Kan Cicekleri episode 181

Episode 181 All The Gasps

Quick synopsis: Firat is not fine. Fikri has surprising news. Kerem has an encounter.

A woman? That's who hired Fikri? He won't say who and starts making demands in exchange for the name. Baran keeps hitting him until his knuckles bleed.

Derya still has it in for Dilan. Because...? 

Firat and Kudret chat again. Aww, and a hug.

Azade and Derya have a chat. She gives Derya jewelry and the Karabey reputation talk. Derya can barely be bothered to sit through this rubbish. It just goes on and on. Old lady, enough already. Derya makes her escape.

Hasan is greedy for the shares in Karabey Holding that this marriage will get them. His suit for the wedding looks straight out of Dr. Suess. Sans tie. And he's basically telling Firat Oh The Places You Will Go! 

BloodyBaran comes home. He seems mystified that Dilan wants to take care of his hand. It's a lot bloodier in their room than it was in the driveway. The tending to it is an intimate affair. And she calls him out on his BS about it being from a small accident. 
"We both know that's a lie. Who'd you punch?"

And he tells her. Frankly, I'm a little surprised. And no, Fikri isn't going to the cops. Not until they find out who hired him. 

What are Derya's make-up vanity, wedding prep musings? Glad you asked. She relives all the times she almost killed Dilan. As in, look how far you've come, doll. With a wink to herself in the mirror. You know, as one does on their wedding day. 

She's so weird.

Oh good! Here's Kerem. I was really worried at that last wave goodbye he and Baran had. They do the usual, Oh, it's your turn to get married soon, Kerem! thing you do to single folks at weddings.*

Now Fikri decides he'll talk. Don't hold up the wedding for Baran; start without him. Dilan follows him down the driveway. She's going with. Olmasin / Absolutely not. She wants to know who tried to kill her. He looks around like, what am I supposed to do with this crazy woman? 

She goes, but when they get there he tells her she has to stay in the truck. Her turn to say olmasin. He puts his hands on the truck on either side of her window and leans in. She gets all jittery when he's so close and is too flustered for bravado. She stays in the truck.

They are really leaning into the flickering warehouse light effect.  Baran is absolutely convinced the woman who hired Fikri is Sabiha. 

Baran, dude, you make Dilan stay in the truck for her safety, but then you bring Fikri in the truck to cart him to Sabhia's house so she can ID him? This seems incongruent. But he has not forgotten how Dilan said Sabiha did so many things she'll regret now.

I don't think it is Sabiha.

Derya takes Firat to the mat. I mean table, the wedding table. Poor Gul can't help it; she's watching from around the corner. Derya's dress is a bit of a meringue. Firat is looking at her like he's hoping maybe she'll say No instead of I Do. She doesn't. In fact, she says 'evet!' like a game show contestant.

From her vantage point, Gul can't see Derya. But through the crowd she has a straight line of sight to Firat. And him to her.

 

Sabiha comes out the front door. She's dressed like a Thanksgiving pilgrim again. Fikri shakes his head. It wasn't her. Someone young. Tall, thin, brunette...that's who hired Fikri.

Dammit! Now who's watching from the bushes?

The thought occurs to Baran that it could have been Derya. Remembering the fire, now hearing the description, he shows Fikri a photo of her on his phone.**

Firat has yet to give his answer. It's getting awkward. And then he does.

"No!" He gives a big, echoey No. I do actually feel bad for Derya. Getting left at the altar is a sucky thing, no matter what. 

Kudret tries really hard not to smile but mutters "Good boy" under his breath.

And to emphasize the moment, "No, I am not going to marry Derya!" Well, after the first No, there was a lot of muttering and 'what's he saying?' going on in the crowd, so it's good to be clear.  And he's beaming! Just full on, absolutely beaming affirmation of his decision. 

And looking right at Gul.

Yes! It was Derya who hired Fikri! He confirms it. 

This is the episode of all the gasps.

A call to Okan: pick up Fikri, get the cops to grab Derya. 

A call to Kerem: It was Derya who wanted Dilan dead. Watch her.

Derya is losing it and she gets Gul in her sights. Gul, however, is undeterred. She isn't scared and just watches Derya come. The other guests are getting antsy though. It's Kudret who steps in to break things up.

Sabiha is also still nervous. Thus far Baran doesn't know it was her that raided the wedding, or that Dilan was full-on kidnapped and manipulated. But bringing Fikri to her house showed her he won't stop until he figures all of it out. She wants a meeting with Cevahir.***

Hasan berates Firat and is going to smack him but Kudret stays his hand. Cihan takes Firat for a walk to get him out of the situation. Firat is grinning, he's so relieved.

Kerem is keeping an eye on Derya. He gets the gun from the study. 

I have a bad feeling about this.

It's dark out now. Where are the freakin' cops? How long does it take to grab a squad car and come pick up a killer?

Derya overhears Kerem talking to Baran about the cops coming.

Firat confirms to Gul that he said No because he loves her. His declaration includes the details, 'even though you took the check' and 'even though you sold us out for money'. So even though he doesn't care about anyone but her, it falls short of a happy ending. Firat, my poor toad.

Kerem blocks Derya from leaving the study. She grabs the letter opener and looks quite the fright.**** 

Baran and Dilan arrive home. He sends her to the study, thinking she won't run into Derya, and he goes to her room to get her.

Derya comes out of the study with blood on her hands as Dilan is walking toward it. 
(ooooohhhhhh crrraaaaappppp)

 Dilan screams Baran's name from downstairs. Derya has stabbed Kerem.*****

Yelling at the tv:
*To paraphrase Katniss: Here! Pick me! I will pay tribute.

**I'm thinking a photo on a phone would have been easier than carting your wife's hitman-attempted-assassin across town, with her in the car too. Especially when he could have shown Fikri a photo of both Sabiha and Derya. Yah?

***Who the heck is this Cevahir character? Where'd he come from all of a sudden? And why does Sabiha need to call him?

****Derya's make-up runs something fierce which I suspect is deliberate now, for effect.

*****I'm scared, y'all. Remember when I watched montages early on to see happier times for them because the start was so rocky? One of the scenes showed someone in a hospital die. I think this is it. This sucks.

Sometimes when they say "Eh Baba" I hear Yogi Bear in my head saying "Hey BooBoo" but it's "Eh Baba".

