Ep 6. Ashes to Ashes

The episode titled "Ashes to Ashes" is the sixth episode of the first season of the show Rise of Empires: Ottoman. The series is a historical and docudrama production created for Netflix, portraying the rise of the Ottoman Empire, utilizing both reenactments and interviews by historians and experts in the field.

The episode "Ashes to Ashes" continues to follow the key events that led to the rise of the Ottoman Empire. The episode explores the shift in the Turkish army's power, as the Conqueror Mehmed II, known as the most powerful sultan of the Ottoman Empire, takes charge of the army. He acts to reduce the autonomy of the Janissaries, the elite army unit, and establish a centralized power structure under his rule to overcome the corrupt forces and religious leaders of his time. The episode also follows the expansion of the Ottoman Empire as the army conquers nearby territories and strengthens their reputation as a power on the rise.

In this episode, viewers will see the continuation of the siege of Constantinople, the Byzantine capital, that began in the previous episode. The Ottomans have been attacking the city with a series of unsuccessful assaults, but it is only a matter of time before the city falls to the Ottoman army. Meanwhile, the defenders of Constantinople are running short of supplies and food, as well as manpower. They also face internal strife, competing factions, and a young emperor whose inexperience and lack of leadership skills put the city in peril.

The episode also portrays the tension that exists between political and religious leaders during the siege. The Byzantine Emperor, Constantine XI, and the Patriarch of Constantinople, are competing and conflicting on the strategic decisions to be taken in the city. The patriarch fears that the emperor’s action may cause a backlash from religious leaders, undermining the people's will to continue to fight against the Ottomans.

As the Ottoman victory draws near, Mehmed II is intent on taking Constantinople for himself and capturing the city's historical and cultural symbols. He takes the construction of a cannon upon himself, one of the biggest cannon to ever exist at the time and orders for it to be built to make an impact on the walls of the city. The building and transport of the cannon prove to be a huge task as Mehmed II and his army face various obstacles. But eventually, they succeed, and the cannon proves to be a significant threat to the walls of Constantinople in the episode.

In addition to the siege of Constantinople, the episode also showcases the horrors of war. It brings to light the devastation of the Ottoman army, as they conquer nearby territories, destroying villages, and killing innocent people. The episode portrays the historical accounts of Mehmed II’s forced involvement in the battle of Otlukbeli, where his army brutally subdues their enemy. The brutality shown emphasizes the Ottoman's remorseless and brutal way of expanding their empire, a way that played a vital role in the fall of an empire and the rise of a new one.

Finally, after an extended siege, constant attacks and the crippling state of the city, the Ottomans' latest assault begins. The defenders of the city prepare for its inevitable fall, getting ready for the final battle. The episode portrays a sense of hopelessness as the defenders of Constantinople face the inevitable end. The viewer is left to wonder, will the Ottoman army succeed in taking Constantinople, or will the city hold fast under its defenders?

In conclusion, the episode "Ashes to Ashes" is a continuation of the historical and docudrama series Rise of Empires: Ottoman. The episode focuses on the military maneuvers of the Ottoman army, as well as the political and religious controversy, strategic thinking, and the horrors of war. The episode portrays the battle for Constantinople as the key event that led to the rise of the Ottoman Empire. It is a gripping episode that leaves viewers at the edge of their seats as they witness the chaos and destruction of a pivotal moment in history.