Ver Elini Ask

My rating: 9/10

Review

I really loved this drama for the heartfelt execution of arranged marriage and enemies-to-lovers tropes, which were amplified by the emotional anchor of Kaan’s baby, Su (Gülsün Sare Fil). As a fan of these dynamics, I loved how the show balanced romance, family, and drama, though Ayperi’s stubbornness and some unresolved storylines left me wanting more closure. Still, I highly recommend it to romance genre fans and would watch it again myself in the future.

Spoilers

Ayperi’s Frustrating Stubbornness

Ayperi Erdem (Sevda Erginci) is both the heart and the headache of the show. Her fierce independence and refusal to admit her growing love for Kaan—despite obvious sparks, like when she blushes during their accidental hand-touch in episode 3—can be maddening. She’s clearly smitten by the time she’s caring for Su like her own, yet her pride keeps her in denial until nearly the end. Her stubbornness, like when she storms out after Kaan’s proposal in episode 8, feels realistic but drags the tension unnecessarily. It’s a testament to the writing that you still root for her, but I wanted her to soften sooner. Her overly proper demeanor and reluctance to show emotion—especially avoiding Kaan’s attempts at a kiss—left me wondering about their chemistry. A kiss would have sealed their connection, but her evasions made their relationship feel uncertain.

Secondary Romance: Sister and Friend Steal the Show

The romance between Kaan’s sister, Lalin (Ceren Koç), and his friend, Oğuz (Gökay Müftüoğlu), is an absolute gem. Their chemistry feels effortless—those sneaky glances during the family dinner in episode 4 had me grinning. Unlike the main couple’s slow burn, their flirtation is playful and organic, like when Oğuz helps Lalin with her “perfect husband” list, only to realize he checks every box. The slapstick humor around Lalin’s list (like the cringe-worthy speed-dating montage) got a bit over-the-top, but it didn’t overshadow their adorable arc. I was thrilled they ended up together, forming a completely cute couple. However, the family never found out, leaving their relationship’s approval unfinished and adding to the show’s loose ends. I also wanted Lalin’s hinted-at surgery to happen and go well, but its absence felt like another dangling thread.

Unresolved Storylines and Character Frustrations

The show’s biggest flaw is leaving loose ends. I was disappointed that Lalin’s heart surgery, hinted at repeatedly, never occurred on-screen, mirroring my frustration with her hidden romance. Similarly, the hairdresser, Selin (Burcu Günay), obsessed with Kaan, is a chaotic highlight—her shrine of his photos was unhinged!—but her storyline fizzles out. Her quest to find Kaan’s baby’s mother showcased her selfishness and lack of depth, yet it went nowhere. I was convinced she’d pair with the goofy handlebar-mustache man, Selo (Metin Keçeci), who clearly had a crush on her. His persistent, awkward flirting (like offering her free coffee every episode) suggested a budding side romance, but it was abandoned, leaving me curious if she was thawing toward him. Ayperi’s sister, Kiraz (Büşra Çam), is another sore spot. Her schemes—blackmailing Kaan’s family and stealing from grandpa to fund her dad’s jail release—are morally murky. Mesut’s love-at-first-sight reaction to her missing poster turned to dislike when he learned the truth, though he softened when he understood her motives. I was relieved their romance fizzled, as her actions felt inexcusable—grandpa likely would have loaned her the money if she’d asked, no thievery needed. Kaan’s mother, Mine Tuğlu (Asuman Dabak), remains unlikeable, with her manipulative attempts to sabotage Ayperi (like spreading rumors). Her lack of growth is a missed opportunity. The housekeeper, Nazmiye (Nihal Menzil), ruled by traditional subservience to men, became my least favorite character, her passivity clashing with the show’s otherwise dynamic women.

Bright Spots: Kaan’s Grandpa and Transformation

Kaan’s grandfather, Emin Tuğlu (Köksal Engür), is a delight, bringing warmth and humor. His scenes with Ayperi’s stricter grandfather—especially when he convinces him to ease up during the family meeting—add balance and charm. He’s the glue holding the chaotic families together. However, I wondered if he made good on the investments he used to sabotage Kaan’s job prospects—after quitting that interference, did Kaan ever find work? I hoped the grandfather profited, given the money he spent trying to unite Kaan and Ayperi, a mission he pursued even before knowing she was the village girl that fulfilled his life debt. His belief in their compatibility, not just duty, softened the arranged marriage trope for me. Kaan Tuğlu’s (Ali İl) arc from playboy to devoted family man is beautifully done. Ayperi’s influence, especially her fierce love for Su, transforms him. By the finale, when he tears up during their vow renewal with Su in his arms, you believe he’s all-in for family life. His character development—shifting from a casanova to wanting only Ayperi—is the show’s strongest growth, though I wondered if their lack of a kiss reflected his unfulfilled longing.

