Spoilers from Episode 20 and 21 are included in the following discussion.
“Do you know what separation is? Being separated is when one gives up on pouring his heart out.” - Sukru Erbas*
Perhaps, it was unjust or selfish of Naci to return to Safiye now, knowing that he was dying; but, he couldn’t help it, as the excitement that he feels when he is around her is akin to a child’s joy the night before bayram morning. He also feels duty-bound to help her escape from that house, which she was imprisoned in because of him. To that end, he helps her walk outside, see the sky, and notice the changes in her surroundings. Though the street noise eventually penetrates their happy bubble at her finally leaving the building, Naci helps her to understand that he will try with her everyday; together, they hope that maybe one day they can visit the city as they once did, when they were young. Although she was able to successfully quiet her mother’s voice, and take a step outside, when the fear of her undertaking overwhelms her, Naci silences her self-reproach, telling her that no one, not even she, can speak to his Safiye in that way. She is stunned at how much he cares for her, asking him if she can keep his journals with her, as their presence comforts her; she promises not to read his words, but seeing the proof of his uninterrupted affection for her throughout all the years they were apart*, soothes her. With renewed trust in him and in them, once more, the following morning, with her hair in soft waves, a brand new yellow dress, perfume and a white coat, she waits for Naci in the lobby, certain that he will come, and ready to try to go outside again, with him.
There are so many shades to Safiye’s character. She is quite possibly one of the most complex female characters that has been translated on screen in some time. It is hard to determine whether to love her or hate her.
- To Inci, she is cruel. By intentionally making her least favorite food for dinner, forcing her to wear such extensive PPE, making her use paper plates and utensils, and repeatedly bringing up Ceylan (Han’s ex), Safiye let her inner Hasibe direct her actions. There was an evil glint in her eyes as she decided to prepare a dinner that she knew Inci would hate. Adding insult to injury, Safiye gifted Han and Inci two twin mattresses as a wedding present.
- To Gulben, she was vulnerable. Fearing her mother’s return, but also not wanting to fully let her go, Safiye told her some of the things that Hasibe was saying; Gulben, fierce and protective of the sister who had saved her and raised her, tried to do the same for Safiye, telling the intangible Hasibe that she, the ‘pissy’ Gulben, was not scared of her. This was a beautifully shot scene, where her fear and courage were proudly showcased. Though Hasibe disappeared in that moment, she left a cowering Safiye in her stead, who felt defeated by Inci’s entrance into the home.
- To Naci, Safiye is, in part, her young self once more. He redeems her in a way that no other character can. He not only helps her become reacquainted with her young self, but he actively vows to return her naivety to her, to replace the bitterness that has encased her.
Naci’s love for her, and his patience at her current state is the type of sincerity and authentic emotion that is so rarely seen. Since he has arrived on set, Naci has brought an elegance and eloquence to this series that is truly exceptional. His brand of masculinity that is shy, pensive, confrontational and emotional introduces a refreshingly enlightened and sincere male lead. There is a gentleness in his manner that does not denote weakness; instead, the way in which he uses words to defeat violence, particularly when Han confronts him, is endearing. I believe that had Inci not dragged Han away from Naci, Naci would have been able to defeat Han’s belligerence with poetic precision. I wish his story could last a bit longer.
Gulben
Though all of the characters on this dizi have experienced a significant amount of growth, Gulben is changing all by herself; she has no one beyond her dolls and her own mind. This makes her character evolution so much more admirable. Trying to change the status quo with no other impetus than a simple desire to be better is a tall order. Kudos to her for being successful in staying the course, refusing to join the party at the terrace house, despite Esat’s invitation. The Gulben of the past, stuck in a dreamworld, would have jumped at the opportunity to spend time with him, but now, she is more discerning, wanting to be certain that she not impose or imagine an affection or intimacy that was not expressly proclaimed. She has the purest heart on this show; her gentleness and kindness is perhaps only paralleled by Naci’s effusive prose.
