it was sort of funny how his boss's boss said we need that mad captain, only he can solve this case. As if he would want someone who is likely to break rules and get lawsuits against the department, as Behzat might. (I think this was in the start of episode 3) But that keeps the story interesting. I see how this is shaping up with Behzat. He will continually solve big cases and thus be an asset to upper management, but will also keep needing his butt pulled out of the fires he creates with his unorthodox and sometimes illegal or legally questionable behavior. I think he might search someone's home without a warrant if he suspects them. If you've seen episode 2 then you know that Berna died, an apparent suicide. Behzat thinks this is what she meant when she said she would get him back for slapping her. But I think it was murder, and I think that will be the main case to solve for this season.

Vulture looks like an old drug addict, like someone being treated for heroin addiction or someone who has been through that. He's not an old man, but that face shows a lot of weather.

Huran is very headstrong, jumps to conclusions, not really stupid, except when he thinks about Eda. He is competent enough most of the time. but he looks a bit like a slob, like he never misses a meal, a bit of a gut coming on at a young age.

All those detectives dress like slobs in Turkey. They wear blue jeans, T-shirts, or some other shirt not tucked in, and they never comb their hair, or even cut it so it lies neatly. Huran is the only one with a fairly sharp looking haircut. I guess as detectives it is alright for them to look that way at least part of the time, when they are investigating other slobs. But when they have to talk to someone with fairly decent hygiene and fashion sense, they really stick out. Behzat goes to bed, gets a call, and gets up wearing the same clothes and runs out without taking a shower. He must smell like a homeless person. It's like this in all the cop shows in Turkey. [He really doesn't need to slap them around when he questions them, he can just get close to them and offend their noses so much they will break down and tell him anything he wants to know. ]

I think they will develop the main season's case more pretty soon. I am hoping that will begin to liven things up a bit. I am willing to give it a bit more time, as you said.

I think the problem is that this doesn't really have many soap elements in it. It's a straightforward maverick cop and his buddies effort. It also takes too long to resolve story lines that really aren't that exciting or interesting. It has been going a very long time so presumably it must be popular for some reason - let's hope it shows why soon. As you say - every time I see Behzat he looks scruffy and unkempt - he doesn't look like he's had a shower in a few months - I have no idea why any woman would find him attractive. His hair looks greasy and dirty all the time. I like a man with longish hair as long as it is clean and soft and glossy - greasy rat tails don't do it for me. Bahaar's son has an unnatural interest in his mother's love life - I think he needs counselling - likewise Behzat's nephew - Resnat - he's 13 years old and so obsessed with sex he can't think straight. Ycchh. I will watch it for the time being but it needs to liven up. I didn't consider that his daughter was murdered although I did wonder why she would commit suicide because she seemed to have a good relationship with him.

It was about the most popular show in Turkey for a while so it must pick up after a while. Maybe I will get used to the movie length episode format. If it gets more interesting it won't matter. I can always pause it. I don't need to reach a cliffhanger to pause. At the beginning of shows I am sometimes a bit bored before I get to know the characters. Halfway through episode 4 Vulture just confessed to Ghost that he ratted on Behzat. I think I missed whatever that was about. But it makes him a bit more interesting. Up til now he has just been some stoner type, rehab refugee looking staff member who does research for the team. He looks too skinny to do any field work. Have you noticed his arms? Not much meat on them, and his face is pretty gaunt; he could get away without a Halloween mask. So soon I expect we will hear a bit more of a back story on him and what his concern is about Captain Behzat.

2-

I think the issue with the beginning of this show, for us, is we have been watching shows which had a main plot that was the focus of the show from the start. With this show, each episode has been mostly about one case which gets solved by the end of it. They have not done much as far as introducing the plot for the whole season. Each character we see is new to us, so it is a bit confusing to follow. The show also has a different feel, I don't know how to say this, but the pace and the characters are slow, laid back or something. Behzat's "I don't give a damn" attitude permeates the whole show in a way. I am thinking that as it progresses, after the foundation for the characters and the basics of the show have been established, the pace may pick up.

I have to run to the drugstore today and get my pain meds, and then run some other errands. I'll be back online later this afternoon.

There was a female investigator who was looking into the shooting by Behzat of an arrested man in handcuffs whilst in custody. The whole team were present and they had a story arranged between them which the investigator didn't believe. She put pressure on every one of them - telling them that she would finish them - that they would all be fired - their lives and careers would be over. The other three didn't believe she had that power - but Vulture did. He has no relatives - no degrees - nothing and nobody is in his life except the homicide department - he was terrified if he lost that he would have nothing left. There is a new guy in it now - he looks silly compared to the rest of them - he has a suit and a tie and long well groomed hair - he was an agricultural engineer who for some reason I can't recall decided to change career paths and become a cop - he knows absolutely nothing and is currently being made fun of by the rest of them. Eda is going out on some cases but not all of them. It is a struggle for me to follow the Turkish names. Bahaar is teaching Resnat Turkish it seems - how does that work for a Turkish boy living in Turkey - maybe I am being too literal - I am thinking perhaps she is teaching him Turkish Language like we have English Language courses that teach the correct usage of nouns and verbs and adjectives past participles etc. Whatever he is a repulsive little brat.

