Caray, Caray!

Fatma

In the earlier epis...Kerim called Ebe Mama...but as the show progressed he started calling her Ebe Nine. Was this triggered by a particular event. I don't recall...I do recall some discussion on this blog regarding the significance of Ebe's name...but not the progression. Just curious.

Nett
 

Fatma

Muka should be treated like parent who lost custody of their kid and can only have supervised visits. I was really irritated when she sat next to Fatma and told her to have a drink to calm her nerves. I'm not even going to get into discussing her intentions because we all know they were evil. I just hate every moment she's been alone with Fatma she's either bullied and manipulated her, belittled her or tried to make her insecure. Kerim was worried about his father and left Fatma's side...he had no idea that he should not have left his bride unattended with evil Muka lurking around. Good thing is Fatma blew her off and ignored her like she did most of the wedding. Bien echo Fatma!

Nett
 

GENERAL/HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

OK, I'm going to try to make sense of this. Anybody with better info, please chime in:

Friday, March 25th: Fatma at noon; Quién is bumped for La Biblia, which runs 7-8PM; Eva is bumped for fútbol which runs from 9-11PM

Saturday & Sunday La Biblia continues both nights at 10PM

Monday, March 28th: we return to regular scheduling except for Eva, which is bumped due to a 2-hour gran estreno of the new Señor de los Cielos #4.

Tues, Wed: normal scheduling; we anticipate Fatma ending on Friday; still not sure what will replace it and when.

 

FATMAGUL: Turkish Episode #74/U.S. #77, Thursday, 3/24/16
A Wedding, A Birth, A Near-Death Experience, A Death
Part 1:
Fatmagul and Kerim exit the house hand in hand to the cheers, claps, and flower petals thrown by their guests and family. The guests mill around and get seated at the banquet style tables, while the bride and groom go to each guest to greet them. The therapist is there. As is Omer’s girlfriend, Renghi. F&K ask where Omer is. She says he will be coming later, but then she checks in with Kadir, since she has a feeling Omer isn’t going to make it after all. Kadir, of course, knows that Omer is in Izmir, dealing with the authorities and Mustafa, to try to get to the bottom of the suspected hit.

Kadir and Fahrettin are tense throughout the first part of the wedding, as they check in with Omer, Mumtaz, the bodyguards, the police (who send a few officers over), and Sami and Hacer, who are on their way over to identify the hitman. Unfortunately, Hacer goes into labor, and Sami turns the cab right around and takes her to the hospital. Fahr starts to get jumpy when he finds out they won’t be coming. And he has good reason to be. The hitman is wearing a caterer’s jacket, and has slipped right in among the wait staff. He serves the family food, and at one point is in the perfect position to shoot Kerim as he and Fatma are photographed on the balcony. But there are too many people, and too many armed security and police around for him to feel he can make an escape. At one point, Fahr panics and runs to cover Kerim (who runs to cover Fatma) when a paparazzi photographer jumps over the fence take a photo. Kerim knows something is up, and keeps asking Fahr and Kadir what’s wrong, but they keep mum. Luckily, Fatma is blissfully ignorant of all the tension and behind the scenes drama—only noticing Kerim’s absence the few times he leaves to see what’s up with Fahr and Kadir.

Kadir officiates the marriage ceremony—which is more of a recommitment ceremony. While Meryem and Fahr serve as the witnesses. Kadir tells everyone that F&K’s love has been a blessing for them all. They have been through much with each other, which has made them stronger. “Their love has changed lives, and the best example is mine. They showed me the way, so that I could tell Meryem that I love her. And it’s also changed their lives.” He speaks of how lucky he is to be a witness to their love and a part of their lives. Mentions that few couples start their marriage knowing each other so well. And wishes them happiness.
Kadir: Kerim, do you swear to always respect this love, to never let go of Fatmagul’s hand, and to always be there through the bad times?
Kerim: I do. I promise to make her happy as long as I live.
Kadir: Fatmagul, do you swear to always be by Kerim’s side and never let go of his hand?
Fatma: In full freedom and awareness, I do. (It sounds better in Spanish.)

The guests call out for one of them to step on the other’s foot first (to show who will rule the roost in their home). Fatma says they aren’t doing that tradition, then sneakily stomps on Kerim’s foot with her platform heels. They both laugh, then stand to receive congratulatory hugs from Kadir, Meryem and Fahr. Kerim kisses Fatma and the forehead and whispers in her ear that his heart is about to leap out of his chest.

 

FATMAGUL, Thursday, Part 2:
Fatma and Kerim sign the wedding book, which is passed to all the guests to write their well wishes for the couple. They share the first slow dance, blissfully happy. The other couples in the family, and Deniz and Emre, eventually join them. The photos are taken, of the couple alone and with the family. Omer’s continued absence is again noticed-- Kadir lies that Omer’s mother is sick and he’s with her in the hospital. This time, Meryem knows it’s a lie, but Kadir tells her he’s got the situation under control.

Meryem does her part to make sure the happy couple stays that way, by sticking to Mukaddes like white on rice. Despite her efforts, Mukaddes manages to inject a bit of her poison-- she tries to get Fatma to drink, and tells her it will help relax her muscles so that she can do the deed that night. She mentions the word bed at least three more times to the couple over the course of the night, trying to make them nervous. She even tries to stir up trouble and jealousy between Emre-Deniz-Mehmet. Meryem does manage to neutralize Mukaddes most of the day/night, and once she gets tipsy, she and her breasts dominate the dance floor.

Hacer has been stabilized at the hospital and her contractions have slowed. The doctor says the baby won’t come for a few hours, so Hacer insists that Sami get to the wedding to identify the hitman. He’s worried about missing the baby’s birth, but does as she says. The hitman has called his getaway driver, complaining that there are too many people, security and cops around for him to do the hit properly. He’ll have to do it later. He wants his getaway driver to meet him, now! Sami arrives and is speaking to Mumtaz, the cops, the bodyguard, and Fehr outside, when Fehr suggests they check the backyard. They round the corner, just as the hitman is ditching his caterer’s jacket and trying to escape. Sami points him out, and the bodyguard and cops give chase. They see him toss his gun, and then he gets stopped cold by a slow moving oncoming car. They cuff him and take him back to the police car. The media swarm, but Fahr and the cops tell them nothing. Kerim is once again suspicious about Fahr and Kadir’s long absence. They tell him that the cops arrested a drunk guy who was causing problems. The Gray Mafia can now finally relax and enjoy the wedding.

