Eshref Ruya first arrived at a politically charged moment in Türkiye, premiering mid-March after a long and much-anticipated production process. It marks Çağatay Ulusoy’s return to mainstream TV after eight years, co-starring with Demet Özdemir. Produced by TIMS&B Productions, directed by Uluç Bayraktar and written by Ethem Özışık and Lokman Maral, the show has steadily climbed the ratings, consistently holding a spot in the top five.
Let’s start with the show’s popularity. We know that Turkish audiences have always had a strong appetite for mafia stories. But when a crime narrative is intertwined with romance, it becomes something else entirely. It reminds many of Ezel, a series so impactful that it would empty the streets on the nights it aired. Now, 14 years later, Eshref Ruya is the first show that genuinely captures a similar magic.
While TV dramas traditionally target women, Eshref Ruya is clearly resonating with both male and female viewers. That’s not just reflected in viewership, Eşref’s signature haircut, for example, has started trending! It’s rare, -but refreshing- to see a male lead shaping fashion in this way again.
At the heart of the story is Eşref Tek, an orphan who grows up alone and is inevitably drawn into the criminal underworld. Over time, he rises to become a powerful and respected figure within a gang called Yetimler (The Orphans), one of the largest criminal organizations in Türkiye, known for operating more like a family. Despite years of effort, law enforcement has never managed to bring them down. Eşref is also surrounded by a tight-knit crew: Gürdal brings chaotic charm as Eşref’s fearless and womanizing right hand; Müslüm, the fatherly figure of the group; and Faruk, the brains behind the finances.
On the romantic side of the story, things take a deeper turn. The emotional core of the series begins in Eşref’s youth. As a teenage orphan working as a mechanic assistant on a farm, he falls in love with a girl whose name he never learns. He calls her “Rüya,” meaning “dream.” But his affection turns to tragedy when he sees her being abused by the farm owner. In a moment of rage, he kills the man and is imprisoned at the age of just 14. Fast forward twenty years, and Eşref, now a powerful man, is still searching for his “Rüya”, and the only clue he has is the birthmark on her neck.
That’s when Nisan (Demet Özdemir) appears, a musician who begins working at Eşref’s hotel. But there’s more to her, she’s actually Rüya, though she had the birthmark removed just a couple years ago. Hold on, there is even more… She’s also working with the police as an undercover agent assigned to bring Eşref down.
Nisan had a difficult childhood and is now doing everything she can to protect her younger sister. But as she gets closer to Eşref, the line between duty and emotion starts to blur. She works alongside a police officer named Çiğdem, who’s obsessed with taking Eşref down, yet with each passing episode, Nisan’s emotional conflict deepens. She’s falling for the man she’s meant to betray, without even knowing she’s the woman he’s been searching for all these years.
If I haven’t made it clear enough already, Eshref Ruya is one of the most successful shows of the season. Its production quality is the kind we’ve been missing for a long time. Each episode feels cinematic, with carefully crafted visuals, sharp dialogue, and even its opening credits reflect a level of care that’s become rare in mainstream TV. As I mentioned earlier, it appeals to a wide audience, and its steadily rising ratings are proof of that.
Produced by TIMS&B, one of Türkiye’s most prominent production companies, (Bitter Lands, Deception and Valley of Hearts) was recently acquired for international distribution by Inter Medya. During its brief time on YouTube (it now airs on Prime Video in Türkiye one day ofter its broadcast release), the series managed to attract a global audience. Its international journey has now officially started with Inter Medya and I believe the show has strong potential to succeed in multiple territories.
As a longtime follower of Turkish series, I hope the series continues to balance its crime and romance elements while exploring the inner workings of the Yetimler and the emotional journey between Eşref and Nisan. There’s a lot of potential for depth and development, and if it maintains this momentum, Eshref Ruya might just become a modern classic.
This article was featured in Episode Magazine’s NEM Dubrovnik & NATPE Budapest 2025 issue.
