Kan Cicekleri episode 160

 The Aftermath

Quick synopsis: Baran in the ER, then the ICU. Cevdet to the rescue. Gul and Firat reminisce.

Baran grabs Dilan's hand and reaches up to touch her face as he lay there in the driveway. Finally the family comes out, Cihan calls an ambulance, we see the lights speeding across the bridge. At the hospital, Dilan says, in front of everyone, that she wishes she had stepped in front of the bullet, had been shot instead. Will this win over Azade-doom? The camera focuses on her like it might.

Firat confronts his father who seems more scared than sad. Hasan's explanation is plausible but Firat is not convinced.

Baran's injury is bad, but it's the blood loss that's going to be the problem. And a new wrinkle, he has a rare blood type. They don't have a lot and have applied for more*, but it's not a certainty. But remember back when Dilan's brother Cevdet needed blood and Baran gave it? Same blood type! She calls him and he's on his way, entire family in tow. 

Then the nurse brings out Baran's personal effects. Everyone stops. Pregnant pause before she continues, he's in surgery, not dead. You'll want these things for later. 

Dilan is grateful when Cevdet arrives and, also in front of everyone--there's really no other place to be at this stage, the waiting room is small--he reminds her how Baran saved his life once. Now it's his turn. This also does not go unnoticed by Baran's family.

An update: he's critical, still losing blood. If they don't get more, they'll lose him. Go Cevdet, go!

This critical state kicks off a dream sequence for Baran, desperate to find Dilan in a low lit cave. Her voice is everywhere, echoing and sending him off in different directions.

Update #3: he's out of surgery, the prognosis is uncertain. They'll know more when he wakes up. Azade starts full on lamenting. Dilan steps in, telling her not to give up, doing a proper set-down of such dour thoughts, being the hopeful voice that is esteemed in times like this. She becomes the pillar in the middle of their literal circle. Even Azade is rallied. Will this be enough to win her over?

As Kudret walks Dilan's family out, he thanks Cevdet personally for donating blood. And Cevdet's response is perfect: What's precious to my sister is precious to me. Dilan's ripple effect continues, further strengthening the two families' ties.

And then Sabiha shows up. She comes into the frame from behind Kudret, and I actually jumped. And crap, that's right, she owns the hospital. Seyit and Sabiha are introduced. Presumably it was Sabiha's husband that brought Dilan to Seyit as a child. We hold our breath. Do they know each other? No, they do not. At least we don't seem them recognize each other.

 

Dilan pleads with a sleeping Baran, just like he did in similar circumstances, please open your eyes. You can be mad, yell at me, whatever you want. Just let me see your beautiful eyes again.

Then something pretty funny happens. Kudret and Cihan are talking, Cihan brought food but neither of them wants to eat right now. Then Hasan walks around the corner, stuffing his face. 

An obligatory Hasan, you rat. 

His hands are full of food and drinks and he turns the corner away from the other 2 and doesn't see them. But it's not lost on Kudret. Hasan seems very comfortable at a time when the rest of the family keeps offering each other bags of store bought sandwiches and equally refusing to eat them. Even Gul, who takes one from Firat ("pretend it came from someone else '' he says) but doesn't eat it, takes it instead to her mom, who also doesn't eat it.

Later on Gul is crying outside the hospital on a bench because she feels responsible, having pressured Dilan to take a stand. Firat offers her his handkerchief. She reminisces about when they were all younger and even then, Baran would protect her and Cihan. And this is really interesting because there's constant references to Gul being staff, but in this case, these memories are an equalizing force. We can't ignore her place in the household, but this shared history also can't be ignored. We'll see if Firat's fatalist pledge to seek out only power lasts.

Derya walks into the shot between the two of them. She wouldn't miss this event, but not in the supportive way. Firat "can't stand that anybody wants Baran dead" and his sincerity surprises Derya. He sends her off before she upsets everyone. So even here, someone on an equal class footing but with bad history is denied while the staff with the shared history is considered family.

Dilan gets 5 minutes in the ICU. It prompts another dream sequence:

Ayten appears, wearing the scarf; things go downhill in the ICU.

Dilan appears behind Baran in the mist, calling his name. His mother tells him she misses him but he should go to the woman he loves; the monitor beeps and he flatlines.

And that's how it ends. GAAAAAH! 

Culturisms:

*They have to apply for blood? Ouch. That's one hitch I'm glad we don't have.

The faucet in the hospital bathroom is a kind I've never seen before.

The IV is high up on his arm, just under his armpit. Is that normal, instead of the wrist or the hand? 

Lots of focus on hands patting shoulders this episode.

Yelling at the tv:

Lady, you can't get all suited up to go into the ICU, then take your mask down and set a bloody scarf on his bed.

It's fun to think of them being kids together, Baran and Gul, Firat and Cihan.

They won't. They can't end like this. THEY DID. You rat bastards.

3 Hagia Sofias chanted

Teaser 161:

Baran is moved to a regular room. No more wires except one on his finger. More 'open your eyes' pleading. Sabiha pays a visit. (I knew her owning the hospital was going to be a problem.)

Kan Cicekleri episode 159

The Launch Party

Quick synopsis:  Gul knows the truth. A necklace swap. Consequences of actions.

Gul heard right, Dilan has been forced to act this way. She is relieved to know that Dilan has been lying, that this love she and Baran had was real, and looking back, she realizes that things are adding up now. And that is so satisfying. She presses Dilan, "Tell me everything or I'll go to Baran with what I know". Finally! An ultimatum I can get behind! The pressure comes from a good place though; Dilan has helped all of them, says Gul. Let me help you this time. Dilan reveals the threats that she has been living under.