1 Hagia Sophia and 2 Hagia Sofaraways chanted.

Teaser 182:

FuzzyBaran is back, but not in a good way. Kerem isn't dead but it's about as bad as anything. They're hoping maybe he'll hear their prayers and come back to them. Dilan holds Baran while he leans his head on her shoulder.

Kan Cicekleri episode 180

 Episode 180 One Chapter Closes

Quick synopsis: Lots of apologies. Pre-wedding jitters. A new villain emerges.

Sabiha still has the gun to Baran's head. And doesn't believe the photographic evidence. Baran is sangfroid in the face of it. Dilan talks about Baran's mom and his grief over losing her, trying to create a connection and show her a way out of the lie she's trapped in. 

Sabiha relents. She crumples to the ground, sobbing.

Baran is immediately on Dilan, checking to see if she's ok. Holding her, telling her it's ok, she can't hurt us now. (Technically she still could. She's still got the gun. Careful there, Baran. Famous last words and all.)

He's just going to leave Sabiha there but Dilan stops him. They can't leave her like this. She helps her up and brings her to Havin. Sabiha is still swinging that gun from her hand. 

Gul is trying to go about her work but Firat won't let her go. Yeah, no kidding. But really, he keeps her literally in one place. He keeps asking questions that he would never answer himself if she asked, and asking things of her that he isn't doing himself either. So no, Firat, she isn't going to do what you want. Pony up, kid. Open the door and walk through, or close it. You have to be the first. 

Derya's dad is ditching her wedding too. You can see how she turned out like this, the way he talks to her on the phone. Baba, you toad.

Firat is convinced Gul is marrying Silah to spite him. He has no idea she has been threatened with her mother's dismissal. It's not all about you, Firat. Gul's words, not mine.

Derya has surpassed Bridezilla and is now in full-on toddler tantrum mode. She snaps at Gul, you have to do what I say. Gul, however, remains awesome. Her backbone is steel and she meets Derya head-on with a go-getter attitude. It's a thing of beauty. Derya has nothing to criticize. 

Now that's probably to spite Firat. 

They bring Sabiha home and hand her off to Havin. Sabiha burns the wedding dress in the open grave. Her daughter let her down and her life and death have been a lie. Baran just wants to get the hell away from there. Dilan keeps trying to go to Sabiha but Baran won't let go of her hand. He finally relents when Sabiha calls out to her, apologizing and begging forgiveness.

Sonnavabitch--someone is taking photos of them all. What the hell.

They leave but Dilan has a panic attack in the car. Baran is immediately on alert. They pull over and he soothes her. He's not mad, just so, so worried.

Holy smokes, we've reached the point where it all comes out and they know everything

He knows she was lying to protect him. He apologizes to her for believing everything she said, for not understanding her. (Oooh, I am sensing some humble pie here...) And mostly for not being with her during this nightmare.

She's sorry for:

saying she took advantage of his mercy

saying the mansion was her hell

trying to hurt him when he was so vulnerable

saying she didn't love him, for all the things she said to make him believe it.

He's sorry for:

trying to make her life hell

saying he never wanted to hear her voice

saying he regretted calling her his North Star

saying she would beg him for forgiveness one day

He holds her tight.

That's it, gang. That's all the stuff. 

Dilan decompresses with Gul in the kitchen. And she's such a bulldog on Dilan's behalf. Absolute Bestie, is Gul.

Oooooh, but it's not all the stuff. I'm sorry Sabiha had you shot...that one is missing. And she won't say anything about that one to him. Sabiha knows the truth now. No one can hurt them anymore. 

Well now she's done it. That's practically an invitation if I ever heard one. Did no one hear me earlier when Sabiha was defeated but still swinging that pistol around?

Baran is not so forgiving. He also owes a huge debt to Kerem. Without his help, he's sure he could have lost Dilan. Kerem loves you too, B. Big hugs all around. Absolute Bestie, is Kerem.

Oh shit. Kerem looks back and waves. And it feels...foreboding. Like it's the last time Baran will see him. I hope I'm just reading too much into it. 

But then we see someone named Cevahir*. He has one hand in a black glove. And it's his guy who was taking pictures at Sabiha's. And Cevahir is not happy about Dilan hugging Sabiha.

Firat wants another heart-to-heart with Kudret. Baran and Dilan aren't coming to the wedding; he heard Kudret isn't either. (I'm just gonna say it: Firat, do you not see this as a sign?)

Kudret's response is great. He says, looking at Firat, it looks like he doesn't want to be there either. Ha! Talk about a sign. But Kudret won't leave him high and dry. He'll go. And pay no attention to FrownyBaran. They'll show too. He's sure of it. 

Dilan and Baran are discussing Sabiha. She says Sabiha believed Gulsah and did things she regrets. Baran's head snaps up. Dilan...is there something he doesn't know about? 

No. Nope. Nada.

He goes to get something from the drawer and discovers her old wedding ring. That she said she threw away. He pulls out the book too. What's with all this writing? he asks her. He's going to make her admit it, what she wrote. 

No actually, this is not a lovey-dovey moment. This is, know this: I am aware of everything. I know about this book already.  And I will find out what you aren't telling me.**

Sabiha is having a hard time. She feels guilty about not seeing that her daughter was having trouble. 

Dilan is like a kid peppering Baran with questions about tomorrow when he's trying to sleep. In the morning, he is still asleep when she comes back into the room, dressed and ready for the day. He wakes up and watches her for a bit, then chides her for not resting more after yesterday's hullabaloo. And remember, we aren't going to the wedding.*** Kudret comes to see them. It's Firat's day too. And Derya will be a Karabey; their name at least deserves respect. Why punish Firat? Be just, he entreats Baran. Think this through. 

Oh Baba, you know just what buttons to push.

Hasan doesn't know how to tie a tie. 

Cihan is the best man.

Derya is heard complaining from upstairs.

Hasan gives up on the tie.

Firat wonders how he is going to live with this complainer. He looks nice in his tuxedo.

Azade good-luck-spits on everyone.

It's Firat's day but Dilan and Baran get the music and big entrance. Because they are coming to the wedding after all.

Kader seems to have forgiven Dilan.

Gul brings Derya the bouquet. Derya pounces; Gul will help her get ready.

(Firat, are you really going to do this?)

Baran is going to talk to Fikri. (Now?!?)

Gul made a decision and is sticking to it. Forget love.

Firat overhears only part of this declaration, and it's not the part where she still loves him.

