#sck fandom

[lizacstuff]

Can I just thank you for being such a voice of reason? I feel so bad for people making themselves miserable over a fictional TV drama, so I really appreciate your maturity, especially because you are such a large voice within the SCK Tumblr fandom 🤗

Oh that's so nice! Thank you for the kind sentiment, I'm glad some of what I've written has helped.

When a show goes this big in trying to reinvent itself it's always very jarring for fandom. We're emotionally invested and it's hard to step back and see why they're doing what they're doing and to see that the outcome might not be so bad.

What helps me with this story is that while there is a heartbreaking time jump, we're not going to have to put up with much if any separation on screen. That's the hardest thing for me as a viewer. You would not have wanted to be around me during season 6 of The West Wing (I'm an old fan girl, perspective helps) when Josh and Donna went their separate ways and only had scenes like every third episode. I was a little angry and ranty and key-smashy during that angsty drought, (just ask @counttotwenty) but I learned that is not a fun way to be in fandom. So for me, when I come across a story that is a gut punch, it's always take a deep breath time, and decide if I want to continue or not. If I do want to keep watching, I need to accept what's happening, put it in perspective (it's a TV show, they're fictional) and find a way to enjoy it or, at least, get through it without spreading negative energy to other people.

And the thing is I KNOW there are a lot of awesome shipper things headed towards us. While I may not love the set up, I'm jazzed for what season 2 is actually going to bring. One thing I feel very certain of is that Ayse and the producers know that this show only works when Kerem and Hande are on screen together. So I expect, even from the get go when they've been apart for years, were going to get plenty of them sharing scenes. We're not going to sit through numerous episode of them separated, we're going to bypass those years of pain and potentially only visit that in flashbacks. For me, that helps.

It also helps to know that the only reason they're doing this is to keep the show going so they can keep Hande and Kerem, and their chemistry, together on screen. And to maximize that they must think rebooting it, and trying to recapture the magic of the first 12 when the characters were falling in love, is the key. But rest assured that is why this is happening, no other reason. You read all sorts of nonsense kneejerk irrational negativity on other social media platforms, but I'm here to assure you that this plot has not been designed to "purposely ruin the show" or because "Ayse hates Serkan" or because "they're punishing fans" or "punishing Hanker for confirming." Good grief. Take my advice and mute anyone who says anything nonsense like that, they're either not in their right minds or not mature enough to be in fandom.

So hopefully it helps to know that this show only continues to exist because of the gold they struck with that pairing and because no one wants to let it go. These big story reboots-- that can feel upsetting and traumatizing-- are the price we fans pay for getting to keep them on screen together.

So my advice is to not take the plot too seriously, it's a Turkish Soap Opera for goodness sake, instead hold your nose when it comes to the set up and then enjoy what we are going to get which is a whole lot of meaty material for Hande and Kerem to bite into. They are going to SLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY this season. And we are going to get to watch Eda and Serkan fall for one another one more time.

[lizacstuff]

Do you think the writers would actually change scenes on the fly because of fan theories/reactions? Because while yes, I do think that fans have better ideas than the writers have shown on screen lately, I don't think its a good thing to find out that the writers are pivoting last minute because they're afraid of fan backlash. That sounds extremely messy and we already had rumors of changes during episode 30 and that one did feel particularly "off"

CAUTION SUPPOSED “SPOILERS” AHEAD

Would they change scripts on a dime to please fans? No, I do not think they would change due to fan backlash/requests. I’ve been following along today with some spoilers coming out. One source saying (the gal on IG) that the ending of 31 has been changed due to fan backlash and it will no longer be Selin announcing a fake pregnancy. Then apparently another spoiler source came out (Yasin I think contradicting everything he said on Wednesday) and said that was never the plan and that any changes to the end are small. One said Selin would be gone in 32, the other in 33/24.  (Note: Yasin said 32 on Wednesday, and is now saying 33/34). 

This partly sounds to me more like these spoiler types getting and giving incorrect info and then covering by saying the writers are changing their minds. 

