Aside from my addiction to and admiration for the series, I would like to give some extra information about the correlation between the series and the historical accounts, in deed.
First of all, it is not reasonable to state that the series does not reflect the history in an accurate way. Really? I would like to ask these claimers that "which historical account(s) gives a true representation of any historical event?". Well, every historical account gives a sight of subjective perspective; the only objective one is "the chronicles" (only dates and clauses explaining the cases in a brief way). From this series, we cannot expect the bloody war scenes as its one episode is about 2 hours and what is really curious is the life of Sultans in the harem, their education and life styles because the "harem" of the Sultan is forbidden to any outsider for the time. The only confirmed account of harem is written in the autobiographical letters by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, who could only visit a Pasha's harem, though. The fictional parts are also needed to seam the unknown lines of the history if we would like to watch a coherent account.
The acting is really great! The maturation processes of all the characters are well given throughout the series. The music is really well composed and paid attention. The gestures and postures of the actors and actresses are just BEAUTIFUL, especially at critical points. Costumes! They are just true representations of the time's costumes and richness of the Ottoman State. Jewelry! Wow, yes I had already heard and searched for these precious things before I watched the series; but seeing them online is just invaluable!
The setting is really a true representation of the time. The Topkapi Palace is still there in Istanbul for the ones who wonder. It has to be visited when one goes there. There are still odours that you can smell in the Harem part of the palace. It is explained that all the walls of the Harem was washed with "rose water" throughout centuries, and it left its smells there, really! All the rooms of the consorts, concubines, shahzades (princes), sultans and servants are there in their real forms as you can see in this series (btw, there are hundreds of rooms in deed!).
The series provides a wonderful insight of the 16th century.
First of all, it is not reasonable to state that the series does not reflect the history in an accurate way. Really? I would like to ask these claimers that "which historical account(s) gives a true representation of any historical event?". Well, every historical account gives a sight of subjective perspective; the only objective one is "the chronicles" (only dates and clauses explaining the cases in a brief way). From this series, we cannot expect the bloody war scenes as its one episode is about 2 hours and what is really curious is the life of Sultans in the harem, their education and life styles because the "harem" of the Sultan is forbidden to any outsider for the time. The only confirmed account of harem is written in the autobiographical letters by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, who could only visit a Pasha's harem, though. The fictional parts are also needed to seam the unknown lines of the history if we would like to watch a coherent account.
The acting is really great! The maturation processes of all the characters are well given throughout the series. The music is really well composed and paid attention. The gestures and postures of the actors and actresses are just BEAUTIFUL, especially at critical points. Costumes! They are just true representations of the time's costumes and richness of the Ottoman State. Jewelry! Wow, yes I had already heard and searched for these precious things before I watched the series; but seeing them online is just invaluable!
The setting is really a true representation of the time. The Topkapi Palace is still there in Istanbul for the ones who wonder. It has to be visited when one goes there. There are still odours that you can smell in the Harem part of the palace. It is explained that all the walls of the Harem was washed with "rose water" throughout centuries, and it left its smells there, really! All the rooms of the consorts, concubines, shahzades (princes), sultans and servants are there in their real forms as you can see in this series (btw, there are hundreds of rooms in deed!).
The series provides a wonderful insight of the 16th century.