Fikri says it was a woman who hired him. (Gulsah?!? Was it her? Even though they want us to think it was Sabiha?)

Culturisms:
Sitting on a knife or scissors when you're pregnant to determine if the baby is a boy or girl seems really dangerous. I'm with Cevriye. 

*How common is Cev- as the beginning of a name in Turkey? Because this is the third. It's a lot of Cev's for one show. Isn't it?

There's this really interesting thing the characters do when they are about to disagree with someone and I'm guessing it's cultural: they always start with "you're right", repeat why, and then offer the contradicting points. It diffuses the situation and is usually very effective.

Yelling at the tv:

**In this scene, you can see behind their bed. You could walk back there. It's a legit way around the bed, made to walk through.

***I'd go. I bet it's going to be a humdinger of a day. Who'd want to miss that show?

Sabiha is very tall.

All this crying and still, no mascara runs, no foundation streaks. Da-amn!

Teaser 181: 

Firat is actually going through with it. They're at a wedding table. Same officiating lady as Dilan and Baran; same speech to a miserable groom. Firat sees Gul crying, half hidden behind the corner of the house. 

Kan Cicekleri episode 179

 Episode #179 A Cliffhanger

Quick synopsis: Sabiha's got a gun. Firat needs a friend. Kudret gets real.

Baran is mad. But he was so attentive and worried on the way home. Maybe the two aren't mutually exclusive? 

Best line: I rule the entire family but I cannot rule you. 

No kidding, B. Pretty sure that's a good thing.

Dilan just wants the whole thing to be over. She tells him Sabiha is dangerous to him, more than he knows. Everything Dilan is doing is to end this.

Oh that's news. What does she mean by that? How does she know this? 

She plays it off but he knows something's up.

OMG. Another button lost. Dude needs a better tailor. 
She'll sew it back on. No, he'll do it himself. (I think we all know that's not true.) He relents. Fine, but hurry. He and Kerem have plans. And no, he won't take his jacket off. So she is this close again. His hands cover hers for a moment as he helps her.

Sabiha and her gun are still shutting Havin out. She finally opens up when Havin threatens to break down the door. It all ends today, Sabiha says. She dismisses Havin with enough cash to start over. It's evident this is either prep for a suicide or and action leading to prison. 

Dilan figured the truth would work, knowing Gulsah made it up would end her grief and the revenge. How'd that work out for ya? Baran wants to know. It didn't, obvs. And why? Because people get entrenched (he should know) and don't want to admit their mistakes. He knows this, (told ya) and also knows Dilan went there alone. A recipe for disaster. I suspect some of the anger is fueled by fear for her safety. 

Yep. What if something had happened to her?

Firat needs a friend. He seeks out Kudret. Gul is getting married and he's going to cry. He's devastated. Kudret tells him to follow his heart. (Firat is getting married tomorrow.)* Baran drops this bomb: Dilan and I are not attending.

Kerem brings a file of info on the company that designed Gulsah's ring. Baran tells him Dilan said Sabiha is dangerous and that's the first time she's said that. They're on the right track, but they have to hurry. 

Kudret is going to see Fikri. 

Gul brings tea to Dilan and they talk about boys. Baran will forgive you. Are you really going to marry Silah? 

Sabiha texts an invitation: come to the cliff where Gulsah died. Come alone.

And she's going to do it, that dope. Even though she knows what trouble it will bring. Just because it says 'come alone' doesn't mean you listen! D, c'mon. 

She's afraid of what Sabiha will do in anger if Baran is there too. Still.

Plus, "It will end where it all began" basically means one of three things: 

1. Dilan is going over the cliff, or

2. Baran is, or

3. Sabiha is.

Silah brings flowers.** He does a hand to forehead kiss to Azade. Kader won't though. She asks Azade-doom if she pressured Gul. Azade denies it, but a little too vehemently. Poor Silah. He is so in love.*** 

Fikri is being held in...an abandoned warehouse maybe? Someplace disused and warehousey anyway. Kudret is not a small man, even compared to Fikri, who is hired muscle. And it's pretty apparent where Baran gets that frown. Paired with Kudret's calm demeanor though, it's chilling. And what does he pull out of his pocket? A gun? Nooooo. Not the man who has been at this for years, who grew up in it. A pencil. That's what comes out of his inside jacket pocket. Like Baran says, it's all about how in control you are, how much force you choose to show. Dude is so stone cold he only needs a pencil to make his point. (And now we also know where Baran's habit of snapping pencils comes from too.) The threat is effective: Fikri will tell them who wanted Dilan shot. But he will only tell Baran.

Dilan calls Baran on her way to the cliff. Whew!

Her phone dies mid-call. Oh no!

Baran calls the mansion. Kader tells him she left. 
The movie tickets are fake and now Havin knows. She also knows about Sabiha's gun box. And sees the gun is gone. She calls Baran. 

There's a gun, a cliff, and Dilan, all in play. They are both now racing to get to them.

Firat wants to talk to Gul. Please. Reconsider. (But will he? He's getting married too...)

Dilan makes a valiant effort at trying to make Sabiha understand but everything she says only has her dig in deeper to the lie. She can't let it go. In the end, she pulls the gun out of her purse. 

Baran is terrified on the way there. 

Sabiha wants Baran to suffer loss like she is. 

At the last second, Baran strides between them, grabs the barrel and points it at his own head. He throws a file of evidence down at her feet. In it is a series of photos that show the progression of the photoshopping from a selfie of Gulsah to the photo of her and Baran. Sabiha remembers taking that selfie with Gulsah.

The gun is still inches from Baran's face.

Yelling at the tv:

*Hats off to the woman who plays Derya. She is consistently smug and awful and that's hard to do. Nobody wants to be the obvious villain. 

**When I saw Silah blurred in the background behind Gul, I thought that was Firat coming up the drive. That was a bummer.

***Silah looks like a young Elvis.

0 Hagia Sophia's chanted.

Teaser 180: On the car ride back, Dilan has a panic attack. They pull over. She feels terrible, partly because she knows he'll be angry with her again. He's not. He was just so scared something would happen to her.

Kan Cicekleri episode 178

Episode #178 A Few Near Misses

Quick synopsis: A refuting clue. Go Firat, go! An assassin found.

Dilan found a clue! Something they can use to debunk the accusations. She throws her arms around Baran. He...tries but just can't make himself put a hand on her back to reciprocate. FrownyBaran.

