#icerde

Çukur

I LOVE MAFIA DRAMAS! And this one takes the cake! It was one of the best dramas I have seen. The main character, Yamac, is perfectly characterized by Aras Bulut Iynemli. (I've only seen a couple of his works but after this show, he's moved into my list of favorite actors). He played so well, completely embodies his character, every emotion is so raw and passionate. He's amazing! Yamac is the youngest of a mafia family, who ran away when he was 18 and is forced to return upon the death of his brother and the hospitalization of his father. From there we see his character shine. It is shown how intelligent he is. He went to college, but it's not just mentioned, but shown! He uses his intelligence. HE'S SO SMART! As a chemist and engineer he loves to blow things up and we see that. As the youngest brother, he loves to play with his older brothers and he has a very playful and childish side. We see his kindness and his love. Is he a criminal, yes. But a competent criminal with a heart of gold and the ability to forgive almost anyone and the patience of a saint. But it's not just him; the portrayals of his family members are done amazingly as well. Each relationship is distinct and I just... I love it. I love his relationships with his brothers: from the support, to the betrayals, to the forgiveness. Throughout the series we see their connection and bond. We see the friendships between other characters. Some of my favorites are Medet and Salih, Celansu and Meke, Yamac and Alico, and Kemal and Metin. My other favorite relationship (and this isn't about shipping wars) is Sena and Yamac. They were my favorite couple. And I won't say any spoilers, but just know that she's my favorite and she has such a presence in the show, whether or not she's in the scene.

Throughout the seasons, we also see how all the characters develop. All of the brothers change, especially Yamac who has to deal with the most and is burdened the most. We see him go from a young man who was happy and in love with his wife and just married and completely unburdened, to a man who is crazed, lost half his family in some of the most traumatic ways, burdened by the pressure to protect the rest while dodging bullets flying at him at all sides (and most of the time getting hit), to a man who's holding on to what's left and trying to rebuild.

I love him, and I love this show, and I can't recommend this enough. The show is very much centered around family. The first season is about betrayals, the second about regret and forgiveness, the third is about madness/insanity, and the fourth was about healing (towards the end at least).

The soundtrack of this show goes down as one of my absolute favorite soundtracks. The music is a character in this show. As a musician, Yamac uses it as an entrance, he's very much a showman. And it shows his crazy side. Speaking of crazy sides, this show has some of the best fight scenes ever done. Very well played and acted. Please please please watch! Longer review linked!

Günesin Kizlari

This was so soapy, I have bubbles coming out of my mouth. I kid you not, I love this so much. It was a great show. Not gonna lie, going in, I thought it was going to be light, but I was waaaayyy off. It was heavy! That was some heavy heavy drama. I LOVED IT! Okay, to start I'm going to say Hande and Tolga are everything! They had the best chemistry I've seen them have compared to other shows they're in so far. I need them to act together in something else! Selin and Ali were my favorite couple; I don't know how, but somehow, at some point, they were the most functional compared to the other couples on screen. I was so surprised because these two are ridiculous. But I love them. They had the best relationship, (fun fact, the movie that they were referencing when playing their game is a French movie called "Jeux D'enfant" or Love me if you Dare, which is amazing too and deserves to be watched) and they were so cute together. Their scenes were everything to me. The characters were great. The kids were hilarious and dramatic and most of the time I was wondering what brain cells they even had to rub together to get ideas out. The adults were the most toxic, dysfunctional people I've seen in a minute. Every adult, even Gunes, was problematic! (And I say even Gunes because there were so many moments, but one that stands out to me is in episode 26, while this kid is reeling from his entire life being a lie, she goes up to him and is like "your dad feels really bad right now, you should talk to him and help him." like no! No!!!) It was ridiculous. Episodes 16 and 17 were obviously my favorite, and every scene with Ali and Selin being cute. I like that there are actual obstacles in everyone's way, especially the kids (since the adults are the obstacles in most cases).

The music was banger! Loved it! The cinematography was kind of shit, which was annoying. Very old fashioned and low cost production type of camera work, especially in the beginning.

Godspeed

This made me cry. I genuinely did not expect that twist at the end there. I mean, it made perfect sense and I don't know why I didn't see it but... Anyway. Tolga and Engin do an amazing job in this.