The Heart of the Story: Su and Unconditional Love

The baby, Su, is the emotional core. It’s beautiful to see Kaan as a great dad, his grandfather as a loving great-grandfather, and their devotion to her despite her unconventional birth. Ayperi’s love for her little charge is adorable, beautifully showing that love transcends biology. This theme of unconditional love elevates the narrative, though I wished for more resolution on other fronts.

Final Thoughts

Despite Ayperi’s stubborn streak, the unresolved plots (Lalin’s surgery, Kiraz’s redemption, Selin and Selo’s potential romance, the grandfather’s investments, and Kaan’s job), and the housekeeper’s traditionalism, the show’s emotional core—Ayperi and Kaan’s journey to love and family—shines through. The secondary romance between Lalin and Oğuz adds a cute counterpoint, and Kaan’s growth is deeply satisfying. It’s a rewatchable gem for romantic drama fans, even if it leaves several threads untied, offering plenty of material for further storytelling.

Synopsis

This is a 2017 Turkish romantic drama with 11 episodes with an average run time of 2-hours. In English it is known as "Give Me Your Hand, Love."

Kaan (Ali Il) is a Turkish college student living his best life in the USA while going to college. His plans change when a baby is dropped off on his doorstep with a note indicating the child is his. Without telling his grandfather, who wants the young man to marry and become responsible, he returns to Turkey to get a job and raise his daughter. His grandfather thinks he is still in the USA. His grandfather looks for him when he makes an agreement with a military buddy who saved his life to have his grandson Kaan, marry the savior's granddaughter Sultan (Sebahat Kumas). The elders agree to the marriage the only problem is "Sultan" has run away to find her sister in Istanbul and Kaan isn't where he said he was. When Kaan loses his nanny, a chance encounter has "Sultan" or as her sister calls her, Ayperi, acting as nanny to Kaan's young daughter. Things get complicated when Kaan's grandfather locates his errant grandson and the Ayperi and Kaan finds themselves playing out a deception.

Characters

• Kaan Tuğlu (Ali İl): A charming but irresponsible playboy from a wealthy Gaziantep family, who becomes a devoted single father to his baby daughter Su after finding her abandoned; he resists his grandfather's traditional plans but grows through his relationship with Ayperi.

• Ayperi Erdem / Sultan Ayperi (Sevda Erginci): A strong-willed, independent young woman from a rural Antepli village background, who moves to Istanbul and becomes Su's nanny; she's proper, stubborn, and clashes with Kaan before their arranged marriage sparks true romance.

• Mehmet Emin Adanalı / Emin Ağa (Köksal Engür): Kaan's authoritarian yet warm-hearted grandfather, a wealthy traditionalist from Gaziantep who schemes to unite Kaan and Ayperi through an arranged marriage, acting as the family's emotional glue with humor and wisdom.

• Su Ellen Tuğlu (Gülsün Sare Fil): Kaan's adorable nine-month-old baby daughter, the emotional heart of the story; her arrival transforms Kaan's life and bonds the main characters through themes of unconditional love.

• Mine Tuğlu (Asuman Dabak): Kaan's manipulative and unlikeable mother, who often sabotages Ayperi out of snobbery and family pride, showing little growth throughout the series.

• Lalin (Ceren Koç): Kaan's kind-hearted sister, who develops a sweet, playful romance with his friend Oğuz; she's dealing with health issues like a hinted heart surgery, adding vulnerability to her arc.

• Kiraz (Büşra Çam): Ayperi's scheming older sister, who resorts to blackmail and theft to free her father from jail; her morally gray actions create tension, and her potential romance with Oğuz fizzles due to her questionable choices.

• Fedai (Hakan Pişkin): A loyal family associate or aide in the Tuğlu household, often involved in the comedic family dynamics and Emin Ağa's plans.

• Nazmiye (Nihal Menzil): The traditional housekeeper in the Tuğlu family, embodying subservient gender roles and clashing with the show's more modern female characters through her passivity.

• Selo (Metin Keçeci): The goofy, handlebar-mustached man with an awkward crush on the hairdresser Selin/Belma; his persistent flirting hints at a side romance that goes unresolved.

• Oğuz (Gökay Müftüoğlu): Kaan's loyal best friend, who falls for Kiraz at first sight via her missing poster but pulls back upon learning her secrets; he forms a cute couple with Lalin in a hidden secondary romance.

• Asım Dede (Toygun Ateş): Ayperi's strict grandfather from the village, representing traditional values and initially clashing with Emin Ağa before warming to the union.

• Belma / Selin / Fulya (Burcu Günay): The obsessive hairdresser fixated on Kaan, whose selfish schemes (like hunting for Su's mother) add chaos; a potential match for Selo that never fully develops.

• Mesut (Mesut Yılmaz): A supporting family member or friend, contributing to the ensemble's comedic and dramatic interactions.

• Ayten (Gamze Demirbilek): A family acquaintance or household figure, involved in the relational web around the Erdem and Tuğlu clans.

• Simten (Duygu Karaca): Ayperi's friend or village connection, adding to the rural-modern culture clashes with her lively personality.