But someone was watching them.

Sabiha's plan is simple: swap the necklace for her faux. Viran has arranged for a reporter to attend the launch and capture the embarrassing moment, the result being Baran is a laughing stock, his big day ruined, his company in shambles. 

Gul knowing the truth has the opposite effect on Dilan however. Instead of easing the burden, she now has a very real and close fear that Gul’s life is also now in danger. It pushes her to resolve to swap the necklaces after all. Baran is in the middle of preparations himself, but catches her eye across the patio. Rather than scowling (well, scowling less) he seems perplexed. Is my theory of a supposed trap still in play?

Dilan is nearly found out by Cihan in the study, but after a fumble with the safe--where we wonder if maybe Baran changed the combination, a trust broken--she ends up getting it open and pulling out the necklace from its box. She makes the switch but only narrowly escapes being caught again, this time by Baran and Kerem. She's just outside the door, on the patio, when Baran notices said door is open, the curtain blowing in the breeze. He closes the door but then notices the cabinet door ajar...and leaves it. (Trap. Totally a trap.)

He meets Dilan in their closet. Going to the launch, are we? Forget it, Cinderella. Baran forbids it. "I don't remember inviting you. You don't deserve to see my happiest day." She's devastated but Gul comforts her. There's power in numbers and Gul is there for her. She convinces her to do...something. Not swap the necklaces back, but it's good to see some gumption in the works. Kader is still pinch-faced around her though and that's sad.

Dilan goes to the thing she's not supposed to / said she wouldn't (like other important dinners) and when she walks under the entrance arbor, Baran does a double take and is entranced. She's caught by paparazzi but handles it like a pro, a credit to the Karabey name, with the grace of a Karabey bride. 

Firat is stuck at the kids table (aka secondary characters' table), after Gul delivers another sizzling set-down. Kudret presents Dilan with Ayten's scarf, MUCH to Baran's surprise. And he will be the instrument of his own displeasure, being asked by Kudret to put the scarf on Dilan. With the scarf, Kudret delivers a benediction: may you have the love your mother and I had, and all the time we didn't. Baran counters with whispers of stripping the honor and taking the scarf away later that night.

At last, they unveil Delal. And...it's the original! 

She had switched them back. 

Sabiha is furious. She makes a call.

Congratulations all around.

A family photo is proposed. (They are staring at each other in it again.)

Firat makes an escape and comes to a realization. He's fed up. Kudret's words and fatherly advice are lost to him. He will choose power over everything. I want to say, Firat, you toad, but this is so much worse. This is Firat failing. Gul got through to him alright, but in ways that prompt him to turn away from her. I wonder if (when) he ever sees that she does still care for him, this will change his mind. He thinks she's given him up, for money and power, and then she scolded him so many times, he just kinda gives up. He will pursue these things too, almost as if to one up Gul. These Karabey boys, always thinking their women have forsaken them. It's practically a family trait at this point.

Dilan is firmly decided, she needs to talk to Baran. But he's nowhere to be found. She panics. Nope, nevermind, there he is.

And walks right past her without a glance.

But he's ok, not hurt. She recommits to talking to him. Finally! We've hit the Just Tell Him! stage. The party is over and she sees him by the pool, follows him to the driveway. She confesses everything...to his back.*  And just when she's ready to say it to his face, a little red dot appears on his shoulder. She yells his name. He turns and notices the dot. And gets shot. And shit, there's music. That means this is serious. And not just any ole melancholy song, it's his mom's ballad. The folk song she used to sing. The one they have of her singing it on tape. And there's a lot of blood.

This is bad, gang.

Culturisms:

They always blur the blood. Family show, I guess? But even with it blurred, it shows up bright against his white shirt. And there's so much. It's a shoulder wound, not a kill shot, but wow, they make it dire.

Yelling at the tv:
* Baran! Say it! Call his name and make him turn around! Walk up to him. Anything but talking out loud when he can't hear you. My god, you writers, you're killing me here.

And again, when he gets shot, she just drops! Not rushes to him, not yells for help, just drops to the pavement. Precious moments are being wasted here, Dilan. Snap to it, girl.

I watched the teaser, like usual, but then had to start the next episode right away. Just a few minutes, just to see what was going to happen, because I couldn't let it sit. He was just laying there in the driveway. Not even to the hospital or in a car moving fast yet. 

1 Hagia Sofia chanted

Teaser 160:

He's alive. He reaches for her face before passing out. Dilan is yelling "Please don't leave me!" as he's wheeled into the ER.

Kan Cicekleri episode 158

Someone Lost A Button, Again

Quick synopsis: Dilan sends a photo to Sabiha. Deja vu with a button and shirt. A necklace, a legacy.

Dilan sends a photo of the necklace to Sabiha. Unlike her lies to Baran about never having been in love, this is an act she commits knowing it could ruin his reputation and company. But as bad a betrayal as this is, it's not worth his life to her. It's only later that we come to understand the full significance of the design and inspiration for it. And how tied to Baran's life it is.

He is so tired from working on it that he flops over asleep on the bed. She fusses over him, taking off his shoes, removing his jacket, unbuttoning his vest (!) etc. He has cut his finger and she puts salve on it. All things he won't believe of her when he wakes up.

