Turkish cinema is a special phenomenon. Always visually beautiful, filled with the most unexpected plot twists, intriguing stories performed by sympathetic and emotional actors have earned love all over the world.
We offer you a short list of the best Turkish series already released in 2023, which fans of unique cinema, entertaining us with passionate love stories, bizarre fiction and raising acute social issues of the Eastern countries, should not miss.
Şahmaran
- Rating IMDB – 5.1
- Genre: Fantasy, thriller, drama, melodrama, detective, adventure
- Production Türkiye / 2023
- Directed by Umur Turagay
- Cast: Serenay Sarikaya, Burak Deniz, Mustafa Uurlu, Mahir Gunshiray, Mert Ramazan Demir, Hakan Karahan, Elif Nur Kirkuk, Mehmet Aslan, Berfu Halisdemir, Nilay Erdonmez
Netflix’s non-trivial rendition of the ancient legend of the queen of snakes. Young Shahsu (Serenay Sarykaya) arrives in the city of Adana after the death of her mother. She plans to work at the local university, but she has another goal: to see her grandfather, who once broke her mother’s life by abandoning her family.
A very strange family lives next door to Shahsu, and with one of them, the young charming Maran (Burak Deniz), fate bumps into our heroine again and again. A feeling develops between the young men, overshadowed by the mysteries surrounding the Maran family, which worships an ancient deity.
In the first three days after its premiere, the series was watched by 17 million people around the world.
Taçsız prenses
- Rating IMDB – 7.0
- Genre: Drama
- Production Türkiye / 2023
- Directed by Volkan Keskin
- Cast: Ismail Hadjioglu, Sumeye Aydogan, Elif Kurtaran, Tolga Tekin, Seda Akman, Mustafa Kirantepe, Merve Sen, Feride Çetin, Merve Bulut, Eylul Shenojak
A vivid and rare project for Turkish cinema, where love’s yearnings are relegated to the background and concern only secondary characters. And at the center of the social and sometimes brutal plot is Masal, a 9-year-old schoolgirl considered odd by her classmates, played beautifully by the young Elif Kurtaran.
It all starts with accusations of Masal stealing money from a classmate. But the girl puts on a real show, making everyone believe that she didn’t do it. In fact, Masal is no stranger to theft and deception, but she has every reason to be.
And then one day she meets a rich woman, Yagmur (Soumeye Aidogan), whom she decides to steal from. And only the teacher Egvin (Ismail Hacioğlu), tries to help little Masal.
The show airs Tuesdays on FOX.
Aile
- Rating IMDB – 6.3
- Genre: Melodrama, Drama, Crime
- Production Türkiye / 2023
- Directed by Ahmet Katiksiz
- Cast: Kivanc Tatlıtu, Serenay Sarikaya, Nur Surer, Nezhat Isler, Canan Erguder, Yusra Geyik, Mert Denizman, Ipek Cicek, Umutzhan Utebay, Abdurrahman Yunusolu
One of the most eagerly awaited series of 2023 is Aile with Kıvanç Tatlıtu and Serenay Sarykaya. It is a crime-love drama about a girl named Devin. She works as a psychologist and one day she meets Aslan, the head of a criminal clan.
Strong feelings flare up between them, but this love is too dangerous for both of them. The guy hides his family background from Devin, but his many relatives constantly make life difficult for the lovers. And Devin’s love for Aslan keeps growing, gradually becoming a force that can overpower even the mighty mafia.
The series has been airing on Evie since early March, one episode a week.
Biz Kimden Kaçiyorduk Anne?
- Rating IMDB – 5.8
- Genre: Thriller, drama, crime, detective
- Production Türkiye / 2023
- Directed by Umut Aral, Gokcen Usta
- Cast: Melisa Sözen, Eygül Tumbar, Musa Uzunlar, Basak Dashman, Birand Tundzha, Jessica Rukvoord, Alper Cankaya, Isik Naz Özedgü, Hakan Emre Unal, Emrah Kolukisa
Another Turkish project from Netflix is a bloody detective mystery about a mother and daughter living in their own special and painful world. The mother, played by Melisa Sözen, dresses only in black and is constantly on the run from someone, changing cities, hotels and names.
She drags her daughter, a young teenage girl whom she simply calls Bambi, with her everywhere. Her mother promises the girl that soon they will stop wandering and find a nice place to live simply and happily. In the meantime, they run away, leaving dead bodies behind them…
The series is based on the book by Perihan Magden and consists of 7 episodes of 45 minutes each.
EGO – Erkege Güven Olmaz
- Rating IMDB – 6.4
- Genre: Drama
- Production Türkiye / 2023
- Directed by Shenol Sonmez, Doa Jan Anafarta
- Cast: Alperen Duymaz, Melisa Aslı Pamuk, Ahmet Kayakesen, Tuna Orhan, Hulya Gulsen, Derya Besherler, Aziz Caner Inan, Emirhan Donmez, Naz Sayiner
There are no weapons or aggression in this show; it teaches us to open up to each other, to forgive, and to find a way out of any difficulties through love. Sibel (Melisa Asli Pamuk) is a smart and beautiful woman, the pride of her parents, a young woman, confidently managing a large successful company. And then one day she learns that if she does not get pregnant soon, she will forever lose the ability to have children.