In Izmir, Mustafa is being interrogated by the D.A. and Omer, but he refuses to tell them anything. When they tell him they arrested his hitman, that he squealed, and that Kerim is safe, he is visibly dejected.

Resat is also having a terrible day. He gets home to find all his possessions being embargoed. He and Munir argue that they have more time to pay the debt. Oh, they’re not there about THAT debt, but the one they owe to Ender and Meltem. Resat calls Ender. She says she knows if she waits longer to call in her debt, he won’t have any money to pay her. Resat has a massive heart attack right there in his foyer, as Ender and Meltem listen in, and Perihan, Hilmiye and Munir watch and panic. He is taken to the hospital, where his grave condition is further complicated by an embolism (as he remembers his worst moments of the last 2 years, starting with Mukaddes bringing him that ring). Meltem goes to the hospital to support Perihan. Meanwhile, in Yunanistan, skinny, scruffy, starving Selim receives a packet of cash and a cell phone from Perihan, via one of Ayse’s contacts.

 

FATMAGUL, Thursday, Part 3:
Without the threat of a murder over their heads, Kadir and Fahr are finally free to really enjoy the wedding along with everyone else. There is dancing, there is live folk music, there is lots of food and drink, there is a large tiered cake (which Murat helps F&K cut), the guests pin gold coins on red ribbons to the bride for luck, coins and bills are also doled out during the dancing for luck. Kerim and Fahr do the traditional Dance of the Fathers, and Fatma joins them. The women and Fatma dance around a seated Kerim to ensure fertility. The celebrations go on for hours, until Fatma has finally had enough of the sky high platform heels. Kerim takes her inside to change into the more sensible heels. They are both aware of the intimacy of his touch as he buckles the strap of her shoe. When they return to the reception, they find that the guests are starting to take their leave. They begin the long process of saying farewell and receiving everyone’s final well wishes.

They family continues to sit and talk into the wee hours. Mukaddes can’t stop mentioning that soon F&K will be ALL ALONE. Finally, it’s time for F&K to head off to their new home. The family hugs them and whishes them well (Mukaddes tells Fatma she needs to relax to enjoy “it”). Rahmi is almost at the point of tears, being separated from his sister for the first time. As F&K nervously walk hand-in-hand to the truck, they look like two scared little kids.

F&K walk up the hillside to their new home. The neighbors spy on them and draw their curtains. Kerim thinks they should really give them something to talk about, so he takes Fatma into his arms and carries her the rest of the way up the hill and to their door. They cross the threshold into their new home. At the same time, in a hospital in Istanbul, moribund Resat is wheeled into intensive care. In another hospital in the city, Hacer hears the first cries of her baby boy. And in front of a courthouse in Izmir, Mustafa decides to end his life. He breaks from the guards, refuses to stop when they order him to, and continues to run even as the bullets tear through him. Finally, he falls to the ground, and takes his last breath, as his son takes his first.

Kadir gets the call from Omer informing him, while the family is gathered in the living room. He finally tells them all of Mustafa’s death and the attempt on Kerim’s life that they averted that day. They have to tell Mukaddes that they will NOT call F&K and ruin their wedding night with this news. They’ll find out soon enough.


 

FATMAGUL, Thursday, Part 4:
Nervousness grips Fatma and Kerim. He gets her water to drink, then they sit in their living room and make awkward small talk. Fatma finally decides to make the first move. She goes to the bedroom, removes her veil, and lets down her hair, taking deep breaths as she does so. Kerim follows. He turns on the bedside light and approaches his bride. He caresses her face, kisses her cheek, lightly kisses her mouth and then her neck. He puts his hand on her back and starts to unzip her dress. Fatma feels a tear fall on her back, and then Kerim’s hand falls as he backs away from her. He breaks down into sobs and crumples to the floor. Fatma sits on the floor in front of her weeping husband, and finally they speak about that night…

K: It was all my fault. I can’t forgive myself, even if you forgive me. That night…if I hadn’t pointed you out…if I hadn’t grabbed you…if I hadn’t touched you first…none of this would have happened. That damn night wouldn’t have existed!
F: If I hadn’t left home at that hour…if I hadn’t passed in front of you that night, none of this would have happened. Life is full of choices that we could have made. Do you think I never think about that? If I hadn’t gone to the engagement party, even if I had never been born or lived!
K: You didn’t do anything wrong.
F: We can’t turn back time. We already left the ‘what ifs’ in the past, Kerim.
K: All the bad things we’ve experienced weren’t your fault, Fatmagul. You’re the only innocent one in this story. I was the one who changed your life. I didn’t just let you pass by in peace. And then I couldn’t stop those men. I feel like I’m burning from within—like I’m in hell. Trying to forget it makes me feel ashamed. God, I’m was scared about tonight—so scared of making you relive that night. I know you’ve made a huge effort to forget, but it’s not as it seems. It’s easier to say than to do. I can’t forget that night.
F: Then don’t forget it. (she strokes his face) But forgive yourself.
K: No matter what I do, I can’t free myself from this pain.
F: We’ll do it together.

Kerim breaks down as he tells her that he too wants this all to end one day. Fatma assures him it will. The first light of dawn appears in the sky, and our couple still remains sitting on the floor, exhausted from talking and crying. Kerim tells her to go rest. Fatma says talking actually did her good. It was like cleaning out the chimney. This makes Kerim smile. He strokes her face and tells her how much he loves her. She reciprocates. They begin to gently and then more fervently kiss. They stand, continue to kiss, and Kerim nuzzles her neck. He places his hand on the small of her back, and this time unzips her dress, which falls to the floor. Fatma steps out of the dress, and the camera fades away.

Later that morning, Fatma and Kerim set the breakfast table on their veranda. They work easily in tandem laying out the meal, but they do not speak, and can barely look each other in the eye. There is a nervous tension in the air, that tells us that all did not go perfectly during F&K’s first night of lovemaking.

