#ask: suleyman i

[palaceoftears]

Both Hatice and Ibrahim are very ashamed of taking/asking something for themselves during the first part of the season, and that's why they're so secretive with Valide and Suleyman respectively, usually excusing their "lack" of personal needs with their close relationships, Ibrahim says he can't think of forming his own family because Suleyman is already his family (oh, the irony of him officialy becoming it w the marriage and that adding a new problem later) and Hatice, when she tries to reject Ayse's ideas of marrying her off, explains she doesn't want to be separated of her mother. Even then, Suleyman & Valide sense that there's something that isn't being told but they chose to think they know what's better for their loved ones and plan in consequence. In the scenes above, they know a little bit of ibro & hati's wishes but not the real cause: Ibrahim's desired travel to Parga is, in Suleyman's mind, something from what his vizier will return to keep on serving him like always, it's not the act of "rebellion" that Pargali is actually planning. On the other side, Hatice wanting the wedding's dissolution is perceived by Hafsa as caused by her daughter's fears of becoming an early widow again, so she's still not rebelling against what has been chosen for her or "destiny" (I find it funny how destiny and Suleyman's & Valide's wills are kind of synonyms atp), so while Valide reassures her of how she has to stay patient, she doesn't see a threat to "the order" (and if Ibrahim contemplating the possibility of not coming back is the threat for Suly, Hatice thinking of dying is it for Hafsa). Both Suleyman & Valide are partly right about tying Ibratice's words to the past traumas (the death of hatice's husband & ibrahim's lost of his family, even if Suleyman can't comprehend the dimension of the dylemma with his origin, conversion, etc), because they're indeed a big part of what it's going on, but they don't perceive the new desires, deeply entangled with the already mentioned pasts, their loyal ones dare to have, so the ruler and his mother can't see the "rebellions" coming at all, and that's why they'll react with a lot of anger once the romance is discovered even if they'll accept it at some point.

[i-cant-sing]

Have you watched magnificent century??? I feel like you’ve captured suleymans character really well!

i did!!! i think i was quiet young when it came out and my mom used to watch the dubbed show- back then i was sooo mesmerised by their dresses and beauty, honestly turkish people beauty is on a whole another level- TO THIS DAY!

then during exam season, i used to watch it on youtube with subs. i didnt watch the whole show, no- the only turkish drama i ever watched to the end was- ask memnu. its iconic, legendary- love it.

[flowerishness]

By-law infraction re: tulips

in 1554, Ogier Ghislain de Busbecq, ambassador of the Austrian Habsburg empire, visited the court of Suleyman the Magnificent, the Grand Potentate of the Byzantine empire. There he saw tulips in the Royal Gardens in Constantinople and asked if he could take a few bulbs back to Vienna as a gesture of goodwill, and, as the old saying goes, the rest is history.

These beautiful tulips are growing on a grassy verge a few blocks from my house. Legally speaking, the sidewalk and the grassy area next to the street belong to the city. Most homeowners mow this grassy verge for appearances sake but some refuse, and I’ve seen quite a few ‘dandelion farms’ in my neighborhood that prove this point.

However, this particular homeowner, who styles herself Garden Mama, has chosen to defy the law and has converted this ‘easement’ into a flower bed. As a tulip lover, I say “Bravo!” If a bylaw inspection officer has the temerity to stick a business card on her front door (re: tulips), I will rally to her defense. If necessary, I’ll put together a noisy, placard-waving demonstration at City Hall. Care to join me?

[hurremsultanns]

MC:

“I wouldn't describe myself as a Mahidevran 'fan' but I do find her generally understandable and think that she, much like Hürrem, is overhated by the fandom.”

What do you think the writers should’ve done or included in Mahidevran’s storyline to make her a better or more interesting character overall?

Personally I think it’s wild that she’s one of the few characters who was in almost every single episode of the show (besides Suleyman, Gulfem, and Sumbul) but we get little to no information about her past. Her flashback scenes only give us as far back as her time as a concubine in Manisa. She never speaks of her life before then: where she’s from, what happened to her family, how she ended up in the harem, etc. Was she initially like Hurrem and Nurbanu and Kosem (girls who hated the harem system and were brought there against their will after being brutally separated from their loved ones ) or was she like Mahfiruze in MC:K (taken so young she can’t remember a life before in the Ottoman Empire) and Safiye (raised and trained to be the perfect concubine for the sehezade)?

