In the last few years, due to the international streaming from Americas to Far east, the popularity of Turkish TV series has increased with rapid pace! The best Turkish series are now replacing Hollywood series and Latin American telenovelas at major broadcasters elsewhere. Though local television of UAE, India, Saudi Arabi and Pakistan dubbed Turkish dramas to on-air. However, hardcore fans love to watch them with English subtitle as well. So, in this article, as doyouknowturkey team, we are going to share recent and high rated Turkish drama series with you.
The popularity of Turkish dramas is unstoppable! Moreover, the number of followers of the Turkish series is growing year by year. Though, despite the huge number of annual TV series in Turkey, only one third make it until the end of a season. Or, maybe even less. So, here in this article, we are going to try to list the “bests of bests”. However, it is not going to be easy concerning the Turkish series industry, as you may appreciate.
13- Çukur – The Pit
Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller
Main Cast: Aras Bulut İynemli, Dilan Deniz Çiçek, Erkan Kolçak Köstendil, Ercan Kesal, Öner Erkan
Broadcast Network/TV Channel: Show TV
Seasons and Status: 3 seasons, 67 episodes, Continues
Çukur “The Pit” is one of the best Turkish tv series in recent years. The series became so successful that “The Pit” become a social phenomenon. Çukur – The Pit brought a fresh concept to Turkish Tv Series and Drama, action, drama, comedy and mystery in a whole presented in a very fast and fluent stream.
Çukur – “The Pit” of the most dangerous and neighbourhoods of Istanbul. But it’s not just a neighbourhood its a pit, and the pit that İstanbul falls into! Moreover, the ghetto is ruled by a strong family, 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.
Similarly, the most important rule is the prohibition of drugs. Furthermore, drugs cannot be produced, used or sold in Çukur. However, one day a man, whose name is “Vartolu”, has returned to Çukur and he determines to break the “Drug ban” of Koçova Family. Firstly, Vartolu tries to negotiate with the Koçova’s but when his request is rejected he attacks the neighbourhood and the family with his power. Just as he thinks that he has put the family on their knees something unpredicted comes up. In conclusion, Yamaç is a little member of Koçova family. And now, he is in the hood, too!
You can click here to read our article about Çukur – The Pit.
12- Avlu — The Courtyard
Avlu – The Courtyard asks how many life spans a courtyard?
Genres: Action, Drama, Crime, Mystery
Main Cast: Demet Evgar, Ceren Moray, Nursel Köse, Çağdaş Onur Öztürk, Ayça Damgacı
Broadcast Network/TV Channel: Star TV
Seasons and Status: 2 seasons, 44 episodes, Continues
Demet Evgar (acted as Deniz Demir) is married to Hakan, who didn’t show up again after the 1st episode, and has a daughter. Her name is Ecem. Deniz Demir’s occupation is architecture and she is too far from any kind of crime. One night Hakan, who has behavioural problems, tries to shoot his wife and his daughter with a gun. During that time, Ecem tries to defend herself and her mother. But unfortunately, she shoots her father by mistake. At the same time, Deniz takes the whole responsibility to protect her daughter. Because of this crime, Deniz enters the prison, where she finds another atmosphere and tries to be familiar with it.
Deniz (played by Demet Evgar) has been violent for a long time. One night the cries from the house stop like a knife with the sound of a handgun. Deniz is arrested for allegedly shooting her husband Hakan during the fight.
You can click here to read our article more about Avlu — The Courtyard.
11- Sen Anlat Karadeniz — Tell You The Black Sea
Tell You The Black Sea Turkish drama will begin at the beginning of September with the new season
Genres: Drama
Main Cast: Ulaş Tuna Astepe, İrem Helvacıoğlu, Sinan Tuzcu, Öykü German
Broadcast Network/TV Channel: ATV
Seasons and Status: 2 seasons, 53 episodes, Continues
The story of Sen Anlat Karadeniz – You Tell The Black Sea is about Nefes Zorlu (played by İrem Helvacıoğlu), a young woman who was sold as a bride to marry a rich man. After 8 years of a nightmarish marriage, the only good thing in Nefes’s life is her boy Yiğit. Nefes tried to escape from her husband Vedat Sayar for many times but every escape attempt failed until she met with Tahir Kaleli (played by Ulaş Tuna Astepe).