-End of episode.


 

FATMAGUL:

Nett- Romy- who saw the Turkish version of this with English subtitles mentioned that the characters are NOT in fact calling her Ebe Nine (which means something like old/elder healer woman). This was what the common folk of the village called her, but no one in Istanbul actually calls her that. They either call her by her name, Meryem, or call her mom (Kerim), Big Sister (Kerim), or Aunty. The constant use of Ebe Nine is the laziness of the Spanish translators/dubbers.

It never made sense to me that someone like Kadir and every single person she met in Istanbul would call her Ebe Nine, so when Rommy explained that, I just started referring to her by her name, Meryem.
 

GENERAL...

Império (Empire) is in the tv schedule to replace ¿Qué Culpa Tiene Fatmagül? on monday, apr 4th.

 

EVA – JUEVES – Parte 1 de 2

Pablo has a hard time convincing Eva that she can’t go back to try to take Fabiola from the institution. She doesn’t have custody and it would be a crime to take her own child. He also says Soraya and Pancho would lose the bail money if she’s re-arrested. She finally agrees he’s right, and goes on to say she just can’t believe Armando would be so rotten as to let Fabiola stay there just to get revenge on her.

Bobby and Adriana have been to bed together, and he has the fresa idea of each of them asking their respective parents for money so they can get away and live together in New York. Adriana brings him back to earth. She says she’d never ask her father for money. And which parents would he ask, the broke Monteverdes or the Mogollones? She tells him she has to stay here to support her mother and her sister. But, what? Adriana is nauseous. [Please don’t let her be pregnant with satan’s child!]

Andy tells Robert he couldn’t bug the Mogollones house because there’s really amazing security now. But he has bugged the office and Pancho’s car.

Eva shows up at Mon-Sol for a scene that was beyond fabulous. I suspected she’d come to ask Armando to get Fabiola out of the institution, but that’s not why she came. She starts off saying she’s come “so you’d tell me to my face how such a macho man became a puppet so dominated by that miserable (Marlene) that you’d destroy your own daughters!”

He bristles and says he is a man and Marlene backs him up. Eva: “¡Mira nada más quien te echa porras, eh.! [Look who’s encouraging you, being your cheerleader, except more slangy than that.] He reminds her she has two children and 20 years of marriage to prove he’s a man. She tells him she’s had more than enough of a relationship with him. “Keep your female dog in heat.”

She says she needs to speak with her ex-husband alone. Marlene puts up a fuss about that. Eva: “You think I’ll seduce this terrific guy you stole from me?” (dripping with sarcasm) “I give him to you as a gift for the rest of your miserable life. I came to talk with you as a business partner.” When Marlene vehemently objects, Eva asks if he has to have her to defend him, if he fears her that much?

Less Betty, please, writers. She’s nasty to Marisol when she reminds her that Pablo paid her hospital bill.

When Marlene isn’t leaving, Eva picks up the intercom and announces to the whole company that the president is so afraid of her that he can’t be alone with her and needs to hide under the enaguas de la alacrana Marlene Palacios (under the petticoats of the scorpion). Said alacrana looks white and shocked. Armando asks her to leave him alone with Eva. Outside the lily livered accountant Javier is frightened. The rest of the employees are delighted and grinning from ear to ear.

Bobby reluctantly gives a DNA sample to prove Pancho’s paternity.

When they are alone Eva tells Armando she wants her father’s tractor-trailer back. When he says they sold it long ago, she says she wants an equivalent. That was the capital she brought to start the business. And she needs it to work. Armando: “You’re going back to the highways again, at your age?” She tells him she doesn’t know about him but she feels pocas tuercas (terrific, fantastic). “Could it be that mí chavito makes me feel this way? ¿Tu ruca no te da vida?

Armando: “You want to compete with me?” Eva: “How quick witted you are. I’m going to start my own company and beat you at the business I taught you.” She looks at him almost sadly. She says she never thought he’d become a miserable thief, maybe even a killer. Besides being miserable and a cheapskate with his own children, he robbed her. “How sad to realize I myself made up the man I was in love with. You stole everything from me, but you can’t deceive me any more. Sooner or later I’m going to gain back what you stole and even more and with my own hands.”
 

EVA – JUEVES – Parte 2 de 2

“I don’t even need revenge. All I need to do is stand by and watch you put both feet in it. Because without me, you’re worthless. And while you’re with that harpy you’re going down. I’ll give you a year until this place is a complete wreck, and six months until I’m in business.”

We see Marlene and Javier’s wife (forgot her name) eavesdropping outside the door. We hear Eva say he can laugh all he wants but she knows him well enough to know he’s scared.

She brings up what he did to Fabi and the jerk looks pleased, thinking he’s gotten to her. She says she’s going to get back Fabiola, raise Adriana to be a good woman, and construct a great business. She yanks open the door mentioning the alacrana hiding behind the door. She addresses Marlene directly: ¡No voy a parar hasta ver que como te clavas tu propria agujón y te envenas! (I’m not quitting until I see how you stick yourself with your own hatpin – scorpion’s tail, I think – and poison yourself!”

Eva exits off the loading dock to applause by the Mon-Sol workforce.

“Quit, you’re going to make me bawl! The affection you have for me is the same that I have for each of you. You all know what happened to me. The past is past.” She tells them she’s opening “Soler e Hijas”. She offers them more money, better treatment, and the chance to work like a family again. Armando is freaked out and orders her to leave.

At Panchopan, his lawyer says all is going well with the lawsuit and Pancho should win. Pancho brings up another matter. He wants a will drawn up leaving half his money to Bobby and half to Soraya. He tells the lawyer he already discussed it with Soraya. Andy is listening with the bug he installed.

Marlene rags on Armando for making her leave the room and for letting Eva offend her. [Please.] He pours himself a drink. “You don’t know the worst of it. She doesn’t talk to hear herself talk. If she says she’ll do something, she’ll do it. It seems you don’t know my woman.” Marlene is furious and tells him SHE’S his woman.

The news breaks of hundreds of people sickened by Panchopan sausages in Houston.