I think her storyline would’ve been more interesting if they had framed it as this girl who (for whatever reason) ended up in the imperial harem, she’s told the rules and does what she’s told, and she’s rewarded for it: she has a son, the sehezade (the only heir to the throne) loves her, she gets along well with his family and his best friend Ibrahim, and pretty much everyone (inside and outside the palace likes and respects her).

Then the Sultan dies and her lover, the father of her child, ascends the throne. This should be her happiest moment and her crowning achievement: the love of her life is now one of the most important and powerful men in the world, her son (his only son) is the only heir to that power, she’s close with the Valide Sultan, and her friend Ibrahim (who also cares deeply for her son) keeps getting promoted and even marries into the dynasty.

Everything would be perfect except Suleiman isn’t nearly as interested in her as he was before and it seems he’s moved his attention onto a new concubine: Hurrem. Hurrem who keeps having sons that could one day challenge hers, who manages to keep Suleiman’s love and focus over the years and despite the numerous other women in the harem, who keeps gaining allies while Mahidevran loses everyone who used to support her (Valide, Ibrahim, etc.).

So Mahidevran gets over Suleiman and dedicates herself to her son and his future future. She does what she is suppose to do as a mother of the prince and raises him in the best way possible. AND IT WORKS. The people love him, the army loves him, and even his own siblings (his rivals for power) love him. But the more powerful her son grows, the more fearful his father grows and he lashes out in an attempt to curb Mustafa’s power. This continues over the years and until it eventually comes to a head and the Sultan (the man she once loved, the father of her child) orders his own son’s death. But even death doesn’t stop her devotion to her son. She puts herself in extreme debt in order to build Mustafa a magnificent tomb so that he can never be forgotten.

I'm on the fence about the idea of revealing that much of her past to be honest. On the one hand it's a very good way to humanise her. On the other hand, it kind of takes away from the main parallel arc that she has with Hürrem. In that both women enter the show grieving a loss: Hürrem grieving her family and Mahidevran grieving her relationship with Süleyman. And I do think that the beginning of the show is more sympathetic to her than most fans give credit for. We do get to see her point of view of things and the show does ask us to understand where she's coming from. And even though she is written to be a hypocrite and a lot of fans dislike her for that I think it just makes for more interesting layers to the character.

If anything what I would do is that I would more obviously signpost that she is a deconstruction of the 'Madonna' half of the 'Madonna-Whore Complex' because I think that's what a lot of fans seem to struggle to understand,

[zeldaxxi]

there's something in the way Afife protects and stands up for Firuze even AFTER she befriends Hurrem.

like when Hurrem throws Firuze in the dungeons, Afife struts her ways to her chambers and asks for an explanation, even saying "She is the favorite of His Majesty, i won't allow anyone to treat her like this". when Hurrem refuses, Afife then goes straight to Suleyman. and remember, this is all after she saves Hurrem! at this point in this story she likes her!! Afife will go against an all powerful sultana, even one she likes, to protect a "mere concubine".

and why does this make me so emo?? because young Hurrem was thrown in the dungeons as well, and NO ONE batted an eye. she rotted in there for like a day and it took Suleyman's summoning to get her tf out. even then, they still tried to cover it up!!! i don't think any of that would have happened had Afife been there from the very beginning. she would have stood up for Hurrem against Valide\Mahidevran the same way she stood up for Firuze against Hurrem. and i think Hurrem knows this as well and it absolutely kills her. it really adds a deeper level to the "when i arrived at this palace nobody protected me" speech and explains perfectly why she said it to Afife.

@shivrcys (tagging you cause you're just as invested in Hurrem and Afife's relationship)

[ofsappho]

Treehouse Ask: I like how you have drawn inspiration from different historical and mythological couples to create Morpheus/Reader's relationship. Using Suleiman the Magnificent and Haesaki Hurrem Sultan was a great choice because it was very much a real-life darker Cinderella story (not to romanticize enslavement). While Hurrem was considered lovely with her (possible) red hair and green eyes it's said her wit and intelligence captivated her husband. I feel like that was similar to Reader.

Hi!

Sorry it took me a bit to answer this! I actually am just sitting down to watch Magnificent Century as I write chapter 29 and it reminded me that you sent this ❤️.

