Season 1 Plot
The series starts during the 20th year of the sultan's reign. They are planning a big project, the Hejaz Railway. However, the Sultan's brother-in-law, Mahmut Paşa, the Brits, and Theodore Herzl are trying to sabotage this project. In the harem, on the other hand, a strong rivalry between Bidar Sultan and Seniha Sultan extends to their family. Also, the sultan's brother Murad's daughters come to the palace. His eldest daughter, Hatice Sultan, falls in love with Kemalettin Paşa and plans to marry him while on the other hand Naime Sultan, the Sultan's daughter, also is in love with Kemalettin and tries to win his heart, eventually getting ill. Hatice Sultan with her love for Naime pretends that Kemalettin loves Naime by giving a Naime a letter which Kemalettin had written to Hatice. Mahmut Paşa, Seniha Sultan's husband, piles slander upon slander on Mehmet Paşa, Bidar Sultan's brother, eventually getting him exiled.
Payitaht: Abdülhamid Season 1 aired on February 24th, 2017.
Season 1 Episodes
1. Episode 1
As Sultan Abdülhamid tries to finalise the plans for the Hejaz railway, forces both at home and abroad actively work towards the downfall of the Ottoman Caliphate.
2. Episode 2
Enemies close in on Abdülhamid and make their move during a parade. The sultan becomes aware that there is a traitor in their midst and makes his own move.
3. Episode 3
As Mehmet Paşa seeks refuge at the German embassy, Abdülhamid tries his best to bring him to justice. In Vienna, the first unofficial Zionist congress takes place and Theodore Herzl rallies support for his cause.
4. Episode 4
The enemy strikes in Yildiz Palace and puts everyone on alert. While the crisis is ongoing, Theodore Herzl makes his move too.
5. Episode 5
As Abdülhamid interrogates the perceived traitor, the youth become restless in the streets of the capital over the shooting of a journalist. Bidar Sultan retakes her place at the head of the harem after ousting Seniha Sultan. Theodore Herzl sets his plan in motion to disrupt the market.
6. Episode 6
The plan to disrupt the market was thwarted at the last minute as Lady Fatma Pesend makes it safely to the capital. Bidar Sultan reveals Makbule to be still alive and in Palestine a plan to sacrifice Jews for the creation of a state of Israel is put in motion.
7. Episode 7
Kemalettin Paşa and Celalettin save the Jews in Palestine from Theodore Herzl's plans as they report back to the capital. As Sara is in Abdülhamid's custody, enemies scramble to take her back from the palace. Ömer is racing against the clock as his own family is now in jeopardy.
8. Episode 8
Valide Sultan makes her appearance as Bidar Sultan and Seniha Sultan try to gain control over Makbule. Sara realises her release is not going to save her as she suffers from the poison. Abdülkadir Şehzade meddles in the games that are being played at the palace and gets himself in a awkward position. The British receive another blow as their captured spy is released by Sultan Abdülhamid.
9. Episode 9
Abdülkadir Şehzade's plan to give Ahsen the flower is not as it seems and Samir realises he's been manipulated all along by Sara. Abdülhamid learns that Armenians are planning to attack the capital as he tries to track the weapons. Kemalettin Paşa is caught in a love triangle with Naime and Hatice.
10. Episode 10
As predicted by Abdülhamid, Sara is once again in his custody and her life is in grave danger if she doesn't speak. Zaharoff enters the game as he plans to plant a cross on the Hagia Sophia and wage war on Islam. Kemalettin's love for Hatice puts his father, Gazi Osman Paşa, in a position of suspicion.
11. Episode 11
Gazi Osman Paşa's betrayal continues as he becomes part of the plan to attack the capital. The pieces for the attack are in place, now it is only a matter of time...
12. Episode 12
Ömer is tasked by the Sultan to retrieve the book containing the names of Indian muslims who contributed to the railway. In the palace, Seniha Sultan and Bidar Sultan team up to save the hostages in the Ottoman Bank.
13. Episode 13
Sultan Abdülhamid reveals his trump card as he strikes at the British. In an attempt to get rid of Mahmut Paşa, Basil Zaharoff spreads news that gets Mahmut Paşa in deep trouble. Abdülkadir Şehzade and Burhanettin Şehzade make a move to calm the Armenians.
14. Episode 14
The aftermath of the raid on the Ottoman Bank seems a success for Theodore Herzl, as he tries to escape the capital. In the palace, Lady Fatma Pesend unwillingly becomes part of the game as Seniha Sultan puts the plan in motion to ascend her brother Murad Sultan.
15. Episode 15
Sultan Abdülhamid clears the air with his brother Sultan Murad over him ascending the throne. With Sabahattin caught in the plan of Mahmut Paşa, who will they sacrifice to free Sabahattin? The railway issue is once again being discussed but the threat of war is looming...
16. Episode 16
With Theodore Herzl's plan to buy Palestine land thwarted, he turns to his friend Emmanuel Carasso for help. With Sara once again in the palace, Parvus is eager to get her out. The Surre Regiment is departing to Mecca for the yearly pilgrimage, but Sultan Abdülhamid has other plans for it's leader...
17. Episode 17
With the kidnapping of Mahmut Paşa as head of the Surre Regiment, Sultan Abdülhamid seems to have found his traitor, now all he needs is proof... Ömer is trying to steer his friend Yusuf away from the wrong path, but Yusuf is only getting himself in deeper and deeper. An attack on an Ottoman outpost catalyses the war with Greece.