Pablo and JJ review the DVD of hospital security cameras his old partner in the police gave Pablo. They see Sofía passing Chivo and Andy in the hallway. Later Evencio says that that was the nurse who dropped the syringe.

Martín and Federica go to dinner. He asks what he can do to prove his feelings for her, and she asks him to help get the other two prison friends out. He steals a kiss.

Marlene and AA tells the Monteverdes that Bobby will inherit half of, I think, $300 million. They all celebrate with champagne. Robert says that what’s Bobby’s is his. They seem to have forgotten alive and kicking Pancho.

Adriana comes to see Fabi. Now this is ridiculous. There’s no restriction against Adri, but the nurse tells her she has 5 minutes. Adriana puts Eva on the phone. Eva tells her to go to the window. Eva is outside inside a white heart spray painted on the grass. She tells Fabi she promised they’d never be separated. She’s going to be there every day at 3:00 pm.
 

FATMAGUL

I watched this episode weeks ago and I have to say this was my favorite ep of the series because the writers did not make F&K's first night together magical and romantic, as if they having sex "officially married" and "googly-eyes in-love" solved their intimacy problems. I was awestruck and glad that they made it that the whole first experience was traumatic and awkward because even though they are googly eyes in love and committed, physical intimacy is going to be a big problem in THIS relationship because of how they met. It was just so real and honest of the writers and producers to do it this way and I will forever respect them for just being real. It was a great message to send to women and girls that sex isn't some magic problem solving exilir in relationships.

If anything I think Kerim was more ashamed and nervous about the act than Fatma was, as she had worked through her issues more than Kerim had and he was just so guilt-ridden that their first time was going to be like a task to be achieved than something organic. Fatma made the first moves, stepped out of the dress, symbolically leaving her fear and shame behind while Kerim was wrapped up in fear and shame. The whole scene awed me.

I'm looking forward to recapping today's ep because it gets better and worse.


 

FATMAGUL:

J- I couldn't agree more! The writers kept it really real for F&K's wedding night. Heck, even for a couple who hasn't experienced a traumatic rape like they have, the first time is usually not great. Yet, it's always depicted as magical and perfect. What's important is that F&K are continuing to move forward and continuing to build their emotional and physical intimacy. But it's a process.

It was pretty clear after the Bodrum beach encounter that Kerim was nowhere near ready emotionally for them to make love. Ironically, Fatma seemed further along, but it's no surprise that the first time wouldn't be some magical transformative experience for her either. I just hope they don't feel like they've been set back, just because they didn't get it just right the first time. Like I said before, why not just enjoy cuddling in bed, caresses, petting, and making out first? There's no rush.

RIP Mustafa. Kerim predicted it when he said this thing with Mustafa wouldn't end until one of them was dead. Well, there you go. It says something about his priorities and state of mind that he thought nothing of his first child about to be born when he committed suicide by cop. Selfish to the end.
 

Fatma

I know this is not the last epi, but I have to say...this has been a very entertaining yet realistic series all the way. The acting has been superb by all...even the MEstafa character. I say that because I read somewhere that folks didn't think he could act. I think the actor like the others....brother unique dimension to their respective characters.

I agree with everyone about F&K's first night and the writers' treatment of it. I don't know that it would have been any different even if Kerim had pushed more and gotten Fatma to talk before that night. Maybe it could have been different that night at the beach if they had gone with the momentum since they were so excited to see each other...but I think even then....the realization would have hit them in the bedroom because they never talked it out....and clearly, Kerim needed this. By not addressing it sooner....it had to happen on the wedding night. But that's not the end of world...now they can continue to move forward.

Unfortunately, MEstafa's death was the only thing that was going to bring F&K peace. Even if he just remained in prison, I think Kerim would still be bothered by him and his place in Fatma's past.

I kind of feel sorry for Asu now. I mean during that prison visit, Mestafa basically told her that she was a random event in his life....and pretty much she placed herself in his life. While she was his first woman, he only loved Fatma. So no...he was not thinking about his unborn child with Asu when he committed suicide by police. (I must say though ....the police over did it. He was handcuffed and running but they were gaining on him...they didn't have to shoot to kill)

Selim stealing the cat's food was priceless. Serves him right to have to live like the rat he is. He and his cousin were so privileged but look at them now.

And his father is paying for his sins as well...by loosing everything important to him...money. And interesting that during his heart attack, his mind would take him first back to that faithful moment Muka approached him about the ring. She should be in the hospital bed next to him. Her payback is coming soon...I guess they're saving the best for last.


Nett
 

FATMAGUL

Kerim should've told Fatma what he felt that night in Bodrum just as he should've told her about the letters. Fatma looks delicate but she's strong and she could've handled it. On the wedding night in her answers to Kerim, you could see she had gone miles ahead of him in her thinking-she was no longer saying two Kerims but choices affecting us in unknown ways, while he was so emotionally stunted. Hiding his feelings doesn't protect her but stunts him. He thought he was helping her but he stunted himself.

I feel sorry for Hacer somewhat, but I keep going back to that Maya Angelou refrain, "When someone shows you who they are you need to believe them." Mustafa alwaya showed her verbally, physically and mentally he never loved her but she refused to believe him when he showed her his heart and actions. And because of her refusal to believe Mustafa she got hurt. He never saw Hacer as anything but a rebound or second-best choice. When they first met he was broken and immature and physically and mentally abused her. When they met when she came back from Italy he was a conniving user looking for someone to keep his secrets. They never had a relationship but an arrangement and Hacer knew that especially after she married Mustafa knowing he killed Vural, and settled for less.

Selim: how the mighty have fallen. Seems he has no survival skills without Ayse.
 

Fatma

J...maybe who I really should sorry for is the baby. Babies don't get to chose their parents.

I thought what low self esteem Ase must have to take that bull from MEstafa...and to be a prostitute. But after learning that she was forced into prostitution by her husband...I started to soften toward her. But still, like you said...she made her choices. MEstafa was deceitful in some ways but deep down, she knew he still loved Fatma and she called him on it several times. I can't believe she went into that prison to see him seeming to have hope and he just kicked her in the gut with his confession. Maybe she needed to hear that from him before he died though ...so she can move on with Sami or whomever.

