Kara Para Ask

Kara Para Ask(roughly translated to English as Black Money Love) is easily one of the best Turkish TV series out there. I usually hate Turkish series(I only watched Ezel before this) because they are all the same,based on the same story but just with different characters/locations. Fortunately,I was actually forced to watch this because I was in a hospital and my TV remote didn't work,so i was stuck on just one channel for 8 days. At first I was very suspicious because I had some stereotypes about Turkish TV series,but on the third day I was actually enjoying watching it. So what makes Kara Para Ask stand out in infinite bland of weeping women,endless tea drinking(they even rival the British people :D),and more weeping?

THE GOOD: -Outstanding acting,especially for one Turkish series

Explanation:The two main actors,Omer and Elif,are excellent and believable characters,their role really suits their appearance/style. Even antagonists(Tajar,Metin,miss Nedret)are really good and you actually start to hate them,which is always a sign that they nailed their acting. The only mediocre actress was definitely Nilufer(she is truly annoying as somebody already wrote).

-Gorgeous locations

Explanation:Turkey is really a beautiful country,and this series really make the best of it stand out,with its top-notch camera work.The best thing is that there are actually quite a few locations in the series,as opposed to your usual Turkish series where there is like 3 houses in the whole series :D

-Beautiful soundtrack

Explanation:I fell in love with the sounds and songs of this series.I actually went so far that I downloaded 2 songs from it because they were perfect to play while having,um,some fun with my girlfriend.They really make everything much more compelling and believable.

And I left the best for the end: -Amazing story

Explanation:The story is just a whole new level for the Turkish series.However they didn't even went far from your usual "love wins all" story,they just upgraded it.Instead of some usual characters you really have unique ones,everyone has its own strengths and weaknesses,and when Omer and Elif try to break through some tough times you are really sympathizing with them.The story is not just centered on the love of the two protagonists,its also centered on their families,and even love stories of some minor characters(Metin- Nilufer). All this really makes it stand out.The best thing:they minimized weeping,although some characters just can't do without it(Yes I'm looking at you Nilufer,if your tea isn't sweet enough that's not a reason to cry :D).Without all the tears the series actually just gained on emotional side.

THE BAD:

-Unrealistic violence

Explanation:Although Turkish censorship is pretty strict(no sex scenes,violence,even swearing),they could at least make it more believable by putting more realistic muzzle flashes/gun smoke because its pretty visible that it's fake.Another drawback is that every character holds the gun somehow awkward,even those who should know how to hold it(Omer/Husejin/other police officers). Yet another drawback is totally unrealistic wounds,I mean when you get shot to the head there is really a lot of blood,not just small red blurred dot.I know this ain't Saw or something but that could definitely be better.

-Some kiss scenes were awkward AF

Explanation:Although I know not anybody can make out like me :D a.k.a Casanova style,it's still somewhat expected when 2 people are married that they French kiss instead of your 10 year old kisses.The funniest thing is when Metin and Nilufer are making out because you can clearly see that there is no passion involved and Nilufer acts like she is kissing a Chernobyl boar,and not a human being(I can actually understand that,'cause Metin/Faith is ugly AF :D) But still,could be way better.

-A bit repetitive plot

Explanation:I already told that the story was cool,but after watching it for a while you really get used to all the plot twists and you can easily predict what will happen next.I don't know,maybe it's just me but after episode 40 i almost knew everything in advance.Sometimes you should just make thing go as planned,without any problems.

That's it,thanks for reading! :)

Watched this in Scotland. Really enjoyed it. Wee bit predictable at times but enjoyed acting by most of the cast. Getting to like Turkish TV series and movies. So many gorgeous male actors to enjoy and they have changed my opinion of Turkish men in general as not had good experience in the past. This one kept me interested and watching and might inspire me to visit again. Hope to see more starring the lead actor with the beautiful eyes to die for.

Amazing story line and characters. Mesmerizing music. Beautiful ending. A very good Turkish tv show. As good as Winter Sun (Kis Gunesi). I highly recommend this show.

After watching all 164 episodes, the way Netflix divided them up, I read a bunch of reviews here. I would agree that if you are looking for something to criticize, yes there are legitimate things you can find. Implausible events, endless crying, tea drinking, same plot lines repeated over and over, scenes to drag it out further than necessary, things like that. But in what could be considered a very long movie, as in somewhere between 110 and 150 hours, some of those things will happen.

But here is the thing. Tuba B. She is simply phenomenal in this TV series. And so is her love interest Engin. They make the most handsome and beautiful on-screen couple ever! I loved it when they looked into each others' eyes. It didn't matter to me how long or often they did that. It never got old. The way they connected was so seemingly real, that apparently there are lots of people around the world who believe they are together in real life, not just on the set of this series. I can see how they could think that. And if it did happen I and probably millions of other fans would be thrilled.

This is a crime drama with a lot of soap opera and intrigue in it. But I never got bored. I have to say that I became more obsessed about watching this than anything I have ever watched, whether a movie or TV series. I thought all the actors were great. I could relate to most of their characters. But not as much as I could relate to what Elif as played by Tuba B. Was feeling at any given moment. I can't think of another acting job that continuously had me feeling everything that she was feeling. Her romance with Omer, played by Engin, is the stuff that dreams are made of. Every moment they are together is magical, even though they suffer through so many tragedies and betrayals of close friends, coworkers, and family, as well as their personal struggles with each other. It could be said that the most important aspect of this story is the concept of Love Conquers All.

I wasn't all that happy with the last few episodes, but they had to come up with some way to tie together so many separate plot lines, so I could understand that the writers had to find a way to end it. Although I would have kept watching no matter how many episodes they made. And I will no doubt go back and watch the whole series over and over.

Now that I am back looking for other movies and TV series to watch on streaming channels, I just cannot seem to find anything that holds my attention as much as this TV series did.

I have been falling in love with the lead actresses of countless movies and TV shows over the decades. But this actress Tuba B. In this TV series is in a league of her own. Of course she is beautiful in every way, but there is something about her hazel eyes that is mesmerizing. As well as her great voice, stylish clothes, long dark hair, and everything about her facial expressions and even body language.

Saw this on Netflix in UK and as subtitles don't bother me I thought I'd give it a try. I was hooked from the first episode and as I'm off work sick, I've watched all 54 epsiodes in a week ! Plot is good (sometime a bit longwinded to be fair) and acting is ok, especially when when compared to some of the drivel on UK tv. I think I will look up other Turkish thing to watch now.