And, Esat does not seem to be entirely indifferent towards her. He was unaware of her affection for him before, and now having interacted with Esra on multiple occasions, and having experienced her lukewarm and changeable interest in him, he is seeing Gulben in a new light. It may be too soon to root for a romantic pairing between these two, but the potential for a real romance between them now exists.
Han & Inci
Let’s commend Inci, shall we? Despite all that Safiye puts her through from her first day, she is a trooper: consistently responding to Safiye’s bitter insults with sweet grace. Despite her bravado, she does break down in front of Esra, telling her that she feels so terribly alone in that house. But, wiping her tears, she remains determined to honor her promise to Han, and does actively try to follow all of the Derenoglu family’s house rules.
Their story these past couple episodes has been challenging, as Inci is trying her best to acclimate to his family, without an ally beside her. Even when she tries to do something nice for her new sisters-in-law, it backfires as the-doll-that-wets-herself insults Gulben, and the sleeveless dress can’t be worn by the self-harming Neriman. Her experiences with his family make Han appear very selfish. Though this may not be the case, his character has taken on a new darker, more obsessive tone that is frightening; he accuses Naci of wanting to harm Safiye, despite telling Inci only a few hours earlier that a couple truly in love would spend as much time as they could together, even if death would claim one of them the following day. When he realizes that Inci lied about the caller to her radio station, the anger in his gaze towards her was terrifying.
To make matters worse, Inci finds a bracelet that is very similar to the bracelet that Han had given to her; the only difference being that the name on the bracelet was Ceylan. My first thoughts at this scene were: didn’t Han build this terrace house specifically for them? Wasn’t the terrace empty before? Was the couch an old piece of furniture that he used with Ceylan before? There are only two possibilities that can exist: either Han intentionally brought Ceylan’s bracelet to the couch in the terrace house after he married Inci (which would be cok, ama cok kotu); or he bought this couch when he was with Ceylan and simply transported it to this new home. Neither option paint Han in a positive light. Inci’s affection for him is sincere and genuine, but is he trying to fit her into a specific mold or customize her to fulfill a role in his imagined future? Or does he really love her, for her?
Hasibe & Babanne
I was skeptical of this storyline when it was first introduced, and am now firmly convinced that these plot points should not be included in this dizi. The preference for a son rather than a daughter is a complex and complicated issue (consider the way in which real/personal property is transferred between generations in various societies; religious and cultural understandings of gender norms; limited resources for education, etc.). To offer this rationale as the sole cause of a vicious behavioral condition and or lack of maternal feeling is abominable, especially considering the nuance and forward thinking premise and insight that has been displayed in this screenplay thus far. Hasibe is a villain and she willfully chose to be cruel. From what we have seen so far, there is no justification for her actions towards her masum children. I hope that the writers renege on their ideas for this plot point and focus on another track.
I now feel nervous at the thought of any babanne’s entering a dizi (shoutout to the SCK fandom).
Neriman & Ege
He heard it, even though she didn’t. Ege heard Naci hoca’s advice: tell her how you feel; tell her of your love before it is too late. This was a beautiful scene, and a deeply moving song. Though I am not entirely rooting for a romantic pairing between these two young characters, partly because I admire the simplicity of their friendship, Naci dispensed his advice in the most artful way. Not only expressing his feelings to his direct audience, but also bringing tears to Safiye’s eyes, Naci advised Ege, who is now dating Gamze, to return to Neriman.
While, Gamze has become a lot more likable and substantive since Ege asked her out, Neriman is also growing more, apart from Ege, learning to stand up for herself with Gamze, and growing her friendship with Emre, who previously only used her for homework. The best part of this storyline was that Gamze, Emre, and Ege all realized that Neriman’s self-harming tendencies were destructive and all tried, in their own ways, to prevent her from hurting herself. Maybe one day she will be able to wear that sleeveless dress Inci bought for her?
Final thoughts
This dizi is shedding light on a powerful concept: love can heal your wounds; it can act as an excavator, clearing out the debris and the thorns that have embittered you or caused you to retreat into an imagined dream of how things should be, helping you to plant flowers afresh, once again. An inspiring and happy concept that is a welcome reminder, particulary during these uncertain times.