Apparently there are new writers on this episode, and it’s entirely likely they changed some things, but I don’t think they’re catering to fan whims a day before the episode is shooting. However, this Selin storyline is so off-putting I would expect someone in power to recognize that so I wouldn’t put it past for changes to be made because they just went too far with it. Also with the tight timelines on these Turkish show, they definitely could be more responsive and make more last minute changes than what we see in Hollywood, but I don’t know. Also those pressures might not be coming from fans, but from the network. 

You’re right about 30 being disjointed, and I wrote a ton at the time about how in 24 they were clearly rewriting and reworking the episode on the fly because tons of things didn’t make sense and didn’t flow. I have a whole post on it if you’re interested. 

As to what’s happening with these current spoilers that sometime seem to be right and others quite wrong?  Remember when spoiler sources said that at the end of 30 Serkan would remember and come up and kiss Eda in front of everyone? Then spoiler sources backed off on that, and then the episode aired and it turned out to be true, except that it was Eda’s daydream?

Here’s what I think is happening with a couple of these spoilers sources based on years of being in fandom. They’re not getting scripts, they’re paying crew to get their hands on call sheets. In my experience with North American productions, call sheets often tell the location, which actors will be in the scene and then a list of scenes with descriptive names. You can tell a lot, but not the whole picture and things can be misleading when trying to piece together what’s happening. It might not be clear where in an episode scenes fall especially when there might be a heavily used location (like ArtLife for example.) 

For instance, for a scene that is a dream, that might not be indicated on the call sheet so the context is missing for those who only have a call sheet and they totally eFF up and sell that spoiler to everyone like it’s the end of the episode. I’m 95% sure that’s what happened that time. The description might be something like, “Serkan remembers and kisses Eda.”  Except not for real, context missing. And the crew person doesn’t necessarily know that when they give out the call sheet because they don’t have a script just a call sheet, but then the next day they see the episode film, after the spoiler people have gone big on their spoilers and then tell the spoiler buyer, “wait, it’s not quite like that” and that’s when these spoilers sources back off and claim things are changed etc. 

This was a huge source of spoilers back in the OUAT days. The Vancouver paps paid crew to get a hold of call sheets so they knew when they could catch the actors and then they would sometimes leak info to the legion of fans who hung out on set. 

So, yes, I think this Yasin person, TVSinema, and the “Arab girl” on IG are doing something similar. Apparently the gal said she was buying scripts, I think it’s call sheets. Do I know that for sure, no, but it’s my best guess. They might also be fed tidbits from the same crew that are selling them the call sheets, which is why they sometimes give out either obvious or innocuous tidbits on Hande and Kerem.  I also wouldn’t put it past the producers to try and smoke out who is selling info and giving some crew false info on call sheets. You never know. 

As for today and the whiplash spoilers and the claims of big rewrites... I think that is these spoiler sources hedging their bets and trying to cover for the false ones they’ve given out. We shall see, but some of them contradict themselves so much they can say 3 things and if one turns out true they can claim victory after! 

[lizacstuff]

Hi Liza, I keep seeing references to drama in SCK fandom around Aydan and Ayder actresses. Can you explain what’s going on? In Oncer days I always came to your blog when things like this happened, hope you can explain (love your blog always)

I think you’re talking about the posts that Neslihan (Aydan) and Evrim (Ayfer) made earlier today? You can read translations of them here.  I’ll go through what I know, but bottom-line I don’t think those two actors have ever dealt with this kind of large and passionate fandom and it shows. 

Also, if you don’t want to wade into the drama, don’t read. 

Neslihan has also made a couple of subsequent posts, one totally cringey one about how fans should get a life and follow the example of her teenage son who watches documentaries instead of thinking about Hande and Kerem, and then a video post saying she had been joking. (facepalm)  A series of bad decisions on her part. She has made several cryptic posts over the last couple of weeks about the direction of the show starting at ep 29, including one she had to delete because it implied there would be all new writers. Those cryptic posts have incited a LOT of drama and hand-wringing and freaking out, especially, I think among young fans who don’t know how to channel their emotions.  Her post about her son was basically telling those fans, the ones who reacted to her in dramatic ways, saying they couldn’t sleep etc to get a life. But many people in fandom took offense. She later said in the video she’d been kidding and was talking about the fans who DM her (close your DMs, lady!) worrying over the fate of Edser and who let it affect their lives.  

