The Rise of Empires: Ottoman Season 2 depicts the conflict between Mehmed’s Ottoman Empire and Vlad the Impaler’s Wallachian army

Rise of Empires: Ottoman, which debuted on Netflix back in 2020, gave a clear and fascinating overview of the Ottoman Empire and Mehmed II’s conquering Constantinople and winning the title of the Sultan.

Season 2 is set 8 years after season 1 and depicts the conflict between Mehmed’s Ottoman Empire and Vlad the Impaler’s Wallachian army, as the subtitle says “Mehmed vs Vlad”.

Over the course of the six episodes, the typical mix of talking head narration is weaved around the re-enactments, with a hearty dose of mystery and action tossed in for good measure.

I was not ready to watch the entire season, but magnificent swordfights and troops writhing on a hellish field made me stick throughout the six episodes.

Story

In season II, it’s 1461, and Constantinople has become Istanbul. Mehmed II is now the most influential leader in the East and the most dreaded one in the West. He is seen preparing to conquer Europe and has been plotting his next campaigns against the West. But here comes the twist; he ran into a rival who is more powerful than him – Vlad Dracula.

Vlad Dracula gained the assistance of Hungarians, by promising to assassinate Mehmed II and overthrow his realm. In Mehmed II’s empire, word of his allegations quickly spread like wildfire. Who was Dracula, and did he succeed in bringing down Mehmed II, a legendary general? This is why you need to watch the Rise of Empires: Ottoman  this weekend.

Who was Vlad Dracula?

By now, you would have understood that season 2 is about the battle between Mehmed II and Vlad Dracula. But who was Vlad?

Dracula was raised in the Ottoman Empire. When he was a child, his father was the ruler of the vassal state of Wallachia. The state owed its loyalty to the Sultan, but, Mehmed II’s father (Murad II) questioned Vlad Dracula’s father’s loyalty. So to prove his commitment to the great Sultan, Vlad and his brother Radu were incarcerated in the Ottoman Empire.

The season portrays Vlad and Radu’s childhood in such a way that one feels sorry for them. Vlad kept reminding himself that he was a hostage in the Ottoman Empire, which ignited his hatred toward Mehmed II. He hated the Ottoman Empire all his life and for all the right reasons because he thought Sultan Murad II shattered his family.

Good, Bad, and the Other Side of Ottoman

Strong rivalries will keep you hooked

I’ll be completely honest: I really enjoyed the first season of this show. In my opinion, it was a strong drama based on real historical events. So I had really high hopes for the second season.

This time, you will love the characters more than the story. The actors deliver outstanding performances and that will keep you hooked on the story from beginning to end. All of the characters are great, but no one comes near the antagonist, who is a strong or devious person who will do anything to overthrow Sultan Mehmet.

As a viewer, you will be invested in this drama until the very end because of the intense rivalries. You will be curious to see how the on-going conflict between these two strong characters plays out.

Narration and stretched storyline are major turn down

Like season 1, we heard a lot of narrations to explain historical events. Compared to season 1, the second season of “Rise of Empires: Ottoman” felt dragged and quite slow. Additionally, season one’s stories were more complex and intriguing than this season.

Season 2 mostly focuses on the fights between Sultan Mehmed II and Vlad Dracula, in contrast to season one, which mainly concentrates on Mehmed’s childhood and development. It feels less educational and more like a fictionalised version of real history. We don’t get to see much of Vlad’s childhood.

Final Verdict: 7/10

If you prefer historical dramas and enjoyed Rise of Empires: Ottoman Season 1, watch Season 2 to see how Mehmed II and Vlad’s feud played out.

Although the plot was wrapped up this way, even if season 3 doesn’t show up, the season 2 plot is complete. You won’t have to wait for season 3, but if the show’s makers want to, they can simply make a season about the fascinating history of the Ottoman Empire. – Ends