It's a good lead too. Gulsah herself recorded conflicting pieces of info for the same date: a letter he supposedly sent from Istanbul, while in her diary she wrote that he was away.

And it's not his handwriting in the letter. I'm glad they didn't let that drop. She grabs his hand again in her excitement. He takes it...and puts it back on the diary. It was 50 / 50 if it was going to his lips or back down again. Better luck next time, D.

He keeps thinking she's looking because she needs proof, when really she is trying to clear his name. Serap sends a photo. Gulsah is in the background. She'd been stalking him all that time.

Gul calls Silah to accept his proposal, poor kid. Both of them. Azade-doom made her do it in front of her too. Man, that lady. This is the thing that's going to push Firat over the edge, I bet.

Baran wants to go to sleep. Dilan does not. He reaches across her to turn off the light (Finally! Someone turns off a light!) and she turns it back on. He keeps reaching across her to turn it off until, well, you know. He's leaning across her and turns his face to her, and oh...they are a hair's breadth away. He's cranky. He can't sleep with the light on. Which is bologna; see above.

And also, he falls asleep while she keeps sleuthing. She finds another clue. She wakes him up, all excited. They can search designs and find the ring. Prove it came from a different company and that Baran didn't design it. Now? he asks. No, in the morning is ok. She flops over and is almost immediately asleep. He is not.

Gul tells her mom about accepting Salih's proposal. 

Kerem stops by. Dilan joins them. She will not be left out.

Baran messaged Kerem last night about the ring. He's already been researching. And there's more. Gulsah was seeing a psychiatrist.

I just have to say, Kerem is great. He sees all their little squabbles and has to hide a smile during this exchange. Good thing too. They seem a little mean to me, so cues from Kerem are appreciated.

In a surprise move, Azade visits Sabiha. Havin leaves her in the foyer to go let Sabiha know she's here. Sure, show her in. But when Havin turns to go back to the door, bam! Azade-doom is right there. Like a witch, that woman. She says things in echoes. She defends Dilan!  Sabiha gives her snakes eyes. It's like an end-of-level, final boss battle. 

Dilan wants to go see the psychiatrist with him, even though he has said no, so she sneaks into the back seat of the pick-up. Up to her old tricks, that one. A sneeze gives her away. Oooh, is he pissed.

Baran: I told you no.

Dilan: I'm curious.

B: Don't be.

D: But I want to be with you.

Aw geez. What can he do now? Reach across her for the seat belt to buckle her in, obvs.

I really thought he was going to kiss her. Is it me or are these near misses more near-missery? My people, their noses actually touch. That's pre-kissing contact for sure.

Derya gives Gul crap about the coffee she brought. Firat overhears Azade's solution to "the Gul problem", i.e. marrying Silah. We get some nice camera work with a the-whole-world-narrows-on-Firat shot. Firat, my toad, run! GO!

Dilan calls Baran on his bull. How long will this resentment go on?  (Havin is snapping photos of them.)

She was inconsolable so long after the visit to Sabiha's and he is taking that as her sorrow over the things she believed he did. He says he has never made this error, not trusting someone he loves. So she lays it on the line: You are never going to forgive me, are you? You'll never forget this, will you?

Firat goes like the wind, grabbing a pergola post to practically fling himself around the corner and swing on the patio outside the kitchen. He confronts Gul. He will never let her marry that guy! He gets echoes too.

A photo comes through to Baran's phone, of them, in real time, on the street as they stand there. It's clearly a threat. He bundles her up and off the go. Dilan sees Havin in the bushes when they get home. Kudret calls with the hitman's info. Baran is off again. Dilan is not.

Instead, she sees Gul crying in the kitchen. She tells Dilan about the proposal. Dilan guesses Azade's part. She and Baran won't allow it. Azade's threat included not telling Baran or Dilan about her plan so Gul insists it's her decision.

Sabiha did not know about the psychiatrist visits. Havin starts to have doubts. Sabiha says the doctor is lying, but Havin talked to her, after Baran and Dilan left. Sabiha calls Dilan. She knows they went to the psychiatrist.

She is losing it.

Dilan fears for Baran's life again. She will go to Sabiha to try to calm her down.

Baran joins the Karabey crew at the assassin, Filkir's, hideout. Repeat hero walk. Repeat Cihan and Firat clearing the way. This is the guy who shot his wife; Baran won't let him go. A text comes through: Dilan went to Sabiha's house. He has to leave. They bring Filkir with them. 

Dilan thinks if she can convince Sabiha that Gulsah didn't tell her everything, created this world for herself, she can get through to her. Her words have zero effect on Sabiha. But they seem to on Havin. Dilan shows her the ticket stubs and describes the discrepancy. (Crap. Has she given up a key piece of evidence? Will it hurt their case if the ticket stubs aren't a surprise anymore?)

Havin goes back inside without a word. 

Just as Dilan is about to collapse onto the pavement in despair, Baran catches her. (Of course he does.) He is consumed with worry that Sabiha did something to her. Once he knows she is ok, he takes her hand and they leave. On the ride home, she leans against him and you can tell he's worried.

Sabiha shuts the door to her room in Havin's face. And locks it. And takes out another whose-heart-is-in-it box.*  But it's not a heart in this one.

It's a gun.

Yelling at the tv:
*Srsly, how many of these things does this lady have?  Was it a conscious decision to set her up as the Evil Queen?  If so, well done. If not, I think we've hit on an archetype. With the hair slicked back, the big eyes, the severe eyebrows and mouth. And to top it all off, the quintessential Evil Queen prop, the ornate box, she is really leaning into the part.

2 Hagia Sofaraways chanted.

Culturisms:

Maybe that chain that hangs down from the roof of their bedroom into the garden is a rain chain for rainwater to flow down.

Teaser 179:

Another button sewn on. Not so steamy this one though. He knew Sabiha wouldn't listen to reason but Dilan went and tried anyhow. What if something had happened to her? Will he forgive her at last? Dunno. He pulls his hand away and skates. 

FrownyBaran, you toad.

Kan Cicekleri episode 177

 Episode #177 Baran's Hard Day

Quick synopsis: The Baran pile-on. Gul has a hard choice. Dilan may have found the key.