A lot of bad decision on her part. She might want to just lay low and stop giving teases, and mostly stop allowing fans to DM her. (Especially since her antagonism has now lead fandom to dig up old IG likes of hers where she liked posts that belittled and bullied Hande. She may have just bite of more than she can chew, since Hande tried to sue the guy who made the posts that Neslihan liked... and all of that is very personal to Hande because it was happening while her mother was dying of cancer. YIKES, I’m sure Neslihan would prefer those stay buried). 

The Evrim post I think is aimed at fans who have been hard on the gal who runs the mfyapim production company twitter account, Sefkat. (Who also apparently liked some of those anti-Hande posts two years ago) she ran afoul of some on twitter after the way she handled the fan outcry after 26 when they included footage in the fragman (sex scene) that was not in the ep or released as an internet extra.  I think some fans thought she was flippant and throwing shade. Then yesterday, I think fans got aggressive with her over how late the fragman was released.  I’m guessing Sefkat went crying to the actors and then Evrim made this very ill-advised post. 

Were fans too aggressive? Yes. Were fans obnoxious? Yes. Did they make me cringe? Yes.  Did it warrant an actor on the show wading into fandom. NOOOOOOO.  

Since you referenced OUAT drama, you and I have lived through the worst of fandom, and here is not near the level of toxicity and bad behavior we saw there. Not even in the same universe. Mostly because  for SCK there is no shipwar. This show is about one couple and there is no reason to watch this show if you’re not a fan of the couple, so therefore no shipping madness cloaked in social justice outrage. The drama in a fandom without a shipwar vs one with a shipwar is like an angry kitty vs vicious rabid alien monster.  So SCK fandom is like an angry kitten in comparison. 

Also, we all know that you can’t control or discipline fandom, so they need to rise above and ignore. The admin could just post and leave and stop engaging with fans. Easy peasy.  Aydan can close her DMs and shut up. Easy peasy. 

Getting pissy with fandom is an especially interesting tack for the cast of this show, since there are really only two reasons it’s a huge success.  Hande and Kerem’s chemistry and how hot they are right now, and the giant online fandom which has propelled international sales and put the show first in every social measurement category for the year 2020.  

That’s it. International buyers are interested because of the popularity on social. Full stop. And Fox doesn’t keep buying it because of Ayfer’s catering business storyline (If Evrim is working too hard, I’d be more than fine if the writers cut Ayfer’s storyline way down so she can rest) and the ratings are borderline so what puts it over are those two things. So scolding fandom over something as inconsequential as fans complaining about a fragman on twitter is a little like biting the hand that feeds you. Which I grant you is a two-way street and fans often snap at and bite the ones feeding us, but they’re the professionals and a passionate fanbase is something all shows covet. They have it, they should probably appreciate it, instead of lashing out at it. 

Also, not for nothing, there are several cast members who try and capitalize on the social power and immense popularity of the show and our two leads, and Neslihan and Evrim are in those numbers. Neslihan’s constant teasing about Edser is obvious and Evrim was the first person to post the engagement photo, WITHOUT CONTEXT, which launched Hande and Kerem into an entire gossip news cycle. She’s also the one who, yesterday, posted the photo of Kerem arrived to set early, laying on the floor, taking photos, which set off a avalanche of speculation and rumor. Soooo... maybe sit down with your scolds and complaints about fandom when you’re blatantly trying to up your own social profile. 

It goes without saying that I think the fans who are acting badly should tone it down, relax and stop freaking out about every little thing. I’ve mentioned many times my dislike for their temper tantrums. Me taking the actors to task does not absolve their bad behavior. I wish they’d all cut it out.   

