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.