She overhears Kudret telling Azade just how tied to his mother the necklace is and she despairs. It's based on the design Ayten embroidered onto a scarf, one he actually remembers from his childhood, not just that he inherited. The necklace has become his love letter to his mom, his goodbye, his hope for himself, his company's future, his name and reputation internationally. She had thought at least she was saving his life, but this will be so much worse, and deliberate.

She brings tea to Kudret, who is looking through photos. They look at them together as Baran watches from the hallway. In one, Ayten is wearing the veil the necklace is based on. She learns he's named the piece after his mother too, but not her name; it's called Delal--Beloved--the nickname Kudret had for her. The necklace is Delal, a beloved.  Baran is incensed that she was even talking about it with Kudret, Dilan with her cold, black heart, about his mother's pure memory. He yells at her, livid. (You're going to knock that painting right off the wall smacking your hand on like that, FrownyBaran.)

Dilan offers to help with the preparations for the launch party, which they clearly need, but Kader is still giving her the cold shoulder and sends her away. Dilan is desperate. She comments how everyone seems to be slowly erasing her from their lives. 

 

She gets a slight reprieve when Baran loses a button again off his dress shirt. He insists on sewing it on himself but seems unusually inept in his attempts. Dilan insists and takes the needle and thread from him. We know what this closeness did last time. And this is not a sleeve button. 

It's a button midway up the shirt. And his shirt is open. And he's bare chested underneath. He tries to pull away part way through but she grabs a handful of the shirt and yanks him back with a "stand still!". She bends to break the thread with her teeth and stops...and just...smells him, practically resting his lips on his chest. And he leans down, just a tiny bit, and kisses her head ever so lightly.

Yowza.

Can you believe these two haven't even kissed yet? *fans self*

Ditto Firat and Gul when she cuts her finger in the kitchen. She gives him an in road to maybe reconciling, but he gets defensive instead. Firat, you toad. But ohhhh, but then he snubs Derya, so we know he's affected. And then Pow! Gul comes in looking all stunning and fine in party clothes. No number of Janums from Derya is going to fix this. 

And then the shoe drops. Baran's necklace, the one his fingers trembled over as he worked on it, is to be swapped out for Sabiha's fake. She delivers the faux necklace to Dilan and we have 1 more chance, 1 last way, to see Dilan able to break the plan and thwart the downfall she helped orchestrate.

And from a hiding spot, Gul sees the whole exchange. !!!

Culturisms: 

Gul gets the end scene!  Rather than the lovers staring angrily at each other (which we also love) Gul is shown to be coming into her own with this unusual closing scene. It doesn't happen often that it's not the primary characters, and it's notable. 

Yelling at the tv:

Ohmygosh somuch. The end!  Holy Cow. I am glad we will see that played out again at the beginning of the next episode because I want to see exactly what Gul overhears now that I know she's listening. Pretty sure Dilan pleaded for Baran's life this time too. Finally! Someone will have heard her true motivation.

Baran is wearing his spiffy jacket for the party, a millionaire, yacht looking suit. He looks like he's so vain. I'll bet he thinks this song is about him. (It kinda is.)

I have a new suspicion: I think the end to this could be that Baran does end up getting hurt and with all this tension she is feeling, Dilan is going to let all hell break loose. Like a goddess of destruction, all bets will be off and she will reign terror down on Sabiha. Fingers crossed.

Teaser 159:

Dilan dressed for the launch party; Baran is entranced when he watches her enter the party. And Hey! There's Cihan! We haven't seen him in a while. First is stuck at the kids' table. Kudret invokes Ayten's memory and bestows the heirloom scarf to Dilan. Baran whispers coldly not to get too comfortable, they'll take it back later than night.

Kan Cicekleri episode 157

 The Necklace Revealed

Quick synopsis: Biran and Dilan take a trip to his workshop. Firat announces he and Derya will live at the mansion. A close call for Baran.

Dilan has just received a new deadline from Sabiha--she has 24 hours this time--and Baran catches her on the phone. He overhears enough to make him suspicious (some more). What Dilan didn't say this time, like she's done every time so far, is "Don't hurt him", or "Don't harm Baran", or "Please don't kill my family"--all of which would have been ideal for him to overhear. But no. They fight and he does the usual crowding her thing, but oooh, then she pushes back. It's rare, but when she comes up against a hard limit, she is fierce. Holy cow, they get so close, nose to nose. And, the times she does push, he is usually taken aback. It's like an alarm bell for him. He pushes and pushes but when he steps beyond the bounds of the just, when he crosses the line, she has no qualms about telling him off. (There's a lot here that stays within the realm of the trope that is completely inacceptable in real life, I know.) It should've been a signal for him that he'd gone just that much too far. But he misses it entirely.

A call interrupts them; Kerem telling him the launch is pushed up. It's happening in 2 days. Dilan's ears perk up. Baran took the phone Sabiha gave her and she only has until tomorrow night to get the info to her. What now?

Later, while he's working to finish the project in time, Baran asks Kerem for a favor. "But you have to keep it a secret".  Dilan brings him a grilled cheese, and tea in a mug, which has a backstory. (I knew it was cool.) It's the one she knows he likes to use when he works late. Baran brushes off the attentiveness, but drinks the tea.

Gul is singing in the kitchen, getting a late night glass of water and Firat walks in. They get so close too. Gul delivers another fabulous set-down.

 

Dilan asks to see what Baran is drawing but he refuses. No one can see until it's ready. He leaves his computer conspicuously open though and leaves the room. I think it's a trap.