Opening shot: The entire Karabey household is arrayed behind Baran and Dilan (excellent staging gang!), in opposition to Sabiha and her accusations. And it's Dilan who does the talking, facing off with Sabiha, refuting the lies and proposing the evidence is faked.* She has taken Baran's hand with the statement that this is her home, this is her husband, and she knows him like the back of her hand. Sabiha is believing lies.

Kudret steps in too.

Baran takes his hand back and kicks the box on his way into the house, leaving everyone else outside.

Hasan pipes up. Kudret's immediate response is, 'They're lies. Don't you know Baran at all?' Oof. Dilan feels that one.

Baran has a tantrum. Things--including a portfolio--go flying. He might Hulk out the way his eyes are bugging out and the camera focuses on his face. Dilan comes in. I love how she can always calm him down, or at least startle him out of his fit. He won't forgive her, but she just keeps agreeing with him so he loses some of his bluster. She leaves him with Kudret and Cihan.

Gul is having a bad day too. Azade-doom has threatened marriage to Silah or Kader is out of a job. Now this attack on Baran. What do you cry at more? I don't know, Gul. I'm stumped.

Who gets married to someone they don't love in this day and age? Well... She thinks if she confides in Dilan about Azade's ultimatum, she will go ballistic. Can confirm.

Sabiha is railing at women who can be so blind to men who are harming them. Ironic non, since we suspect someone has set this all up, including duping Sabiha herself to be a pawn in their game?

The Karabey boys are in the study, discussing things. Aunt-Catherine-Azade-doom must have her say in the conversation. She joins them saying if she didn't ask, they'd keep quiet and never say anything. She's not wrong. Kudret nods to Cihan to take grandma off. He and Baran decide they will take a meticulous approach, lay out all the lies and leave no doubts.

Gul helps Dilan examine the evidence from the box. 

We all agree, Gulsah was mentally unstable. Sabiha is proving to be. Even Firat is all, 'Baba, you can't possibly believe all this talk of Baran.' Hasan, the rat, gets an earful about it from Azade too. He backtracks. Everyone makes mistakes, right? And people can surprise you with the bad things they are capable of. 

'Oh you know that from experience, old man?' (Nice one, Firat. )

Azade disparages Sabiha and that sends Hasan into another snit. But then in a rare show of solidarity, (and maybe it's because it's happened like, a billion times before,) she wonders who Sabiha might come after next. Dilan? Firat actually gasps. But then he tells his grandma she's lost her marbles. That'll never happen. M-hm. K.

Derya shows up. "What did I miss?" Best line of the whole episode.

Hasan starts in again. Firat bounces. He comes across Baran. He's there for him, hand on shoulder, just say the word, cuz.

Baran sees Dilan going through the box of stuff and thinks she's on the bandwagon again. No, she's looking for clues to disprove it. He rehashes her suspicions about Serap.

Baran: Just like I told you, there was nothing going on.

Dilan: Just like I told you, she wanted it to be more than just friends.

(Still at an impasse.) 

D: It looks so real. Can you blame me for being shocked?

B: We are supposed to trust each other. I am done talking.

(Im-passe.)

Gul is crying on the patio outside the kitchen. Firat sits down beside her but she has had enough. Everything he does makes it worse. Whatever he thinks has happened, she's had it even worse than that. Now go take your help and shove it. Marry your wife and live happily ever after once you've made your alliance. 

Did it work? we wonder. Has he finally been jarred out of his wallowing by the vehemence of her words?

Dilan tries again. Let me help you sort through this stuff. He huffs and sifts through it. There's movie ticket stubs for a date when he wasn't even in Istanbul. He was in Mardin for a relative's wedding.

Serap calls; she remembers Gulsah. She'll look through her things and try to find some info for them. 

Murat has come to see Baran and Kudret. Who's Murat? Dilan wants to know. He doesn't answer and just walks out.** But we find out that he's the guy who knows the selling history of the guns used in the wedding night raid. They get an address. They send some guys.

Dilan and Kudret talk. Sometimes you are both right in an argument. She gets a Baba hug.

Hasan pushes Firat to accept Sabiha's offer. Gul weighs her options. Dilan demands to know from Baran what is going on. He walks off but when she tries to follow, she trips (c'mon gang, really?) and he catches her. Is that banter I see? Or animosity? Or, I-want-you-more-than-you-know?

Azade and Hasan are both rats, trying to get a rise out of Gul at dinner; she however, is steady-handed. (That's our girl!) Hasan starts in on Baran again, before he can even get a forkful to his mouth. 'And?' Baran demands? Hasan backs down. Baran does a sniff-thing instead of teeth-suck. Like the disdain didn't make it all the way down his face to his mouth. It still means Baran is in charge, no matter the gesture. I swear, Azade wants to smack Hasan upside the head, the look she gives him. He starts in again! Kudret's scowl could turn him to stone. 'Enough!' Baran shouts. Hasan's retort is basically 'neener neener neener'. I think he's 12. Hasan, you rat. Ugh, these boys.

In a rare show of weakness, Baran slams the door to the study and slumps back against it. It's all a little much.

Dilan brings dinner up to FrownyBaran in their room. He's going through the stuff in the box again. He's not hungry. Fine, she'll wait. Is that a hint of a smile on his face? And her expressions are delightful, full of mischief. He is! He's smiling!

Gul agrees to Azade's demands. She'll marry Silah.

Dilan remarks how Gulsah should have known better than to say he designed the wedding ring. (It's a big silver rose.) It's totally not his style. Oh, this catches his attention. He asks how she thinks he would have designed it. When she describes what she thinks he would do, she nails it.

Serap sends a photo. In the background, behind her and Baran, is Gulsah, stalking them from behind a tree.

Dilan thinks she has discovered the key to proving it's all lies. She throws her arms around him. He looks so confused for a moment. 

Aw, come on Baran, you know how this goes. Hug her back. Hold her tight.

Yelling at the tv:

*This is a scene where you can see Baran's John Kranski-ness. 

**I can't believe that after all this time, I'm analyzing his silent stalk-outs. Like he does here when Murat shows up. Because, he does it all the time. It shouldn't even peak interest at this point: It's a plot device; he's the head of the family and can do as he pleases. He's a grump; he is punishing her out of spite. Take your pick. But I'm going to say this time, specifically, he doesn't want her to know because he thinks it would upset her. I'm putting a little trust in you, Baran. Like you've shown us, that the FrownyBaran bit is usually because of good intentions that we just aren't privy to yet.