Tahir Kaleli is a modest young man in a rich family. He is a hard worker and brave. He works in a sand ship owned by his family. Tahir’s life is changed forever when he went to İstanbul for a business contract and visited Vedat Sayar’s house. Tahir witnessed the violence on Nefes, then Nefes asked him for helping her to escape with her boy. Tahir decided to help Nefes and her boy and take them to Trabzon (a city located Nort East – Black Sea region of Turkey).
You can click here to read our article about Sen Anlat Karadeniz — Tell You The Black Sea.
10- Yasak Elma — Forbidden Apple
Yasak Elma – Forbidden Apple is a Turkish drama series
Genre: Drama, Romance
Main Cast: Talat Bulut, Şevval Sam, Sevda Erginci, Eda Ece, Onur Tuna
Broadcast Network/TV Channel: Fox TV
Seasons and Status: 2 seasons, 47 episodes and Still Continues
The TV Series Yasak Elma – Forbidden Apple, with Talat Bulut and Şevval Sam at the leading roles, managed to attract the attention of the audience. Zeynep Yılmaz (played by Sevda Erginci) and Yıldız Yılmaz (played by Eda Ece) are two sisters who are very fond of each other but their dreams are completely different. The life of Yıldız Yılmaz completely changes when she meets with the queen of high society: Ender Argun (played by Şevval Sam). Ender Argun (played by Şevval Sam) decides to use Yıldız to get rid of her husband Halit Argun (played by Talat Bulut) and offers Yıldız her life offer which will probably change her life.
Click here to read our article about Yasak Elma – Forbidden Apple TV Series.
9- Yemin — The Promise
Yemin – The Promise will be aired on with the 4th season
Genre: Drama
Main Cast: Özge Yağız, Gökberk Demirci, Can Verel, Munise Özlem, Gül Arcan Gürses
Broadcast Network/TV Channel: Channel 7
Seasons and Status: 3 seasons, 70 episodes and Still Continues
Reyhan was born in the countryside; is a modest, young and beautiful girl who grew up in traditional style. Reyhan remains an orphan after her mother’s death, and her life changes at an unexpected point. Hikmet Tarhun, one of the riches of the country, she loves and counts as her uncle, asks the young girl to marry his son Emir during a surprise visit to his hometown of Erzurum. Although Reyhan is grateful to Hikmet, he refuses to marry someone she doesn’t know. Because this will be unfair to Emir who never saw her. However, the secret of Hikmet’s secret to everyone, the young girl compels this marriage. Cavidan, who has big plans for his son, will never give consent to a country girl as a bride and will do her best to finish their marriage after signing.
8- Halka — The Circle
Halka – The Circle TV Series dazzles with a very good cast
Genre: Drama, Action, Crime
Main Cast: Serkan Çayoğlu, Hande Erçel, Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan, Kaan Yıldırım, Hazal Subaşı
Broadcast Network/TV Channel: TRT 1
Seasons and Status: 1 season, 19 episodes and Still Continues
Two different young men coming together from different places stand side by side and fight against a conspiracy. They go after a past that doesn’t leave behind. They bring to the account of old notebooks, dirty cases, big and small lies. They’re in a life with the Mafia, money, intrigue. They face against Halka, the terrifying face of which they have yet to know. ” If there’s a ring in front of you, you should have your eye.”