He makes a show of coming back and slamming it shut and looking right at her. Maybe just a dig, then. But then he gives her a new phone. To call only him. 

Yep, it's a trap. It goes pretty fast from here:

Kerem delivers the old phone back to Sabiha with Baran's best wishes, "We don't need this anymore."

Dilan gets a call from Sabiha on the new phone! How does she have this number?!?

Baran goes for a run.

Sabiha sends a photo of Baran running to the new phone. A threat. (of course, now Dilan is begging her not to hurt him.)

Baran stops, appearing to rest, deliberately staying out in the open, waiting.

But Dilan is terrified after receiving the photo and rushes out to find him.

Someone sneaks up on Baran...it's Dilan. He tried to send her back to the house but she won't go. It seems like she's messed up his maybe plan. He seems reluctant to continue to shoo her away and I think he understands what she is trying to do. Dilan hurts her ankle (my dudes, again?) Baran catches her and uses the excuse to touch her hair. She goads him into going back. The trap remains unsprung.

Firat announces, because Gul is right there at his elbow, serving breakfast, that he and Derya will live at the mansion. (Firat, you toad.) But whoa, Kudret shouts! He forbids it! Derya has no place in the same house as his daughter-in-law. Azade tried to change his mind. It's not just about Derya, it's about your nephew too. But her arguments are:
1." We have to respect their decision." Oh do we now? Like when Baran got married to a wife nobody wanted?

2. "Doesn't she deserve a 2nd chance?" You don't say.

3. "Are we going to throw someone out of the mansion?" We would never...

Kudret keeps plotting to get the lovebirds over their problems and wrangles Dilan into going to the workshop with Baran so he can finish the new piece for the launch. The workshop is freaking cool. And he rolls his sleeves up, so the romantic forearm stage is set.* It's the first time we really see him as a jeweler and she is enthralled. The necklace is amazing too. Their fingers touch when she hands him a tool. The next one she sets on the desk so it won't happen again.

They discuss the inspiration for the necklace, where it comes from, how he came to make jewelry, and she gets it, how precious it is to him and why. He actually smiles a little bit. He leaves to take a call. Now is her chance to get the photo Sabiha wants. She's hovering over the button to send the text with the photo when he walks back in. She hits Send. He asks, "What are you doing?" but he's not mad. In fact, he's not even FrownyBaran. He is calm and clear-eyed.

I still say it's part of a trap.

 

Culturisms:

There's been lots of new transition shots lately. Bigger budget? Only 2 Hagia Sophia's chanted this episode. 

Nobody uses the pool. Ever. Is it a modesty thing? They don't have rights to use the pool? It would mean a new wardrobe and that's a whole new mess?

Yelling at the tv:

* Never underestimate the power of a good forearm.

It was just a bunch of whoops and hollers. So many set-ups, so many gasps.

Kan Cicekleri episode 156

 An Impossible Deadline

Quick synopsis: Sabiha wants details of the Karabey Co. launch. Dilan and Baran accompany Kudret to a doctor's appointment. Dilan receives an impossible deadline.

We've seen that Kader believes her when Azade tells her Dilan left, and stayed away all that time, willingly. But now, she asks Dilan point blank, "Is this true?" And what can Dilan do? She has to say 'yes'. But Gul--lord love her--doesn't look convinced. Keep sleuthing, Gul. You're onto something. Kader's admonishment cuts deep though. It comes from a place of concern for Baran, which Dilan completely understands. There's nothing worse than seeing your own despicable actions through the eyes of someone you trust, and completely agreeing with them.

Baran is brooding; enter Ahmet. He makes great points about not being able to harbor hatred for the one you love and wanting to cover up that resented spark of love with anger, but the advice doesn't hit the mark the way it usually does. This insight still only speaks to Baran's feelings. Most times, the lovely thing about Ahmet is that his words help you see things from the other person's perspective, and they encourage some grace from you on their behalf. But this says nothing about Dilan. At least Baran doesn't think it does. She doesn't love him the way he loves her, she isn't hurting the way he is. There's no balance in this insight for him to grab onto. Ahmet, trying to bring it back around, insists there must be a reason, patience is needed, and 2 hearts in love won't break each other. Baran remains unconvinced. It still hinges on the love she might have for him, and unlike in the past, she has been absolutely clear. There's no moments or gestures, no misinterpreted conversations or actions to hash over.

Dilan overhears this last bit, Baran pushing back against Ahmet's insistence, and he looks up and sees her. He remembers a conversation they had for a report Cihan was doing for school, and insists, out loud, that hate is greater than love. Ahmet doesn't realize he's speaking to Dilan and insists love is, but the damage is done. Dilan walks away thinking she's finally done it, he has no more love for her at all.

Gul finds her crying and seems to have displaced Kader as the confidant. I wonder if this is getting them on more equal footing for when things finally work out for them, Dilan / Baran and Gul / Firat. The women will be cousins. Best of all, Gul catches Dilan in the lie of what she says vs. what she does. You go, Gul! She'd dogged in her search for the truth and I love it. 

A side conversation between Sabiha and Viran highlights again that Dilan is doing all this because she loves him, but he doesn't know, and how delicious it all is for Sabiha's plan. I think it's foreshadowing that Baran is going to discover the truth. 

Also, Hasan reminds himself out loud, for no apparent reason, that if Baran ever found out he killed his mom, it wouldn't be just his hand that got shot. Again, all stuff we already know, so this seems to speak to a specific to a turn of events that's coming up. 

