Muhtesem Yüzyil: Kösem

In my opinion a much better series and sequel than Suleiman the Magnificent. Here we see more diverse characters, more sultans and a better plot. The 3 actresses who played Kosem Sultana did a great job, although Nurgul is still the best for me. Also other actors are excellently chosen, such as Sultan Murat whose acting carefully portrays his character as he really was in reality. A well-done serie that takes us back in history and shows the power of the greatest and most powerful woman sultanate of the Ottoman Empire, Kosem sultan.

This was the first Turkish series I've watched and from thereon I've been watching mostly Turkish movies or series. This series focuses on Kosem who originally was known as Anastasia. She was brought into the palace as a slave and gifted to Sultan Ahmed. She fell in love with the Sultan and the series beautifully tells of her journey as a young innocent girl who became a powerful influence on Ottoman politics for half a century acting as a wife, mother and grandmother of different reigning Sultans. It's a fictional historical drama with an interesting script, good cinematography, grand costume and great acting. 3 different character acted as Kosem and all of them did a beautiful job. Lots of palace intrigue, a good depiction of a Sultan's harem, murder, politics, romance and jealousy. Never a dull moment.

Let me tell you if you are not used to the length of long movies or long TV series don't even start this one.

The episodes are 2 hours minimum with half of it extended to 2 and a half hours. The Turkish are known for making long series.

It tells the story of Kosem Sultan (true story actually), and her reign over her husband Sultan Ahmed I, her two sons Murad IV & Ibrahim I and her grandson Mehmed IV this three last people she was a regent during their reign for half of the time at least.

The historic facts are good with some characters being changed in some fiction whereas the facts are different. But very little to minor characters. This is a continuation of Magnificent Century consisted of Sultan Suleiman and his reign.

It's good some plot holes and some things not right but overall they did a good job considering the length and the huge amount of material they had to put in, in so little time and less seasons otherwise telling the whole story it would need probably 20 seasons.

It tells the story behind the gates of the palace, in the harem where women manipulate and are powerful of their husbands with great positions , even an Imperial one. The actresses portraying Kosem change but overall they did a good job, each one of them on itself.

Muhtesem Yuzyil:Kosem was a good show, Beren Saat's acting was amazing. It was well-shot, with interesting shots taken. The music was beautiful and suited the scenes very well. However, I would have to say that it had some plot- holes like Safiye Sultan would always make a evil comeback at Kosem, this sometimes got boring!

Safiye Sultan continuously refers herself as a third person and calls herself in plural, namely as "BIZ". In Christianity "Popes" refers themselves in plural, referring to the "Trinity" (God, Holly ghost and Christ). Neither in Osmanli, Turkish nor Muslim languages there is a place for such a misinformed deviation. I suggest to stop this non- nonsensical pretension. Kosem Sultan series is true history and that makes it very believable and authentic. I have to make one more comment about the series; it is too slow. I wait impatiently to watch it every Thursday, however even myself sometimes I lose my focus because too long conversations and lack of action. Ergun Tok (erguntok@msn.com)