Baba

Once again watching a show for Tolga Saritas. I'll say he makes it worthwhile. Baba was a good show, it had a complex story line that was focused on family. Love a father has for his sons, love a father has for his daughter, love a brother has for his sister, love children have for their parents. These themes stayed central to the story line. It was a good show, although I will say that season 1 was better than season 2 (and generally just made more sense). The first season is about a middle-class family entering the class of obscene wealth, and how one son is the only one who can keep them from failing, and all the obstacles in his way. Then season 2 is about how despite all his efforts, the family is now in extreme poverty, and once again the son is tasked with leading his family and the rest of the community.

I noticed, and love, that Tolga Saritas has never played a bad character in the shows I've seen him in. Whoever is his agent does a good job of picking projects for him. I hope to see the trend continue. His character, Kadir, is a great man, who loves his family and is willing to do anything to help people. He is acted wonderfully and has amazing chemistry with his costar Haluk, who plays his father. Their relationship is a big draw to the series.

Religion is also a big aspect of this show, and how it serves as a tool for justice and consequence. I enjoyed that they used it to make people accountable for their actions. Good show overall.

Senden Daha Guzel

A good story. Very cute actors. They had a good chemistry that was very fluffy. It was a simple story. There wasn't much going on or need to put any thought in it. A good little short to pass the time.

Ask 101 (Love 101)

This was cute. I watched it mainly for the Yargi pairing but the kids storylines were cute as well. I found the second season much better than the first. It was very short for a dizi, so I recommend it as a palate cleanser or something to watch when bored. The cast was filled with exceptional actors. The soundtrack was good too. Overall, I'm pleased with this show.

Miracle in Cell No. 7

Remake of a Korean Movie by the same name. Both movies are perfect for sobbing your heart out. Admittedly, the Turkish version does end on a happier note than the Korean version, but both are full of heart-wrenching moments. About a man with mental disabilities who gets sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. He and his daughter are the miracles in the cell. Very moving story. Absolutely recommend, both versions!

Içerde

I saw this one after Cukur. Aras had impressed me so much that I wanted to watch his other works as well. I'll say that he still is one of the best aspects of the show. Him and Cagatay. They played very well and had excellent chemistry. I think I would have liked it more if they had more scenes together. They had great stories separately but we took forever to get to the reveal and they had so little time together, I felt like there was a missed chance to show off their chemistry, which was really the highlight of the show. Because they were crazy alone, but they were completely chaotic together. These two were crackheads.

Also, what is it with the shows I've watched recently fridging the love interest!!! Why?!?! They need to stop! It upsets me.

I think my biggest criticism with this show is that there is a lot of over acting. Sometimes they'll say things and I'll just be thinking that it's a little ridiculous. Also it went on a little too long. But otherwise, a worthwhile series to watch. Great plot! Mert is a great anti-hero and Sarp is a great hero. I was heartbroken for Mert for a lot of the series but also I was rooting against him for the most part what with him being on the wrong side. But anyway, great series.

Son Yaz

Good show. Not bad. I think what bothered me the most is that there was a naïveté to the characters in the mafia that shouldn’t have been there if they were born in the mafia. I mean, other mafia shows, the characters knew not to trust anyone, and that everyone was out to kill them. And on the off chance that they did trust someone, they were smarter than them so they could counter. But here, the characters are all stupid and trusting. I’m just like… you dumb dumbs. DUMMIES!! WHY!?! Who’s got the braincells here. Maybe Soner? Sometimes? No. That’s not right either. Selim most of the time, but try as I might, couldn’t like him that much. I tried, I genuinely tried to be on board with him, but he was so complicated in a way that was not appealing, mainly because he was an absent father and an overbearing one at the same time, while also having a very narrow view of the world that didn’t allow for other people’s points of view. It sucks because he was the only remotely competent one there. 

That’s another problem. These dummies are so dumb, all their plans are stupid. How did they get this far in life? I say this with love. I mean, it was part of their charisma I guess. They were young, so being stupid is excusable. It’s not like I’m putting them on the same level as Yamac Kocovali from Cukur or something. That guy was in his late 20s at the start of the series and he was smart. Also that series was much more liberal about murder. These kids are just dumb and there’s the stakes are pretty much just being imprisoned. Understandable since it’s not about being in the mafia but trying to get out of it.  

Okay, but besides them being so stupid, their relationships were cute. Naz and Soner were adorable and I love them. Yagmur and Akgun were chaotic little beans who I love so much. They are both so impulsive in different ways. Yagmur is straightforward with her emotions while Akgun is PANIC! EMOTIONS!

