Kurulus Osman Season 3 Episode 76 Review by Romana Nisar.

This Historic drama team deserves a round of applause for bringing the important characters of History to light. Making all those participants in the building of Ottoman Empire seen and felt in 21st century.

The way Osman thinks and then persues his plans is unparallel to any other drama. He was seriously wounded but did not lose his mind. Quick thinking saved him and thus all things related. He seeks refuge in the mine, treats his wounds, and the way he Thanks Allah after eating that measly food, (the snake) and the water dripping down the cave wall, was epic.

God is everywhere for everyone, but only the chosen ones can see. He did remind me of King Bruce of Scotland who gathered his courage from a spider. When defeated and lost everything.

In grand things of His plans, only a man with faith, character, discipline, hard work, and loyal friends can achieve what Kurlos Ossoman did. We must appreciate Mehmat Buzdaak and his team of writers for showing the struggles he went through. Nothing comes easily in life. The bigger the goals, the bigger the price.

Another important factor that caught my eye was the character depiction of the traitor, Wazir Elishah. A contrast of character we see more in Muslim history. A cunning, conniving, plotter and power hungry selfish man in the role of Wazir Elishah who will eventually fall down because a brave man of faith, who only thinks about his nation never fails. Men like Osman go through hard ships of betrayal and temporary set backs by selfish people but in the end, victory belongs to them.

One who conquers NFAS, conquers all. Wazir Elisha is not stupid but since his motives are selfish, he will get nothing but shame. Lesson of ummah is to use your talent for the uplift of all. When we all work together, we attract more people in persute of greater goodness. When we want only personal gains, even our friends leave us. That’s how Osman is gaining more support from Cosses and soon we will see Cunar joining him too.

I must not forget another twist in the story. Gundoz and Aisha helping Wazir in his plan to handover Marie to Nikola. Gundoz has good intentions but made a very bad choice. A real leader has to keep his wits about. That’s what Osman is. Wisdom does not come with age. He was youngest of three and built an empire over 4 continents. He had a very wise head on his shoulders, a heart of gold and nerves of steal.
What a pleasure to watch history made in 11th /12th centuries as if it’s happening now. Or maybe it will.

Written by: Romana Nisar.

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Kurulus Osman Episode 77 Review

Rating: A

The latest instalment of Kurulus Osman was yet another top episode if you only care about entertainment. With a continuation of the cruelty and greed of Alemsha a main theme in this episode. Additionally, Osman continued his so called “rebellious” ways and we also witnessed the beginning of a story arc for a huge name in the foundation of the Ottoman empire.

The first key moment in the episode was when Sheik Edebali was arrested. Imprisoned for aiding Osman, Edebali was brutally taken away into the dungeons. The man responsible for making Edebali speak was Cellali. His introduction was amazing, down one side of his face was series of scars and in his hand was a whip. This is the sort of character that tends to get killed off quickly, but I just hope they keep him a little longer. In the dungeon one of the ahis who, always show tremendous love and compassion for Sheik Edebali, stepped in front and faced the torment bravely so that no harm would occur to his Sheyk. After ruthlessly disposing of him Cellali turned his attention towards Edebali. No way was he about to torture arguably the holiest man in the entire region. He couldn’t so such a thing! Mercilessly, he began the motion to whip when a hand stopped him. It was the Tall sturdy Konur that had prevented any harm occurring to the Sheik.

This Scene I think began Konurs arc and eventually he will side with Osman. “Why are you in the devils lair son”. Edebali told Konur. The very first time we see him his incredible respect for Edebali is obvious when, he respectfully folded the mats that he and the vizier were using in the lodge. I personally absolutely love Konur Alp, his intimidating physical presence alongside the genuinely badass portrayal of the character by Berk Ercer, is in my opinion perfect for a famous warrior like Konur. It’s a step in the right direction by producers as they continue to bring more historically relevant characters to the show. I can’t wait for Konur to stand beside Osman later in the show.

Throughout the Episode, it was Shown that Osman wanted to take some sort of vengeance for what had happened recently. He began so ruthlessly. Gunduz was sat on his chair clearly struggling, on one hand he is trying his best for his tribe and his intentions are pure but on the contrary, he is guilt ridden, accused of treachery. I don’t like what they have done with Gunduz at all. For most of the show, they made him irrelevant and useless and now suddenly, they gave him the most extreme storyline possible. Gunduz has always been portrayed as naive from the beginning. In Dirilis Ertugrul we witnessed him tricked into making income from usury, but this is a whole new level. I mean its Gunduz we are talking about the one who stood by Osman for his entire life. The scene was dark as Osman walked in enraged with what had unfolded recently. He instantly took the bow, a symbolic weapon that brought back the horrors of Dündar. Then he proceeded to slap his older brother. “I am afraid your end will be like our uncles” Osman told Gunduz. This scene was powerful and tense we could tell Osman Bey was in no mood to talk as he left his mark on Gunduz.

