Cover image: IMDb
Over the past year, I’ve really gotten into Turkish Netflix series. So when I spotted the trailer for To Love, To Lose a few weeks ago, my excitement instantly sparked.
A Promising Start
Among Turkish series, my absolute favorite is Old Money – The Price of Power. It perfectly balances tension, character chemistry, and plot twists. Engin Akyürek and Asli Enver’s performances kept me hooked every minute. The unspoken tension, secrets, and love stories hit with such intensity that I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
Though the first season’s ending was a bit disappointing for me, learning about the second season made me look back on it more fondly. I’m hopeful the lead couple’s relationship will truly blossom in season two, especially with more honesty between them.
When I recently came across To Love, To Lose on Netflix, I expected a similarly thrilling, emotional, and twisty story—but it left me with mixed feelings.
Heads up: spoilers ahead in some parts of this article!
Kemal and Afife – A Chemistry That Can’t Fully Bloom
The story centers on Kemal (Ibrahim Celikkol) and Afife (Emine Meyrem). Kemal, a loan shark, meets Afife, a writer and restaurant owner, over a debt. From their first meeting, an emotional bond slowly forms, revealing they had crossed paths before—Kemal was already drawn to her. Afife is pure-hearted and kind, while Kemal, despite working in a harsh world under his family’s shadow, tries to stay human in his own way.
The chemistry between them is undeniable, but the series doesn’t give their relationship enough room to truly develop. It lacks the inner growth that would let viewers deeply feel how love shapes people.
Family Pressure and Shadows of the Past
The tension in the story is heavily shaped by Kemal’s family and past secrets. Kemal has lived with Neslihan (Yasemin Kay Allen) for years—she mysteriously joined the family as an adopted daughter. But through his relationship with Afife, Kemal discovers how powerful true feelings can be and how complicated it is to balance loyalty, duty, and the heart’s desires.
Neslihan’s character is key: her possessiveness and pain from rejection lead to a tragic turn. She attempts suicide during the series, which sadly highlights how toxic a relationship can be when fear, manipulation, or blackmail are involved.
Lack of Growth and Fulfillment
For me, the biggest disappointment in To Love, To Lose was how Kemal returns to the life his family expects and gives up on Afife by the end. Instead of love helping them grow better together, their relationship tragically "dies." The series offers many emotional moments, but it misses the growth arc that would make it truly memorable and meaningful.
A Lesson Worth Remembering
Perhaps the most important message of To Love, To Lose is that love should never be about pressure, blackmail, or fear. The series’ dramatic moments and characters strongly highlight how toxic relationships can distort the true meaning of love.
The story warns us how crucial it is to recognize and be aware when a relationship isn’t healthy, and never let fear or manipulation control our lives.
Overall, To Love, To Lose is an engaging, twisty series that offers a glimpse into the dramatic world typical of Turkish dramas. While it doesn’t reach the emotional heights I’ve seen in Old Money or some of my other favorites, it’s definitely worth talking about.
This series not only entertains but also serves as a serious reminder: love can be beautiful and passionate, but when it turns toxic, it brings pain and can even have life-threatening consequences.
