MC Episode Comparisons: 63 and 103
The season finales.
So, here we have Magnificent Century's season 2 finale and season 3 finale both written by Yılmaz Şahin.
Episode 63 is mostly about Hürrem's schemes and her becoming the ruler of the harem while episode 103 is death, death and more death and later that even becomes a pattern to be followed by both season 4 and the series finale which had the most significant and inevitable death.
To be honest, out of these two season finales (or actually all the season finales), episode 63 was the only one that actually looked like a season finale- dynamic pacing, all loose ends being tied and a monologue culminating a character arc. Good stuff. Episode 103, while that also looked like a season finale, it was not as much and it wasn't all that apparent- especially after death had been becoming a literal main theme of the show after episode 82. (yes, we had quite a good amount of deaths before but it felt just like a recurring thing, a consequence and a reflection to the period that just helped the stance of the characters and empowered the main theme of characters and relationships while death post-episode 82 literally became a main theme along with the characters or should I say people's actions and their interpersonal relationships) Also let's not mention that cringe scene with SS and the new Hürrem (Vahide)- out of all of Vahide's performances in the show, I think this one was definitely the worst. And comparing this cringe scene with the monologue in episode 63, it just... pales.
As I said, episode 63 has a dynamic pacing, way more dynamic than usual. It all just flows so awesomely and the tension just keeps increasing. Will Hürrem become a ruler of the harem this episode? Will Hatice learn about Ibrahim and Nigar this episode? While episode 103 literally begins with a funeral. Its pacing is way slower in order for us to think and reflect. It just gets more dynamic for the last 30-40 minutes because things have to happen.
And there's also something else... episode 63 has a way better... before-episode planning, if you understand me. Episode 63 literally ties up loose ends that have long been established (even with this Iskender-Celebi twist which was just like the Rose Quartz=Pink Diamond twist from SU but far less built on, far less established and far less rewarding but wait... the PD twist was actually good.) (A side note: I don't think Iskender Celebi's twist was bad- it was just. bland.) unlike in episode 103 where we have Hatice abduct Hürrem because of lazy writing and they totally couldn't have found a better way to replace Meryem with Vahide and they totally couldn't have handled this abduction better if they wanted to keep it. Also we have Mahidevran killing Mehmet which was established just before 2 episodes, Bali Bey being written off just like that and Mihrimah getting Şah Sultan out of the palace just out of nowhere. These aren't necessarily bad things but I felt like they were worth pointing out.
In terms of thematic elements however, episode 103 is doing a way better job in comparison. It shows the main theme of the show about character relationships and the actions and the consequences to them as well as a bit of narrative neutrality with Mahidevran's "victory" of killing Mehmet and the show condemning it while episode 63 literally has the main character get the power on a freaking platter because of scheming. Episode 103 also has lots of detail, symbolism and metaphors and you know that I love it and I'm all about that stuff. Things were presented very subtly, in a way only people actually looking at the depth of things and not only for the speed in which the overarching plot moves forward, could understand.
(Also, let me just say that I really disapprove of Mahidevran's glare after she learns that Mehmet's dead- the way she killed him was disgusting. Thank goodness the show condemned her for it and she actually felt guilt.)
Episode 63 is about the action while episode 103 is about the characters and their actions. But really now, that's every season 1 or 2 (especially) episode compared with a season 3 or 4 episode.
Episode 63 also handles the multiple plot-lines way better than episode 103 could ever dream to. I mean, they were there in episode 103 but instead of structured sceneries and a neat balance, it was just a filthy mess that wasn't tied up together. The transitions from one plot-line to another weren't as flowing as the ones from episode 63 and basically the remaining entirety of the first two seasons. But this could be done on purpose- highlighting the atmospheric and tonal evolution y' know?
The direction in both the episodes is magnificent (except for that cringy last scene in 103). It presents the atmospheric and tonal change of the show as well as usual.
The character portrayal? Well, I think that in Mahidevran's "harem ruling period" from episode 59-this 63, the characters were just being inconsistent and harsh just for the sake of it and having their negative traits being over exaggerated for the sake of the plot but I'm glad to say that in episode 63 it wasn't as apparent and they did really good especially that last scene. I will say that episode 103 did better in terms of character portrayal but that's mostly due to the fact that it utilized the thematic elements of the show more than episode 63.
And there we go.