As many of you probably know, Turkish TV dramas are very popular abroad, especially in Muslim-majority countries and across the Balkans. Their relatively low licensing costs and long episode counts that can fill an entire broadcasting season make them very attractive to foreign networks.

As the commercial side of the industry gradually took center stage, artistic ambition and storytelling began to take a back seat. (It's also worth mentioning that Turkish TV dramas are generally marketed toward female audiences domestically.) As a result, many international viewers who look at Turkish television today only see repetitive plots and formulaic storytelling.

The turning point came in 2014 with Cherry Season (Kiraz Mevsimi). Originally produced as a light summer series meant to fill airtime during the holiday season, it unexpectedly became one of the most-watched shows in the country. Over the following four years, Turkish dramas became increasingly formulaic, while episode lengths grew longer and longer.

Because of this, some people assume Turkish dramas have always been like this. Others who are interested in Turkish television often ask, "Are there any genuinely high-quality Turkish dramas with real artistic value?"

That's exactly what this article is about. I'll be introducing some of the greatest legends in the history of Turkish television. Feel free to share your own country's iconic TV series and your thoughts in the comments as well!

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

[Ezel (2009-2011)](

Ezel is an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' classic novel The Count of Monte Cristo. It tells the story of Ömer, a man betrayed by his closest friends who later returns under a new identity: Ezel. After spending years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Ömer dedicates himself to revenge. By the time he comes back, the people who betrayed him have become wealthy and influential through their connections to the criminal underworld. As Ezel sets out to settle old scores, he finds himself drawn into an increasingly complex web of organized crime.

Along the way, Ezel reunites with Eyşan, the woman he loved before his imprisonment. Their encounters force him to confront the painful realization that some people never truly change—and that a traitor may remain a traitor forever. At its core, the series offers a stylish and emotionally charged exploration of identity, betrayal, and revenge.

The show also introduced one of the most iconic female characters in Turkish television history: Eyşan. For many viewers, she became synonymous with deception and betrayal, leaving a lasting mark on Turkish pop culture. In that sense, she occupies a role somewhat similar to Skyler White from Breaking Bad—a character who sparked intense discussion and strong reactions among audiences, though for very different reasons.

Another unforgettable figure is Ramiz Karaeski, better known as "Ramiz Uncle" (Ramiz Dayı). Portrayed by the legendary actor Tuncel Kurtiz, Ramiz serves as a mentor and father figure to many of the show's characters. His philosophical monologues and memorable quotes became famous throughout Turkey. Wise, experienced, and deeply connected to the criminal world, he embodies a classic archetype in Turkish storytelling: the aging outlaw whose life experience grants him an almost legendary wisdom.

[Leyla and Mecnun (2011 - 2013)](

Leyla and Mecnun is widely regarded as the first major example of absurdist comedy on Turkish television, and to this day it remains the genre's most successful and influential work. Despite numerous attempts by later productions to replicate its formula, none managed to achieve the same cultural impact.

The story begins with Leyla and Mecnun being born in the same hospital on the same day. Due to a shortage of incubators, the newborns are placed in the same one. Moved by this coincidence, their parents jokingly agree that the two children should marry when they grow up.

Years later, their lives have taken very different paths. Leyla's father, Metin, has become wealthy, while Mecnun's father, İskender, remains an ordinary taxi driver. Concerned that his son has reached the age of twenty-two without any clear direction in life, İskender decides it is finally time to honor the old promise. He takes Mecnun to visit Leyla's family. Initially uninterested, Mecnun's attitude changes the moment he sees Leyla—he instantly falls hopelessly in love with her.

His love soon spirals into a surreal adventure. One night, Mecnun finds himself lost in a desert, where he encounters a wise old man with a long white beard who offers guidance. The next morning, Mecnun wakes up to discover that the old man has somehow stepped out of his dream and moved into his house. Known as Aksakallı Dede ("the White-Bearded Sage"), he becomes Mecnun's spiritual guide and helps him navigate both love and life.

Around them exists a colorful cast of eccentric characters. Yavuz, the neighborhood thief, accidentally befriends İskender while on his way to rob a bank. He later falls in love with a visually impaired woman named Zeynep and spends much of the series acting as her unlikely guardian. Erdal Bakkal is the neighborhood grocer, infamous for his extreme stinginess, while İsmail Abi is a cheerful dreamer who dresses in bright, flashy clothes and spends his days waving at ships from the shore. As a child, his father told him that he would one day leave on a ship and eventually return for him. Ever since, İsmail has faithfully waited by the sea, greeting every passing vessel.

Together, Erdal, İskender, Yavuz, Mecnun, and İsmail form a legendary group known as the "Kireçburnu Jackals." Their adventures are the true heart of the series. While the show begins as a romantic comedy, it quickly evolves into something much stranger. Parallel universes, time travel, alternate realities, metaphysical jokes, and surreal storytelling become regular elements of the narrative. For that reason, some international viewers have compared it to a distinctly Turkish version of Rick and Morty, though Leyla and Mecnun predates many of the latter's most famous storylines and possesses a very different emotional tone.

The series rapidly became one of the most beloved shows among Turkish youth. Its unique blend of melancholy, absurd humor, and rock music gave it a distinctive atmosphere unlike anything else on Turkish television. The cast's popularity eventually grew so large that several members formed a real-life band called Leyla The Band, which went on to perform concerts across the country.

In 2013, the production came to an abrupt end. Following the participation of several members of the cast and crew in the Gezi Park protests, the show was canceled amid political controversy. Although an official explanation was never universally accepted by all sides, many fans continue to associate the cancellation with the tense political climate of the period.

The series was revived in 2021 on the streaming platform Exxen. However, while many viewers were happy to see the characters return, the new seasons never achieved the same iconic status as the original run. As a result, the revival eventually came to an end, leaving the original series as the version most fondly remembered by audiences.

[Beni Böyle Sev (2013 - 2015)](

Ayşem is a kind-hearted yet exceptionally intelligent Northern Anatolian girl. Having lost her mother at an early age, she grows up with her father, Nail, as the center of her entire world. Determined to become a mathematics teacher, she moves to Istanbul to attend university a decision that will change her life forever.

In Istanbul, Ayşem meets Ömer, a wealthy young man who is just as innocent and romantic as she is. At first, she keeps her distance, but their friendship quickly develops into something deeper. Meanwhile, Ayşem shares a student apartment with two other girls: Reyhan and Fahriye. Fahriye is intelligent, outspoken, and something of a tomboy, while Reyhan is sweet and good-hearted, though not particularly bright.

What makes the series stand out is that it avoids one of the most common formulas in Turkish television. Rather than dragging the romance out for dozens of episodes, the relationship moves forward almost immediately. In the very first episodes, Ömer publicly proposes to Ayşem during an award ceremony, in front of the entire university.

Unbeknownst to Ayşem, her father has traveled to Istanbul and witnesses the proposal himself. He is shocked. Barely a month has passed since he sent his daughter away to study, and now he is watching her accept a marriage proposal in front of thousands of people without ever telling him about the relationship. In disbelief, he can only think: "Is this really my daughter?"

Eventually, Ömer and Ayşem manage to win Nail's approval. Beneath his strict exterior, Nail is a warm-hearted father who genuinely wants young lovers to find happiness together. Throughout the series, Ömer endures countless challenges set by Nail in order to prove that his love is sincere.

Although Nail eventually accepts the marriage, the same cannot be said for Ömer's wealthy family. Disapproving of his decision, they cut him off completely. Suddenly, Ömer and Ayşem must learn how to survive on their own amid the harsh realities of life in Istanbul.

At its heart, the series is the story of a young couple building a home and a future together from nothing. Over time, Ömer becomes a successful architect, Ayşem rises to the rank of professor, and Nail establishes a thriving business of his own in Istanbul. The show's central message is clear: love, determination, and perseverance can overcome even the greatest obstacles.

The series carries a distinctly romantic spirit reminiscent of the great nineteenth-century novelists. In many ways, it successfully blends the emotional intensity of Eastern romanticism with storytelling techniques familiar to Western audiences.

The show's soundtrack is another defining feature. Its intensely melancholic music earned both praise and criticism, depending on the viewer. Some considered it one of the series' greatest strengths, while others felt it leaned too heavily into sentimentality.

Many fans also consider the relationship between Reyhan and Mazhar, introduced more prominently in the second and final season, to be one of the finest romances in Turkish television history. One particularly memorable scene occurs when Mazhar confesses his love by describing the qualities of the woman he admires. As Reyhan listens, she struggles to understand who he is talking about. The scene reaches its emotional climax when Mazhar finally reveals the truth:

"Because that girl is you, Reyhan."

For many viewers, it remains one of the most touching moments of the entire series.