First let me start by telling readers that I have never written a review for a movie or series. Second, let me say this... I'm a Texan all my life- lived in the country growing up - and the city during my adult life. I never knew much about Muslims or their faith, and to tell you the truth - I never cared to know. Third, I have never watched a foreign movie- and friends/family thought I was crazy for having to read everything that was said by each character.
I don't even know how I ended up watching this except for one day I was board and starting looking at previews. I watched the preview and went straight to season 1, episode 1. Once it started ... I was hooked!!! I couldn't stop watching it. I watched it every chance I could get. That's all I thought about was trying to get home so I could watch the next episode. I binged watched most every night and sometimes it was filled with so much drama and excitement that I couldn't turn it off and go to sleep. The production, the sword fighting, the music, the drama was action packed every moment. The actors where unbelievably good! One thing that I can definitely say, if most Muslims are like the character and his family in this series- what a loving, caring, religion it is. It shocked me how much their religion played a part of their everyday life. Praying all the time, always trying to follow their religious convictions and "their cause." Everything about the series was just magnificent! From the script, to the characters, to the unbelievable music throughout- it was done by the best of the best! I learned so much about the history of these Turkish people and I know from reading and studying about the making of this series, that they had the best historians and professors that helped put all the information and historical facts together. It is fiction, but most of the history is true. They added story lines to make it like a drama. I almost cried when I realized that season 5 was the last season. I quickly googled to try and see if they would pick back up and continue a season 6 sometime soon. There was talk about doing it but nothing has transpired as of yet. However, the main characters (Ertugrul) youngest son Osman, was made out to be a world power as he got older. They had dreams about how great of a leader he would be and powerful. Apparently they have a spin off of this series which Osman ends up starting the Ottoman Empire as he grows older. It was mentioned that is was not on Netflix yet, but you could see it on YouTube. It was aired recently on Turkish television and was very popular with the viewers. So I googled it and read a lot of history on this leader. Just amazing. And this series is back in the time frame of the 1200- 1400's. Back when their was fierce fighting over land and tribes - as they migrated to find peaceful lands - which didn't seem to ever happen. Just amazing history, and amazing culture and religion. It really did open my eyes and I have a totally different view of this culture now- even though I'm Christian. Please please watch this series. I hope you will be hooked just like I was and continue to watch and learn. Just wish it wouldn't end! Season 5 has 88 episodes... I watched 81-87 last night and this morning and stopped. I just can't bring myself to watch the very last one right now. Lol.