Teaser 178:

Dilan has been up late researching and cross referencing. She wakes Baran up, excited by an idea. He wonders, hasn't she slept yet? No, but she'll go to sleep now. He's left awake, thinking. He's crabby in the morning but she's chipper and won't be left behind.

0 Hagia Sophias chanted.

Kan Cicekleri episode 176

 Episode #176 Confronting A Lie

Quick synopsis: Dilan doesn't believe it. Baran won't forgive it. Sabiha has one more suprpirse.

Dilan has finally said something, about the accident, about how he was in a relationship with Gulsah. Oooooh, and Baran gets pissed. To be fair, she comes across very accusatory, demanding answers from him. Probably because she's kept it bottled up so long. He refuses to answer such utter nonsense. I guess now he knows what Sabiha was up to.

Poor Silah; Gul, of course, says 'No'. Firat just watches him go (thankfully).

Holy frick. Baran goes straight to the source. He shows up at Sabiha's house! Why'd she lie to Dilan? But we know it's not a ploy; she believes this. She shows him the photo. Photos, actually--multiple. He's clearly confused and astounded to see things in photos that never really happened.

So now we know, the photos are fakes.

Sabiha gets more and more agitated, snipping off words, lips curling and eyes bugging out. Baran brings it too, but insists he didn't know Gulsah. She is yelling right in his face. But he's used to Azade-doom, so he knows how to keep his cool in the face of this. He heaves a big sigh. Sabiha is shaking with rage. He lays down the law. Now he knows how she manipulated Dilan. But, and he repeats this very clearly: he never, ever knew Gulsah. 

Sabiha is still spitting mad. She got her final showdown and he basically brushed her aside. She is a loose cannon. 

Gul is walking the grounds. Firat finds her. Go waste your time on your fiancé , she tells him. He grabs her arm and isn't going to let go, but remembers himself after Gul yells at him. He releases her and wonders to himself, What am I doing?

Us too, Firat, you toad. 

He's torn though. (This has got to break soon.)

Baran and Kerem are talking. Someone created this dog and pony show and fed it to Sabiha. She didn't do it on her own. (Which also begs the question, did they kill her daughter too? That feels sickening.)

FrownyBaran walks back into their room. He just told Kerem down in the study how it was a well constructed theatrical move. He'll get why Dilan fell for it, right? Maybe. But she starts right in again about wanting an explanation. Would she believe him anyway? What can he say in the face of that? He thought she would have his back after all they've been through. He shouldn't have to justify himself to her again. How could she think this of him? He's watched her in a state over something and this, this is what was plaguing her? He can take anything but her not believing him. 

I'm torn too. Even he saw how well crafted the lie was. He shouldn't be surprised she wavered. But the complete lack of faith...we'd be pretty ticked--have been--when it's been him disbelieving of her. This feels like an Emma moment, of Mr. Knightly saying, "Badly done Emma. Badly Done."

Plus, he rolls up his sleeves (forearms) when he goes out to the patio, so I know I'm right.

He falls asleep on the patio couch. Dilan covers him with a blanket.

It bears remembering too, that Dilan had been terrorized by Sabiha for weeks and has been primed for just this reaction. It's been orchestrated by Sabiha to make her doubt. 

I wonder if this will play into Baran's review of the situation when he calms down.

He maintains though, that whatever his answer, whatever he could tell her, won't make a difference. She has to come to the conclusion on her own. He's partially right--she alone can make herself sure--but what about the photos? Like, let's talk technical stuff at least. How d'ya think she got those?

Kudret is worried about them. He talked to them the night before. When he walks out in the morning, she grabs Baran's arm quick and smiles. Yikes. Now she really is play-acting in front of him.

And someone is taking pictures of them. Again. Good lord, you gangsters. This is not what normal people do. The photo goes to Havin. Proof that things aren't going to Saniha's revenge plan. Well, if Dilan won't help herself, Sabiha will. 

Look out y'all. Crazy lady in da hooooouse.

Gul backs Baran up. She's been here for years and never heard a word from this Gulsah. And she's known Baran longer, if not better. This isn't the kind of thing he'd do. Dilan needs Ahmet to tell her to remember how she felt when she was accused but didn't do the thing. She doesn't get him though.

Kerem is digging into Gulsah, but wonders, could Sabiha be playing them? Baran is convinced that Sabiha has been duped too by whomever set this all in motion. The pain he saw in her was real. 

Kerem gives his standard advice: Why don't you just talk to Dilan?*

Baran is no-budge-Baran. Unacceptable! this suggestion.

Kerem gets it but doesn't agree. Baran's sore neck from sleeping on the couch says otherwise.** 

Suck-ah.

Derya is slowly barging her way in (that is to say, moving in) with a dress whose shoulders could plow snow in winter. 

Azade-doom is still scheming.

Dilan helps Baran with a few exercises for his sore neck. Which is to say, she lays hands on him and caresses his neck. They can touch, but they can't talk.

Awww, Karabey boys gripe confab! All of them are in the foyer talking about marriage. If not talking smack exactly, it's all about how one was married, one is married, one is getting married, and one will have his turn soon enough. 

And now it's Karabey coffee in the gazebo. Dilan has something important to tell him, but the click of Sabiha's (fantastic) heels up the driveway interrupts them. Havin is with her, carrying a box.

Ok, now you know we have a history with boxes. At this point, I'm wondering whose head is in this one.

It's Gulsah's, figuratively. A bunch of her stuff. You're investigating her? Here. Here you go. Have at it. And she throws the box at Baran's feet.

Oh! And here comes the parade out of the house. Everybody wants to see what's going on. Like, everybody. 

And Dilan takes his hand. This is my home and this is my husband. I know him like the back of my hand.

Bam.

Yelling at the tv:

*Kerem is the real love interest here. Smart, handsome, calm, loyal, and best of all--communicative. Where is his love affair? I want to see that.

**I just have to say, the man can sleep fully clothed, sitting up, head leaning back on that hard headboard shelf for weeks after he and Dilan first got married, but the cushy patio couch is what does him in? I mean, c'mon.

Culturisms:

Cevriye does the ear thing too, warding off bad thoughts; tug the ear and a puckering kiss sound.

Teaser 177:

They kept the box of Gulsah's things. Looking through it, Baran can prove some of it is false. Won't make a difference to Sabiha though. Serap remembers Gulsah; she'll help track down info too. 

