Bahar was born of a rich family at a servant's home at Kismetsizler, a poor neighbourhood. During childbirth, her grandfather, who is the family's patriarch, rejects her for some reason (can't remember why, but I think it's because they didn't want a girl?). The servants, Ilyas and Nuran, then raise Bahar in a poor hilly neighborhood with her loquacious and humorous step-sister Efsun.
After Bahar's biological father Mehmet is made aware of her existence, Nuran and Ilyas hear of his and instead inform him that Efsun, their biological daughter, is his actual daughter so they gain financial benefits. Hence the show's name, O Hayat Benim (That Is My Life). So Efsun steals Bahar's life, unbeknownst to her, and the show begins to take its steps and find its feet. Bahar and Efsun are actually very close and amicable sisters, and Bahar seems to forgive Efsun's selfish and narcissistic ways so many times in the show.
What makes this show so terrific and watchable is that every episode ends with tension-filled and exciting cliffhangers. Every moment creates a story arc for the next. That's why I nicknamed the show "A Series of Unfortunate Events", because there are many unfortunate events that lead to other fateful events. The acting is monumental in this, very Shakespearean. The women playing Efsun, Sultan and Hulya deserved an Oscar for their powerful performance. But most did! This ensemble cast exhibit a performance that is so natural, subtle, grandly nuanced that they belong in the Lord of the Rings or something.
One thing I realised is the casting of very handsome men in the show - Ates, Arda, Mehmet, Behçet, Salih and Toros were played by really handsome men. Of course, the women were beautiful too - The doe eyed beauty Bahar and the gorgeous Hasret. I do think both Zeyneps were miscast as they did NOT resemble the actress playing Sultan, the mother. Though the second Zeynep was a great actress, despite lacking any resemblance to Sultan. The familial resemblance thing was a problem in the show as some characters didn't even resemble their relatives, but it wasn't a huge issue as audiences are expected to suspend their disbelief.
Indeed, a series running at 130 episodes is destined to have flaws and some bloated, superfluous content. It would've done better at mere 100 episodes. I thought the subplot regarding Zeynep's grotesque-looking father in season 3 was just otiose and boring. As was the focus on Zuhal and Volkan's father and his advantageous interest in Ganimet. Even the cliched and uninteresting Volkan in season 4 was redundant. The casting of Jamal was inappropriate - A baby faced actor who looked like Elijah Wood could never be taken seriously as an attractive mafia member. The subplot regarding the crime lord Behçet was also redundant, as we already had one gang lord (Kenan). Furthermore, the Kenan character should've been killed much earlier than he did here as his tactics and games got weary by the 4th season. One serious flaw in the series was when a resolute sequence, such as when someone is revealing something important, turns out to be just a character's vision or fantasy. It really slaps the viewer in the face - This plot device became somehow more ubiquitous in season 4.
Other than that, what can I say? This series is monumental either way. Every character has a story and most characters are very likable, engaging and relatable. The audience will surely enjoy them as these characters are three dimensional and complex, in addition to being played well-trained, first rate actors. That's what I enjoyed about the show - You feel sympathy and have personal fondness towards many of the characters, and the talented cast give them soul. This character complexity lacks in many TV series I've watched.