She desperately searches for a donor and her choice falls on a company employee, Erhan. Sibel offers the guy to spend just three days with her for more than a decent fee. On the one hand it is a way for Erhan to pay off the debts hanging over his soul, but on the other hand it is a difficult situation, because he is madly in love with his fiancée Elif. But this is only the beginning of a complex intrigue in which all the participants in the story will be drawn…
The script for the series is based on the 2014 drama Temptation.
Kraliçe
- Rating IMDB – 4.7
- Genre: Drama
- Production Türkiye / 2023
- Directed by Cevdet Mercan
- Cast: Burcu Ozberk, Gokhan Alkan, Selin Shekerci, Ozgun Karaman, Bulent Duzgunollu, Ayse Akın, Ozgur Cem Tugluk, Ferhat Yilmaz
One of the most enigmatic Turkish projects of 2023 is Cevdet Merjan’s series Kraliçe. Burcu Özberk played the role of Deniz, happily living with her family until the betrayal of her husband, the famous basketball player Ates, ruins her world.
Deniz’s father dies of a stroke, unable to withstand a public escort scandal involving his son-in-law, and Deniz has to take control of the family farm, along with her brother and sister. Finding out the size of the debts their father left them, the family is shocked. Meanwhile, Atesh tries to prove that he was wrongfully accused.
The series is based on the American project Queen Sugar.
Adim Farah
- Rating IMDB – 6.8
- Genre: Thriller, drama, crime
- Production Türkiye / 2023
- Directed by Rechay Karagoz
- Cast: Engin Akyurek, Demet Ozdemir, Firat Tanysh, Senan Kara, Lale Bashar, Oktay Cubuk, Derya Pinar Ak, Kemal Burak Alper, Burcu Turunz
A strange and sad series for those who want to experience heartbreaking emotions and maybe even cry over the plot. Demet Ozdemir plays the role of Iranian illegal immigrant Farah, who works day and night to support and treat her sick child.
One day, the woman witnesses a brutal crime and from now on her life is in mortal danger. She will do anything for her son, but who will protect her? The bandit mercenary Tahir (Engin Akurek) follows in Farah’s footsteps, but even he is deeply penetrated by a mother’s boundless love…
The script for the Turkish series is loosely based on the Hollywood project Maid in 2021.
Yüz Yıllık Mucize
- Rating IMDB – 7.5
- Genre: Drama
- Production Türkiye / 2023
- Directed by Hilal Saral
- Cast: Birkan Sokullu, Ebru Sahin, Zerrin Tekindor, Necip Memili, Aysegul Cengiz, Gözde Seda Altuner, Yalcin Hafizoglu, Merve Nur Bengi, Ekem Kalhan, Zera Kelleci
Hilal Saral’s touching fantasy story about how only love can be the meaning of life. Birkan Sokullu plays Ali Tahir, who once died in WWI at the age of 30. But a miracle happened: he was resurrected and continues to live, no longer aging.
As the years go by, he outlives his loved ones, wanders the country, changing names and wives, exploring his unexpected curse. Already in our time, Ali, now named Kemal, decides to commit suicide, tired of the endless monotony of life. But he meets a young girl, the lovely Harika, played by Ebru Shahin. Harika dreams of writing a novel, and unexpectedly for himself, 117-year-old Kemal tells her the story of his life.
The series was filmed in the picturesque Bedri Rahmi Bay and in Istanbul.
Veda Mektubu
- Rating IMDB – 6.1
- Genre: Drama
- Production Türkiye / 2023
- Directed by Deniz Celebi
- Cast: Nurgul Yesilcay, Selim Bayraktar, Rabiya Soyturk, Emre Kiviljim, Khazar Motan, Bennu Yildirimlar, Ummu Putgul, Hande Elaman, Hope Taran
A poignant and intricate story of family and love relationships in the charming Turkish drama A Farewell Letter. Thirty years ago, Zia (Nurgul Yşilçay) and Alanur (Selim Bayraktar) were in love with each other, but the girl’s rich parents were against her marriage to a poor guy. He elopes, leaving her a small farewell letter.
Years later, the children of Zia and Alanur fall in love with each other, but, unlike their parents, are not going to betray their love. For the protagonists comes a difficult period of clarification of old grudges, resurrection of feelings and responsibility for the decisions of their children.
The series was filmed by Most Production.
Ates Kuslari
- Rating IMDB – 5.2
- Genre: Drama
- Production Türkiye / 2023
- Directed by Gokhan Ayiz, Bulent Isbilen, Benal Tahiri
- Cast: Ilaida Alishan, Hande Soral, Burak Tozkoparan, Görkem Sevindik, Hilal Uysun, Nizam Namidar, Serkan Ercan, Gonca Jilasun, Boncuk Yilmaz, Erdem Sanli
Unusual Social is about the Homeless, a small fraternity of homeless children surviving on the streets of Istanbul. Merjan (Hande Soral) is the eldest girl in this non-trivial family, whom everyone considers their mother. She is secretly in love with Ali (Görkem Sevindik), the leader of the street children. He loves Merjan, too, but can’t admit it to her.
