Basically the title. I can’t understand why anybody would bother watch magnificent century hating Hurrem the whole time…
(I’m talking purely about the show pov btw, no need for misogynistic nonsense about historical Hurrem pls!)
While the Valide Sultan title is institutionally higher than the Haseki Sultan, this did not always mean it translated to more power!
Hurrem Sultan’s undisputed and absolute influence over the empire at its zenith made her eclipse the constraints of what was available for any woman at her time. The true founder of the Sultanafe of Women
👑👸🏼✨
As somebody who genuinely enjoyed MC: Kösem, I think one thing the second show never quite captured was the domestic warmth of the harem. In the original MC, you get the sense that things are...okay. The harem feels lived in. MCK has traces of this too, but far less believably and far less often.
A lot of people rightly criticize the original show for downplaying the political side of Hurrem Sultan and the imperial harem. I actually agree with that criticism. But in retrospect, the show's hyper-focus on interpersonal drama and harem life makes sense precisely because it takes place during the Suleymanic "golden age."
The original MC almost feels insulated from the wider world. Not completely, but enough that the audience can spend entire episodes worrying about rivalries, romances, scandals, and palace gossip. (I personally found most of them quite silly compared to MCk but lol). By contrast, MCK constantly has state politics crashing through the walls of the harem. The empire's problems become the harem's problems, and there's no avoiding it.
It's almost as if you can feel that the empire is at its zenith in the original series. The writers can afford silly subplots because the state itself feels secure. Ironically, that sense of stability contributes enormously to the show's atmosphere.
The real disservice is that we rarely see the full extent of Hurrem's patronage networks and influence over very direct and tangible state affairs. And the few times the show does emphasize her political role, it usually revolves around Mustafa's execution, a storyline that we already know is heavily driven by propaganda and ridiculous melodrama.
One reason MCK is far less harem-focused than the original is simply that the politics were such a chaotic mess. The crises become impossible to ignore. I think that's one of the reasons I enjoyed MCk more. It's a bit more "plot forward" if that makes sense. Thoughts?
Has anyone here taken BIO202 over the summer?
How was it and do you have any tips? Also, is anybody currently in it rn...
The amount of influence Safiye Sultan had as Haseki was extraordinary, second to Hurrem Sultan ofc, but phenomonal.
I can only imagine if Sultan Murad didn’t have a powerful Valide Sultan (Nurbanu) ruling, the extent of influence Safiye would reach ! A crazy what if. Dare I say if Nurbanu had died earlier, Safiye lowkey might’ve displaced her Sultan to put Mehmed on the throne. (A possibility)
This is an idea that came to my head and I think its so tea. I think it can be very creative hehe (based on real history though)
I'll go with a few that came to mind:
"BREAKING NEWS: Sultan Suleiman marries former concubine, grants unprecedented title ‘Haseki Sultan’ "
"The Topkapi Times: Safiye Sultan banished to the Old Palace as Mahpeyker rises in influence"
"BREAKING NEWS: Murad IV ends Kösem Sultan’s regency, assumes full control of the empire"
I just let the show play in my living room background for ambiance. It's weirdly perfect for it.
I remember when I was in Istanbul this Uber I called from the airport had Magnificent Century playing in the car and I truly felt like I arrived ahahaha. People don't talk enough about how this show is super good for marketing Istanbul tourism ooop.
List of portrayals mentioned in this video here:
- Mine Manavoğlu (Mimar Sinan mini TV show) 1988
- Claudia Cardinal (The Battle of the Three Kings) 1990
- Olha Sumska (Roxelana) 1996-2003
- Gulben Ergan (Hurrem Sultan) 2003
- Sólveg Arnarsdóttir (Die Geliebte des Sultans - Docu) 2005
- Hülya Avşar (8 Ülke 8 Yönetmen & Sinan - Docu) 2011
- Meryem Uzerli ofccc (Magnificent Century) 2011-2013
- Vahide Perçin (Magnificent century) 2013-2014
- Megan Gale (Three Thousand Years of Longing) 2022
Who’s the most book accurate portrayal of Hurrem in terms of looks? (I saw some clips of Olha Sumska in Roxelana and I rlly liked it! For me she’s most book accurate). I also find it fascinating Safiye Sulans actress in MCk played Hurrem before.
I haven’t seen all these shows, but it’s cool how there’s several works that try to portray her! Does anyone have any thoughts?
I thought this edit portrayed the intensity and violence with which Turhan’s rise came from along with Kosem's unfortunate assassination which the show didn’t sanitize.
Also in the beginning Turhan says: “as long as I live, no princes shall be killed”
— and indeed real life Turhan did admirably keep that promise against the explicit command of her regnal son! I'll leave this excerpt from historian Lucienne Thys-Şenocak's book about Turhan Sultan:
>“With his usual literary flare Rycault describes the moment when Mehmed’s order arrived at the Topkapı Palace:
But no sooner was this fatal Command arrived in the hands of the Queen, but she trembled so much, that she could scarce hold the Paper. At length considering, that (as hath been said before) she had given in caution to the Janissaries for the lives of these Princes, and that to her care they were committed, she immediately disclosed and published the design of the Grand Signior to the Janisar-Ağa, craving his help and protection, protesting that she was resolved to maintain the faith she had given to those Princes, whose life she tendered equal with her own.58” — Excerpt From Ottoman Women Builders
I like this clip which I think summarizes their dynamic decently (Kosem and Turhan) at least when Turhan was Ibrahim’s consort to some degree:
“Honestly, she’s more of a favorite of Kosem than Sultan Ibrahim’s. She raised her specifically. She’s like Kosem’s shadow. Everyone’s afraid of her.”
Not sure if the Beyhan Sultana part is accurate but I think it summarizes Kosem and Turhans near protege dynamic. Two of the most powerful Valide Sultan's in Ottoman history.