BlackJack_B

In 1999, Melek Karadag was to marry her long time boyfriend Halil Sirhan and continue the close ties between their families. However, she was swept off her feet by street thug Alpay Yildirim and no-showed her wedding to run off with him to Germany. This caused a rift between the two families that eventually did heal. Melek cut off communications with both families.

Nearly twenty years later with Alpay becoming abusive and violent and seeing a mistress, Melek takes her three children Kerem (a soccer prodigy), his twin sister Defne (an aspiring singer) and Seyit Ali (named after his maternal grandfather) back to their hometown to reconnect. When she shows up during a dinner with members of the Karadag and Sirhan families, the rift reopens with the Sirhan family walking out, the Karadag family disowning her and the door slammed in their faces.

The series explores Melek's attempt to mend the rift between the families and gain forgiveness as well as her battle with leukemia that threatens her life. Halil, who never courted another woman and still pines for her, tries to rekindle his relationship with her. Halil's nephew Omer, a doctor, is attracted to the teenaged Defne Yildirim. Also, Alpay and his future wife Funde attempt to get his children back from Melek by claiming she is unfit to raise them.

Nehir Erdogan is superb as the tortured Melek and dominates the series throughout. Kaan Cakir is great as the thuggish father who wants to make his ex-wife's life miserable and the ensemble cast, writers and direction are first rate. This is one of the best dramas from Turkiye. Highly recommended.