Murat has come to see Baran and Kudret. Who's Murat? Instead of answering Dilan's question, Baran just walks out of the room all FrownyBaran-like, comme dab.

Kan Cicekleri episode 175

 Episode #175 Dilan Is Distraught

Quick synopsis: Dilan finds out some things. But does she though? The Karabey boys get a hero walk.

Sabiha has shown Dilan all her Gulsah things, including what seems like pretty damning evidence that Baran had a past with her. And she's called him a killer. And left Dilan with this threat: I hope the same doesn't happen to you one day.

For his part, Baran is on high alert, thinking Sabiha did something to her right under his nose. (Kinda true.) Sabiha is smug in the face of his wrath.

Dilan doesn't want to talk to him. Look into my eyes, he demands, but doesn't do the chin thing (thank you). Her silence is scaring him. He desperately wants to know what's happened and doesn't believe her when she says it's nothing.

Gul has demanded an answer. What betrayal? Firat throws it back at her (with echoes): You sold us out for money! 

She's utterly confused. He saw her take the check. But in her mind, she remembers it as giving the check back. Which he didn't see.

The translation for this conversation here may be iffy; the words she says make sense but his reaction doesn't seem to match the energy. It's more devastated than angry. She doesn't deny everything but sort of leans into the accusation. In such a way though that it insults him: Yeah sure, I sold out, but what does it matter? If it was love, it didn't matter (that I sold out) because there was no love to begin with, or we wouldn't be in this situation. I guess it implies if his love was strong enough, they would have overcome the problem, but he folded when she needed him? Or, if he believed that in the first place, then he wasn't really in love, was he? At any rate, when she walks away having come out on top of the conversation, it's obvious he knows he made a huge mistake. The whole set-down is so stinging. High five to that woman again.

Firat, you big ole toad.

Gul gets an Ahmet visit! That's how we know she's right. Suck it, Firat. (Maybe he'll get a Kudret visit. It's a good thing there's two of them now.) What's lovely about Ahmet's advice to her is that it leaves room for Firat to apologize and Gul to forgive.

Dilan and Barn get home and she can't move fast enough to get out of the car. The seatbelt is stuck. As soon as she's free she bolts from him. She is freaking out, big time. She burrows under the covers on their bed, sobbing. He can't reach her no matter how tender he tries to be, how worried he is for her. She pushes his hand away and bolts from the bedroom too. She's in the shower, under the spray, in her clothes, sobbing and repeating over and over "you can't be that, you can't be like that". 

She comes back into their room, changed and hair dried and still in a funk. He won't press her to tell him anything, he just wants her to be ok. And boy, is he pissed at Sabiha for whatever she did to her.

Firat is stuck on how Gul didn't defend herself. 

Two love stories, two lies believed. Listen to the mind or the heart?

Kudret has to scoot to take care of a thing: they found the guy who sold the guns used in the raid and they think it's the same people who shot Dilan earlier. Cihan and Firat join him.

Baran pledges to stand with her through whatever is wrong, not realizing Sabiha made him the problem. He puts her to bed with such tender care, all of it at direct odds with the picture Sabiha painted. 

The Karabey boys find the guy and follow him. They call Baran; he's on his way. He also gets a call that Sabiha is visiting a cliff with flowers.

Dilan confides in Gul. Baran supposedly left Gulsah on the day they got married. (1st or 2nd time?) She was rushing to get there, to stop it, and her car went off the road. She's still super freaked out. Gul cradles her.

The Karabey boys get a slow hero walk. Cihan takes out the first guy with a blocked punch and swift kick. Firat gets the second with a high, hard kick to the chest. Baran and Kudret walk in, through the path they cleared. Baran sits down; Kudret makes the threat. The guy doesn't even know who did the shooting, but he'll find out, yes he will. There will be no more conversations, just answers. 

Oh yeah, they gangstas.

Gul wonders, because the vendetta wedding was so sudden (so #1 then), maybe that's why he left Gulsah? But it's just supposition. Dilan should just ask him. 

Yes, of course, but do they ever?  

She doesn't believe it could be true, but the evidence...it has even Gul guessing at how, why too. Just talk to him, Gul repeats. That's my girl!

Baran is back. He takes her hands in his. This is me. We understand each other. You can tell me anything. She pulls back but he won't let go. She is struggling to break free of his grip when Kudret comes out of the house. He's mildly alarmed, but must recognize his bull of a son and mule of daughter-in-law are just doing their thing again, and tells them about himself and Ayten. They didn't keep things from each other, even when they fought. And he says some magic words: This is the first time I've seen Baran this much in love.

He heard them both when he was paralyzed, and they poured their hearts out to him. He knows. And of course, they each know what they said to him. 

Suck it up, you crazy kids. They both go back to their room.

Salih proposes. He got Azade-doom's blessing. Even after Kader told her off. Don't do it, Gul!

Back in their room, Dilan finally spills it: You were going to get married. You gave her a promise. Gulsah died on the day we got married.

Yelling at the tv:

New theory: we've seen 2 women--Derya and Serap--both be in love with Baran and he had no idea. What if Gulsah was in love with him but they were never actually dating? Maybe it was all in her head and she loved him in a fantasy, from afar. Given the way some of these women have schemed, it's not out of the realm of possibility that she got a ring from the Karabey store, said it came from him in her delusion, etc. I don't know what to think about the letter. It would be good to know if it's his handwriting Dilan recognized, or if it was just the shock of the words. And even if Gulsah nabbed it from some other girl, it still means he wrote it to someone else. Unless it was a love letter to mom? Is Kudret's handwriting similar? And how would she have even gotten hold of something like that?

And if it was a fantasy Gulsah had, of course her mom is going to believe her. Given how she's been a little monomaniacal in her grief, I can see where Gulsah gets that tendency from.

So if Baran really had nothing  to do with her death, then Sabiha has been seeking an unjust revenge for one daughter from the man to whom she'll be indebted to for bringing her back to her 1st daughter.

"It's like a telenovela, non?"

And srsly, Baran, for a guy who's known for seeking out the truth, how do you not see these women pining after you?

1 Hagia Sofaraway chanted

Culturisms:
What is with the super thick nylons the women wear? Yikes. A modesty thing, I guess, but they look super uncomfortable.

Hanife, Dilan's mom, does a funny little evil-warding gesture I've not seen before: tug your ear then knock twice.

Teaser 176:

The stoney-faced anger is back. 

