Move Over Ned Stark & Co.
The other week while looking for things to watch on Netflix, my husband and I stumbled on to something. I’m a sucker for swords and horseback riding warriors and anything medieval, so when we landed on Diriliş: Ertuğrul (English translation – Resurrection: Ertugrul) I was intrigued. We started watching. I was quickly disappointed because it was in Turkish with English subtitles and thusly a bit hard to follow. In fact we almost turned it off and went to look for something else to watch, but we stuck it out for some reason, and boy am I glad we did.
Turns out that Ertugrul is my new obsession and binge watch—which believe me there’s a lot to binge on—5 Seasons and each season has like 50 Episodes. I kid you not. But this show is AMAZING! OK, the production values are not the highest of quality, but I’m only still on Episode 30 in Season 1 and if you recall Game of Thrones’ first season had a lower budget and was not as lavish as say Season 7. Yes, it seems a little low budget, and some of the acting is not brilliant (the occasional supporting actor), and as I said, you have to read subtitles, BUT let me tell you the STORY in this is FANTASTIC! And the lead actress (Esra Bilgic) is super talented and one of the most beautiful creatures I’ve ever beheld. The lead actor (Engin Altan Duzyatan) is really great too.
Engin Altan Duzyatan as Ertugrul Bey and Esra Bilgic as Halime Sultan.
The Story is the Star
But truly it is the story that is the star of this show. It takes place in the 1200’s and is based on history. Ertugrul and Halime are real people, (spoiler alert) the parents of Osmand I who founded the Ottoman Empire. But they don’t know that, of course, at the start of the show. They haven’t even met yet. Well, they do in the first episode when he goes out hunting because his nomadic tribe is suffering famine, and while stalking a baby gazelle that might just become dinner he runs in to her. No, she’s not a peasant girl just out picking berries or anything—she and her father and brother are political prisoners who have escaped the caged cart of the Crusader Knights that are taking them to execution.
The Crusaders are trying to round them up and put them back in their caged cart to continue on their merry way when Ertugrul and his—turns out basically undefeatable Alps (the word they use for knights)—open a can of whoop-ass on those kidnapping bad guys. Ertugrul rescues the princess (as she turns out to be) her father and young brother, but not without falling madly in love with her during the process. Sigh.
He and his Alps bring the girl and her family back to their tribe, who by custom have to take them in as guests and protect them from any harm. A tall order because, as I said, Halime’s father is actually a great lord, who has been on the run from some other great lords who want to kill him (my grasp of Turkish history needs a little work) and everyone starts pestering Ertugrul’s tribe to give them back. All havoc ensues and we get five seasons chalk full of amazingness, plus the birth of an empire, to sort it out. It’s FANTASTIC!
StoryCraft
On our on-going discussion of StoryCraft (what makes a great story well told, etc.) this series should be watched and studied to the enth degree. Like I said, the story is the real star. Yes, they have GREAT subject matter, the ultimate founding of an empire, but in the early stages of the story, that is not at all the intent. The intent is to survive the brutal famine, find better land for the tribe to migrate to, keep their ancient traditions and not just sell out their guests. Does Ertugrul know he is going to be the father of an Emperor? No way. He’s not even married, barely met the girl of his dreams and is soon to find out she’s way out of his league—her father being a Sultan and all.
But the layer upon layer upon layer that is built in each episode is gripping. The intrigue, the betrayals (of lesser but very potent characters), the conflict keeps building, and building until you feel like you’re in a pressure cooker right along with Ertugrul. But then he goes in to his deep thinking mode and comes up with a brilliant plan that bridges the current catastrophe taking the story onward.
Personally, I am learning a lot about storytelling from watching this show (which justifies my all night binges of it I’d say.) I am learning about building conflict, letting it stretch out, not resolving it too soon—which the writers of this show are masterful at. I am learning that you don’t need special effects or fancy sets or even the best cinematography in the world to tell a deeply moving story full of humanity. (Kind of knew that before, but this is another great example of that lesson.)
Shakespeare Would Dig This Show
I love Shakespeare, because he is the master of the dramatic form, the master of moving his characters in to deep conflict—just read a scene from Richard III or Othello, etc. This show has that same kind of conflict. It takes us deep into the workings of the soul and lets us experience that catharsis needed to make us feel more human. As I keep saying, it’s FANTASTIC! Do yourself a favor, get used to reading subtitles and watch it!
Watch It Here:
Click HERE to be directed to Resurrection: Ertugrul on Netflix.
