Many people all around the world are going crazy over Turkish dramas. Many people don’t understand this addiction though.
We see many news about Turkish drama invasion in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Turkish dramas have been exported to over 100 countries and Turkey has become the world’s second highest exporter of TV series after the US, with over $200 million annual exports (in 2014).
So, what makes Turkish dramas so popular around the world?
We have gathered some reasons to watch Turkish dramas. Please send us your reason to watch Turkish dramas so that we can improve our list by considering different perspectives.
1. Similarity in Cultures. Many people watch Turkish dramas because they are telling stories that they used to. The culture in Turkish dramas, more or less, is similar to that of Middle Eastern countries, Balkans, and even Latin American countries. In Turkish dramas, we see so many times the respect for elder people. The last word is said by the eldest person at the house. Family relations are so important unlike American series. Thus, there are many scenes related with parents, strong mother-in-laws, supportive parents etc. Also, love scenes rarely progress past kissing. In fact, even seeing a French kiss in a Turkish drama is newsworthy. It is so emotional to watch the main couple finally hold hands after several episodes.
Magnificent Century (Muhtesem Yuzyil)
2.Plot. Many people watch Turkish dramas just because they have different plots than the Western series. These stories are different and therefore they are more exciting. Turkish dramas are so emotional. They touch your heart. Today’s best American shows avoid sentimentality. However, in Turkish dramas, you explore the lives of ordinary people. You become happy when the leads succeed something and you want the couples to disclose their loves eventually.
Additionally, many popular Turkish dramas as based on popular Turkish novels. For instance, Forbidden Love (Aski Memnu) is the book of Halit Ziya Usakligil, Fall of the Leaves (Yaprak Dokumu) is the book of Resat Nuri Guntekin, Lovebird (Calikusu) is the book of Resat Nuri Güntekin, From Lips to Heart (Dudaktan Kalbe) is the book of Resat Nuri Guntekin; Kurt Seyit and Shura (Kurt Seyit ve Sura) is the book of Nermin Sezmen, From Fatih to Harbiye (Fatih Harbiye) is the book of Peyami Safa and so on.
Forbidden Love (Aski Memnu)
From Lips to Heart (Dudaktan Kalbe)
3.Handsome Actors and Beautiful Actresses. The stars in Turkish dramas are very attractive. Whether they are blonde or dark, the male leads in Turkish dramas are always HOT and HANDSOME and CHARMING etc. Female leads are very BEAUTIFUL. Even those in minor roles look like models so you do not mind seeing their faces for 2 hours. In recent years, American series have sacrificed beauty for the sake of reality. However, in Turkish dramas, we continue to see gorgeous looking people.
Cagatay Ulusoy
Tuba Buyukustun
4.Scenes of Turkey. Most of the Turkish dramas take place in Istanbul. There are also other Turkish dramas that take place in other parts of Turkey. For instance, Vine Mansion (Asmali Konak) and Love in the Sky (Yer Gok Ask) were shot in Cappadocia; Remember Darling (Hatirla Sevgili) was shot in Prince Islands; Coming Home (Sila) was shot in Mardin; Black Rose (Karagul) was shot in Sanliurfa etc. There are many scenes from the beauties of Turkey. It is like visiting Turkey. Many people wish to go the shooting places of Turkish dramas after watching Turkish dramas.
1001 Nights (Binbir Gece)
Black Rose (Karagul)
5.Acting. In Turkish dramas, even though we see many attractive stars, their acting is always convincing and realistic. The actors seem like real people whom you could actually meet and interact with. They seem more relatable and human than the actors who seem really untouchable. Both actors and actresses touch our heart. They successfully pass their feelings to us.
Is there anyone who did not cry for the following scenes?
Death of Sehzade Mustafa – Magnificent Century (Muhtesem Yuzyil)
Death of Bihter – Forbidden Love (Aski Memnu)
Death of Seyit’s Family – Kurt Seyit and Shura (Kurt Seyit ve Sura)
6.Language. Watching Turkish dramas is like free Turkish lessons for foreigners. You will know several Turkish works like “sorry”, “thanks” , “hello” and you will be able to confess your love by saying “seni seviyorum”.
7.Music. The music and the feeling it creates is a big part of why Turkish dramas appeal to a lot of people from different cultures. To compliment the moments and scenes portrayed in dramas, original soundtracks are often specially composed and played alongside those scenes. Do you remember the soundtracks of Fall of the Leaves (Yaprak Dokumu) or Magnificent Century (Muhtesem Yuzyil) or Ertugrul Resurrection (Dirilis Ertugrul) or Aliye or What is Fatmagul’s Fault (Fatmagulun Sucu Ne)?
Soundtrack Album of Inside (Icerde) by Toygar Isikli
8.Cultural appeal. Some people even watch Turkish dramas to learn a different culture. You learn about societal norms, different values and cultural practices by watching the day to day life of the characters. If you watch Turkish drama, you will learn that shoes are taken off at the door, you organize henna night before the wedding ceremony, you kiss the hands of the elder people in special occasions like eids, festivals etc.
Henna Night from Eid and Tide (Medcezir)
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I have come to.love the Turkish series as they are unlike shows from other countries.The story lines are excellent and the actors clothe themselves with the character, or rather become the character.Their heart and soul is portrayed in every emotion and experience the pain and joy that they put into each scene.
