The Turkish drama series, Thank You, Next, follows Leyla as she navigates a complex web of relationships, secrets, and disappointments. Throughout the series, Leyla becomes entangled in relationships with Cem, Omer, and Sarp, leading to a journey of self-discovery and independence.
Leyla’s choices of men have been whittled down to Omer, who has seemingly resolved his cheating ways, and Cem, who has a reputation as a narcissist. Despite accepting Omer’s proposal, Leyla is still inexplicably drawn to Cem, leading to a chaotic night before the wedding. The finale sees Leyla’s wedding preparations turn sour as her grandma’s dress becomes too moldy to wear, and her dog Buddy gets run over and breaks a leg.
As Leyla navigates these bad omens, she is barraged with a storm of revelations, all leading to the show’s memorable closing scene. In the end, Leyla chooses herself over domineering and confusing men, ultimately strutting out of her grandma’s moldy wedding dress and onto the sunlit road.
A Still From Thank You, Next Turkish drama series (Via IMDB)
The series explores the dark past of Cem and Defne, revealing secrets and truths that had plagued Leyla throughout the series. Throughout the season, there are hints that Leyla had slept with Cem during her bachelorette party, but it is revealed that he had simply sat in his chair and waited the whole night. While it is a relief that she never physically cheated on Omer, there isn’t a doubt that she emotionally cheated on him.
Meanwhile, Leyla discovers that Omer has always been cheating on her, using Balim as an emotional crutch over the past two years. He had thrown a surprise birthday party for Balim and even gave her the keys to his new home, which he had yet to do with his fiancée. These insecure and weirdly possessive reasons for cheating on Leyla truly showcase Omer’s perception of women as trophies rather than humans.
Through Leyla’s journey, the series shines a light on female independence, as she finally stops relying on her others to make decisions for her. Thank You, Next is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.