Nett
 

Eva

Muchísimas gracias, novelera, for this superb recap. I'm now back home and so I was able to watch the episode, but I was at a loss several times. The recap was immensely helpful, including your very well chosen Spanish phrases.

How was Andy able to get into Pancho's office to bug it? (I'm also a little surprised that Pancho didn't think to have some kind of enhanced security for his office, since he finally recognized the need for a security system in his house. Then again, I suppose nothing in a telenovela should really surprise me.)

The nurse who told Adriana that she had only five minutes with Fabi was listening at the door, and she seemed to be moved by what she heard Fabi saying on the phone to Eva. Probably the nurse hadn't seen Fabi able to speak and interact even semi-normally while at the hospital. I wonder whether the nurse will become an ally.

I loved it when Evencio identified Chivo as the "nurse" who dropped the syringe. I just hope the alacrana and her asqueroso brother don't find out that Evencio has done so.

It's great to be back with the novela. I'm just sorry that we'll have to wait four days until the next episode.
 

FATMAGUL:

Hacer/Asu certainly went into her relationship with Mustafa with her eyes wide open. Almost from the moment she met him, she knew he was hung up on someone else. She had plenty of opportunities to walk away from Mustafa, and did a few times, before there was a baby in the mix. I feel badly for her because she's not a bad person (although she's done some questionable things that hurt Fatma) and she's hurting. But she really needs to let Mustafa go at this point, and move on with her life with her child.
 

FATMAGUL

I loved Hacer as a character in this tn, she seemed to have good intuition about everyone and everything else except her own life. I never judged her badly for being a prostitute because I sensed even before the Demir revelation that she had to have been vulnerable to enter the business.

I judged her badly for always accepting Mustafa's crumbs and calling it love. Her wounds from Mustafa largely were self-inflicted. I am sorry for her poor child because of the amount of baggage his parents have that he will no doubt have to carry in some way.

She married Mustafa after having him admit to her he killed Vural which showed he still loved Fatma and had self-control issues. That just spoke to me as someone with no self-esteem who settled for less knowing it was not best.

I like her with Sami but Hacer needs to be alone for at least a year and in therapy to work her issues out.
 

Fatma

J.. Sami is anxious to get with Asu and start his instant family so I don't think she'll get the alone time to reflect and make peace with her past...and heal...at least not as a single mom. I don't like her with Sami because he objectified her and hit her. But, on the other hand, he knows her past and flaws and apparently is willing to love her despite these things.

The other thing, maybe Sami can take a page from Kerim's book and work hard to redeem himself for the role he played in Asu's past. He seems like a nice guy other than his job as a handler/pimp. If they can forgive each other for their past and abuses toward each other...maybe they can work together toward self redemption and healing.

Nett

 

FATMAGUL:

My only problem with Hacer is when she took money and lied at the first trial, and then when she dropped the Vural murder bomb on Fatma as a way to punish Fatma for Mustafa loving her. But I think that she has recently done much to help Team Fatmagul, and Fatma has obviously forgiven her.

I agree, that she AND Sami need therapy, before they jump into a full-blown romantic relationship. I think if they both acknowledge their issues and their past mistakes, they could make their family work. It speaks well of him that he's so eager to and excited to be the baby's dad, without any issue about not being the bio-dad. But he needs to understand that Hacer needs time to heal. She's still obviously in love with Mustafa.
 

Eva

wow, what a terrific show, only topped by such a marvelous recap novelera! and adding in the spanish added a whole new layer of color that I missed.

(google translated "ruca" (as Eva referred to Marlene) as "rough and rustic rural housing").

and another fantastic scene between the hard hitting truck driver Eva and her brain dead husband.

I loved Eva's visit to Fabi and the smile it brought to her face, and how it touched her nurse who was guarding the door.

the one thing about novelas that gets me more than anything is when a person brings light into a dark room, that puts the sparkle back into the eyes of a person in an otherwise hopeless situation.

 

Fatma

I am no where near proficient in Spanish but sometimes the dialogue between the characters seem odd. I'm not sure if it's me...or...if in order to match the audio to the lips...the writers have chosen odd words or sentence structure.

Nett
 

FATMAGUL:

I think there's always something lost in translation when you translate from one language to another (Turkish to Spanish)-- even more so when you translate from a translation (Turkish to Spanish to English)! Like Fatma's I dos during the wedding, that just don't have a good translation in English. This happens with things that are very formal and/or very cultural. Sometimes you just can't do a straight translation without explaining the cultural context. Or, the translators just choose to go with the most immediate cultural short-hand-- like when they changed "Allah and the Prophet Mohamed" to "God and the Holy Spirit." NOT the same at all, but captured the feeling/sense of the moment.

But do you have some specific examples of conversations that just didn't seem to make sense to you?
 

¿Qué Culpa Tiene Fatmagül? Cap 78 Friday 3/25/2016, Every New Beginning Is Some Other Beginning's End

PART I-Appearances Deceive

Fatma and Kerim are a picture of domesticity as they eat breakfast on their porch uncomfortably. Kerim calls over Lodos from his dog house to break the tension and it almost works until their hands touch when they pet their "son". Fatma goes back inside to "toast some more bread" and passes their bedroom and views her neatly hanging wedding gown and already made conjugal bed ambivalently. She walks pass the wash room and spies their sheets from the night before in the washer; seems like Kerim put them there, since Fatma looks at them in the machine in shock and sadness since it seems to confirm whatever they did last night needed to be erased immediately in Kerim's. Kerim follows behind and Fatma moves away from him to do some domestic thing.

At Casa Kadir everyone save Mukaddes decide not to tell Fatma an Kerim about Mustafa's death. Mukaddes is crying for Mustafa since he's a lost soul she knew since he was a kid. Kadir and Meryem decide, in agreement with Jenny, Deniz and Rahmi not to tell F & K about Mustafa's death. They warn Mukaddes to shut her trap and she whines that just because she made a mistake-telling Mustafa the wedding date which led him to plan the assassination of Kerim-doesn't give them the right to chastise her.
 

