Some experts believe that the issue lies not in the serving of pork itself, but in the context and dialogues that accompany this scene.
The ratings of the Turkish series "Under One Rain" sharply declined after a scene was shown in one of the episodes where a Muslim family was served pork at dinner. This moment sparked significant criticism on social media, as reported by Euronews.
Discussions began after the release of the second episode, in which the character Tulin, played by Mine Çayıroğlu, offers a Muslim family a dish called "fried pork with carrots."
This scene caused outrage among viewers, who described it as "provocative" and "inconsistent with reality," pointing out that it only exacerbates polarization in a country with a population of about 85 million Muslims.
Some analysts emphasize that the problem lies not in the pork itself, but in the context of the dialogues that accompanied its serving. Members of the Muslim family expressed surprise, and remarks such as "Pig?", "Rude!", "This is disrespectful," and "Even the Christian bride is more respectful than you" were perceived as attempts to provoke a reaction from viewers rather than as a way to deepen the characters' personalities.
Statistics showed that the audience for the third episode fell by 35% compared to the previous week, while the first and second episodes also did not meet expectations: the first gathered about 2.5 million viewers, and the second only 2.1 million. According to available data, after the release of the controversial episode, the series ended up in last place in three major categories.
Time slot change in hopes of regaining viewers
In light of the declining ratings, the management of ATV decided to change the airing time of the series to cope with tough competition from other programs airing at the same time.
It has now been officially announced that starting from the fourth episode, "Under One Rain" will be broadcast on Sundays, which is expected to help attract a wider audience and restore previous ratings.
The plot of the series revolves around Rosa, a human rights activist who participates in a demonstration in support of Gaza in London, leading to drastic changes in her life.
After a serious illness, Rosa returns to Istanbul, where she meets Ali, a young man she encountered at the demonstration. Their love quickly develops, but soon becomes a source of deep crisis, forcing both to make important decisions.
The series, which features well-known actors such as Hülya Avşar, Deniz Uğur, Levent Ülgen, and Fikret Kuşkan, is currently going through a difficult period, which has undoubtedly affected its ratings and overall success.
