#(parallel to Hürrem's E01 dream of course)

[mc-critical]

Hatice and Ibrahim have never been more divided from each other up to that point than in E43-E44. While Hatice always sensed when Ibrahim was actually in danger or she's lost him in any way (i.e. E35 when she felt something in Edirne while Ibrahim was with Nigar), nothing came up when he was shot; he didn't even tell her what happened to him until she found out herself; they were seperated while he was recovering; the wait for Ibrahim to come back felt like an eternity to Hatice and she went through several breakdowns at once (and his carriage was right in front of her but she couldn't see him, her only thought until the very end was that he was dead, isn't that what her dream with the "crying" statues meant?); when he came back she wasn't allowed to spend at least some time alone with him as SS wanted to talk to him; even their sleep was interrupted. The only thing that Ibrahim asked Hatice to do was to play him his mother's song on the violin (I like to think that Hatice started learning the violin in order to become closer to him, to who he is, to his past again after what they went through with little Mehmet).... but he no longer associates even that with Hatice anymore.

[mc-critical]

How is Cennet to Kosem compared in regards to Nigar to Hurrem? Did Nigar truly create Hurrem and later regretted it?

We could say Cennet and Nigar had a fair amount of parallels, but contrasting arcs regarding Kösem and Hürrem. Both of them started out more opportunistic than loyal- if there were characters fully aware that everyone fights for their own position in the harem first and foremost, it was them. Both of them weren't hesitant to exercise the haremly order to disobedient concubines. Both of them had the equal respect and position to show that kind of power. But that's where the similarities end.

While Nigar saw the potential in Hürrem, gave her a chance and reprimanded her only when she was seemingly making a fool of herself or not showing enough restraint in her relations to other sultanas (mostly Mahidevran), Cennet was much harder on Anastasia from the get-go. That itself brings us to different reactions- Hürrem viewed Nigar as her advisor at first, as someone she could trust and even acknowledging the way she had helped her when their relationship had already changed while I felt Anastasia had more of a deep-seated resentment on her, didn't like her so much and went to her for help for her letters to her family more out of necessity and the desire to return to her roots overtaking her more than anything else. We also have Nigar helping Hürrem more willingly and Cennet helping Kösem more reluctantly.

I never viewed Nigar as someone unconditionally loyal to Hürrem from the beggining, she never took an open side and directed herself to where the wind was blowing. Cennet, while potentially being as opportunistic, was still very devoted to Safiye. Nigar's arc was about finally finding someone to be loyal to, who could understand her and give her everything, making her indulge in false idealistic fantasies she could never escape from. Cennet's arc was about letting go of a loyalty through finding out a truth, finding out who actually caused her the burden of her life and standing against the beliefs that had been torn apart by what she learned. Nigar drifted further away from Hürrem. Cennet became closer to Kösem.

From a person Kösem resented, Cennet became a companion so close she would be trusted with deceiving Handan. From a person Hürrem relied on a lot, Nigar became either someone Hürrem would use, either someone to beware of and keep an eye on. Nigar and Hürrem's relationship was still more turbulent, though - it was moving back and forth between Nigar seemingly betraying Hürrem, then trying to win back Hürrem's trust, then going completely against her and from one side to another for a self gain. Admittedly, Hürrem did have a soft spot for her before S03: there have been times Hürrem wanted to trust her, but was always deceived in a way and she may have thought that she gave her far too many chances and was way more comfortable putting her into her schemes. Nigar had nothing against Hürrem, per say, and wanted to earn her favour again before Hürrem told Hatice about the affair, but she was more loyal to Ibrahim and then Nigar began resenting her for a bit and kept on using her opportunism more than ever, which didn't include loyalty to Hürrem. Cennet and Kösem had more turnarounds in the beggining and she more or less had to put up with her, when Kösem went on tell her the truth about her face, Cennet not only didn't believe her, but also didn't want to come with her to talk to begin with. Then she still wanted to take time for herself and it was then she became loyal to Kösem and that was about it. Both of them counted on each other until the end.

[Nigar definetly had a hand in creating Hürrem, because she told her what she had to do to lend in a favorable position from E01 and that, along with the dream with her parents, helped her direct herself to the only sure path for her in the harem, but for me, Hürrem was the one who mostly created herself. It was her strenght, determination, ambition, pragmatism and ability to assert herself, adapt to the circumstances and both do risks in the system and perpetuate it, that made her move forward. If she wasn't willing to move past her loss and keep on, if she wasn't the one willing to make a grander life for herself, if she didn't map out the goal in her head herself... no one would be able to do that for her. And no, I don't think Nigar regretted anything regarding her helping Hürrem. We see how when SS's family learnt of the wedding, she (along with Gül Aga, of course) was the only person happy for her. The game had limits for Nigar, however, telling Hürrem in E41 that she has taken it too far. These limits were broken in S03 where we saw Nigar fighting for her life for the most part, but.. nothing more of it. Maybe there was a hint of fear from Nigar, mentioning many times how Hürrem is smart and dangerous, but that didn't connect to the part Nigar possibly played in this outcome.]