¿Qué Culpa Tiene Fatmagül? Friday 3/25/2016, Cap 78, Every New Beginning Is Some Other Beginning's End

PART II
Sami Impresses, Serdar Distresses

Sami and Hacer are celebrating the birth of her son and the nurse and other women in the maternity ward congratulate Hacer for having a good, attentive hubby in Sami who brought her a red headband and chocolate in keeping with Turkish tradition. Sami doesn't tell the women in ward otherwise. In fact he dotes on baby Murat, telling him they'll be great pals. (Yes, Hacer keeps the name even though Mustafa told her the reasoning behind it and told her to not name their baby that). Any who, Sami also hands Hacer a small red box with a wedding ring. She looks at it pensively. Suddenly she receives a call from Mustafa's only friend, Serdar, wondering why she isn't at Mustafa's burial. He breaks it to her Mustafa is dead and she breaks down.

Fahrettin and Kadir come to break the news to Hacer and finds she already knows from Serdar. Fahrettin and Kadir look at the baby-boy beside Hacer and give their condolences and encourage her to be strong for her baby.
Hacer blames the Yasaran for warping Mustafa and causing his death.
 

¿Qué Culpa Tiene Fatmagül? Friday 3/25/2016, Cap 78, Every New Beginning Is Some Other Beginning's End

PART III- The Yasarans Fall, The New Ilgaz Avoid the Elephant in the Room

Resat awakes from his heart attack to Perihan's caring eyes. He can barely speak, he only can muster his ex-wife's name as the doctor lets her and him know the part of his brain that controls speaking was most affected. "At least he's alive," she utters thankfully to the doctor before telling her ex-husband how he scared his family.

Emaciated, dark-haired Selim receives a call from Munir outside the hospital telling him they're bankrupt and his father is in intensive care. Selim asks to speak to his mother and Munir passes the phone to Perihan. He asks her if he should come home, his mother says it's his decision. The paparazzi are seen with their telephoto cameras and lenses and Munir wisks the family inside to escape their prying eyes.

Fatma and Kerim continue to try to play happy couple. Kerim is gardening while Fatma studies for exams. Fatma recalls the aftermath of her and Kerim's first time. They were both awkward, uncomfortable and sleepless. Kerim offered to leave their bed to go to the other bedroom since Fatma couldn't sleep afterwards, which Fatma refuses. As Fatma comes out of her reverie Kerim looks at Fatma wordlessly but obviously confused and frustrated.

Mukaddes wants to go over to F & K's to look about them but Meryem tells her again to leave them alone and shut up about Mustafa. "Stop chastising me " she pouts.

Meltem speaks with her cousin Gaye and they commisserate with the Yasaran's multitude of problems. Ender comes in and tells them Mustafa has died. She is genuinely shocked.
 

¿Qué Culpa Tiene Fatmagül? Friday 3/25/2016, Cap 78, Every New Beginning Is Some Other Beginning's End

PART IV- F & K find a Happy Medium and Mukaddes Grates Everyone's Last Good Nerve

Fatma and Kerim continue to avoid the elephant in the room. Kerim offers that they should go out, Fatma says no, they just got married and she'd feel exposed going out. Kerim agrees and suggests they watch their wedding video and she agrees but not before Kerim says they have nothing to be ashamed about.

At Casa Kadir all the family except Mukaddes is sitting in the garden when Mukkades hollers out the window to them that she heard on the news Resat Yasaran had a heart attack. They want her to stop watching the news and join them in the garden but she rebuffs them since Mukaddes can never say no to gossip.

Kerim and Fatma look genuinely happy as they view their wedding day video until Kerim sees some frames where Kadir and Omer act weird. He figures out it has something to do with Mustafa since they mentioned Izmir but he backs off when Fatma tells him not to start with the old jealousies. They refocus on the video.

Mukaddes continues to insist they tell Fatma about Mustafa's death since she may want to attend the funeral even as Meryem gets more angry with Mukaddes insisting and Jenny, Deniz's mother, agrees with Meryem.

Extended scenes of Emre and Mehmet passive aggressively arguing over Deniz. >>FF
 

Eva. First-rate recap, novelera! And great comments, Juanita and deb. A mostly upbeat episode. Eva must be a little over a third over now. I hope we'll start getting into the Eva's being vindicated and triumphing episodes pretty soon. I too hope Adri isn't pregnant, but by the rules of Telenovelaland, she just about has to be. (Unless it's a misdirection and she just had a brief bout of stomach flu? Nah). I loved Eva's statement of her goals--and Armando is right: she'll reach every one of them. Martín and Federica are very sweet together.
 

¿Qué Culpa Tiene Fatmagül? Friday 3/25/2016, Cap 78, Every New Beginning Is Some Other Beginning's End

PART V- Mustafa, Munir and Erdogan Fall

Serdar drives behind the truck carrying Mustafa's body to the cemetery and recalls telling Mustafa to go become a sailor far way to forget Fatma's "betrayal" after she married Kerim. Mustafa smells the handkerchief Fatma wore and says he can still smell the ashes of their house he burned but he will forget Fatma. Serdar's reverie breaks and we see the coffin travelling to the cemetery.

Hacer remembers her last self-esteem shattering conversation with Mustafa where he told her he only ever loved Fatmagul and no one else. She cries as she stares at her baby boy.

Erdogan gets a pen and paper from the warden and starts to write what he calls "his confession."

Munir is working alone when he gets a call from Himilye telling him to watch the news. He tunes in and learns the worst, the paparrazzi's telephoto cameras and lenses recorded Perihan's conversation with Selim outside the hospital proving the Yasaran have been in contact with Selim. The video was handed over to the authorities who have opened an investigation on the Yasaran. Munir looks shocked but not surprised their world keeps falling in.

 

¿Qué Culpa Tiene Fatmagül? Friday 3/25/2016, Cap 78, Every New Beginning Is Some Other Beginning's End

PART VI- The Truth Sets Fatma and Kerim Free

Fatma falls asleep on Kerim's arm while they watch the wedding video. He smiles and remembers when he told Fatma at the beginning of their marriage he won't divorce her or abandon her.
Fatma wakes and at Kerim's urging heads to bed since she got no sleep the night before. Kerim clears their dishes walks around the house forlorn even as Fatma changes into her nightgown and paces in their bedroom. She eventually lies down, her back facing Kerim as he enters the room after he asks permission to enter and surreptiously changes into his pyjamas. All she can say to Kerim while her back is still turned to him is "rest well." "You too," Kerim says resignedly as he turns of his night light.

