Unpopular Opinion: Steer Clear of this Extremely Problematic Series
Let's start with the good parts: The visuals, BG score, acting are all well done. This is one of the most popular Turkish dramas.
What's problematic are the stories and portrayal of characters.
The writing is very bad. Just because a near rapist is patient and perhaps good looking doesn't speak volumes about his morals. The fact that Fatmagul loves this 'changed man' (who is still a stalker) is weird. You can't come back from some crimes. This show is a problem. The message: Fall in love with the man who let other men violate your honour, then married you to protect the lost honour. Hilarious. If only the characters had more respect.
Let's start with the good parts: The visuals, BG score, acting are all well done. This is one of the most popular Turkish dramas.
What's problematic are the stories and portrayal of characters.
- The character of lead actor pretty much did nothing to stop physical abuse of the female protagonist, never helped her after the rape, practically left her to die, took money from friend's dad/lawyer representative and made sure that she never opened her mouth. So he married her when she hated him and then doesn't keep his promise of leaving her to start a new life. He also forces his presence on her and perhaps expects Fatmagul to like him back and dance with him. There is no reason why she should. Someone who kept quiet about gang rape when he pretty much caught her and handed her to his friends while on drugs is just as much a criminal as a rapist. The fact that he got married to shut her up plus a sense of guilt neither makes him marriage material not does it absolve him of his crimes.
- The sister in law of the lead protagonist Fatmagul is a greedy, vulgar and an overbearing character and yet everyone stays in the same house though no one except Kerims mother earns money. The actress playing the character has done a great job but the character is so disgusting and irritating. No one can live with such a person. I don't see a reason why Kerim, Fatmagul and his mother stay with them after the 'wedding' other than Kerim and the sister in law want to constantly keep their eyes on Fatmagul ensuring she doesnt go to the police and 'talk'. In fact the SIL makes her do all the work and keeps her uneducated. No logic to continue the same after the wedding.
- Kerim's mother is extremely irritating as a character because somehow she portrays herself as nice and idealistic but never reports her son or any of his friends so that the son doesn't get into trouble. Also she gets v happy and constantly encourages Kerim to never leave Fatmagul as she is his responsibility. She wants Fatmagul to have a good life and she thinks that Kerim is the only one who can give it to her. No! He is a near rapist who did nothing to help her and left her to die after the rape. How on Earth does she thinks there are no better people in Turkey/the world for Fatmagul. She always patronizes the son, gets unhappy seeing Kerim and Fatmagul are not dancing etc. She keeps sticking to Fatmagul as if she is a child and always pushes Kerim to never leave the place and be with Fatmagul because she believes he has done no wrong. Seriously! She knew what they did to her and even she did not report the crime. However what she never suggests to Fatmagul is to probably live separately instead of staying in the toxic presence of SIL and Kerim.
- Fatmagul keeps waiting for a man who doesn't stand up to her in her tough times and then falls in love with a man who watches her get raped, doesn't help, takes money to marry her / keep her silent and then never lives up to his word of leaving her to find a better life without him. I guess instead if she concentrated more on getting an education, become independent and find a better person to live with (if at all), it would have been a better option. Perhaps in an alternate storyline.
- The assumption that every character seems to have of Fatmagul - she is a woman child who can be manipulated physically emotionally to get what they want throughout the show. Also the fact that the characters assume she has no life or choices outside this sham of a marriage. Also glorification of marriage is fine but this marriage was a coverup for crime. That got negated real fast.
The writing is very bad. Just because a near rapist is patient and perhaps good looking doesn't speak volumes about his morals. The fact that Fatmagul loves this 'changed man' (who is still a stalker) is weird. You can't come back from some crimes. This show is a problem. The message: Fall in love with the man who let other men violate your honour, then married you to protect the lost honour. Hilarious. If only the characters had more respect.