The 18 Best Turkish TV Dramas Ever on Turkish Television

Whether you are a fan of Turkish TV dramas or just on the edge of diving into the world of them, the list below is going to attract you. Here, you will explore our best Turkish TV dramas list according to their popularity in the world. With a great number, Turkish series&dramas have been keeping shake the world television industry. We have already prepared many lists for the Turkish TV dramas for each year as you well know. But today, as DoYouKnowTurkey, we are going to share the best Turkish TV dramas ever on Turkish television with you.

Turkish TV Dramas Spread Over the World

Turkish TV dramas have subverted themselves into the culture in the same way telenovelas have. However, they are not soap operas or telenovelas, they are known as “dizi”, which refers to a “genre in progress”, according to Dr. Arzu Ozturkmen. The doctor, by the way, teaches oral history at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul. She told The Guardian that the name encompasses the format that has “unique narratives, use of space and musical scores.”

Here are some of the best Turkish dramas to stream on Netflix in reverse order. Take a close look and tell us your favorite…

18. Bir Aile Hikayesi (A Family Story)

The heartwarming and emotional story of these two lovers shows us how to back and support one another in the face of struggles and difficulties of life. Reyhan Güneş (played by Songül Öden) has a difficult pregnancy with triplets. Right after she finds out that one of the triplets died during giving birth, in every sense of the word, she is destroyed. Cem Güneş (played by Celil Nalçakan), her beloved husband, is her one and only supporter and with him, Reyhan gets through of it. And for sure, with the help of fortune!

⇔ Where to Watch: Fox TV

17. Hercai 

The center of the story is based on the fate of a young man named Miran Aslanbey (played by Akın Akınözü), whose parents died through the fault of a man who became his mortal enemy. In order to avenge their death, Miran Aslanbey decides on classic revenge: he seduces Reyyan Şadoğlu (played by Ebru Şahin) to destroy the girl, thereby depriving his enemy of the only creature dear to him; his daughter.

⇔ Where to Watch: ATV

16. Doğduğun Ev Kaderindir (My Home My Destiny)

This is the story of a young man Mehdi (İbrahim Çelikkol) who grew up in the slums. And the girl Zeynep (Demet Özdemir), who lived all her life in luxury. However, this truth did not make her happy, rather the opposite. This is a story about how childhood and youth shape the character of a person. The main say of the series is that you belong to your home, the place where you come from. There will be love, betrayal, a psychiatric clinic, luxurious life, and poverty in the series. We will learn very soon whether the Turkish audience accepts the “queen of the romcoms” in the new role of the tragic heroine, or not. The premiere of the series is scheduled for early 2020 on TV8.

⇔ Where to Watch: TV8

15. Poyraz Karayel

The man (the protagonist of the series) has lost everything he has ever had in this life. Literally, everything, which includes his life, job, and his beloved wife. The only thing he has now is his son. His son is also his last hope for life. So, while he is trying to accomplish his duty to uncover the biggest and the darkest mafia in Istanbul, he is also trying to save his one and only belongings.

⇔ Where to Watch: KanalD, BluTV

14. Ezel (Aptildas)

The series is a 2009 made phenomenon Turkish series. Best friends of Ömer (Kenan İmirzalıoğlu) and the woman he loved betrayed him. And so, Ömer Uçar returns as Ezel to exact his vengeance. With its wonderful cast and extraordinary story, Ezel is undoubtedly one of the best TV series of all Turkish television history.

⇔ Where to Watch: ATV

13. Masum (Innocent)

Cevdet (Haluk Bilginer) is a retired commissioner. And his wife spends their pensions in peace on a farm away from the city. Suddenly, the sudden arrival of the terrible news from the little son destroys the order of the family.

⇔ Where to Watch: Netflix, BluTv

Masum — Innocent must take place on your must-watch list. Once you start watching the series, you will easily become addicted to it. Therefore, the story and the unended adventure will easily catch you up!

