Knowing the Ottoman history quite well, I was enjoying the series, indulging in the outrageous telenovela as if gorging nonstop on doner kebab and kanafeh. I was drawn to the series because I am Ukrainian and know very well the saga of the Ruthenian lass who was kidnapped by Tatars, sold into slavery and overcame harrowing obstacles to rise to power as no woman in Turkish history had ever risen. Meryem Uzerli was particularly engaging as Suleyman's beloved with her expressive, mischievous features, the big blue eyes, the cascades of ruddy tresses, the throaty and infectious laugh. Alas, Meryem Uzerli was stricken with a bout of depression and left the series high and dry in medias res. It was most uncomfortable to witness the squirming and floundering of the plot caught in mid action. Finally, after some very improbable twists and turns, our Sultana returns, but after having been transformed into a hardened, shriveled, disgusting old harridan. Even her hair has become dull and drab and turned to stone. I am so disgusted and disappointed.