Based on a Charles King novel, Netflix’s new Turkish series “Pera Palas’ta Gece Yarisi” i.e “Midnight at the Pera Palace” follows the journey of Esra, a young and enthusiastic journalist who visits a legendary hotel to write an article about it and ends up traveling back in time, falling in love, meeting the “founding father of the Republic of Turkey” Mustafa Kemal Pasha and the “Queen of Crime” Agatha Christie, getting involved in a political conspiracy and almost dying quite a few times (not necessarily in that order)
Unlike most Netflix shows, Midnight at Pera Palace consists of only 8 episodes where each episode falls under an hour in length, making it a perfect binge-watch for a free weekend. But you might be wondering that with an endless variety of exciting series on Netflix, why should you choose this one? Here are our five reasons why you should be definitely watching the latest Turkish top-trending show.
It’s partially based on true events
While most of it is fiction (because unfortunately, a method of time-traveling is yet to be discovered), some parts of ‘Midnight at the Pera Palace’ are actually based on true events, locations, and characters. The fictional narrative revolves around different years (1919, 1938, 1949) and portrays glimpses of the Original Turkish War of Independence, how Turkey was in a state of unrest after World War I, and the role of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Turkish Independence.
The Pera Palace was built in 1892 to host the passengers of Orient Express. The palace is in Beyoğlu, a district on the European side of İstanbul near Taksim Square. This luxurious hotel became a symbol of Turkish modernity and remains known to this day for its grand history. A history that is marked by frequent visits from remarkable personalities like Ernest Hemingway, Agatha Christie, and Alfred Hitchcock.
So, for those of you who never had a chance to visit this place, you get to have a free tour of the Pera Palace in all its magnificent glory. And a free history lesson on Istanbul while you are at it.
It’s a mystery, suspense, and romance all-in-one
Have you ever sat down to look for a new series but couldn’t decide what it is exactly that you want to watch? It’s always hard to choose between fantasy, romance and mystery and that’s why Midnight at the Pera Palace is the perfect watch as it is a blend of all three.
The gothic, suspenseful atmosphere of the series will do wonders to fulfill your crime-mystery vibes. The chemistry of our major ship is as intriguing as it is endearing. And of course, this series is a treat for lovers of the time-traveling genre. Plus, you get quite a load of comedic relief as well.
The plotline is mind-blowing
Like every time-traveling series, Pera Palas’ta Gece Yarisi” is intricately written and perfectly planned. Every moment contributes and connects to the future, the present, and the past flawlessly. But unlike most sci-fi series, this one is not too complex to (eventually) understand. The timelines connect almost seamlessly leaving no room for inconsistencies or plot-holes.
The cinematography is to die for
Apart from the brilliant plotlines and impeccable casting, Midnight at the Pera Palace is also marked with an abundance of pleasing visuals, the castle-like hotel adds a sense of suspense and mystic layer to our story, the present and the past are defined by stark changes. In other words, the cinematography complements the show perfectly.
The characters are endlessly intriguing
Each character in Midnight at the Pera Palace is exceedingly complex and hard to read, there is no telling who is on which side. There is no good or bad character, each one is realistically alternating between good and bad choices. The progress and development of each character must be applauded as well. However the most notable development is that of Esra, she was passionate from the beginning of the show but her journey turns her from a naïve and somewhat annoying young girl into a remarkably wise, charismatic, and empowered woman.
P.S Another reason to watch these series is that if by the end of it, you are craving for more or looking for some more answers, the good news is that there are probably going to be more seasons of “Midnight at the Pera Palace”. Although no official announcement has been made yet but with the rating, the series is achieving, It is bound to come back for another season.