Kerim finally acknowledges the elephant in the room and tells Fatma last night was tough for both of them but they have time. Their intimacy won't always be a test, another level to cross or medicine to take on their way to healing. It will get better, it will become natural. Fatma finally faces Kerim as he tells her he'll never force her to be physically intimate with him; they'll only be intimate if she wants to. He only wants them to not sleep separately from each other. He wants to feel her breathing next to him, caress her hair, to feel her warmth. That's all he asks of her now. He gives Fatma a peck and tells her to go to bed and Fatma happily obliges.

When they wake up the next morning the tension in the house has diminished significantly. Kerim is in the bathroom getting dressed to go out while Fatma is still in her nightgown happily making the bed. She heads to the kitchen still in her night gown to make tea and as he leaves Kerim asks her if she wants anything as he heads to get bread and the paper. She wants milk and some pastries if he can get them. He also lets her know he's headed to the welding shop to see about hiring workers for his business and organizing the space. Fatma says she'll study at home.

Kerim heads to the local shop and gets his paper and essentials and finally finds out that Mustafa died. He quickly calls Kadir to confirm and heads over Casa Kadir for details. He tells Kerim about the assassination plot Mustafa had hatched against him, that when the authorities found out, tried to bring Mustafa in for questioning and he was shot trying to escape their clutches. Mukaddes makes sure to include the crude details that Mustafa wanted a suicide by cop and that Fatma received letters from Mustafa. Kerim quickly searches the mail in the house and finds Mustafa's last letter to Fatma.

Meanwhile at Casa Ilgaz Fatmagul now fully dressed is putting away dishes as the news plays in the background and reveals Mustafa's death. She drops the plates she's holding in shock even as Kerim returns home. Kerim simply says, "May God forgive his sins," and hands her Mustafa's final letter.
Fatma reads it. Mustafa admits he was wrong for abandoning Fatma, for burning their house but he hated Kerim for getting the happiness he never had with her. She chose Kerim so he chose death. Even as she reads this, we see Hacer, released from the hospital attending Mustafa's funeral. We then cut to Fatma's tears, which end the chapter.
 

Eva

If Adriana is pregnant, can you imagine Bobby as the proud father of Andy the Asqueroso's kid? Cinthia would be glad it had Palacios' blood.

Deb, re ruca, I didn't translate it in the recap, but I know it means girlfriend. I think it's like the Spanish equivalent of "old lady".

I, of course, loved the scenes with Eva at Mon-Sol. One thing I noticed was that Eva made a personality change in her dealings with Armando. Up to now she's been fairly normal in her speech. But last night she went barrio on him. It sounded to me like some of the expressions they might have used when they first were seeing each other.

And her speech patterns reflected the new Eva, like the old Eva, a tough girl then and woman now. She's someone who was a truck driver and worked with tough, blue collar guys. So she's speaking that way again.
 

Eva. Excellent observations on the change in Eva's speech patterns, novelera. You're right--she is returning to her working-class, tough truck driver roots. And more power to her! She'll no doubt triumph again that way.
 

Fatma...

About that hanky that Fatma gave MEstafa. I remember Fatma taking it from MEstafa when they were driving one night and she told him he would get it back. and I know she was wearing it the night she was attacked. How did MEstafa get it back cause it was stuffed in her mouth that night. Isn't it the same hanky he tied to the tree to let Fatma know he was looking for her.

Just a minor thing that was bugging me.

Nett
 

FATMAGUL:

Thanks so much, J! What a treat to have an early recap from you. Love how you describe the dance around the elephant in the room that Kerim and Fatma performed. I was so happy and proud of Kerim for being the one to finally address it head on, and break the tension.

I was surprised how long it actually took for them to learn about Mustafa and the murder attempt. They would have learned that first night, if Mukaddes had her way. Can't believe she wanted to swing by their house at night to see if the lights were on, *wink, wink*. If you open the dictionary to the word shameless, there's a picture of Mukaddes. Lord, she was trying everyone's patience-- even sweet Jenny, with her non-fluent Turkish. Meryem looked like she wanted to stab her with that knife.

Can't believe Hacer went ahead and named the baby Murat. Really, Hacer? Isn't it enough that the child will be a constant reminder of Mustafa? Now you're going to give him a name that reminds you that you and your child were his second choice family/life? Good grief!

And of course Mustafa couldn't just die and be done with it. He has to send one last letter to Fatma to try to twist the knife and wring out one last drop of pity for himself. Bah! Basta!
 

FATMAGUL:

Nett- After the rape, Mustafa found the handkerchief at the rape site. That's why he had it with him during his talk with Serdar after he burned the house and Fatma had left for Istanbul (the flashback we saw this episode). Then when he first stalked Fatma, he tied it to the trellis where she found it. She eventually left the river take it away.
 

Fatma

Thx Vivi. I knew it was suppose to be the same scarf and remember everything except how MEstafa got it back into his clutches. I knew he went to the hospital and I knew he didn't get it there...anyway..thx

I will have to rewatch a few epis to give you examples of the dialogue that I thought was awkward and that might take awhile.

I want to re-read J's nice recap for now.

Nett


 

FATMAGUL

Telemundo cut a scene I think in this chapter that I think showed Kerim was the one who stripped the bed and washed the sheets which seemed to make Fatma more ashamed about the night than she perhaps was.

I got the impression in this chapter than Fatma didn't necessarily think the night went as bad as Kerim felt it did and wanted to talk to him about it but Kerim's facial expressions and the instant washing of the sheets thing just signalled for Fatma that she shouldn't say anything. Even when she was eating breakfast, she had this look of slight satisfaction on her face as if to say, "This wasn't the best first time ever, but it wasn't bad." Kerim seemed to be just so uptight, thinking the night was a complete failure, yet trying to be accomodating to Fatma it made her feel bad. When she was pacing the bedroom before their talk, she just looked so helpless and worried that all she could do was just turn her back to Kerim.

