This week’s episode of Sefirin Kızı picks up where episode two left off, with Melek being “kidnapped” by her grandfather, the ambassador, after he showed documentation to the police that supported his claims of him being her father. Stumped and trying to make sense of what was happening, Sancar Efe wasted no time in pointing fingers, blaming Nare for their daughter’s suffering, as they are both handcuffed and shipped off to the police station.
“The first time my daughter called me “dad”, she wasn’t asking for a bike, she was asking to be saved,” proclaimed Sancar Efe as him and Nare butt heads in their individual jail cells.
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In the midst of Sancar Efe loudly making his feelings known, Nare’s past memories are called upon to give us some additional insight. Per flashbacks, we learn that Nare was checked into a psychiatric hospital after her failed suicide attempt. It is in this hospital that her father coerced her into signing over Melek’s parental rights to him, in a what he claimed was the only way to save her from being taken away by social services. Yet, in his very diabolical mind, this was clearly part of a much bigger plan, one that included tying Nare down. To further cement his status as the “Worst Father In The World,” Güven seemingly takes Akin’s side, even after learning what he had done to his daughter. Outside of obviously being out of his damned mind, the question now becomes, what exactly does Akin have on him?
As we ponder, Melek’s parents take the next available flight to Karadağ (Montenegro) to bring back their daughter, declaring a temporary truce until their daughter is successfully recovered and back in their safe haven. Keeping up his toxic land theatrics in the cloudy skies, Sancar Efe did what he does best – bring Nare to tears, because according to him, she committed the greatest atrocity that made her status as “Sancar’s Nare” null and void. With an attitude like his, probably for Nare’s own good to be honest.
Through the course of episode, Sancar Efe and Nare had one mission and it was to save their daughter from the hands of the ambassador (p.s. how he became an ambassador is still a major question mark). Having landed in Karadağ, Sancar and Nare’s first stop was her former apartment, with them presuming that was were Melek was being held captive. Sancar’s ability to pinpoint which apartment was Nare’s, without any directions from Nare, did not go unnoticed by her and it quickly triggered a lightbulb moment for Nare – Sancar had come by her place once before. But how come she had no clue? Before we get to that, back at the apartment, Nare is clearly rattled being back in the scene of the crime she committed in episode 1. Sancar Efe may or may not have lost his mind for a second because he notices and actually worries about her wellbeing, asking if she was okay and once again trying to fish for the real reason why Nare decided to return after so many years.
Like in previous episodes, the highlight of the show is in its ability to seamlessly toggle between the past and present. Back in 2011, when Melek had just been born, Sancar Efe had come to Karadağ in search of Nare and a truth he had once vehemently denied. As previously noted, Nare was receiving treatment at this time, thus unavailable to meet with Sancar Efe. That certainly did not stop Akin and her father from devising a plan to get rid of Sancar Efe and most importantly to eliminate any chance of him ever believing a word that came from Nare’s mouth. He screamed here and there but Sancar Efe of course did not take much convincing.
As the story is told and retold, the narratives differing sometimes in slight detail, it was obvious the episode was set up to be the first part of Sancar Efe’s redeeming arc. Even with all the writers’ justifications, one thing remained crystal clear – Past and Present Sancar Efe continues to believe EVERYONE but the woman he was supposedly in love with. Make THAT make sense.
On a lighter note, the beauty of this particular episode came mostly through the music selections. Every song perfectly complemented the scene it was chosen for, elevating the storytelling in a gratifying manner.
Done listening? Let’s head back to Mugla, where Sancar Efe’s trip to Karadağ with Nare surely did not go unnoticed by the masses, especially Sancar Efe’s new wife, Menekşe. In a bid to assert her dominance, Menekşe continues to scheme with the help of her mother and good-for-nothing brother. This time, she claims to have had enough, gathering all her belongings and walking out the mansion in a fury. All attempts - gun included - to provoke a change of mind fail, which results in a furious Menekşe busing it back to her previously poor and miserable life.
Though she comes off as sweet, of all the characters in the show, Menekşe is definitely marking her mark as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, ready and able to rip whoever interrupts her climb to the top. Though we were initially weary of her age for such a huge role, Tülin Yazkan, the actress who plays Menekşe, is impressively holding her own. Her performance during her rant about not wanting to return to her previous life was one of the show’s best - till date.
Noticeably lacking this episode was the much-needed wit and smart commentary, often provided courtesy of the character Melek, played by fantastic newcomer Beren Gençalp. In the very few scenes she was shown in, Melek remained true to being her mother’s daughter, demanding her freedom from her grandfather, who had turned deaf ears. Despite being so young, little Melek’s ability to change her facial and body language on demand, shows talent and skill far beyond her years.
One thing that is addressed in this episode is the long-standing dangling thread from Gediz’s earlier actions/reactions towards all things concerning Nare. In a conversation with his sister, Gediz comes to a realization that he is in love, with none other but “Sancar’s Nare”, as his sister points out. From episode 1, Gediz being all-around awesome, charismatic and level-headed serves as a major selling point for his character. His declaration of love is where it becomes a little tricky, because if my Turkish series memory serves me correctly, being in love with someone you more than likely cannot have is almost synonymous to becoming an unbearable psycho. Is it too much to ask the writers to go a different route with our dear Gediz? Pretty please? For once, it would be lovely to root for a normal, and most-importantly, sane, rival.
In the final scenes, Sancar Efe and Nare emerge triumphant, saving their daughter, but of course it comes at a major monetary cost – a whopping 2 Million Euros, just enough money for Mr. Ambassador to pay off his gambling debts. That’s right, the ambassador was willing to sell his dearly beloved granddaughter to the highest bidder. If Sancar Efe hadn’t swooped in last minute to save his daughter, the episode would likely have ended with Nare being engaged to her abuser, a glaringly insensitive reminder that her father truly sucks.
There are many varying recollections on what led to what in this episode. Though the overarching theme was Sancar Efe’s internal battle with self, fighting his suppressed feelings for Nare. As the soothsayer in Karadağ pointed out, the bird caged in his heart will not be set free without Nare.
Favourite Scene
When Nare was intentionally translating the words of the soothsayer wrongly to Sancar Efe and Melek overheard and came by to provide accurate translations. Aferin, Sefirin Kızı Kızı ?
What’s next
Episode 4, which is due January 13, 2020, has the potential to be appreciably more eventful. As we saw in the final scene, Sancar Efe has finally decided to consummate his marriage. The question left on everyone’s mind is whether or not he will go through with it to please his wife. If yes, what does this mean for him and Nare’s story? See y’all in January.
Watch the trailer with english subtitles here.