Kudret does some plotting and gets the couple to agree to both come with him to a check-up. To keep up appearances in front of Kurdret, Baran takes her hand as they leave. Afterward they stop off at a cafe. Kudret shares memories of going there with Baran's mother Ayten, and we can see, so clearly, that he sees his own loving marriage mirrored in his son's, and that they see it too. They have / had the foundation of something really good, that they both had always hoped for. And Kudret is trying so hard (lord love him too) to provide ways for them to fix what's wrong between them. 

The problem is, they don't have a problem. She lied about loving him, said she doesn't, so there's nothing for him to fix. She, on the other hand, has a serious problem but he can't help her. It's hers alone, and Sabiha is the architect of her isolation.

We do have one lovely moment of them, again keeping up appearances in front of Kudret, taking a walk. She just needs a moment of him touching her, so she leans in to hug him. It's heartbreaking though, because she so desperately wants to feel him close, but any moment she takes for herself only convinces him even more that she is lying to save face. She only gets better and better at pretending in his eyes, with each bit of tenderness she chases down from him.

The call comes from Sabiha to get the details of the launch. She has an hour to call back with details or Baran dies.

Yelling at the tv:

1. OMG! If you have only an hour, just tell him already!! What's the harm at this point?! If you have a deadline for him to die, then beat the deadline. TELL HIM! Maybe the two of you can turn the tables on Sabiha, figure something out. But at this point, what's the harm in revealing everything to him? He's going to die in an hour anyway. Tell him!

2. It's become a hobby, assessing their surroundings in every scene to see where she could or could not get away with telling him everything. Like, pull him into a closet and whisper if you have to, for crying out loud. There's got to be a better way than what they are doing now, WHICH IS NOTHING. eesh.  

3. Less emphatically, did Baran get a haircut?

4. I don't usually comment on Dilan's family's plot because it's not where my interest lies, but I do have to say, the little girl Yagmur can throw some shade! Her birth mother shows up and dang, that girl can scowl. And with some serious intent. Hi Five, Yagmur.

Culturisms:

The teapots are so freaking cool. I love them. 

Teaser 157:

Dilan brings him a grilled cheese and some tea (in a very cool mug)  when he is working late.

Kan Cicekleri episode 155

All The Guns

Quick synopsis: Baran shoots Hasan. Dilan is a prisoner again. The launch of a new Karabey piece of jewelry is in the works.

Baran has just grabbed Dilan away from the cliff but Hasan is still pointing a gun at her, which means now, he's pointing it at Baran too. So it goes down like this: Hasan, gun; Baran, gun; Firat, gun. Baran pulls his gun when Hasan won't put his down. Firat pulls his because Baran did, but he's not sure where to point it, vacillating between Baran and his dad. Sabiha and Viran-the-weird-girl pull up on the next bluff to see how it will play out. Baran shoots Hasan's hand and Firat helps him to the hospital. 

And I'm thinking, Sabiha sees (literally because they watch the whole thing go down) how protective Baran still is. This has got to throw a wrench in her plans, right? He's never going to give her up.*  

Baran drives the two of them to the seaside when they can cool down and he wants to know why she told the family she ran away. Did she not realize this would be the consequence?  She insists she didn't tell anyone and doesn't know how his uncle found out. Neither of them knows Azade overheard their conversation. But the cat's out of the bag and it puts him in a tight spot. He doesn't want her around (he does) but he can't throw her out because they will hunt her down. And he doesn't want her to go to Sabiha. He's stubborn and still smarting from not protecting her at their wedding; only he will be near her. He vows to keep her with him at all times. This is sounding familiar..."I don't want anyone to get blood on their hands because of you" (I can't live without you).

So now Firat knows too and his budding allegiance is tested; he and Baran have words about the family shooting at each other. He is mad at Baran but also thinks he's right and is more upset with his father for being so hot-headed. He should never have taken matters into his own hands. (Hasan, you rat.) He remains at odds with his father. Sabiha uses her feminine wiles and a punishing grip on Hasan's wounded hand to forbid him from hurting Dilan. Firat left the room when she came in, but now he's wondering what else his father is into. Back at the mansion Hasan cries 'Mommy!' and even Firat rolls his eyes. There's hope for him yet.

Kudret sees his hand and asks, "Who'd you piss off now?" and I died laughing. *chef's kiss*

Baran adds, "I'll break the hand that strikes her." 

There's some great one-liners in this episode.

Dilan's hope flares; she interprets this to mean he cares for her. Then we get this news: Kader believes Azade! She will barely even look at Dilan. This one cuts deep, y'all.

Gul is worried about Firat when she sees him casting about on the desk. They have an almost-encounter. We see Kudret's words still doing their work--Firat wants a partner, someone he can talk to about this trouble he's going through, about finding fault with his dad's behavior. It's a problem we've not seen him have before, introspection rather than plotting. He misses Gul and talking things over with her, going so far as to declare, if he only knew that she still loved him...

That one, when it comes around again, is going to be fun to watch too.

Sabiha visits the mansion again, meeting Azade on the way in, and Kudret, who mistakenly vouches for her, explaining Dilan stayed with her after the attack on the mansion, when she was 'confused'. Azade won't tell him Dilan left on her own. She doesn't want Kudret or Cihan to know. Sabiha tries to leverage the situation--the attempted murder--to her advantage. She can be safe with me, she promises. But Baran won't have it. So she insists on seeing Dilan to make sure she's ok. As soon as Dilan enters the room though, with Gul beside her, her eyes go wide and she stiffens at seeing Sabiha. She's scared. She probably thinks Sabiha will kill him right there. Gul immediately notices and even Baran seems to see something is wrong. He's perplexed.