7- Payitaht Abdülhamid — Payitaht (“the capital city of an empire”) Abdulhamid
Payitaht Abdulhamid TV series is one of the most assertive projects for the new season
Genre: Drama, Action, History
Main Cast: Bülent İnal, Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu, Özlem Conker, Hakan Boyav, Can Sipahi
Broadcast Network/TV Channel: TRT 1
Seasons and Status: 3 seasons, 88 episodes and Still Continues
The “Payitaht – Abdulhamid”, which will carry the important events of Sultan Abdulhamid’s Sultanate in 1896. It will also discuss the battle that resulted in Ottoman victory after a long time: “Greek War”, the 1st Zionist Congress and the issues of the Palestinian lands will come to the screen. Another important project that Sultan has succeeded in is the work of the Hijaz Railway and among other important historical events that will take place in the Payitaht Abdulhamid. The series, which witnessed the struggle of the country with Sultan Abdulhamid Khan, promised to present to the children of a strong nation who is carrying on day to day and as a gift to our future history, will be presented with the message of ‘Struggle!’
6- Kuzgun — The Raven
Kuzgun – The Raven Turkish TV series is ready for the new season
Genre: Drama, Action, Romance
Main Cast: Barış Arduç, Burcu Biricik, Settar Tanrıöğen, Hatice Aslan, Caner Şahin
Broadcast Network/TV Channel: Star TV
Seasons and Status: 1 season, 16 episodes and Still Continues
Kuzgun – The Raven (played by Barış Arduç) will come to Istanbul to avenge his father after so many years and live in love with his enemy’s daughter, Dila Bilgin (played by Burcu Biricik). Dila (played by Burcu Biricik), on the other hand, will remind the Kuzgun of his heart and conscience that he has destroyed in order to survive on the streets, and thereby, all plans of The Kuzgun will be changed.
Click here to read our article about Kuzgun – The Raven TV Series.
5- Hakan: Muhafız — The Protector
Hakan: Muhafız – The Protector is the first Netflix Turkish original series
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Sci-Fi
Main Cast: Çağatay Ulusoy, Hazar Ergüçlü, Okan Yalabık, Burçin Terzioğlu, Mehmet Kurtuluş
Broadcast Network/TV Channel: Netflix
Seasons and Status: 2 seasons, 22 episodes and Still Continues
The Protector (Hakan: Muhafız) is a superhero series. The scenario is based on a fictional Ottoman – Turkish legend. And Çağatay Ulusoy is a young man who discovers his special powers. In the dark side of Istanbul, the evil Immortal must be stopped at all cost but The Protector is not ready and he must hide until his training is over. Hazar Ergüçlü, Ayça Ayşin Turan, Mehmet Kurtuluş and Okan Yalabık are the major cast.
The series seems to be a hero-driven plot, and the first season we will watch the development of this Turkish superhero with the help of his misfit friends to protect Istanbul, the centre of the ancient world…
Click here to read our article about the first Netflix Turkish original series Hakan: Muhafız – The Protector.
4- Hercai — A Recent Turkish TV Series
Hercai, the Turkish TV drama has big surprises with the new episodes
Genre: Drama
Main Cast: Akın Akınözü, Ebru Şahin, Gülçin Santırcıoğlu, Serhat Tutumluer
Broadcast Network/TV Channel: ATV
Seasons and Status: 1 season, 12 episodes and Still Continues
A new Turkish TV Series “Hercai” is an impossible love tale of vengeance. “Hercai” is not a modern word in Turkish language but a classic one, which literally means “inconstant, fickle, or more likely capricious” in English. In a more detailed meaning, Hercai refers to a person who is never decisive of anything, neither capable of complete anything he/she begins nor committed with love.
Centre 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 Aslanbeydecides 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.
Click here to read our article about Hercai Turkish TV Series.
