‘I Am Mother’: Ordinary Days, Extraordinary Stories

When I first saw the trailers for I Am Mother which begins with the story of a missing child, I’ll admit I thought, “Here comes another show that will drown us in sorrow and misery.” I even thought to myself, “What a shame; such a great cast, and we probably won’t be able to watch it.” But after finishing the first episode, I realized I was completely wrong, and I happily admitted my mistake. I love being wrong in such a good way.

The series begins with Karsu and Reha’s son, Kuzey, going missing while on the way to İstanbul with his grandmother, Filiz. By the end of the first episode, Kuzey has been found but is now known as Deniz. What we see at the end of the first episode actually represents three years in the story, and that’s exactly where everything truly begins.

Karsu, portrayed by Özge Özpirinçci with a naturalness we’ve sorely missed in TV series is married to Reha, played by Necip Memili with a remarkable intensity that’s almost terrifying. By the fifth minute of the show, amid all the drama, we’re already wondering, “Why on earth did this woman marry such a man?” Filiz, the grandmother played by Demet Akbağ, not only amplifies the drama of the show but also brilliantly lifts the curtain on it, mischievously raising the humor in every scene she enters.

The story of I Am Mother begins when, after finding her son, Karsu discovers her husband has been cheating on her for years with her best friend. She immediately leaves everything behind and heads to İstanbul, moving in with her estranged mother. Actually, she doesn’t go straight there; her aunt brings her there, and her mother tells her it’s time to put the past behind them and the story unfolds from there.

One thing I really appreciate about this series is how quickly things progress, it doesn’t drag things out unnecessarily. For example, we don’t have to wait five episodes with sad music in the background for Karsu to learn she’s been cheated on. My main hope for the rest of the series is that it keeps up this momentum.

I Am Mother is a series filled with both heartbreaking and significant events, yet it somehow gives a sense of calm, making it feel like we’re simply watching an ordinary day. I know it sounds contradictory, but once you watch I Am Mother, you’ll see what I mean.

For example, Karsu hasn’t spoken to her mother Filiz in years because she lied to her, but the next morning, they have breakfast together as if everything is normal. Later, Filiz goes for Botox, has an allergic reaction, and Karsu rushes her to the hospital in a panic. The next day, over coffee, her mother and aunt exchange glances, wondering how they’ll look after the kids if Karsu starts working.

Then Reha refuses to pay for the kids’ school fees, and all these moments blend in together, just like a slice of everyday life. It’s proof that you don’t always need grand gestures or dramatic lines to convey meaningful stories, just a storyteller who believes in what they’re telling and actors who truly understand their characters.

If you haven’t started watching I Am Mother yet, you can jump in at any point and I promise that you won’t feel left out.

This article was written by Zeynep Gönenli and was featured in Episode Magazine’s ATF 2024 issue.