Season 2 was definitely better to me. I really liked the darker turn it went to. Good series. Not a bad watch. But it was canceled so the ending is full of plot holes and loose ends. 

UFO

A good movie. It had a nice premise and I enjoyed the actors. I watched it for Mert and it was well worth it. A good little palate cleanser. Not a lot to say about it, but it was worth checking out.

In Good Hands

A good movie. Had an unexpected twist at the end that was very clever. I enjoyed it. Don't have a lot to say about it considering it was only an hour and a half. Heartily recommend as a palate cleanser.

Yali Çapkini

Ongoing while I'm writing this. I dropped it at around episode 17, but I might come back to it if I see that there is an improvement in the characters. Cinematography, acting, music, are all good, but I had to drop because I don't like any of the characters and I'm constantly frustrated by them. I'm sorry, it's not that I don't like them, it's that I don't like that they are the main characters. If Ferit and Seyran weren't the lead couple, I think I would be much more entertained by them, because I wouldn't have to see the consequences of their (Ferit's) actions. But I do see, and Ferit is such a dumbass. If he weren't the lead, I could just call him a himbo and be done with it. But he is the lead so I have say that he's a narcissist, inconsiderate, and immature to boot. So... you see my struggle. I want to like him so much because Mert plays him so well, and he is so charming and good-looking, but, unfortunately, he's a dick. I want to come back to this show when he improves as a character. To be fair, a lot of the situations that happen are not his fault, but he does not make the situation better in a lot of the cases. So I hope they have a time lapse where he improves himself over a course of years and then reunites with his wife or something, or he just is a better character in another 10 episodes. I'll check up on it.

Oh Belinda

Honestly I skipped through most of this movie trying to get to the end. It wasn't terrible but I also didn't really feel the vibe of it.

EGO

I am so sad that I didn't like this. I gave up around episode 9 and I can understand why it was such a short show. It's so complicated. I really could not understand the plot lines at all. Everyone was so toxic and destructive. I love the lead actors and had seen them together in Carpisma where they had such great chemistry but it was the same problem as Carpisma where the plot couldn't save them. Like, the plot buried their natural chemistry. I'm so sorry for it. Just a really boring, complicated show. Not for me unfortunately.

Üç Kiz Kardes

I gave up. I'm sorry but this was just too ridiculous for me. And I'm sorry for it because it's a beautiful show. Like the actors are beautiful, the set is beautiful, the cinematography, the music. Lovely show. Honestly, the plot is not bad, like as in there is a good story in there, but it's . . . how do I put this . . . not well executed. I don't believe the love story, because it's scattered, the parents are either too evil or too good, or too oblivious. The sisters are naive. The boyfriends are either assholes (except Serdar, who's an angel and the only one I rooted for). I gave up at episode 15. I couldn't anymore. Sadly. Maybe someone else will like it. But it wasn't for me.

Duy Beni

Uhhh... this was interesting, in the way that watching a car crash is interesting. These kids are in desperate need of therapy. All of them. None of them are likable. The only person worth rooting for is the mom. Everyone is ridiculous 95.5% of the time. I mean, the main characters aren't even on screen. They have, like, 5% screen time together. Which is a really missed opportunity because they are crazy attractive and have good chemistry. I'm just... no. I started this because I was looking for Gunesi Beklereken (which I can't find anywhere) and this was on it's recommended page and people have said it was good, but I'm just. Not for me I guess. It was way too melo. No one really deserves any sympathy, a lot of problems could have been solved if they just hadn't been so ridiculous. I want to feel bad for the leads, but even then I'm just exhausted by them half the time. The love story was hard to believe because the lead actors didn't have any screen time. Sorry I couldn't like it.

Safir

The amount of disappointment I feel for this drama is incredible. It had the potential to be so good. The casting was great. The acting was good. The scenery and film was perfect. But the plot collapsed! I mean. It was so bad! I disagreed with every choice that was made and I ended hating nearly every character. That's hard to do. Ates is the only character I ended up still liking, and it was mostly out of spite at the end too because I hated every other character who kept f*cking with him so much. I HATE Yaman. I loath him. I think he is the worst character ever and the fact that Feraye stayed obsessed with him in the end. I mean, girl?! This is so dumb of you. You know at this point, they are both so infuriating, they deserve each other. I was justifying her in the beginning because she was going through some emotional stuff, but I cannot support her choices. And just... this is all I can say about this show. It was disappointing. The show could have been great, and it flopped. It flopped hard!

Ferhat Ile Sirin