The actors are handsome and the actresses are beautiful,elegant and ooze class.
I am an avid fan and want you to know that your acting is the very best...
Thank you
Warm regards
Heather Palm
I love Turkish Moves, some of them are real life stories. But my favorite one is Winter Sun with Nesin and Meta. I would like to watch it again but in the English languages this time. If there is a season 2 please please put it in English, I would love to just sit and enjoy, instead of reading all the time.
I love Turkish films as I was hooked when coming across Seyit ve Sura - and also Cesur ve Guzel - As said in all previous posts the culture, scenery, reality of acting, family values, real life-like stories that seem like the 'real thing' when acted makes the stories fantastic to watch - of course I must mention the handsome actors, and beautiful actresses, with fashionale clothes, or period costumes that are so appropriate for different films - Kivanc,Farah, Can Yaman, Ozge Gurel, Tuba Buyukestan, and so many other actors/actresses to name some are so professional in their portrayal of their characters that the stories become so telatable and can happen in real life - cultural traditions, beautiful scenery and wonderful storylines have captured my TV viewing - I hardly watch anything else on our local TV channels anymore and I am a New Zealander -- captivating stories - respect for elders similar to our culture - so glad I found Turkish drams while surfing the net - am addicted to them and watch dramas more than once
I just wish there were more Turkish dramas with English Subtitles. I’ve learned quite a few of the more common Turkish words and I watch the stories even though I don’t understand what the words mean. I try to read what the plot is and who the characters are which makes it somewhat easy to follow.
I enjoy Turkish Dramas because of the limits placed on showing excessively sexual content. In America, it used to be the same way. There were laws which prevented shows from showing certain things. Let's face it, we all know people have sex. We can gather what is going on in the minds and hearts of people who have fallen in love. We don't need to see it. It forces the writers to convey their love in non verbal and non pornographic ways, and I enjoy that. It is very refreshing. What I dislike about Turkish dramas are that many times the women find themselves in the clutches of truly mentally ill men who do not love them but have a dangerous obsession to just have them, to possess them, even to the point of killing family and friends. This kind of tribalism really is a turn off(makes me very angry). As someone who has personally escaped a VERY abusive situation, i am totally disgusted when I see female leads laboring long to try to get the psycho to understand why she doesn't love or like him. This is actually a reality for many women, and it makes my insides cringe when I view it. I wish she would just drop kick him in the privates and get away from him. Get a bus ticket out and never return. There is always this very tormenting situation in Turkish dramas which I don't particularly enjoy, but on the whole, I really love to watch them. The story lines are very good and it is just nice to see how various cultures tell their stories. I'm already tired of Hollywood and there is nothing worth watching that they put out. Unfortunately, they have sacrificed family values for things which are dark, disgusting and destructive. I haven't gone to the movies in over ten years, simply because I don't want to be horrified and defiled for two hours, and also pay my money for that. I am not Muslim, but I do enjoy many of the series. :-)
The latest series I 'binged watched is Winter Sun"
exceptional acting with a great story line as well the hero/heroine have
a happy ending which i enjoyed compared to Seyet and Sura.. fantastic series
the ending was truly "a crying shame"..
from the Capital in Canada to Turkey thank you for the great entertainment, I'm i'm smitten with
your Turkish gorgeous male actors and not one ugly female actress! you got TALENT
brillant writers and producers.. i'm hooked on your movies!
Our North American movies are getting overshadowed, :(
You are so right in all of your observations! After watching the 3-4 series of Turkish dramas I have watched, I have learned a lot about Turkish culture and become fascinated by Istanbul! Yes, I now have a lengthy list of Turkish expressions I can say and wish I could learn even more Turkish! I know I should buy simit at the local bakeries there, and how to kiss the hand of an elder and touch it to my forehead as an expression of respect. I am an American, but love the respect shown for elders and the fact that all the romance is respectful and restrained -- sparing us all the nudity of American cinema and television. It is perhaps a bit too impossibly romantic, but that's exactly the attraction! I can easily understand why these series are so popular in other Muslim countries, and in other countries in Africa, Asia, and South America where many of the cultural values are similar even if the religions are different. It has also been fascinating to me to see how European Turkey is despite the predominance of the Muslim faith. It seems that many of the social issues like divorce, abortion, etc. are also a part of Turkish reality. All in all, it has been fascinating on so many levels to get "hooked" on Turkish dramas!
Try Kara Para Ask on UTube...all episodes very well translated, and such a good series. Just to watch Engin Akyürek it is worth it! And of course Tuba Büyüküstün!
I agree that it was disheartening to find this drama ending so unfulfilled. But, I believe that at the time they thought that the series was going to be renewed and it must have gotten cancelled, as I am sure, some of the others with lousy unfinished endings were.
Absolutely agree with all the comments above! Tired of same old american movies all you see is swearing/sex etc...no culture/no respect and boring storylines! I had gotten into Korean dramas as they also had great stories to tell but somehow there was too much aggressiveness between parents anx their children all the spanking! Also got tired during romantic moments when the women would just stand there during kissing scenes. I understand there are ratings involved but you need to make it a little realistic and show some emotion! Therefore i dropped them and moved onto Turkish dramas and have not regretted it since and of course the actors/actresses are so much more Buff????! The scenery also just Wow!