12. Şahsiyet (Persona)

Here is the top of our best Turkish TV series list. The series is a 12 episode-long Turkish internet series. According to some of the world’s most prestigious authorities, Şahsiyet — Persona is of the many world’s best TV shows. The story of the series revolves around an old man diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. And when he learns this, he decides to punish criminals in his own way.

Besides, Haluk Bilginer, the main character of the series, won the Best Performance by an Actor award on Monday at the 47th International Emmy Awards in New York for his performance in the TV series Sahsiyet (Persona).

⇔ Where to Watch: PuhuTV

11. Kara Para Aşk (Black Money Love)

So, here we are with the final 3 Turkish dramas on Netflix. The 3rd place goes to Black Money Love Turkish drama. Omer works at the organized crime branch in Eastern Turkey. And Elif, on the other hand, is a successful jewelry designer, who lives in Italy. The two have nothing in common until a fateful trip to Istanbul has them crossing paths with each other because of an incident that would irrevocably change their lives. The crime thriller is full of action, chemistry, and twists and turns and is one of the most popular Turkish series outside of the country.

⇔ Where to Watch: ATV, PuhuTV

10. Bir Başkadır (ETHOS)

The story of the series revolves around Meryem (Öykü Karayel). Meryem is experiencing fainting spells, that is the reason why she is seeing a therapist. She is a daily cleaner who sees Peri (Defne Kayalar), a therapist who comes from a different socio-economic background. Peri comes from a modernist, secular, republicans (different from its meaning in the US, in Turkey the notion republican refers to a democratic view of politics) class. Due to her socioeconomic background, she has trouble with her patient Meryem as she is a head-scarfed conservative woman. No matter how nice, warm, and clever Meryem is, her headscarf sets a burden between Peri and Meryem.

⇔ Where to Watch: Netflix

9. Kuzey Güney (South-North)

The duo is brothers, but they couldn’t be more different, both in character and also in their perception. Much like their names, they are north and south. The older brother Güney (Buğra Gülsoy) strives in school and is the general good boy. On the other hand, his younger brother Kuzey (Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ) is nothing like him. He is wild and unpredictable. Click here to read more about the series.

⇔ Where to Watch: Kanal D

8. İçerde (Insider)

When Sarp’s brother Umut disappears and he presumes that he is dead, his mother hangs herself onto his memory for dear life. Sarp blames himself for having lost him and he suffers from the loss. Just as Sarp is to graduate from the police academy he is assigned to infiltrate the mafia syndicate run by the mob boss, Celal. He believes by succeeding with his mission he will finally find peace in his mind and soul.

⇔ Where to Watch: PuhuTV

7. Hakan: Muhafız (The Protector)

The series is the first Turkish Netflix original. The release date of the series is 14 December 20018. A young (Çağatay Ulusoy as Hakan) man discovers that he has special powers. Now it is necessary to learn to use these forces in order to protect the city and all humanity against the dark forces that want to destroy Istanbul. In this journey, there is no other choice but to act with his friends who will help him.

⇔ Where to Watch: Netflix

6. Atiye (The Gift)

Atiye – The Gift is the second Turkish original production of Netflix. So, the series began on 27 December 2019, just right before the beginning of the new year.

The main character, Beren Saat acted as Atiye, is a painter, and she is free and quite commanding. She has always been drawing the same symbol since she was a child. Although she’s curious, she didn’t poke the situation. She lives the kind of life many people can’t even dream of. For instance, she has a rich and handsome lover, an insect but a fun sister, and a father who is fond of his daughter. The only pointed corner of this family is Atiye’s mother, but Atiye somehow learned to deal with it.

⇔ Where to Watch: Netflix

5. Diriliş: Ertuğrul (Resurrection: Ertugrul)

The series Resurrection: Ertugrul is among the best and most popular Turkish series in the world. As for the main story of the series, keep reading. Kayı Tribe is one of the Turkic tribes who fleed from central Asia after the Mongol Hordes began their dreadful march. Kayı Tribe’s journey through Anatolia was really hard, all the troubles of the migration plus famines and conflicts. Süleyman Şah the aged leader of the tribe has two sons as heir, Gündoğdu and Ertuğrul. But it won’t be easy for Ertuğrul to be the heir, he should earn it and must be accepted by the lords of the clan.