Baran: Why talk? You won't believe me?

Dilan: Help me understand.

B: How could you think this of me? After all we've been through?

Kan Cicekleri episode 174

Episode #174 Sabiha Tells All

Quick synopsis: The campout continues. Who did the what betrayal now? Baran is a killer, maybe.

Dilan and Baran are stargazing during their campout. He takes her hand and together they are pointing at the North Star. They are. Nose to nose. No Joke.

Sabiha and Havin are...watching them??? From the tree line. It's as weird as it sounds.

Wait a second. Now there's someone watching Sabiha watching them. And he's taking a photo. And texting it to someone.

Kudret is reading in his room. He is interrupted by a ping on his phone. It's the photo of Sabiha watching them. It's Kudret's man following Sabiha, for Baran and Dilan's protection.

Gul is confused about what she overheard Derya say to Firat. What betrayal is she talking about? She would never! Firat walks into the kitchen, head down, and is surprised when he looks up and sees her. She almost asks him, but then leaves instead.

Still no signal for roadside assistance for Baran. (Not really.) Guess we'll have to sleep here. In this magical night, where neither of us is sleepy. Chilly though. Baran brings a blanket from the truck.* It's for her. He doesn't need it. She shares anyway.

Sabiha is back home and she is losing it, y'all. Their love is so stubborn! Everything she does only throws them more together. She's flingin' things around the room, giving Baran a run for his money.

Baran and Dilan wake up and just cuddle for a bit, but then are interrupted by Baran's phone ringing. Ooops. Guess he's got cell service after all. Eh-hem. The jig is up. And guess what? Nobody cares! Smiles all around.

Gul confronts Derya instead. What betrayal? Ooooh, Derya gets that nasty grin going. She doesn't answer to Gul. Now bring her some coffee.

They are back at the house. Baran is smiling. Smiling.

Kerem has also dropped by. There's a development about Gulsah. We don't find out what it is.

Sabiha has a silver rose ring that was Gulsah's. It looks very similar in style to Dilan's hair clip. And...a wedding dress? Ordered but never picked up. Delivered after Gulsah's death. 

Dilan is out of the shower and brushing her damp hair.

"Let me," says Baran. He tells her, she is the first woman for whom he's done this. All his firsts are with her. But she was so terrible to him, she replies. How can he say that?

"Pain that comes for you is a gift." (Uhhhh, I wouldn't say that, exactly.)

But this is a very intimate thing, the hair brushing.

He pulls out his mother's scarf, the inspiration for Delal. He gives it to her again, apologizing for what he said before. He doesn't even get the full apology out before she throws her arms around him in forgiveness. He drops the scarf to the bed and pulls her tight to him. Kisses her cheek. They are clinging to each other, to their new beginning..

Hasan and Derya plot to convince Azade-doom to throw Gul out. But she ain't buying it.

Seyit has news. There is a record of Sabiha before her marriage. I'm not sure why this is important, but I've filed it away for later. Let's hope Dilan does too.

Kudret shows Baran the photos his guy took. No sound, but a full-beard-grimace-teeth-suck from Baran.

Gul confides in Dilan about the supposed betrayal. Sabiha calls while they are talking. She will tell Dilan everything about Gulsah. Gul is skeptical. (She's got good instincts, does our Gul.) Dilan tells Baran about the offer. She wants to go; he is very against it. They'll go together, he proposes. He'll stay by the gate. She wears Ayten's scarf as a talisman. Baran is pleased. 

It's good to see them back on the same page. It feels like after all this time, they are finally almost back to wedding level comfort with each other.

Hasan harasses Firat about his upcoming marriage to Derya; think of all the things it will get them. It just exacerbates everything about his life that he's sick of: his dad, Derya, the scheming, the animosity with Baran, the constant trying to live up to someone else's standards. But he's worn down too and it's just easier to give in.

Actually, Azade does buy into Derya's distress and subterfuge. (Again.) I think she plans to marry Gul off to Silah. She does! That's totally her plan. By her reckoning, Gul is the problem. Kader stands up to Azade-doom though and puts a stop to it. She won't let Gul marry someone she isn't in love with and she won't ruin that other person's life with a loveless marriage. And she does it so calmly too. I'm reminded of Azade's previous falling out with her and how Baran had to practically beg Kader to come back. It's like the worst happened, and since then, Kader just isn't interested in the bossy pushing around anymore. She just very calmly and plainly tells Azade, no. She gets to be in the mage club with Kudret and Ahmet.

Dilan is at Sabiha's, in the shrine bedroom. There's a letter (in Baran's handwriting?) and a photo of the two of them next to each other. This seems like a big deal but it's all pretty circumstantial so far. In the photo, they're not looking at each other, not even close. It could be a photo of two people walking one behind the other even. But the letter though, if it's even Baran's handwriting, the letter could be damning. It says you are my first love and you'll be my last. How to verify it's from him though?

It does come across as pretty definitive to Dilan and the background music though. Maybe I missed something in the dialogue that didn't make it to the sub titles. 

What the hell. I'm so confused. All that hair brushing talk seems like a farce now. 

And out comes the ring. He made it. And proposed with it.

What. The. Hell.

Outside, Baran is getting antsy. FrownyBaran stares down a guard. No words, just stares. Poor guy cracks and opens the gate,

Dilan sees the wedding dress.

Gul has had enough. She finally confronts Firat. She demands to know, what betrayal?

Sabiha takes Dilan outside. Baran follows them across the grounds. She takes Dilan to her hole in the ground. It's her open grave for her daughter, never to be filled. (It's starting to get Crazy Lady in here again.) 

Baran can see them but can't hear what's being said. 

He led her on and then dropped her. Gulsah died to keep Baran from leaving her. Sabiha shouts, he's a killer! Dilan looks at him, horrified.

Yelling at the tv:
*Seriously, so much camping gear.

It's a night  shoot because of the star gazing. Sabiha's makeup is a lot heavier and darker.

Culturisms:

We never find out anything about Kader's and Azade's husbands. Not needed for the plot? Did I miss something that wasn't in the subtitles for me to read? We don't know about Firat's mom either. So I don't think it's a gender biased thing.

Teaser 175:

Dilan is freaking out. All the things he told her about being his first love are a lie. Baran is bewildered. What's wrong? She won't talk to him. She Is plagued by the idea that she married a cold-blooded killer. Baran is convinced he's close to discovering Sabiha's past.