On the way out, Dilan promises again to leave very soon but Sabiha tells her to stay--she wants details about the Karabey company's big launch being planned. Another opportunity at revenge has been dumped in her lap. Dilan will be her informant.

Dilan falls asleep draped over the edge of the bed and we see a tender moment as he does small things to make her comfortable, covers her in a blanket, and lovingly touches her hair.

Culturisms: 

Why is Azade's scarf always loose but Kader's and Berivan's are always pinned over the shoulder? It flares when she walks and makes her look like a snake too, a cobra. Have I stumbled on a trope?

Yelling at the tv:

* The BaranDilan theme song (not the one they dance to that starts "Keen-say") but their usual sweeping theme song, sounds a lot like a slow version of "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley. Have we been Rick-rolled this whole time? 

Sabiha has eyes that, I swear, look like a snake sometimes. It makes her a formidable villain but not a caricature and I think we'll appreciate that later when Dilan's origin story comes out.

She also has really interesting clothes. Strange tucks and pleats, odd shaped draping. I wonder if that's because she is so tall, or is it meant to portray the lush wardrobe of the rich?

Teaser 156:

Kudret has convinced Baran and Dilan to come to his doctor's appointment and then they stop off at a cafe where he and Ayten used to go. He reminisces and the other two sneak looks at one another. His parents' actions sound like them...Is Dilan really as moved as she seems?...Does he still think of her like this?...

Dilan goes to the restroom and Baran makes to follow her, but Kudret holds him back. We see a great Father moment, some advice, and bless his heart, we want it to work just as he says.

Kan Cicekleri episode 154

 Near Death Experience

Quick synopsis: Sabiha visits the mansion. Hasan and Azade decide there's a price Dilan must pay for her betrayal. Baran to the rescue.

Azade has just overheard Dilan tell Baran again, "I wasn't kidnapped. I left." Azade practically has a heart attack on the spot she's so mad. So, no, there will be no good-natured conspiring with Kader to get these crazy kids back together. She confides in Hasan what she's heard and bam! we're off again. They decide she must die for how she's treated Baran--mostly that she tricked the family cuz it's all about pride of the Karabey name with these 2--and with a Nanny McPhee-like pound of her cane, just like that Azade-doom* is back, baby.

Also, Hasan, you rat.

Baran is in the study wondering, why can't I give her up? And quite frankly, I've been wondering the same thing myself. Dilan is ruthless in her efforts. They are equal to the love they stem from, trying to keep him from harm. But geez, it's killing me.  Aside from the fact that this is the point of the show, I keep thinking, 'Dude, just throw her out already, and let's get this show on the road. Next plot point of reconciliation please.' He pulls out a book, and is musing over it, and this is where I wish the subtitlists would go just that extra little step more and throw in a few lines for the books, notes, and documents we see. The impact is not lost on non-native speakers any more than other cultural and language tidbits are--which is to say, we get the gist--but this book seems to have a particular significance. Is it the one his mom left notes in? It looks different. The story of pride that ruined a love? Maybe. I'll see if I can't snag the title and plug it into Google Translate. Or if you know, tell me.

Kerem visits and I'm hopeful he will talk some sense into Baran, like, go talk to your wife bud, but he actually suggests giving her up. It's hurting Baran and he doesn't want his best friend to be sad anymore. But because Baran always does the opposite of Kerem's suggestions, he doubles down, refusing to let her go. And, what Kerem actually came in to say was that Sabiha wants a meeting. This peaks Baran's interest. Let her come.

Sabiha comes to the mansion for the meeting, and lets Baran know his father is looking into her. Kudret joins them and Sabiha has an answer for each of the questions they ask hoping to put holes in the story that Dilan went willingly. In the middle of a shoot-out no less, when she didn't know if her family was alive or dead. But Sabiha answers everything smoothly, seemingly having a perfectly reasonable explanation. It's an oddly symmetrical situation to the Metin subplot when Dilan's old professor hears she's a vendetta bride and tries to help her escape. In that case we knew she didn't want the help, and here we know the help is a lie. One has good but unnecessary intentions, and the other plots nefarious revenge under the guise of aide.

Sabiha is setting the stage for snatching Dilan away again, and under a claim that Baran will not be able to contest.

They come across Dilan as Baran walks her out and as Dilan tries to pacify Sabiha saying she'll come soon (the implication being, so please don't kill him). It has the effect of setting Baran off and he delivers the final blow: I wish I'd never met you. I wish I'd never brought you here. Get out if you want to go.

Et voila. She is packing her bag. 

Firat sees Baran storm off, follows him and catches up with him at the seaside. He truly is concerned and we see Kudret's attention to Firat paying off in other ways: he wants to be there for his cousin. 

We know Baran is serious about kicking Dilan out because he has ordered his men to leave Sabiha's house. Viran confirms it. 

An aside: At one point in their conversation Kerem tells Baran, "You know that weird girl Viran that's always with (Sabiha)?" and I cracked up. Viran-the-weird-girl it is.

