Ladies and gentlemen, I have 3 points to make. And one big sequential inference. I’m an escapist by nature. Most Indian shows don’t cut it for me anymore. And that Turkey is at the top of my bucket list. Thereby, *drumroll please* it’s time for you to get familiarised with an obsession of mine — historical Turkish shows.
The costumes, the forbidden romance and the emotional roller coaster—all expertly arranged and ready to be savoured—all entice us to escape reality. The meticulous research conducted behind the scenes is also deserving of praise aplenty. We’ve thus curated a list of historical Turkish shows you must watch, in case you plan on obsessing over something new.
Çalikusu (Lovebird)
Born in an orphanage, Feride lost both of her parents when she was a small child. She moves in with her aunt’s family for the summer vacations after and starts attending a French boarding school in Istanbul in the 1920s. Feride angrily mirrors her suffering by being passive aggressive and quarrels for no reason with her cousin Kamran.
It is later revealed Feride and Kamran have feelings towards each other despite their surface level disagreements. A must-watch if enemies to lovers is your trope of choice (yes for me). Only if the incest doesn’t bother you (no for me).
Muhteşem Yüzyıl (The Magnificent Century)
The most well-known emperor of the Ottoman Empire in history, Suleiman the Magnificent, is the subject of Muhteşem Yüzyıl. The show showcases the tussle and wavering familial dynamics within members of the imperial household as his influence and authority gradually increase. It also sheds light on the time period referred to, as the Sultanate of Women.
Additionally, there is also a spinoff by the name Kösem Muhteşem Yüzyıl. The narrative starts 37 years after Suleiman the Magnificent’s passing. Through her sons and grandchildren, it narrates the life of Mahpeyker Kösem Sultan, the first female ruler of the Ottoman Empire.
Destan
This one chronicles the epic love tale of wounded prince Batuga and warrior girl Akkiz, who were both left orphaned by Gök Han in the harsh Central Asian steppes in the eighth century. Although the plot is fictional, it borrows heavily from the age-old Turkish epics. The very talented Ebru Sahin of Hercai fame essays the role of Akkiz which makes it a must-watch for those yearning to witness a strong female lead in this list of historical Turkish shows.
Dirilis: Ertugrul
The subject of this series is the 13th-century Turkish warrior Ertugrul, who was Osman’s (the Ottoman Empire’s founder) father and one of the most well-known fighters of his era. He is a driven individual who aspires to provide his people justice and harmony but is however engaged in conflict with the Byzantines, the Crusaders, and the mercilessly advancing Mongols, who have massacred a great number of Turks.
Apart from the gruesome war angle, the series also sheds light on his psychological conflict between fate and love in the midst of all of this and is considered to be one of the most successful Turkish shows of all time.
Vatanım Sensin (Wounded Love)
Turkish television drama Vatanım Sensin is set during the Turkish War of Independence and the final years of the Ottoman Empire. Cevdet is a fictional figure based on the life of Mustafa Mümin Aksoy, also known as Gavur Mümin.
After World War One and the death of Hasan Tahsin, who was the first to open fire on the Greek soldiers who arrived in Izmir, the series opens with the Balkan Wars and ends with the formation of The Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
Also Read: Turkish Dramas Have Us Indians In A Chokehold And Here Are Some Available For Streaming
