meant to stay friends forever and I genuinely love watching their friendship.

Meanwhile, we also have this guy:

Deniz: Why are you still grinning? Teoman: Did you really take the T-shirt by accident? Deniz: What do you think I am, a thief, idiot?! Don't be ridiculous. Teoman: Hey, that's not a problem for me. You know I've never been big on moral boundaries.

Deniz: Nobody loves me! Okay? If even you don't love me that much, then maybe I'm just not someone worth loving!

Cut to....

Aras: If you lay a finger on the people I love, I'll never forgive you. Teoman: Don't waste your time. You can't protect her from me. And you never will.

The line "You can't protect her from me" sounded almost like "You can't take her away from me," and I found that really interesting. It carried a subtle sense of possessiveness.

"Home isn't a place—it's a feeling."

Deniz's writings are introducing new emotions into his inner world.

Lol, she isn't impressed.

Well, well, well.

They're soooooo teenager.

A snapshot of the Teoman & Deniz duo in one frame.

If the series hasn't been misleading us, Teoman is going to use Deniz to hurt Aras. That's because Aras admitted that his greatest weakness is the people he loves, and Teoman hinted that he would use Deniz against him.

Kadir: Seriously? Shame on you. Even in your dreams, you have me calling you "Ms. Lawyer." What am I gonna do with you?

LMAO.

Her heart and subconscious are both screaming, "Kadir." Even in her dreams, she knows deep down that the moment they're standing side by side, there's no way they'll be able to behave themselves. They're soooo attracted to each other. She knows he makes her feel this way.

Muhtemel Aşk first 3 episodes: Who will Defne choose? Every corner of this love triangle matters. Muhtemel Aşk, starting with Episode 4: Fuck the love triangle, this is their story.

It turns out watching this episode live wasn't the best idea, because I ended up getting bored. I can't really enjoy an episode when the characters I find entertaining barely get any focus, or when I'm expecting to see brotherhood but all I get is constant tension. (Meanwhile, even the trailer for my other show, Muhtemel Aşk, was more exciting!)

It feels like the show has a pacing and balance problem. Then again, it makes sense that I feel this way when the plot takes priority over the characters' personal journeys.

There's still a long way to go before Teoman matures and softens, so I actually like that the Teoman & Deniz storyline is developing slowly. I think Teoman is already interested in Deniz. He enjoys teasing her, and any little piece of information about her seems to catch his attention. But it doesn't seem like he even understands what he's feeling yet. If they gave them a few more scenes together, we'd probably get to see him start questioning those feelings.

As for Aras & Teoman, their dynamic is moving way too slowly. One moment they're showing empathy toward each other, and the next they're acting like sworn enemies. I don't know… it feels like their relationship could have been written with a bit more care.

I think the most interesting scene of the episode for me was the way Şebnem looked at Aras in that moment. She said he reminded her so much of his father and that really confused me. Was she feeling guilty, or did she have unresolved feelings toward his father? I honestly couldn't tell.

The second moment was Teoman's reaction when Deniz's exam ranking was mentioned after the test. I wasn't expecting that at all, it felt like such an unexpected little scene and it was really sweet.

This pair suddenly took me right back to the summer of 2013. It reminded me of the days when Kerem would stupidly pick on Zeynep in Waiting for the Sun (Güneşi Beklerken). Of course, Kerem and Zeynep were the main couple, whereas these two are just one of the two lead couples. So naturally, their screen time reflects that.

Deniz: You're even more unbearable than usual today. Is there a special reason? Teoman: I don't think you really know me. Deniz: Aren't you the kid who used to hide behind his mother to escape his father's wrath?

The moment he realizes she gets upset by the words his mother said…

Defne: You should go back to your wife, Mr. Kadir. People might get the wrong idea otherwise. I'm the one who ends up being the target of their nasty comments. Kadir: My marriage isn't real. Defne: I'm sorry? Kadir: I mean… between Leyla and me… there's no place for Leyla in my heart. Defne: So your heart is already full? Are you in love with someone else? Kadir: I am. Defne: Someone you could never forget, no matter how many years pass? Kadir: That's right. Defne: Then why aren't you with her, Mr. Kadir? Kadir: The situation I'm in right now… doesn't allow it. Defne: Well, what can I say, Mr. Kadir? I only wish you'd found the courage to stand by the person you love before it was too late. Thank you for explaining, but you really didn't have to.

Defne: What do you want from me?

Well, you aren't obvious at all, Mr. Kadir.

Defne: You kept telling me to trust you, remember? Well, I don't trust you one bit. Got it? I want you to know that. And from now on, don't you dare show up in front of me again unless it's absolutely necessary. Kadir: You don't trust me? Defne: That's right. I can't stand you. Not even a little.

Aesthetics...

Defne: Move your car. Kadir: Calm down. We're going to talk. Defne: You don't get to order me around like that, okay? I'm not like the women who always surround you. Kadir: Yeah, I've figured that out.

The man keeps slipping accidental love confessions into the middle of their arguments.

Defne: I said move your car! Kadir: I'm not moving it. Defne: You're not? Kadir: I'm not. What are you going to do about it? Defne: You'll see what I'm going to do. Kadir: If anyone's going to kill me, let it be you, Ms. Lawyer.

When you find someone who matches your freak…

When Kadir saw that Defne not only liked the gift he had given her but had immediately turned it into a keychain, he was genuinely happy. Despite everything, it made him feel like there might still be a chance for them.

Defne: You left this in the car. Kadir: Thanks. It meant a lot to me. Defne: Then cars weren't like human relationships. You could leave something valuable inside and walk away. Kadir: But the valuable thing found its way back. Defne: Exactly. It went back to its rightful owner.

I love this couple's subtle dialogue! Defne is implying that the feelings she sees in Kadir aren't really worth much. Kadir, on the other hand, suggests that those feelings are precious, that they belong with their rightful owner and subtly implies that their rightful place is with Defne. Defne then turns his words back on him. She implies that the thing that "came back" isn't his feelings for her at all, but his feelings for his wife. Since the divorce has been called off, the only thing that has truly returned is his commitment and affection toward his wife.

I love the tension between these two. That said, I have to admit this episode felt weaker than the previous ones. Kadir's characterization was all over the place, one moment he acted one way, the next he was completely different and I honestly couldn't make sense of it.