Koses finally approved Mari’s wedding with Turgut, and this wedding was a nice break from the tense episode. Due to utter hatred for Nikola and a burning fire for revenge, Koses has now teamed up with Osman as they both formed an alliance that will look to end the alliance of Nikola and Alemsha. Historically Koses reverts to Islam and is another key personality in the establishment of Osmans empire. I hope we get to see Koses and Osman together more often eventually leading to his reversion. The scales of power have been changed in between the byzantine landlords as Rogatus and Koses conspire to take down Nikola. Nikola in attempting to kill Mari, Paved the way for his own end and to be fair I think its time to put an end to his promising but lacklustre reign as Osmans main enemy.

Osman was helped into the Bilecik where, a new trade bazaar was being setup, by koses where he waited for the vizier in his room. “For every Cruel there is an Osman”. I hated this line. The amount of arrogance and pride that was given off in this one line was just not acceptable. Osman bey was meant to be a compassionate, merciful and just ruler but so far with Buraks portrayal of the character, all we see is excessive Self obsession and arrogance. Moving on to the confrontation with alemsha. Again, I was not impressed. Just before we had witnessed an extremely well carried out confrontation but now this. The whole Scene was awkward until the end. Osman unsheathed his so called “Justice sword” and placed it on the vizier’s neck. Hunched over in fear, Alemsha Could hardly move as the fear of death rendered him speechless.

The next episode promises to be just as good, and I hope the streak of good episodes is continued. I am intrigued to see the outcome of the feud Between Nikola and Koses as well as the continuation of Konurs story arc. Slowly but surely, this show is beginning to deliver the of quality of entertainment we were accustomed to in Dirilis Ertugrul. The plot is a lot better than season two and were beginning to see more historical characters. I just hope that this level remains consistent.

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Kurulus Osman Episode 75 Review By Neelofer Siddiqui

A dark, deep powerful episode that almost caused me a panic attack by the time it was over!!

The haze of pain that a mortally injured – impaled by a spear – Osman was enveloped in gazing up at treetops silhouetted against a winter sky, at his life fading, at the dream he’d always held close to his heart evaporating away to oblivion, reached across the screen in visceral – heart constricting – waves. It felt real. It felt bewildering.

It was not only brilliantly enacted but also brilliant in the way it made me realize – with earth shattering clarity – the extent to which I was invested in this show, invested in our beloved Osman bey’s dream.

This episode marked his biggest setback thus far & isn’t it both ironical & realistic that this setback – this lethal injury to both him & his dream – didn’t come at the hands of his established enemy – the Byzantines or the Mongols – but at the hands of his own people, some of them with sound intentions & some without..

As is often the case – in a world filled with a multitude of tombstones of similar dreams…

Turn back the pages of history, observe the world around you & you’ll realize that this is a truism that, unfortunately, can’t be denied.

So yes, this episode was a splash of cold reality, a douse of brutal honesty, a brilliantly detailed look at what would soon be – both a new beginning & an end. The birth pains, the cutting of the umbilical cord connecting an old dying State with the one about to be born.

And I’m SO glad the makers are not making creating/ establishing a state seem as easy as a walk in the park, a mere matter of a storm of horsemen, swords & standards aloft, charging at castles, conquering one after another, in quick succession.

My thoughts are all over the place but here are just a few of my thoughts in no particular order.

Trials & Doubts:

This was an overarching theme that wove across the episode in a series of well placed, well thought out scenes.

After a series of failures or setbacks, which, in hindsight, are always a part and parcel of any endeavor, we not only saw several people doubting, second guessing, Osman’s vision, judgement & direction, but the writers themselves, putting words of disturbing logic into their mouths.

Boran: A World Shaken

A physically & psychologically tormented Boran asking Osman Bey if the entrustment, his Gonca had died protecting, was worth her life – and by extension, his life. This simple exchange. I have no words to describe just how moving I found it 😢

Boran’s grief, his brokenness – his struggle to come to terms with his loss, to find peace, to be whole again. His anger, his tears, his bitterness, his doubts – and later, his interaction with Kumral Abdal – everything was so true to life.

