The entire show is a historical drama based on the real events of the Imperial Ottoman harem, where young girls and women were recruited or enslaved as servants and concubines for the Sultan. However, all of the concubines in the show are depicted as adult women. The main character, Hurrem, is a sex slave and war prize based on a real historical figure. She falls in love with the Sultan, who is essentially her slave master. Concubines of the Sultan are not permitted to deny him if they are ordered to his bedroom. However, all of the concubines are depicted as willfully and enthusiastically consenting, even though they are slaves. S1E16: there is a violent attempted rape scene of a concubine by a palace guard (1:03:03-1:04:57). After the concubine is rescued, victim blaming occurs, with another woman saying she should not have left the harem late at night.