I LOVE the love story between Suleyman and Hurrem and I admire Hurrem so much. I have been wanting for years to work in elements of their romance into something but nothing was ever the right fit. Their dynamic was so complicated, given the historical/social context, yet very beautiful.

As I was planning out Morpheus and Reader’s relationship, I realized I needed to find inspo/themes that would somewhat accurately translate my perspective of their dynamic and how they handle the immense power he has over her while being romantic/passionate/loving. To me, bringing the two stories together was the perfect fit.

As a nod to this inspo, I have titled Lucienne’s position within Morpheus’ realm as one of his Viziers. This won’t be the last we see of the Ottoman court hierarchy in treehouse!

[starbabe569]

Non Hurrem/Suleyman Scenes I Wish Had Been In The Series

**After Suleyman Returns To Find Hurrem Has Been Burned**

Suleyman questions everyone surviving Hurrem to find out how she's been doing scenes the attack. He's told she rarely leaves her chambers, she has the main entrance to her chambers bard every night and sleeps with a knife. Suleyman then calls an architect to design and build a new set of chambers contacted to his.

A few days later word begins to spread through the harem about the new chambers Suleyman has ordered. Hafsa and Mahidevran assume that the new chambers are for Mustafa.

**Sometime After Suleyman Returns To Find Hurrem Has Been Burned**

Suleyman has been back in Tapioca for a few weeks when Hurrem starts acting angry and jumpy. When he ask she says it's just nerves, so he questions Sumbal and Daya and is informed that Fatma the concubine responsible for burning Hurrem was brought back to the palace. Suleyman is furious and orders that Fatma be taken to the dungeons while he goes to comfort his mother.

**Immediately After Learning About Fatma**

Suleyman storms into the Valid Sultan's Cambers looking furious. Hafsa asks what's troubling him. Suleyman angrily confronts his mother about Fatma not only being brought back into the harem, but the fact that it's obvious that she wasn't truly punished. Hafsa try's to defend her actions to Suleyman despite the fact that he's obviously not buying it. At one point she says something that causes Suleyman to almost hit her, he stops himself before he even lifts his hand. He ends the conversation by telling her he will handle Fatma's punishment. He also tells her she needs to dismiss Gulsah because he will be appointing the new harem overseer.

**The Day After Suleyman's Confrontation With His Mother**

Suleyman has his mother and Mahidevran come to the viewing room used to over look events in the courtyard. There wondering why Suleyman has called them there, when he walks out. Their shocked to see him followed by Fatma who is being dragged by guards and an executioner. After Fatma is executed Suleyman looks up at the screen his mother and Mahidevran are standing behind before walking back into the palace.

**A Few Days After Fatma's Execution**

Word about Fatma's execution has spread through the harem. The concubines are gossiping and speculating about what this means for Valid Sultan's possession and the future of the harem. Sumbal inters to announce that Suleyman's has summoned Afife Hutan to take over as overseer of the harem, instead of Gulsah who Hafsa's chose.

**Early Season Three**

After her luncheon for the wives of Pasha and other high ranking men in the empire Hurrem holds a second uncheon for the wives and daughters of the foreign ambassadors. This event is held in the main area of the harem. Hurrem is using the mystery and speculation other countries have about the harem to guaranty the attendance of the women she's invited.

_I'm specifically basing this off of the scene in MC:K when Farya enters the harem for the first time._

**Early Season One Not Long Before Suleyman Returns From Campaign**

Hurrem is setting in her private chambers with Maria embroidering a blanket for the baby. Maria tells Hurrem that she's been worried that she'll be replaced as her concubine because she's not Muslim so she's going to talk to Sumbal about converting. Hurrem tells her she doesn't have to do that, she'll talk to Suleyman to make sure that doesn't happen. Maria responses that she rather do everything possible to make sure there not separated. Hurrem leans over and hugs Maria thanking her.

**The Night Hurrem Gives Birth To Mehmed**

Ibrahim has ordered Gulnihal to be sent to Halvet. As Sumbal is taking her to be prepared she's protesting that she can't do this to Hurrem. Sumbal tells her to keep quiet and when she's in left alone with Suleyman to introduce herself by her old name and nothing will happen. She nods her head and says okay, then keeps quiet while she's prepared.

When she's left alone with Suleyman she introduces herself as Maria, then drops to her knees and say she can't be here because it would break Hurrem's heart. Suleyman realizing that this is Hurrem's Maria who he'd given Sumbal instructions not to send to halvet he's furious. She gives an explanation that Ibrahim picked her and that there was probably confusion because she'd just converted and has been given her new name.

After Suleyman has calmed down they began talking with Maria telling Suleyman stories about Hurrem and her life before the harem with Maria telling him she was revealed to see Hurrem finally starting to live again. A few hours into their conversation Sumbal arrives to inform Suleyman that Hurrem is in labor.

**Season One Early Into Hurrem's First Pregnancy**

Hafsa tells Daya she has decided to marry Hurrem off while Suleyman is on campaign. Daya asks if she'd like her to take Hurrem to be examined immediately to confirm she's not pregnant or wait until a groom has been selected. Hafsa tells her to have the exam done immediately because she doesn't need the stress of having to back out of and engagement if she is pregnant.

_Hafsa trying to marry Hurrem off without finding out if she's pregnant or not was one of her stupidest designs in the inter series._

@redxluna @desmoonl @shivrcys @faintingheroine @minetteskvareninova

[gulnarsultan]

Hi it's me again is it fine to request headcanons for yandere suleyman for a Christian reader? She doesn't want to let go and face reality that her former life is gone. She vowed to never love again and keeps to herself most of the time

Hello. Welcome back. Feel free to write your wishes. I hope you will like it.

" Scenario "

It was the year Sultan Suleiman ascended the throne. Valide Sultan had chosen women to dance for her son. (I mean the part in the movie where Hürrem dances and takes the purple handkerchief. The only difference is that Sultan Süleyman chooses the reader.) You were one of the Hatuns chosen by the Valide Sultan, as you were the Hatun who danced and sang beautifully in the harem. You were praying that the Sultan among you would not choose you. You never gave up on your old life and religion. Until you came to the palace, you swore that you would not love, so as not to experience heartache again because of what happened to you. You thought you wouldn't be selected just because you wouldn't dance. However, you were very wrong. That evening, Sultan Suleiman did not take his eyes off you for even a moment. When the dance was over, Sultan Suleiman came before you and gave you the purple handkerchief. Your frown and your dissatisfied facial expression did not go unnoticed by Suleiman. While preparing you for that evening, you were looking for a solution to avoid going to the Sultan. Nigar warned you that when you ask for help from a journeyman, you have to make up your mind. He said that if you enter the heart of the Sultan and give birth to a son, no one can stand before you. When you got to the room in the evening, you went next to Sultan Suleiman and kissed your skirt as per the rules. He gently grabbed your chin and made you look at him. As he chatted with you, it was not difficult to understand that the reason for your behavior was sympathy and understanding in his eyes when he found out. After that evening, he would call you over most nights. In fact, after a few weeks, you felt at home with him. Perhaps you were beginning to think that God had compared you with Sultan Suleiman to give you a second chance at a family. You accepted Islam in a short time and found yourself happily spending your days in the arms of Suleiman.

[ragewrites]

hello💗 love your writing and your blog, you’re so so talented

AND I just wanted to ask if you have any good court drama recs lmao

💕

Thank you! And oh yes 👀

At the time of those tags I was knee-deep in the waters of Chinese web novels (recs from that journey are The Rebirth of an Ill-Fated Consort, Eight Treasures Trousseau, Like Pearl and Jade; Your Mileage May Vary, however, since I like slow-paced things) but I also have some drama-proper recs, namely:

Magnificent Century (Turkish production, follows the ascent of Suleyman the Magnificent’s wife in the harem; liberties are taken, but it’s actually not that unfaithful to the truth, and Meryem Uzerli is...honestly a revelation)

Nirvana in Fire. Honestly I cannot recommend this one enough. It’s just so—so!!

Bossam: Steal the Fate is partly this. Other Korean recs include The Crowned Clown and Mr. Queen, and I heartily recommend watching them in that order, actually, because you will need the levity Mr. Queen has, particularly early on, to cope.

From the web novels (additional rec: The Remarried Empress. This is a Korean work, and is currently being serialized as a webtoon, also, with very pretty art) I went on to reading Katie Quinn’s series of books set in Rome, which were...sadly only decent, so not a particularly strong rec, just a mention. Instead I’ll rec Megan Whalen Turner’s sequels to The Thief, which turn into this: they are The Queen of Attolia; The King of Attolia; A Conspiracy of Kings & Thick as Thieves.

Also, last year Jacqueline Carey utterly rewired my brain, particularly with Phedre’s trilogy (Kushiel’s Dart, Kushiel’s Chosen, Kushiel’s Avatar) but while court drama features in these, it’s not the point, exactly.

Hopefully this is a wide enough net of things for you to find something you enjoy within it ^^

[palaceoftears]

I'm sorry for stepping in, but that last anon? WTF? Ignore it. The way you talk and analyze MC characters is incredible!

That's why I'm here! This is my first time seeing the series, and I'm fascinated by how complex Sultan and Ibrahim's relationship is. Knowing this, do you feel their relationship was mere platonic? Or does it also give you romantic vibes?

Thanks for your response!

Hey anon, thanks for the kind words! I don't really know what the last ask meant either so yep I'll be ignoring them lol. Subrahim it's truly so fascinating, I'm glad you're enjoying it and I hope it doesn't break your heart as much as it did to me on my first watch. I think your questions are a little bit hard to answer for me because yes, the show potrays a very profound platonic relationship between two men whose historical counterparts were recorded to even sleep together, keeping both of them as heterosexuals that see each other as friends or family, and yet I think as viewers we can interpret much more looking at their actions & dialogues. I even think a little bit of that ambiguity was intended, after all in mck, Murad, historically rumoured to be gay/bi, is potrayed with the same closure to his male-favourites, especially Musa that is a young Ibrahim 2.0, but ofc showing more than that was risky for a show that was already having legal problems and this is still from 2011 so... I think it's open to interpretation. I do see these "romantic vibes": after all, subrahim deliberately parallels the canon romantic hetero relationships both of them have (especially surrem/ibratice, but even firuze and suleyman or nigar and ibrahim as well) in the way they refer, idealize and look to each other, their bond being built in poems and music, being ready to die for the other, being possesive/jealous, etc. There's also a lot that could be said about how much of their relationship is based on exploitation, they're after all master and slave till the end of Ibrahim's life, let's not forget Suleyman has the "right" to execute him without a proper trial for this fact alone, and that that happens because Ibrahim stops playing the loyal dog role and has ambitions of his own. So yes, Ibrahim's case it's also very important to see how conditional Suleyman's care for their beloved ones is once he suspects their unloyalty, it's a big break in the show because nothing will be the same after his execution and the fact Ibro's going to haunt the sultan till his death it's the ultimate proof that their bond, no matter if platonic or romantic, is an essential part of what made Suleyman Suleyman in the past, an state he will never get back to but that lives in his memories of Ibrahim, that's how connected they are!

Random dump:

[alicentsultana]

Hi! So i was looking at the beautiful camelot kiss in the background (and the Alicole of it all) and i was wondering ,are you an arthuriana fan ?

Also ,i really need to start watching The Magnificent Century and i wanted to ask you two things on it .

1)What do you think are the strong and the weak points of the show ?

2)Where did you watch said show?

Have a good day/night !

Hi! Coincidentally, there is always some arthur stuff in my tl, but I never watched any movies or series. However I like the legend and it's very intriguing (guy puts out a sword becomes king and his wife have an affair with this knight, there is a dumbledore doing magic and he has a sister too). But beyond the legend, who's to say that there wasn't a guy who suddenly became King, folklore and ancient believes told by this ancient guy, and the King's wife had an affair? This is something that people would want to talk about but also hide.

Girl you have to watch it!!!!! I can't wait 🙈🙈

1. I think one strong point is the mix of fiction and fact, we have recordings and letters but they really built this day-to-day routine with the characters in the Palace, like how the slaves arrive, the Muslim calendar and traditions, the world of women/world of men, they tried to embellish the High of the Ottoman Life. One think that I really really love is the fact that they didn't took the personality of the slaves girls and outsiders, like Hurrem still sings and uses much of her Rus/Ukranian pride, and she was known as Rossa Solimana (the Russian of Suleyman), or the probable origins of Nurbanu as a noble woman/noble bastard. It's an interesting feature.

Also, the amount of characters beyond the main ones and the minor stories are very interesting in building the world and side happenings, it's very similar to the Brazilian novels, so for me it was a bonus.

The weakest for me is: Nigar's story, like they really messed it up, you'll see. The costumes, no matter how pretty, they could and should have gone full turban, no men allowed, henna, arsenic paste, the lessons of turkish, read, write and recite the Quaran, like it was done in the past, and etc. I believe they also failed to show Hurrem with more significance as the favorite and wife. She had a title created for her, the first to use it, she was above dynastic Princess, she was The first lady. Though I really like how they worked in her growth, I believe it wasn't explored to it's maximum.

