Ahmet may be my favorite character. A man works nonstop as a hotel manager for thirty years, tries to take one (1) vacation, and immediately sets off a chain of events that undoes his own birth and threatens to unravel the universe at its seams.

Midnight at the Pera Palace 1.01 (2022- )

Selahattin Paşalı as Halit Vatansever Midnight at the Pera Palace 1.04

the GRAYY!!?!?!!

Can we talk about the significance of the last name scene in season 2?

Esra has never known anything about her real last name or where she comes from. She makes it very clear that she has been alone her whole life, and we see this come up when she tells Halit she doesn't really know how relationships work and we see her be very hesitant with him as a result.

Then, in season 2, Halit gives her paperwork with his own last name in place of hers, and even though it is incredibly sweet, Esra noticeably becomes awkward and when you think of it from her perspective, that kind of reaction makes sense.

1. She's been on her own her whole life

2. Even though she truly does love Halit, she's still trying to figure out how to function as part of a couple

3. Again, she 100% loves Halit, but for her, they've only known each other for months, whereas for him, it's been years. So, they're at different stages in the relationship

So, in this scene, when Halit gives her his own last name, she's probably feeling a mess of emotions. I mean, I'm certain she recognizes the love behind the gesture as well as the advantages of going in with the surname of someone so widely known.

However, on a more personal level, she's probably terrified. I mean, she has lacked a sense of identity and probably stability/permance her entire life, and all of a sudden, Halit is offering all of that to her without any hesitation, and she's probably wondering things like,

1. Am I worth it?

2. What if we're separated again?

3. What if he changes his mind and I'm alone again?

Heavy on number 3, considering she was repeatedly returned to the orphanage for being too naughty/difficult.

So, while all of her is absolutely in love, there's probably still parts of her that are terrified and uncertain, and I think this scene does a really great job of showing that because as soon as she gets awkward and starts to pull away, Halit immediately pulls her back and begins kissing her.

As said before, for Halit, it's been years, and we don't know a lot about his family life, but we do know he had one. Meaning he more than likely has a sense of what love and permance look/feel like, and he knows that Esra are those very things for him. So, when he sees Esra begin to pull away, he doesn't let her. He pulls her back and reminds her that he's there and that he's not going anywhere.

Midnight at the pera palace, 2.05.

Halit (Selahattin Paşalı)’s wardrobe changes in Midnight at the Pera Palace, (2022)

Halit: infinte verisons of me losing infinite versions of you

Esra: infinite versions of me gaining infinite versions of you

Halit, the moment Esra told him she stole the car:

Midnight at the Pera Palace / Pera Palas’ta Gece Yarısı Season 1 Episode 8 ‘Hairspring’