Written by İrem Sak, Modern Woman is one of the most honest female stories we’ve seen on screen in a long time. It’s funny, awkward, and sometimes painfully relatable, the kind of series that makes you laugh and think, “yeah, that’s totally me.”
At its center is Pınar, a 35-year-old woman trying to stand on her own feet in İstanbul. She’s torn between the expectations of her family, her job, her lovers, and everyone around her, all while trying not to lose herself.
We first meet her early in the morning, still half-asleep, annoyed by the hum of her coffee machine. Her eyes are tired, her humor dry, her energy unmistakably “İstanbul.” She wears the familiar mask of “everything’s fine,” though nothing really is. Still, she heads out the door, narrating to us what it means to be alone in a big city. No one in this show is simply good or bad, everyone’s a little broken, a little fake, a little tired. Just like in real life. Modern Woman captures the millennial struggle to stay sane and authentic in modern city life. Yet, instead of preaching, it finds humor in the chaos. Pınar’s life is told through passive-aggressive office meetings, unnoticed efforts to impress the guy she likes, and her family’s not-so-subtle “when are you getting married?” looks. The show has a personal, confessional tone, much like Fleabag. As Pınar shows her own exhaustion, she tells ours too.
Directed by Ayberk Sak and M. Emre Kaman, the series turns millennials’ burnout, office fatigue, and social pressure into sharp, self-aware comedy. It’s funny, yet deeply relatable. Sak doesn’t just star in the series; as the writer, she holds its pulse. The result is honest, raw, unfiltered, and always real, a reminder that women’s comedy can be smart, fearless, and even political.
The guest cast adds extra flavor: Kubilay Aka brings vibrant energy and sharp timing, while Özgür Çevik returns to the screen after a long break with a strong performance. His quick move to a primetime project right after this series says a lot about the impact Modern Woman has already made.
Produced by TIMS&B Productions, the series is now being introduced to international markets by Inter Medya. In short, Modern Woman shows that Turkish content, already known for its global strength in drama, can also deliver smart, universally resonant comedy.
This review was featured in Episode Magazine’s DICM 2025 issue.