⇔ Where to Watch: TRT

4. Gümüş (Silver)

Gümüş (English: “Silver”) is a Turkish melodrama originally broadcast in Turkey by Kanal D from 2005 to 2007. The series follows the travails of a simple and beautiful young woman “Gümüş.” Songül Öden played the role who marries a wealthy family.

After the death of his girlfriend in a car accident, Mehmet (Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ)’s grandfather suggests that he marry Gümüş, who has loved Mehmet since childhood. Initially happy about the marriage, Gümüş despairs when she realizes that his heart is not in it. Eventually, Mehmet falls in love with her, and her dream comes true. The series, by the way, is one of the first Turkish series that become very popular in the Middle East and Balkans. Thus, it has deserved to be included in the list of the most world-famous Turkish series.

⇔ Where to Watch: Kanal D

3. Aşk-ı Memnu (The Forbidden Love)

Having lost his wife eleven years ago, Adnan devoted all his attention to his daughter Nihal and his son Bülent. Adnan, who lives in one of the most prominent mansions along the Bosporus in Istanbul with a relative’s son Behlül, and his children’s nanny, meets Bihter who is also a socialite couple daughter. She is very elegant and beautiful. Everyone who meets her gets stunned and jealous of her, and he falls in love with her. While searching for peace, safety, and happiness in Adnan’s mansion, Bihter meets passion. Behlül and Bihter fall completely into each other and become drowned by their infatuation with each other. Their secret love affair will soon affect every member of the family.

⇔ Where to Watch: KanalD

2. Çukur (The Pit)

Çukur – “The Pit” is the most dangerous neighborhood in Istanbul. But it’s not just a neighborhood, but a pit, and the pit that İstanbul falls into! A strong family rules the ghetto, which is the Koçova family. İdris Koçova is the Godfather of the hood and he has certain rules that no one can pass even in their business which is related to crime. The most important rule, in the meantime, is the prohibition of drugs.

Drugs cannot be produced, used, or sold in Çukur. But one day a man named “Vartolu” has returned to Çukur and he is determined to break the “Drug ban” of the Koçova Family. At first, Vartolu tries to negotiate with the Koçova’s but when his request is rejected he attacks the neighborhood and the family with his power. Just as he thinks that he has put the family on their knees something unpredicted comes up. Yamaç, the little member of the Koçova family is now in the hood!

⇔ Where to Watch: ShowTV

1. Muhteşem Yüzyıl (Magnificent Century)

Muhteşem Yüzyıl (Magnificent Century) is undoubtedly one of the most world-famous Turkish TV dramas. It totally deserves to be at the top of our list. At the age of 26, when his reign began, Sultan Süleyman sought to build an empire more powerful than Alexander the Great and to render the Ottomans invincible. Throughout his 46-year reign, his fame as the greatest warrior and ruler of his age spreads both to the East and West. With his companion Pargalı İbrahim, Süleyman achieves great victories and makes his name known in the Muslim World. Süleyman called İbrahim his brother, friend, and advisor. The television series shows Süleyman’s consolidation of his power: Pargalı İbrahim being a grand minister of state, reinforcing the rule of law throughout the empire, meeting foreign diplomats, and preparing for military campaigns, all set against the backdrop of the tension between Christian Europe and the Ottoman Empire.

So, the series also focuses on the relationships among the members of the imperial household, especially romantic entanglements and rivalries. The animosity between Hürrem Sultan and Mahidevran Sultan, mother of the Sultan’s eldest son, and the role of Hafsa Sultan, the valide sultan; Hürrem’s rise as Süleyman’s favorite while pregnant with his son, her falling from favor several times and her eventual return to grace; Pargalı İbrahim’s entanglement with Hatice Sultan, the Sultan’s sister, and many others.

⇔ Where to Watch: YouTube