But  Viran-the-weird-girl has other news too. On the way out of the mansion, Hasan has grabbed Dilan, muscled her into a car, and is taking her off to kill her. Sabiha is alarmed because killing an innocent woman isn't what she planned, plus we know that Dilan is likely her daughter because of the 2 halves of the medallion. So good call, Sabiha, you'll thank yourself later. It's Sabiha who calls Baran to spur some action to save Dilan. Firat is there when the call comes through. Baran tells him the trouble is Hasan, and Firat sees more of his father's bad choices. His disappointment in him grows.

Hasan's plan is to hold Dilan at gunpoint on a cliff until she jumps (you're still guilty, Hasan you rat) and Baran arrives just in time to grab her and pull her back. We see the same frantic concern from him for her well being as we did for him after her nightmare, and a fevered kiss to her temple.

But! If Hasan didn't tell Viran he'd kidnapped Dilan (Again! Good grief with the kidnapping Dilan y'all) then that means...there's another mole in the mansion!

Yelling at the tv:

Azade-doom came about as a nickname when the family started to realize that she had raised them in this house of doom and gloom. I think one of them actually says "doom" at one point. And, in an am-I-psychic culmination, when Azade went to Berivan's house, they were literally standing across a bridge from one another, a la Khazad-dum, Berivan brandishing her gun like Gandalf's staff, as she yelled at Azade the equivalent of "You shall not pass!" Thus, Azade-doom was solidified as her official nickname for her doom and gloom phases. It truly was a stunning moment when the silliness I joke about actually played out in the plot.

Teaser 155:

We're back to him being at odds with his family to protect her.

But actually it isn't about protecting her, it's about keeping the Karabey name spotless from this scandal. (Liar. It was for love.)

And "we are fellow prisoners in this jail cell of a room".

Also, was there some product placement for the little pot of cream he tosses at her for her ankle cut? The name seemed prominent in the shot.

Kan Cicekleri episode 153

 Cevdet's Birthday Party

Quick synopsis: Dilan faints after Baran admits he has come to hate her. Dilan's brother Cevdet and his wife come to the house to invite them to his birthday party. Dilan attempts to sneak out for it.

We see more of Hasan's treachery with his threats to a man named Kenan, who is a friend of Kudret. Kudret has asked him to look into Sabiha, wanting to help Baran on the sly, and calling on some of his old network from before his paralysis. It's good to see him flexing his muscle again. I think the aim is to set this relationship up as a counterpart to Baran and Kerem (or maybe Orkan). Kenan is Kudret's go-to guy. In fact, the first time we see Kudret visit Kenan, Firat comes with him. It's the first instance of Kudret forging a fatherly connection with Firat. It bugs the hell out of Hasan, and we see Firat respond well to the inclusion he gets from his uncle Kudret. Although, after Kenan shakes Kudret's hand, and Firat holds his out, as soon as Kenan hears who Firat's father is, he withdraws his hand in an obvious way. Firat has first had his love with Gul, then acceptance of that romance from Kader, and now another counterpoint to Hasan's views, inclusion in Kudret's world. He gets advice from his uncle on marriage as well, when Kudret sees the lack of feeling he has for Derya. And we see him trust that advice, because it matches what he knows about himself. One man provides insight while the other offers manipulation.

Which is probably the catalyst for Hasan's alliance with Sabiha, so he can prove himself a man of substance. A mistaken motive, clearly. Although we also see him preening and dressing all snazzy too, to the point that even Azade shakes her head at him, wondering what's gotten into him. The reason? He has a huuuge crush on Sabiha.

But just as Kudret gets a call that Kenan has found out something, we see Hasan threaten him, saying he will kill his son. (A common thread in this story arc apparently.) Was it useful info though? Will it come out another way? We don't find out yet. I'm keeping that thought in my pocket though for later. Hasan's big moment of treacherous soliloquy back at the mansion is trounced however as pillows and blankets fall on him mid revelation--Baran has tossed out Dilan's attempt at making a bed on the floor so she doesn't have to sleep next to him in the same bed.

This also provides a much needed moment of levity. After he tosses the makeshift bed over the balcony ("I moved your bed" ) Dilan gets mad, but then we see them both smirk a little smile* at the other's stubborn nature. She's glad he is making her stay close, and did something so silly as throwing the things out into the yard, and I think the feeling is mutual on his part. It's an argument, but a small one and in the end, he won it. He thinks. We know they both won. 

Gul also continues to keep figuring things out about how Firat really feels and I still love seeing that.

Baran is still keeping Dilan's betrayal a secret, masking it as illness and "all the trouble she's been through" with the kidnapping. When she tried to sneak out for the birthday party he stopped her in her tracks by sneaking up and grabbing her in a crushing hug from behind. At least Dilan pretends it's a hug, enjoying it for just a moment before FrownyBaran whirls her around, and we have our they-still-love-each-other fix for the episode. Azade notices the couch in their room is gone and she and Kader have a little moment of supposition. Maybe there's a conspiracy team-up in the works? These two ladies of the house might work together to try to fix Dilan and Baran's trouble? That would be fun. 

In the end though, Baran is intent on being as cruel to her as she has been to him. (Dilan, you're killing me here. She's spot on and it's only her own internal monologue that keeps us sane.)

And at the very end, Azade, feeling the need to step in, listens at the door and overhears Dilan actually say she ran away and wasn't kidnapped. Well, crap. 

Are we starting another cycle of abuse? Or will it spur her on even further to conspire with Kader. Here's hoping...

Culturisms: What is that oil Baran uses to revive Dilan when she faints? Mevkibe uses it in Erkenci Kus too.