2. At the time I watched in yt, but it was like three episodes with english subs, a bunch episodes in spanish, cut scenes, some other things in Turkish, and yeah it was a struggle.

Anyway, thanks for asking! Looking forward for the next one hahaha 💚💚

Have a good day/night!

[did-we-imagine]

According to some history youtuber I follow, he was considered a contender as well, despite being disabled. But I guess that him and his brothers being full-blooded siblings (sans Mustapha) could have changed things. (Or not, Kösem's son Murat IV still killed his full brother Qasim if my memory serves me well).

I also read on regular wiki that the real Cihangir was so affected by Mustapha's death that he grieved so hard he fell severely ill and died. I'm kind of skeptical, but I don't have any other info.

Do you think Şehzade Cihangir brothers would have let him when they become Sultan? He was not a rival option for the throne since he was disabled.

Hürrem’s sons? Probably. Mustafa? I’m not sure he could have made an exception.

[theresnothingformehere]

Favourite episode of MC?

Omg, that's such a hard questioooon

But if I haaad to choose one I think it definitely is episode number 13 (I had to look up the number), when Ibrahim returns to Parga

I know you hate him and you know I love him hahahaha But yeah, that episode it's special to me because one of Ibrahim's traits that I love and I love all kind of feelings he shows related to that it's his feeling of not belonging, his feeling of missing home and wanting to go back and BE NORMAL, have a life, the kind of life I know he wants. Also that constant battle he has his whole life between wanting that and also LOVING POWER and being the grand vizier. Anyway I love that episode because I see him just being a man, hurting, missing, loving. It shows his soul. AND I WANTED SO BAD FOR HIM TO JUST STAY IN PARGA FOR GOOD LEAVE HIM ALONE, AND HOW SULEYMAN TAKES THAT AWAY FROM HIM AGAIN ITSSSSS, I think it hurts him so much, it hurt me so much when they made him go back, but I love that part too? hahaha

Anyway, I have to rewatch to remember better, but yeah. I love episode 1 too. Episodes where there is Nigar x Ibrahim content. Episodes where there are juicy fights/arguments between Hurrem and Ibrahim. I like episodes where Hurrem have some victories, like when she marries Suleyman or when she becomes the one in charge of the harem. Believe it or not, I love her but I hate her when she hurts Ibrahim. But I love her. But I hate her hahaha I'm a little biased because of how much I love Ibrahim and my little crush on him (think of Nigar here lool). I also like the……last episode of Ibrahim because yeah, I suppose I like to suffer and also see how much he means to Suleyman and to Hurrem (as her favorite enemy lmao) and to everyone..

Tysm for asking, love you <3

[hurremsultanns]

Hi! Love your blog and your posts! As someone who loves (and hates) MC, what are your favorite au/what if scenarios based in the show?

Mine are:

• What if Sadika had killed Suleyman?

• What if Sadika was too slow and the princes (Mustafa and Mehmet) had died in the fire?

• What if Valide had managed to tell Suleyman the truth about Ibrahim and his relationship with Nigar before passing out/getting sick?

• What if the child Mahidevran had miscarried had lived? Bonus: what if that child was Mihrimah? (Idk I just think Mahi was very sweet to Mihrimah when she was little. Being the mother of his eldest son and his only daughter would boost Mahi up. Plus I like the idea of Hurrem getting her wish in season 1 of only bearing sons (it’ll be a boy again and then a boy again and then again). Also, even if the same thing happened where Mustafa ended up being executed, Mahidevran could go and live with Mihrimah who would be super rich like she was on the show and in canon.

• What if Hurrem had fallen for Shah’s trap and actually tried to place Bayezid on the throne?

• What if Hatice had decided to divorce Ibrahim?

• What if Nurbanu had been the concubine/consort for one of the other princes (either Mustafa, Mehmet, or Bayezid)

• What if Mehmet had lived and Mihrimah acted like his Valide Sultana?

• What if Mihrimah had gotten to be with and marry Taslicali like she wanted?

• What if Hurrem and Mahidevran’s arrivals were switched? So like Hurrem would have been with Suleyman when he was still a prince in Manisa and Mahidevran was the one who showed up in Istanbul after he was already the sultan

• What if Mihrimah had chosen to support Selim?