3- Bir Zamanlar Çukurova — Bitter Lands
Bir Zamanlar Çıkurova – Bitter Lands is a Turkish Tv Drama
Genre: Drama
Main Cast: Vahide Perçin, Hilal Altınbilek, Murat Ünalmış, Uğur Güneş, Kerem Alışık
Broadcast Network/TV Channel: ATV
Seasons and Status: 1 season, 35 episodes and Still Continues
The story of Bir Zamanlar Çukurova –Bitter Lands– begins in Istanbul in the 1970s and continues in the fertile lands of Cukurova, Adana. Adana, by the way, is a city of in the south-west of Turkey).
A young couple who dreams of marriage hide their identity to escape from the darkness and fear. For this purpose, one day they escape from Istanbul to Adana. The couple will introduce themselves as a sibling and work on a farm in Adana. However, Demir, the owner of the farm, will fall in love with Züleyha. Whereupon, the real story of the Turkish drama begins.
Click here to read our article about Bir Zamanlar Çukurova – Bitter Lands TV drama.
2- Bir Aile Hikayesi — A Family Story
Bir Aile Hikayesi – A Family Story started to be broadcasted on March 2019
Genre: Drama
Main Cast: Songül Öden, Birkan Sokullu, Celil Nalçakan, Olgun Toker, İrem Sak, Elçin Afacan, Alper Saldıran
Broadcast Network/TV Channel: Fox TV
Seasons and Status: 1 season, 12 episodes and Still Continues
Four people born on the same day. All four are about to live the most important day of their lives. While Cem is preparing to celebrate his birthday with his wife, Reyhan, Reyhan’s birth pains begin. Even though there is a risky birth, they believe that everything will go well until the last moment and that they will take their babies. But life has a different plan for them.
For five years, Berk has been the advertising face of a big brand. He finally gets a chance to play in a good movie, but can’t get permission from his producer. Now there is an important way of separation. Either everything will continue as before, or Berk will choose the freedom and pay the price.
Living in peace with his wife and children, Mahur has a secret. He’s been trying to find his biological father for a while. He will get the good news on his birthday. But the fact that he meets his father when he meets will greatly disappoint him.
Beste, who has been in trouble with her kilos since her childhood, makes a new decision on her thirty-fifth birthday. To date, life has not gone as hoped and it is time to take on the reins. She will weaken at any cost. Nothing can hold her in the way. No matter what happens to these five people, there is something they know; Beauty will save the world.
Click here to read our article about Bir Aile Hikayesi — A Family Story TV drama.
1- Behzat Ç. — An Ankara Detective Story
Behzat Ç. An Ankara Detective Story has ended the six years of yearning
Genre: Drama, Crime, Thriller, Mystery
Main Cast: Erdal Beşikçioğlu, İnanç Konukçu, Berkan Şal, Ege Aydan, Ayça Eren, Seda Bakan
Broadcast Network/TV Channel: Blu TV
Seasons and Status: 4 seasons, 105 episodes and Still Continues
Behzat Ç. is a “good cop” who follows his own brand of morality. The best statement for Behzat Ç. maybe the word anti-hero. He is the best and most rare lovable anti-hero character of all-time Turkish TV series.
The TV series is based on a question which is consist of philosophical content. The foundation of the content mainly contains crime and punishment notions for instance. While the TV series and its leading character Behzat Ç. is questioning the justice of the state, he uses all the capacity of creativity, intelligence and humour. And so, Behzat Ç. turns into a true legend and unique TV crime drama and the leading character.
Behzat Ç. An Ankara Detective Story (Bir Ankara Polisiyesi) has started its journey in 2010. The TV series is an adaptation from the novels of Emrah Serbes, who is now in the prison because of a car accident in which he caused the death of 3, and starring Erdal Beşikçioğlu in the title role. The writer is one of the best-selling authors in Turkey. And, the books, which inspired the crime-and-detective television series, are Her Temas İz Bırakır (Every Contact Leaves a Trace) and Son Hafriyat (Last Excavation). The popularity of the Turkish author has predictably begun after the TV series.
For more detailed information and to read our artcile about Behzat Ç.: Ankara Detective Story, click here.
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