Dilan's mom uses a strainer and measuring cup combo that looks very much like the Tupperware my mom had when I was a kid. Do they sell Tupperware in Turkey?

I have never seen a headboard like Dilan's parents'. It's interesting.

*Yelling at the tv:

Ok, there's this thing Turkish men in these shows do: it's like a quick suck on the front teeth. They do it when they are especially aggravated or to show displeasure at something and it totally cracks me up.  Every time. This gesture would never work on me. I giggle every time. But I love that it's a hallmark and we always cheer when we see it.

Also, every time we see the Hagia Sophia I've started singing its name in a slightly choral tone. There was 1 Hagia Sophia chanted in this episode. 

Teaser 154: Dilan is packing and remembering moments they were in love. 

SO. My question now is: is she going to succeed and get away and only then will he find out the truth and feel such remorse that he doubles down so much on his drive to protect her and redeem himself that he has to heroically chase her down? Much like the moment he realized she hadn't lied about the wheelchair brakes and if she didn't lie about that...! I yelled and pointed so much at the tv at that moment. Vindication!  Angry stabs of I-told-you-so at the tv. 

He's certainly in need of some redemption here. This would get him back in my good graces anyway.

Kan Cicekleri episode 152

Dilan's Nightmare

Quick synopsis: Dilan has a nightmare that Sabiha barges into their bedroom with a gun after Dilan refuses her call. Hasan is revealed as Sabiha's mole in the Karabey household. 

I keep thinking all along, something's gotta give, right? What's it gonna be? How are they going to end this?

At least with the previous angry moments of FrownyBaran* and  Dilan crying there was a steady movement forward toward knowing they were going to fall in love. We knew happy moments were ahead. The still shots of future episodes proved this. And thank god for those montages to various songs! They got me through some tough times. Thanks, gang!

But now, there's the threat of actual death and the misunderstanding is deeper because it's a deliberate (he thinks) betrayal, rather than just misinterpreting the other person's motives. That's still the case, but in a much more dire way. It cuts deep, writers. Job well done.

So, what is the culminating factor to break the crisis going to be? It could be in this episode.

Dilan has a nightmare that Sabiha comes into their bedroom, gun drawn and shoots. Dilan wakes up with a yell, Baran wakes up startled, and she immediately starts frantically feeling him all over--his face, his chest, his arms--to make sure he's ok. He's stunned. Why the obvious desperation for his well being? It's important to note too that this is an unguarded moment. She's been shocked out of sleep and is not in a state of mind or had time to school her expression, words or actions. And he's just come off a talk with Ahmet that's given him a speck of hope.

We know he has linked all their current problems, the ambiguity surrounding her kidnapping / absence, and the abrupt change in character, to Sabiha. He is doggedly intent on finding information on her, sure this is the key to discovering the truth. It's a common theme is eastern tropes, the cry of "Please investigate!" and this notion that all will be revealed. It's often made by the guilty party though, as a show of their supposed innocence. Doesn't mean it's also not the way to get to the root of the problem though, so it's not strange that Baran is insistent on this point. In fact, we're counting on it, have seen it work for him in the past. However, since Dilan hasn't made this traitor's plea, my guess is that absence of the request from her will be important later as he reviews her behavior in a new light, when he gets the new information he is seeking.

Also in this episode, we find out...Hasan is the mole! It's quick, but not ambiguous. We've seen Dilan be terrified of Sabiha's threats and just when we think, '...but you could somehow, in a secretive way, let him know what's going on?' we see alarming things: a red sniper dot on Baran's forehead, a note slipped under the door in their house and again a phone slipped under the door after a knock to make sure she's in there. So as much as Dilan is fixated on the threat to Baran's life, and how we may become a little more immune to the threat with each time she second guesses herself, wanting her to just tell him already, we get checked and see the danger is real. And now we know, Hasan is behind it and Kudret was right to accuse him.

I suspect the crisis will break in one of three ways:

1. Baran overhears a conversation or figures it out; 2. Dilan breaks and tells him; 3. Sabiha gloats and just flat out tells him.

Of further note, it's good to see Gul have some gumption and talking back to Firat*. We also see Gul and Dilan's friendship deepen, Gul having found her in a state after Baran destroyed their bedroom smashing things and Dilan covered for him to keep their situation secret, saying it was her. Her despair is evident and Gul becomes a true friend in that moment. It also serves as a secret they share, and a budding confidence. Important points for a woman isolated in the plot.

Culturisms: There's a phrase at the end of phone conversations "ah de bye bye" that will always make me laugh. Bye bye in the US is what children say, so it's funny to see that adapted in such a frequent way. Amusing, the things cultures pick up from each other.

*Yelling at the tv: 

FrownyBaran was his nickname when he was always mad at her early on. I swear, they should have employed a masseuse to massage that crease he was constantly sporting between his eyebrows. Like, if the character calls for it, huzzah for his dedication to his craft, but give the man some relief. That could become permanent, and all for one character.

"Firat, you toad" is a common hollaback at the tv for things like when he believed Derya about Gul taking money in exchange for dropping him, or even earlier when he would doubt Gul because of things his father said about her.

Teaser 153: Dilan thinks she sees one of Sabhia's men on the grounds...just as she might be ready to admit something to Baran. Keeping us again, on our toes about how real the threat is. Just because we know Hasan is the mole doesn't mean there aren't more. And Baran is constantly remembering her saying she played on his mercy.