Update - Ep 6 - where Gonul takes a fellow performer home and said performer is killed. Tell me I am not bonkers with the resolution.

Just got in from my errands and starting episode 5, so I am way behind you but I should get through episode 6 tonight. The summary for 5 says a guy is murdered and it has something to do with the car he just bought, and the question is, does the previous owner have something to do with it.

I saw the bit where Vulture confessed that he broke under the pressure of questioning, saying the homicide squad is his entire life, he has nothing else, he has no connections, no degrees, no career path upward, no options, and no desire to do anything else. And the investigator pushed that button; she was going to take it all away if he lied. He broke down into a sobbing mess. Behzat had compassion for him. I doubt Vulkture would do it again anyway. And Behzat probably told him "in the future, don't worry. I'll just shoot the investigator". No, just joking.

I saw a scene with Bahaar teaching the kid, and he told her something like "don't bother with me, I won't amount to anything anyway". Rotten attitude, but where did he get that idea?

Lots of stabbing deaths in this show.

I have an idea why this show was banned in Turkey - virtually every episode deals with the mistreatment of women - a father says "she disobeyed me so I beat her up" A brother beats up his sister and keeps her captive - women are routinely subjugated and treated as servants - this is not a good look for a supposedly modern country. Also the police beat suspects up as a matter of course - interviews are not recorded - human rights seem non-existent. It does not paint a pretty picture.

Maybe you're right on that. They don't want the world exposed to certain aspects of Muslim culture.

I've met the new team member: Cevdet said he couldn't find work in agriculture engineering so he decided to become a cop. I'm with you on this; how does one decide to jump from agricultural engineering to homicide detective? And who does the hiring? Will just any degree get you a job as a detective? What about interior decorating, or "gender studies"? I mean, agricultural engineering? I suppose if someone gets killed on a farm while repairing a tractor, this is the "go to" guy for background info. They didn't even train him. He doesn't know the first thing about gun handling safety. It's probably the first time he has ever held one. What a disaster. Actually, there is nothing wrong with changing careers, and your former job doesn't need to have anything to do with the new one. BUT...you need to be trained to do the new job, or have a natural ability in the field. This kid needs training, and it is obvious he did not get any. So his first day as a cop they make him a homicide detective? Yeah, this is a far cry from real life, it's a plot device for situational humor I guess.

Also, the 1970s called and wants their hairstyle back. Cevdet just looks weird.

Did you notice when that prostitute told them about the girl locked up in that house, when they asked her why if Talat was beating her up, why didn't she call the cops, she told them he's her brother, it's a family matter, the cops couldn't do anything about it? That is that crazy Muslim culture. Family honor and all that crap. If a family member "dishonors" the family, they can beat them, or even kill them.

OK, starting episode 6 now. OK, finished now. It wasn't an honor killing, it was a jealousy killing. The older lady couldn't support her kid on the lessened salary she got and was jealous of the new star. The bouncer was in love with her and willing to take the fall for her. But he didn't know the details, so he couldn't fool Behzat and he had to tell the truth.

What part about it didn't sit right with you?

I am beginning to think that I dozed off in one episode and woke up in another! When they went to the Gonul (you need to turn GONUL! lol) crime scene - the girl is lying on the bed - Vulture takes one look at her and says she has marks on her arms and legs - she fought back - she has marks on her neck - she was strangled - the master has spoken - he can also tell that someone was raped after death (in a different episode) so he's pretty damn good and never wrong. Right? But in the end when we learn that the girl was killed by the older singer she replaced she says she smothered her to death with a pillow and she didn't even fight back because she was drunk. Am I having hallucinations - am I getting episodes mixed up? Gonul has left town - I am wondering if the girl was not really dead when the older singer left and that Gonul finished her off. I am also wondering why a $1300 fine would be so devastating for a guy in full time work and why he should be supporting both his parents anyway - what if he wants to get married and have a family of his own - didn't his father save anything? They all seem to live very simply to say the least. I don't know how his father held that job anyway if he has poor eyesight and he's crazy as a coot. I wouldn't let him drive me to the corner bazaar. Do you suppose that Cevdet is really Philip Jennings in one of his impenetrable disguises or perhaps Pastor Tim's lesser known brother who failed the missionary position! lol

Pastor Tim's brother, for sure. lol, You nailed it. I noticed that they said she had strangulation marks on her neck and the other marks, but the old singer used a pillow and the girl was drunk and could'nt fight back much. The scene they showed had her flailing her arms around a bit, but nothing to put marks on them. And a pillow doesn't leave marks on the neck. So not sure what is going on there. I doubt the older singer was involved only because Behzat insisted all along she was innocent, and to have her involved now would make him look stupid. And she didn't seem the jealous type so I didn't see her motive. But the evidence and the story didn't match up, that's for sure. I am only starting ep 7 now. I was really tired last night. Still tired today. I guess I need some vitamins or something. Or I just need to catch up on sleep.