• What if seeing how much Mahidevran had moved on from him made Suleyman want to get back together?

• What if Hurrem and Leo had reunited earlier (before she was ever pregnant) and they ran away together?

• What if Hurrem hadn’t noticed that Suleyman was in the room listening to her and Valide’s conversations and he heard her admit the truth about Leo?

• What if Cihangir had recovered at the last minute and lived? What would his relationship be like with his family for the rest of his life?

• What if Gulnihal remembered that it was Gulshah who attacked her?

• What if, after being given the poisoned fur, Gulnihal decided to switch her loyalty to Mahidevran? (Hurrem’s thing is that she’s able to gain loyalty from people who were once her enemies so I thought it’d be interesting if it was flipped)

• What if Fariye had kept her loyalty to Mahidevran and Mustafa and gone through with killing Hurrem?

• What if Defne had gone through with killing Bayezid?

• What if Bayezid had gotten hurt/killed when he ran away from the palace to join the army?

• What if Selim had gotten caught tampering with Bayezid’s arrow?

• What if Hurrem actually had gotten the plague when she refused to relocate during her exile?

Thank you so much! It's so kind of you to say that you like my posts.

I'm interested in what a potential modern AU could look like.

That said I also have to ask what would change if more people knew the truth about Mehmet's death?

My all time favourite AU for my own personal satisfaction (and I am biased) is that I think Nigar and Esmanur should have been allowed to escape and get to freedom. It's what they both deserved.

The rest of them are basically just 'what if this element was handled better/written with more nuance?'

[davidcescleo]

Do you think Suleyman knows about Leo and Hurrem or at least suspects something?

Okay as much as Suleyman is a easy to manupilate narcist maniac, he is by no means an idiot. He knows Ibrahim randomly presented him with the dairy of Leo, he saw how tense Hurrem got, he knows something happened between Ibrahim and Hurrem while Victoria was trying to kill him, he knows Leo vanished, and Valide tells him about Leo.

I mean he asked about it to Ibrahim but he can tell whether or not Ibrahim is lying from a mile away.

[obi-wan-hoe]

One of my favorite moments in MC is Hurrem telling Mahidevran she's going to die soon. Mahidevran seemed stunned, because despite all of this animosity and bitterness she had for Hurrem, I can't help but feel like she saw her as this force of a woman, and to be told her end is near, it's almost inconceivable. Especially by a disease, it doesn't seem the way Hurrem would go (she isn't explicitly told, but I think it was a somewhat logical conclusion to come to). In comparison to when Mahidevran sees Suleyman in the marketplace, it's as if she knew there was no other way for him to end (old, frail, alone).

There is so many other things I enjoy too. While I would have loved to see Meryem's Hurrem do the scene, to close off the chapter of her rivalry with Nur's Mahidevran, I thought Vahide's portrayal was amazing. She showed how much Hurrem had grown from the beginning, not only by being calm and collected, but by accepting that the top of the harem wasn't all it was cracked up to be. But her maturity I think is shown most when she genuinely doesn't seem to enjoy seeing how low Mahidevran had fallen, in terms of status and living situation. She too seemed taken aback and almost sad, as if she couldn't fathom her enemy this way either. The bow at the end was a great show of respect too.

There was also the realistic feelings of Mahidevran, not just being all happy to see an old enemy, but by understandably resentful as she was considered the loser, and Hurrem the winner, which was at least visibly the better option and at least allows Hurrem to understandably act with more grace in the beginning.

~ Hurrem's nervousness of asking for forgiveness, knowing there's a big chance she may not get it, and it goes beyond maturity. Hurrem was dying, and was at a place where she needed to get everything in order, Mahidevran was not. Also, I did like how they both seemingly acknowledged that while the other forgave them, they were not washed away from the terrible things they'd done.

~ The realization that they're both mothers, that their children may not have driven them to play the game in the beginning, but they certainly had by the end. Hurrem telling Mahidevran that they should kill each other where they stood if it would bring them some relief from the pain was a masterful moment.

Overall, both woman may not have always liked one another, but they definitely understood their opponent was never one to be taken lightly. It was almost as if they both had thought the other was beyond the rules in which the others were beholden too.

Anywhos this got way longer than I'd anticipated and if anyone sees this, I'd love to hear your thoughts about this scene.