I happened to read an article from 2006 claiming that the series made a botch of Cumali's book (on which is based), by abandoning its original plot and distorting some of its heroes beyond recognition. Although I haven't read the book myself, I don't' believe that taking some liberties with it is the main reason why this series fails to impress.
This show severely lacks tension. This is a serious problem for a series that is supposed to describe the conflicts that plagued the Balkan Peninsula during the first half of the 20th century. I, for one, see it as a very sloppy approach to the Balkan world and its ambiguities. Most scenes seem contrived and the dialogue is stilted at best. The actors are more preoccupied with seeming real rather than acting real. This is particularly the case with the show's protagonist. From his first to his last scene he seems incapable of making us believe that he's actually going through whatever his character is going through. The same goes for the supporting characters too, many of which come across as wooden and static. The dubbing makes matters worse, as it utterly destroys whatever shred of originality and surprise could be found in the dialogue.
In addition, the series could have been far better visually. I am not an expert on cinematography, but my humble opinion is that the directors could have done considerably better, as far as sets, lighting, costumes and colours are concerned. Unfortunately, the shots and the images produced here don't add any depth to the story. Instead they make it look even phonier. There are scenes that look like cheap documentary re-enactments or, even worse, fancy dress parties.
Moreover, the series doesn't really excel in combating Balkan stereotypes, despite its promise for objectivity. On the contrary, it fully accepts and reproduces them with an air of western european snobism.
The music and the beautiful landscape help sugarcoat the pill a little, but, for its most part, the series cannot even remotely involve us emotionally in the dramatic action. This is really a pity, because it could have been a very interesting mini-series, if the subject had been treated with the attention and respect it deserves.