Thank goodness for that - I thought I was going cuckoo !! If you are tired all the time you should really see a doctor - you may have some condition they can treat easily. If you don't sleep well that can make you fatigued through the day. I rarely get through a night without waking up at some point - so I know how tired I am the next day. I am not far ahead of you - halfway through ep 8. Bahaar is beginning to see a different side of Behzat through those faulty doors they have in Turkey which never close properly. There are actors in this which have been in other stuff we have seen - male and female. It's fun to recognise them. I am thinking that the writers couldn't have been that stupid to change a strangulation to a smothering - strangulation suggests a man did it - they may have intended that the brother was responsible again - yet another honour killing - maybe somebody has said enough with the honour killings - it makes us look bad - so they changed it - they could have done a better job - don't they realise that intelligent observant folk like us watch this ? !!

update - the writers on this show have never heard of continuity. I have just watched ep 8 and a woman arrives at a house in a taxi and departs in a small blue car - it is even crazier when you know what happened but I wont spoil it for you. More violence against women - I don't think I have seen an episode yet which didn't contain some violence or reference to violence against women. I am sorry I forgot that it isn't that easy for you to consult a doctor in the USA. Over here we can phone for an appointment at 8am and be seen the same morning - it doesn't cost anything - and prescriptions in Wales are free. They charge for them in England but it isn't that much. Turkey seems to be a very violent country - there are things I don't understand - apparently they are going to demolish homes that people live in - it doesn't say that they will rehouse them - how can you put entire families on the street? Surely not - but I am a Western woman - this is inconceivable to me. Years ago a house I was renting was subject to a Compulsory Purchase Order but they had to rehouse me - I didn't need to throw rocks at the police !! It makes me grateful to live in a free country even though I moan about it a lot.

Don't worry about me. I don't sleep well sometimes because I have those back issues. I have breakthrough pain medicine I can take and sleep well, but sometimes I am not really awake but just not sleeping soundly, and I don't feel like getting up to take it. If this happens for some time I can get worn down. Also, I cook for myself and tend to eat many of the same things a lot. If I remember to take vitamins I feel good. I hate the way they taste and feel on an empty stomach however. So I am not regular with them. I must force myself to take them, and take some breakthrough meds at night. I will be fine. Also, it's not as bad as you apparently have heard about us here. I don't have any trouble getting seen quickly if it is something urgent. If I just need a checkup I must make an appointment of course. The people with urgent needs get seen right away, but other stuff you must make an appointment. ....I was joking with someone once and told her "That damned CO2 sensor keeps going off, and it's impossible to sleep through that noise. I finally had to disable that thing just to get some rest." Oh boy, she got this concerned look on her face and started warning me I could die and all that. She didn't think it was funny though. ...Anyway, I didn't mean to worry you, and I appreciate your concern for me. I do see the doctor every couple of months for regular checkups due to my taking strong pain meds. If something else comes up in the meantime, I can always get seen for urgent stuff. But I know what my problem is right now. I have not been doing what I know I should have been doing. And I will fix that.

I lived in Bromley Kent for about 9 months in 1979 through 1980 working for a nonprofit. I had a boil on my leg at one point and went to the doctor there and had it lanced. Awful thing to talk about, sorry about that, but it was free for me. I didn't need to use my insurance at all. Nice that you don't have to pay for prescriptions. I have to pay a co-pay. When Obama made a big fuss and pushed through his "Obamacare" bill, which was supposed to lower costs and give insurance to everyone, working or not, so they didn't have to go to the hospital and make the hospitals eat the cost of treating them, it was a huge scam. He made deals with drug companies and insurance companies. As a pharmacist I could see the actual cost of the medicines we bought for the store. Suddenly our cost on cheap drugs which had been around forever, generic drugs, went up in price as much as 10 times what we had been paying for them. The dirty secret about Obamacare was that it passed the price of it on to the people. Lower costs? To whom? Some people saw their insurance premiums quadruple. Insulin prices for diabetics went up quite significantly. We are still trying to fix that mess he made. (I am not joking when I tell you that $ Trillions of dollars annually go missing. I recall that $2.3 trillion was reported unaccounted for on the news in military money the day before 9/11 when the accounting section of the Pentagon was destroyed. And it continued during the Obama years. One reason they hate Trump is that he has stopped much of that theft. )

I have not seen that part about the evictions of those people, but that doesn't sound right to me either. People have rights, at least in free countries, and you cannot just kick them out like that. I've heard of people in New York City who refused to comply with eviction notices, and the police were not allowed to forcibly evict them. It became a long drawn out legal issue. The owner has rights, but so do the renters. I don't recall hearing how it was resolved, but I am sure those people didn't wind up living on the street. Arrangements would have to be made to address finding suitable accommodations for them elsewhere before they could be induced to move.

I am making coffee and will resume watching soon.