Stacy Johnson

Many Turkish series tend to portray lead female characters who come across as weak, unrealistic, and unconvincing. (It could be that they sometimes choose actresses that are much too young and lack the necessary experience to portray the characters they are chosen to play.) Weak, unrealistic, unrelatable lead characters undermine the entire storyline and make it difficult for viewers to stay emotionally invested. Take Dilan, for example. How many times can she misinterpret simple comments and let her confusion dictate her behaviour? It has become repetitive and tiresome. From the very beginning, her character has lacked believability in almost every way. (Spoiler ahead: If you haven't watched the show yet, skip the next paragraph.) What I found particularly frustrating and completely implausible was Dilan’s behaviour after she had been kidnapped. She was supposedly acting obnoxiously towards Baran to protect him. Her actions came across as robotic, unrelatable, and deeply annoying, especially because she stupidly failed to warn him of the imminent danger that she believed him to be in. How can someone who supposedly trained to be a pharmacist be so dimwitted? Dilan's character proves what a dangerous thing stupidity can be. She believes that she can save his life by ruining it. If you love someone, you warn them of danger. You don't become the weapon that you're trying to protect that person from. This storyline is so ridiculous! It felt like an insult to the viewer’s intelligence. Unless one is completely disengaged, it is hard to take such an unrealistic plot seriously. Later in the story Dilan becomes quite obnoxious, expecting Baran to conform to a pattern of behaviour she herself wasn't subscribing to. She just became a " know it all". The character of Dilan is too far fetched. She often misunderstands everything, keeps big secrets from her husband (but forbids him to do the same) and covers up for people who have intentionally harmed her and her husband. I see her as a bit of a narcissist in some ways. Baran's long-suffering attitude with his wife despite her irritating disposition is also extemely unrealistic. Additionally, throughout the series, episodes are often filled with long, silent scenes where the two lead characters simply stare at each other with little to no dialogue. This is not only frustrating but also reflects poor writing and a shallow narrative. The show had potential. With a more thoughtful script, genuine character development, and a relatable female lead, it could have been compelling. Unfortunately, Dilan's character comes across as irritating, immature and even unlikable. While the actress may be talented, the role itself is poorly written and does not do her justice. Overall, a lot of the writing has actually let the cast down.