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.