The title in Turkish is Kimler Geldi Kilmer Geçti (2025). There are two series of 8 episodes each (of 40-50 minutes) and a third is said to be expected. But as I saw nothing worthwhile in the 1st series, I did not watch the 2nd.
One reviewer finds the serial serious, not an ordinary romantic comedy. Its “issues feel real” and “the moments of introspection are truly commendable and surprisingly emotional”. Another critic finds it has an engaging narrative about love and self-discovery. However, both critics seem to agree that it is slow and, as one puts it, “empty as a wine glass in need of more wine”!
Now, surely it cannot be both “empty” and “serious” with real issues about love and self-discovery. Let us see….
Leyla, a lawyer in her twenties working at her uncle’s firm (a rather loose enterprise with diverse young co-workers of both sexes), has just broken a rather long relationship with an architect (Omer) who had a quick (but meaningless) affair with another young woman. But her reaction is not really convincing – even though Serenay Sarikaya plays her role extremely well. Very soon she finds another lover and, you feel if you are careful, that not long afterwards she will have another very passionate affair with Cem Murathan, whom she meets at his wife’s house, when she goes there to support her in her divorce. And this is about
all we see of Leyla’s dealings in law.
Indeed, Leyla and Cem begin their affair even while she still sees the young chef with whom she goes to bed soon after her separation with Omer. But this does not last long. She and Omer who had agreed to remain good friends, become lovers again and start preparations to marry. (But you know that this is not going to continue because she will rejoin Murathan!)
There is plenty of partying, dancing and drinking of alcohol (at all times of the day) especially by our heroine who takes one disastrous decision after another not because she is on a journey of self-discovery or self-betterment, but because she is very selfish and does not care really about anyone else – whatever else is said in the dialogues and the reviews.
She parades in a variety of dresses that reveal more than they cover. And apart from Omer (a rather weak man) no other character is fully developed.
Towards the end we see Sarp, one of the men in the firm who gets married with another lawyer, suddenly blurting out that he has been in love with Leyla for years! This adds to the sense of chaos projected by the constant jumping to the past and the present.
No, it is not about love and self-discovery but about how chaotic is life among members of the middle class in modern Türkiye. This includes not only the plot but also the scriptwriter and the director…..