I'm glad he finally said something, and said the right thing. I think Kerim should be as direct and expressive as he was in the beginning, like when he recalled telling Fatma he wasn't leaving her because their relationship works better when he stops thinking telling Fatma the truth will destroy her. As soon as Kerim broke the ice, Fatma's tension went away. That's why I mentioned her walking around in her night gown the morning after their talk. She wasn't comfortable enough to walk around their house in her pyjamas until Kerim told her they have time to work on physical intimacy.

Hacer naming the baby Murat after Mustafa told her what the name meant, the most unselfish thing he did for her, was infuriating to me. She always has the best instincts about everyone but her self. Good grief!
 

Fatma

About those sheets. Fatma didn't want to hang them outside like they do all their other laundry. Its my understanding that in certain cultures, the sheets from the wedding night are hung outside to dry the next day to show evidence that the bride was a virgin. If this is true ...perhaps this is why Fatma seems stressed about the sheets and what did or did not happen on their wedding night.

Nett
 

FATMAGUL:

J- I feel like both Fatma and Kerim were awkward at times when the other wanted to break the ice. Like how Fatma pulled away when their hands touched while petting Lodos, or when she got weird about hanging out the sheets when he wanted to do it, and instead dried them inside (cut scene). Their timing was just way off with each other all day.
 

FATMAGUL:

Nett- Yes. In traditional parts of Turkey, the sheet is hung outside the next day, with the stain, to show that the bride was a virgin. There were lots of feelings of shame for lots of reasons wrapped up in those sheets.
 

FATMAGUL

So it seems Kerim wss trying to make Fatma feel good by washing and putting away the sheets ASAP to avoid the tradition but ended up making her feel worse since it made her self-conscious about her not being virgin because of the rape. Oy!

Thank goodness he said the right thing when they went to sleep the second night
 

Eva. I loved the way Eva flipped Armando the bird when she was leaving the Mon-Sol premises. And btw, novelera, after those observations on Eva's language/personality change, if you were a student in my literary analysis class, that would be an A. Very well done!
 

Famta: Thanks J and Vivi. I was busy with Good Friday prep and festivities. Everything has been said about the episodes and wedding night. It was going to be hard for both and it was a very uncomfortable one, indeed. Even for brides who were not raped the first time of intimacy can awkward let alone our couple. They survived it and all is well. The washing of the sheet was ripe with symbolism and Fatma knew the neighbors knew as well there would be no need to wash any "stain" on them that is why she did not want them outside. Musta ended the way it needed to end.
 

Eva

Thanks so much, SpanProf, for the kind words. I missed the bird!

As I wrote before, I was struck by the change in Eva. I had to look up two of her colloquialisms: pocas tuercas and echar porras. Her tone of voice, the look in her eye, and actually taunting him with her younger man making her livelier (definitely a sexual innuendo) vs Marlene apparently sucking the life out of him: priceless!
 

GENERAL

Anyone know what happened to Telemundo showing La Esclava Blanca? I love novelas de epoca and was so looking forward to seeing it. But it doesn't appear as upcoming on their website. I had thought it would replace Fatma and planned to set my DVR. I'm SO disappointed. I don't watch shows online unless I happen to miss one, so that's not an option. I have fairly crappy DSL and should probably do something about it.
 

ESCLAVA:

Novelera- Telemundo just seemed to change their mind about Esclava last minute. Yes, it is disappointing. Perhaps they'll show it some time later? Maybe they've even decided to put it on at primetime?
 

ESCLAVA

Novela, I share your disappointment about Telemundo showing Imperio in Fatmagul's time slot instead of Esclava. I hope Vivi's last theory, that they decided to put Esclava in a primetime slot turns out to be true.

If my Google skills haven't failed me, I think Imperio is a Brazilian tn but since TM didn't prepare the audience for it adequately, I don't care to learn more.
 

General. Or maybe they discovered something culturally offensive in La esclava blanca and plan to do a few revisions?
 

Esclava

FYI...telemundo is advertising that esclava is coming soon. Saw the add just minutes ago.

Nett
 

ESCLAVA:

Hmmm...Coming soon? What could it be replacing, if Iperio in replacing Fatmagul, and all the shows on primetime still have a long way to go?
 

ESCLAVA
Thanks Nett, J desde & Vivi: I'm as mystified as you all. I've pretty much been following the leads of all the commenters and trying to decipher my local TV schedule. So I hope I get it right when I post the page. But I definitely remember some pretty enticing previews for ESCLAVA several weeks ago.
 

Fatma

Vivi...examples of dialogue I found strange vs how we would word it in englsh: 1. Acerca de fuego (come near the fire) and 2. No abandonos nuevo (dont abandon us again). I may have the wrong conjugation of abandon but hopefully you what I mean.

Nett
 

FATMA/GENERAL:

Acercase al fuego- bring yourself near/come near the fire (acercarse is a reflexive verb)

No nos abandona del nuevo- Don't abandon us again (verb is abandonar)


Nett- These are the correct ways to say these two things in Spanish. I'm going to let some of our actually language teachers on the blog explain the details of the Spanish sentence structure and reflexive verbs. But your ear will get used to hearing more of these types sentences and you'll see how common they are.

 

ESCLAVA

I'm wondering if Telemundo plans to put Esclava in that time slot they had the most recent La Reina del Sur replay in, Sat-Sun 6 pm-8 pm, or they are waiting for it to finish on Caracol since it is still airing there in Colombia before airing here in the US- due to whatever contractual obligation Caracol imposed. It is very hard to find full chapters of it online-I have tried-and no luck; so they definitely plan on airing it in the US if they've ensured people can't see what's already aired.

I think Esclava deserves a prime time slot since it's an epic and if someone at Telemundo feels the same way, maybe they are wanting to put it in ¿Quién es Quién?'s slot when it finishes. I love Telemundo novelas but I don't like anything they are airing now other than Fatmagul, so Esclava wouldbbe a great change of pace. I'm just disappointed they showed those riveting previews, making us think it would premiere sooner than later and not giving any hints as to when it will eventually air.