Then, on the other hand, the flicker of pain in Osman’s eyes, the way he joined their foreheads together, made us feel just how deeply the question, its implicit doubt, affected him, especially coming from Boran 😢

But not half as much as the questions, the doubts, he saw in Gunduz’ eyes…at the Bey council in Söğüt.

Which brings us to…..

The Progression in Gunduz’ Arc!!:

Ah Gunduz Abi!!!!

This episode made us revisit a question that would often get asked in seasons 1 & 2? What made Ertuğrul Bey choose his youngest son Osman, and not Gunduz & Savcı, both older & more experienced than him, as his heir and successor?

And more pertinent to our topic here, what was it that he saw in Osman’s character that he didn’t in Gündüz’? The brave, the level headed, the even tempered, the good hearted, the deeply principled Gündüz.

The answer to this, in my opinion, was spread across S1 & S2 as well, but it came to a head in this episode in a way that was deeply disturbing.

Gündüz is no Dundar, he is too pure hearted for that but his weakness has always been poor judgement of character. Always seeing the best in people, he can be trustful to the point of naïveté – a very true to life characterization – and that was probably why Ertuğrul Bey, in the best interest of his tribe, chose Osman instead of him.

Osman, who, of course, has his own set of weaknesses, also has the qualities Ertuğrul Bey was looking for in a leader, a visionary, capable of pushing boundaries, of establishing a state for his chaotically scattered people.

If you recall, for the longest time, Gündüz, unlike Osman, trusted Dundar & his intentions as well and in a way, even encouraged Osman to forgive, think better of him.

And in my opinion it was in keeping with his character profile that he fell for conniving scumbag AlemShah’s lies & deceit (the whole big show he made to prove that he, with his State backed power & suave politics could save Boran & Edebali when Osman, for all his big talk, couldn’t!).

I don’t think he handed over Mari to her brother to gain power or AlemShah’s approval. He genuinely believes it’s for the well being of the tribe which, according to him, Osman’s stubbornness & ‘desire to be a hero’ is putting in jeopardy by unnecessarily inviting the Byzantine Emperor’s wrath. That too for a Byzantine girl, sister of one of their biggest enemies, they didn’t even know about just a few months back.

And then, he’s just following the order of the Shadow of the Sultan, the representative of the existing State they’re still a part of, who, in the hierarchy of power, is clearly above Osman Bey.

It’s definitely a complex, ambivalent, debate generating situation….and I’m intrigued to find how this story arc will progress in the coming episodes.

Osman Bey: Fakreddin, The Pride Of Faith.

Herbert Gibbons, The Foundation Of Osmanlis, on Osman Ghazi: “The way his state was formed was the assurance of its permanence and of its great future. It is also an indication of the real greatness of the man who formed it”

His steadfastness of purpose in face of failure, loss of lives & men closest to him doubting him & his ability to lead. It must take immense mental strength to not succumb to self doubt himself and in Osman’s case, after a brilliantly written character arc spanning multiple seasons, we can easily understand where this mental strength, this clarity of vision, this steadfastness of purpose, is coming from.

And the answer reveals one of the historically well known – widely accepted – facets of Osman Ghazi. It comes from Faith – the five pillars, the six articles, the constant struggle to self purify. From following our beloved prophet’s footsteps. It comes from his reliance on God & His Book – wherein, as Kumral Abdal put it in another sublime scene, lies healing & mercy & instructions & guidance. The solution for every problem. The balm for all heartbreaks.

Osman Bey’s Historical Alps: Turgut, Konur, Köse Mıhal so far more to come.

I love how they, all brilliant actors with equally strong screen presence, are being introduced one by one, each with a different story, different arc, different dynamic with Osman Bey. Every single scene they share screen space in is so enthralling for some reason.

The scene where a visibly moved Turgut Bey pledged allegiance to Osman Bey the two linked arms was just on a different level altogether

A Wolf’s Dream: Only A Wolf Can Dream

What a stylishly powerful scene!! The way Osman Bey slid his sword out, the steeling of his eyes as he paused it briefly before Konur’s neck before handing it to his alps!!! BO’s performance was out of this world in this episode!! He is such an incredible actor!

And Konuralp in just a couple episodes has me badly intrigued and I can’t wait for his story, his arc, most importantly, his relationship with Osman Bey, to progress to the point where Osman wins him over to his side!!

Panic attacks aside, I’m enjoying this slow burn that is MB’s signature style – plot, action, scenes, arcs, characters developing slowly, methodically, painstakingly, toward an explosive boiling point, that, judging by the way multiple arcs are being intricately woven, promises to blow our minds away this season!!

 
 
Written byNeelofer Siddiqui
 
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