| Directors | Durul Taylan, Yagmur Taylan |
| Cast | Çağatay Ulusoy, Aslıhan Malbora, Ahsen Eroğlu, Nazan Kesal, Cihan Talay, Onur Ünsal, Aytek Şayan, Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan, Meriç Rakalar, Deniz Işın, Mehmet Çağrı Çıtanak, Cemalettin Çekmece, Erdem Şenocak |
| Episodes | 8 |
| Genre | Mystery, Thriller, Drama |
| Platform | Netflix |
– No Spoilers –
In the second season of this mystery series, Gokhan, after learning the truth about Kubra, decides to take things a step further and use his massive fan following for something a bit more daring and sinister. But, to what extent?
The second season of this electric show is a showcase of the dangers of technological advancements coupled with extreme dependence on religion, along with human’s greed to have the world under their thumb. Kubra Season 2, in spite of faltering sometimes, is an excellent portrayal of the dangers of letting technology run our lives and a thrilling exploration of what happens when you don’t question your leaders. The second season sweeps you into its tornado of situations as Gokhan achieves great heights but meets equally new lows, leaving us feeling whiplash.
Of course, in this season we know that Gokhan’s carefully orchestrated web of lies is going to come crashing down because they always do, however, the journey to that end is a complicated one full of bloodshed and tears. Just like last season, the focus is on Gokhan and his thoughts and relationships with those around him. However, Gokhan’s resolve comes out this season and muddies his faith, making him a darker character disillusioned with his hunger for power. The series shows that slowly but steadily throughout the runtime, giving us a steady stream of horrible things happening one after another thanks to his terrible and self-centred decisions.
The series explores the depths of religious fundamentalism and how following a “higher power” which, in this case, is Gokhan, is not just harmful but also deadly. There’s no mercy in Gokhan’s eyes – anyone who comes between him and his fragmented ideals is a liability that needs to be thrown away. His slow descent into a power-hungry lord and the behaviours of his followers is nothing short of being in a cult, where descenters are severely punished and there is no space for questions. It’s honestly scary and concerning and the series does a fantastic job of portraying these feelings rather genuinely.
On the other hand, we also get a fantastic look into the problems of abusing technology. Kubra could’ve been used for good in the world but instead, Berk’s twisted ideals made him into a villain. He used this phenomenal inversion for his own gains and to take advantage of those around him, shooting at his enemies while keeping the gun on Gokhan’s shoulders. Of course, things aren’t as simple and things are omnipotent as long as they operate from the shadows. This mixture of religion and technology along with the series’s focus on the human stories and how lives can be lost when power goes to someone’s head is explored really well, making for a tight and arresting season.
Also Read: Kubra Review: Thought-Provoking and Befuddling Politics of Faith and New Age Tech Unleashed
In the end, however, this series is about people’s obsessions – an obsession with being something more than our regular lives and an obsession with belonging to something that has meaning. In the midst of exploring this obsession, however, the characters lose everything of value and any semblance of a normal life. It pushes them further into the abyss of self-destruction, at the end of which both Berk and Gokhan are left with nothing but their own selves – an empty husk. In the end, the show is a moving and impactful narrative that is relatable to a dangerous and scary degree and points out our future as a civilisation considering the growth of technology and the increase in fundamentalism in general.
Çağatay Ulusoy, just like last season, is fantastic in the second season – leaving us enthralled in every scene with his portrayal of the haunted Gokhan. Ulusoy’s charm isn’t like any other in the show and the reason why he portrays a religious leader with connections to god so well. He is both haunting and haunted and you won’t be able to look away from Gokhan even for a minute. However, if anyone is able to leave an impression on audiences along with the protagonist, it’s Onur Ünsal as Berk; the man looks and feels the part of a deranged lunatic with a god complex. His slow descent into madness is so well portrayed that Ünsal makes you scared – can this happen in real life?
Kubra Season 2 Review: Final Thoughts
The second season of Kubra is a haunting portrayal of where obsession takes you and the dangers of fundamentalism. With fantastic performances across the board, the series is an arresting watch, perfect for the weekend binge.
Also Read: Basma Review: Missed Opportunity in Exploring Family and Mental Health