‘Kübra’ ending explained

Netflix’s latest Turkish series, Kübra, has taken viewers on a rollercoaster ride with its explorations of faith, politics, and technology. 

Directed by Durul Taylan and Yagmur Taylan and written by Rana Mamatlioglu, Murat Uyurkulak, and Bekir Baran Sitki, the series is based on the novel by Afsin Kum. Kübra stars Çağatay Ulusoy, Aslıhan Malbora, and Ahsen Eroğlu.

The show delves into the life of Gokhan Sahinoglu, a man whose encounter with a mysterious entity named Kübra sets off a chain of events that leads him to believe he is the Chosen One.

The eight-episode series arrived on the streaming platform on January 18th, 2024, and has left viewers with many questions.

What happens at the end of Kübra?

As the series unfolds, Gokhan, now known as Semavi, gathers followers who believe in his divine powers. The tension between his religious cult and the authorities escalates, resulting in clashes and betrayals, ending in a controversial shootout. The culmination of Kübra takes an unexpected turn, revealing the true nature of Kübra, the entity that communicates with Gokhan throughout the series.

In the final episode, viewers learn that Kübra is not some divine being or even human but an artificial intelligence (AI). Named ‘Knowledge Unit Based Reasoning Automaton’, aka Kübra, was developed by Berk and Selim of Datakraft. Adem, Berk’s assistant, becomes increasingly concerned about the potential misuse of the AI. But Berk instructs Kubra to “seize power,” and the AI uses advanced technology to manipulate individuals, especially those susceptible to its influence.

Upon discovering Kübra’s true identity, Gokhan interprets it as further proof of Allah’s existence. He believes that the creation of such advanced technology is a divine plan in itself, reinforcing his conviction that he is a chosen messenger. Gokhan’s ability to control Kübra while being aware of its reality gives him the power to further his religious influence.

The concluding scenes depict Gokhan taking the stage at an economic conference, announcing the return of seized funds to the people. ATM machines across Istanbul start dispensing cash around the same time. This is Gokhan’s way of becoming a modern-day Robin Hood, except with a god complex.

The series reflects on themes explored in films like Ex Machina—does toying with sentience in AI make us gods? Gokhan’s journey from a traumatised individual seeking purpose to a manipulated prophet also raises questions about the impact of advanced technology on belief systems.

You can watch Kübra on Netflix and catch the trailer here: