Turkish dramas to start with

Turkish television drama, known at home as dizi, has become one of the country's best-known exports. From the Middle East and North Africa to Latin America and Europe, viewers have fallen for its sweeping romances, family feuds, historical epics and slick crime stories. If you have never watched one, the sheer number of titles can be intimidating, and many shows run for well over a hundred episodes. This list picks ten well-known starting points across different genres, so you can find the style that suits you before committing.

A quick note before you start: episodes made for Turkish broadcast television are long, often two hours or more, and international versions are sometimes recut into shorter episodes. Do not be surprised if the episode count differs depending on where you watch.

Magnificent Century (2011)

The Magnificent Century2011 · Show Watchlist

Muhteşem Yüzyıl tells the story of the Ottoman court under Suleiman the Magnificent, played by Halit Ergenç, and of Hürrem, the young woman brought to the palace who rises to become his wife. It is lavish, political and full of harem intrigue. The series was a huge international hit and opened many doors for Turkish drama abroad. Start here if you enjoy historical sagas in the style of The Tudors.

Forbidden Love (2008)

Forbidden Love2008 · Show Watchlist

Based on the classic novel Aşk-ı Memnu by Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil, this drama follows Bihter, a young woman who marries a much older, wealthy widower and is drawn to his nephew. Beren Saat and Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ lead the cast. Set in the grand waterside mansions of Istanbul, it is elegant, passionate and tragic in the old literary way. A defining title of the modern dizi boom.

Ezel (2009)

Ezel2009 · Show Watchlist

Kenan İmirzalıoğlu plays a man betrayed by his closest friends and the woman he loved, who returns years later with a new face and a new name to take his revenge. The debt to The Count of Monte Cristo is obvious and fully embraced. Tense, stylish and moody, it is one of the most admired Turkish crime dramas. Ideal for viewers who prefer thrillers to romance.

What is Fatmagül's Fault? (2010)

What is Fatmagul's Fault?2010 · Show Watchlist

Beren Saat stars as Fatmagül, a young woman from a coastal village whose life is shattered by an assault, and who is then pushed into marrying one of the men present that night. Engin Akyürek co-stars. The series is a story of trauma, injustice and slow healing, and it sparked many conversations about how women are treated after violence. Be aware that the subject matter is heavy.