One of the boldest dramas of the season, The Fall of the King, premiered in Türkiye on February 11 after a two-year production journey. Adapted from Gülseren Budayıcıoğlu’s novel of the same name and produced by OGM Pictures, the series stars Halit Ergenç (Magnificent Century) alongside Cannes Best Actress winner Merve Dizdar (About Dry Grasses). Since its debut, it has captivated Turkish audiences and performed impressively in the ratings, and for good reason. Let’s take a closer look.
The series begins with a powerful image: Kenan Baran, now an old man, sitting all alone in a nursing home. As the story unfolds, we start to understand how he ended up there, and why he deserves it. But before we get to that, it’s worth getting to know the man at the center of it all. Let’s talk about Kenan Baran.
Kenan is a narcissistic yet charismatic man whose life, at first glance, seems flawless. Set in the 1990s, Kenan is portrayed almost like a king, a successful businessman with wealth, status, loyal friends, and a seemingly perfect marriage to Handan. But beneath the polished surface lies a deep sense of dissatisfaction. His downfall begins when he cheats on Handan with her closest friend. Handan, once deeply in love, refuses to forgive the betrayal. She leaves him, and not in the way he expects. Kenan, convinced he can escape the consequences as he always has, quickly learns that this time, he won’t. This marks the king’s first real fall.
Handan comes from a well-respected family. As a young woman, she falls hard for Kenan and, despite her family’s warnings, runs away with him. She’s completely in love, a calm, graceful presence, the perfect wife and a loyal friend. But everything shatters when she discovers Kenan has been unfaithful, and not just with anyone, but with her closest friend, Özlem. Unable to accept the betrayal, Handan leaves Kenan and tries to rebuild her life from the ground up. Meanwhile, Kenan ends up marrying Özlem, and even moves into the same house he once shared with Handan. Still, he can’t seem to let her go.
Then we meet Fadi, played by Merve Dizdar, a young, poor university student who starts working as a waitress at a club where Kenan often spends time. It’s here that their story begins, and their connection slowly deepens. Fadi is trying to get her life on track, but she finds herself drawn to Kenan. He reminds her of everything she never had, of a childhood she never got to live. Innocent and hardworking, Fadi is determined to pull her sisters out of poverty and protect them from their abusive father.
As the narrative progresses, we see Fadi and Kenan’s relationship deepen. For all her quiet strength, Fadi carries her own wounds, and beneath Kenan Baran’s imposing presence is a deeply lonely man. In many ways, their pain mirrors each other.
It’s also a real pleasure to watch Merve Dizdar and Halit Ergenç, two of Türkiye’s finest actors as partners. Halit Ergenç’s performance and Merve Dizdar’s emotional depth come together seamlessly, turning their scenes into something that feels almost like a beautifully choreographed play.
Visually, The Fall of the King does an exceptional job of recreating the 1990s. From meticulously chosen costumes and sets to the cars and interior decor, especially Kenan’s custom-tailored suits, everything comes together beautifully. I also want to highlight the show’s ability to balance heavy themes like betrayal, loss, and narcissism with moments of dark humor. It never becomes melodramatic; instead, it leans into its characters’ flaws, making them all feel more real.
The Fall of the King is, without a doubt, one of the strongest projects of the season. Produced by OGM Pictures and distributed globally by OGM UNIVERSE, the series seemed to have strong international potential, and now, as of May 20, the show has been licensed in multiple regions, including MENA, Central & Eastern Europe, CIS & Russia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
If you’d like to learn more about The Fall of the King, the OGM UNIVERSE team will be attending NEM Dubrovnik, be sure to visit them and discover more about this standout Turkish drama.
This article was featured in Episode Magazine’s NEM Dubrovnik & NATPE Budapest 2025 issue.