One day they find a newborn girl, Gulayshe, in a garbage can and decide to take care of her, not knowing that the infant is the child of a very powerful family, thrown out on the street by an evil jealous woman. As the years go by, the waifs grow up, find their place in life, and secrets begin to unfold.
The world premiere of the series took place in January 2023.
Ömer
- Genre: Drama
- Production Türkiye / 2023
- Directed by Jem Karji
- Cast: Selahattin Pasali, Gökçe Bahadir, Baris Falay, Merve Dizdar, Gulcin Kultür Sahin, Serpil Gul, Onur Bilge, Gamze Karaduman, Muharrem Turkseven
Relations between father and son, irreconcilable conflicts, faith and love – in the Turkish drama series Ömer, new in 2023. Elderly Reshat is a servant of the mosque, a strict and wise mentor for his flock. But he cannot find a common language with his own children.
Daughter Emine, a woman with five children, once fled to her beloved Hakan, against the will of her father. And now Reshat places all his hopes on his son Omer, the muezzin in the same mosque. His father wants to find him a worthy woman who meets all the traditional canons, but Omer falls in love with Gamze, who does not meet the requirements of Reshat at all.
This series is a remake of the highly rated Israeli serial drama Shtisel (2013-2021).
Yalniz Kalpler
- Rating IMDB – 7.1
- Genre: Drama
- Production Türkiye / 2023
- Directed by Jevrie Demir, Ayse Tugen
- Cast: Nusret Shenay, Sena Sahin, Taigun Shungar, Bengyu Gürses, Dilek Bozkurt, Ezel Salik, Nermin Ugur, Ozlem Boyasi
A very beautiful and peculiar anthology of love stories from screenwriter Eilem Akin. Ida and Theoman once spent one magical evening together and lost sight of each other. Three years later, they are to meet again and experience their former feelings, but both are no longer free.
Another story tells of Kumru, who struggles to take care of her brother, desperately defending herself against the ambitions of her stepmother and her daughter Nazli. Then one day Ozan, Nazli’s intended husband, unexpectedly changes poor Kumru’s life for the better…
The series is produced by Bros Film Company.
Terzi
- Rating IMDB – 6.0
- Genre Thriller, drama, detective
- Production Türkiye / 2023
- Directed by Jem Karji
- Cast: Chaatay Ulusoy, Sifanur Gul, Olgun Shimshek, Salih Bademji, Berrak Tyuzyunatach, Evrim Alasya, Joshua Flickema, Engin Shenkan
The second title of the series starring Chagatai Ulusoi is Terzi. Peyami is a young fashion designer who has inherited a successful firm from his grandfather. He loves his job and runs the family business efficiently.
But one day he discovers that he has a mentally ill father with the intelligence of a child who needs the most careful care. This family secret will shake Peyami’s foundations. With the arrival of the charming Esmet, who has a dark past of her own, the young man’s life takes on new colors, and family secrets inevitably surface.
After surviving some production problems, the series was transferred to Netflix, has already been fully filmed, appeared on Internet services and will be officially broadcast from May 2, 2023.
Dokuz Oğuz
- Rating IMDB – 5.2
- Genre: Action, drama
- Production Türkiye / 2023
- Directed by Cem Akyoldas, Bulent Isbilen
- Cast: Kubilay Aka, Deniz Isin, Yasemin Allen, Tunjer Salman, Daghan Kulegech, Sahra Shash, Kayhan Achikgoz, Serhan Onat, Rami Narin
This extraordinary Turkish military drama tells the story of a special unit under the command of Captain Batur. They are called the Dokuz Oğuz, although the team includes women as well.
The warriors of this group are assigned to protect important people with state secrets and perform complicated missions in Turkey and abroad. The series is full of risky adventures, dangerous situations and gradually unfolding stories of each fighter. All the “sons” have many dark secrets in their past…
The series was released in late January 2023 and airs on FOX every Saturday at 8 p.m.
Tetikçinin Oglu
- Rating IMDB – 8.0
- Genre: Action
- Production Türkiye / 2023
- Directed by Yagyz Alp Akaydin, Emre Aybek
- Cast: Timuchin Esen, Shevket Çorukh, Genjo Ozak, Serhat Mustafa Kılıç, Bahar Shahin, Esra Kyzyldoğan, Baran Can Eraslan, Kaya Akkaya, Barysh Haita, Serkan Besiroglu
An action-packed Turkish revenge crime drama is the story of two not-so-young friends, Iskender and Korkmaz. Iskender is a big businessman in Bodrum. Calm and fair, he walks confidently through life. Once he saved Korkmaz and he became his best friend. And no one in the whole world knows about the dark past of the two men.
Then one day unknown men kill Iskender’s son. He appeals to Korkmaz to help find and punish the murderers. But fate decides otherwise. Korkmaz, following the trail of the criminals, unexpectedly finds his long-lost son.
Shevket Chorukh, who played Iskender, studied Kurdish especially for the project.