[lizacstuff]

Liza! OMG! Those photos, that video. How are they so perfect? I can’t. I knew they did a shoot for the magazine cover, but I didn’t know it would be like this.

Honestly, I didn’t know it would be like this either! We do not get costar photo shoots like this around these parts. Good grief, for 5 years all  we wanted from Jen and Colin was a photoshoot, even a promo photo in character, and we died when Ausiello took one portrait at SDCC. This is insane, and the majority of photos haven’t even been released yet. 

Seriously, the twitter peeps have been so excited for this and I didn’t think it would be all that big of a deal. I admit I was wrong. Thanks Hande and Kerem for going for it! They certainly didn’t hold back. 

[lizacstuff]

Have you heard any news about the future of the show? A couple days ago I read that the show could be ending in the next few episodes but then I saw a post today saying that SCK could potentially last another season. As Oprah would ask, "What is the truth???" I've also been following spoilers but I think they have very incorrect lately so

As far as I know there is no concrete information, and  many “last episode” predictions have come and gone. Many. I’m old enough to remember when people parroted the line that this show was going to end at ep 20 right up until ep 21.

The last two days, all sorts of rumors have been put out there, all of them diametrically opposed. (I won’t list them here because I don’t want to spread nonsense.)  So most or these “rumors” are completely unfounded and come from morons either speculating or pretending they know things. Twitter users are not great about separating speculation from something actually sourced. 

Sounds to me like Fox hasn’t made any decisions, so there is no use getting tied up in that game until there is official news. We’ll know when we know. 

Spoilers have been about 50/50. Some have been spot on, some have been way off base. Take ‘em with a grain of salt. It’s fun to have something to talk about and speculate with, but you can’t take it too seriously. 

[lizacstuff]

Just here to say that I love reading your analysis after sçk episodes! I always seem to agree with you and you’re always so objective (unlike some people on twitter who create a mess after every episode without even waiting for subs) . I love reading your theories on the upcoming episodes and I love your gifsets! ❤️

Thank you! What a kind message!  Honestly, telling me you think I’m objective is one of the nicest compliments you can give me. 

I know what you mean about people making a mess. Look, I get it, anyone, can have the reaction they want to have, but as a mature adult you have to be cognizant of the energy you put into the universe. A bunch of knee-jerk negativity and tantruming drama affects other people, even if you’re just doing it on your blog or your twitter or your facebook page. So you gotta ask yourself do you want to make people feel good or bad about something as trivial as a TV show?  Also there’s a way to criticize and express disappointment without putting a ton of negative, angry emotion into it. It’s a balance.

Anyway, enough of that, I appreciate your comment and swing by anytime! Oh! And let’s have a dance party to celebrate you stopping by!

[lizacstuff]

Somehow I’ve already made it through 28 episodes (hides in shame). I have been in major binge mode. Just so good! But now I don’t know if I want to watch the memory loss episodes until I know things are starting to get better. They sound like they might be kind of infuriating to watch and then have to wait a week for a new one. Plus I don’t really want to see the human praying mantis again (once you said that I couldn’t unsee it).

It’s been a fun ride this far. And fun to pick up some Turkish! Thanks for introducing me!

Yay! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it! 

I can understand your hesitation and wanting to wait until we have a few more episodes under our belt with this current storyline. (it would undoubtedly be easier to watch as a binge) For me, the thing that makes it worth it to watch week to week is fandom. The show has such a huge following on IG and Twitter and the cast is super active, so it’s fun to follow along all week. 

The cast/crew are always posting from set, so we get little spoilers, (for instance today the cast has been filming themselves having snowball fights while on location) then there’s always a second trailer that drops usually around Tuesday and then more promo stuff on Thursday/Friday.  Then fandom sits around with baited breath on Saturdays waiting to see if Hande and Kerem go live on Instagram. (If you haven’t watched their old ones, go to youtube and google Hanker live English subtitles and enjoy!) 

So there’s upside both ways!