From crime to melodrama: a guide to the best Turkish TV series

Turkish TV series have firmly entered the top of popularity among the Russian audience. According to the Medialogy rating for the first quarter of 2026, published on the website, projects such as "Far City" and "Cranberry Sherbet" entered the top ten, ahead of many foreign hits. What is their secret and what other Turkish TV series deserve attention is in the Izvestia article.

"The Distant City" (Uzak Şehir)

The series "Faraway City" became a real phenomenon of 2025 and by a wide margin took seventh place in the rating of "Medialogy" for the first quarter of 2026. The plot focuses on the story of a family forced to face difficult trials and secrets of the past, which the characters have been trying to hide for many years.

The first season of the project became a record holder in ratings and won the love of viewers around the world. However, in the second season, according to critics, the scriptwriters got carried away with introducing old lovers into the plot, which is why ratings began to decline. Despite this, high foreign sales ensured that the series was extended for a third season, which will be released in the fall of 2026.

Cranberry Sherbet (Kızılcık Şerbeti)

The series ranks eighth in the Medialogy rating. The plot tells the love story of two young people from families with different views on life. A girl named Dogu (Syla Turkoglu) and a guy Fatih (Dogukan Gunger) love each other, and she is expecting a baby. The young couple get married, although Dogu's mother was categorically against it. Dogu has a modern and secular family, whereas Fatiha's family is conservative and large.

The first season ends with the collapse of the relationship between Dogu and Fatih: because of her husband's infidelity, the girl is going to get a divorce. Despite the fact that the main cast has almost completely changed, the project has been extended for a fifth season.

"Between" (Arafta / "Bound by Fate")

The fifteenth position in the rating was taken by the series "Between" (in the original "Arafta", which means "Bound by fate"). This is a Turkish drama that reveals the story of a love ignited in the flames of revenge. The main character Atesh, tormented by childhood scars and consumed by rage, returns to destroy the family that ruined his life many years ago. His weapon is not a sword, but a marriage: 187 days with Merjan, the daughter of his enemy.

A girl who has already been promised to another is embroiled in a battle she never chose. Atesh binds her to himself, believing that she is the key to his revenge. In the shadow, Asla, driven by jealousy, uses every opportunity to separate them. The main roles in the series were played by actors Ilsu Demirji and Emin Gunench.

"Roses and Sins" (Rose and Sin)

In the seventeenth place of the rating is a touching Turkish melodrama about the casual acquaintance of a man experiencing betrayal of his wife and a young girl who believes in true love. The main roles were played by Cemre Baysel and Murat Yildirim. The series continues to gain popularity around the world, and fairly high ratings have provided it with a second season.

The plot revolves around Serhat (Murat Yildirim), a successful businessman, a happy husband and a wonderful father. However, quite by chance, a man finds out that his wife has been cheating on him for many years. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Berrack falls into a coma as a result of a tragic accident. Serhat's search for the truth leads him to the slums of Istanbul, where he meets a young girl named Zeynep (Cemre Baysel).

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"Kingfisher" (Yalı Çapkını)

The twentieth place in the rating was taken by the popular TV series "Kingfisher", in which actor and singer Emre Altug played one of the main roles. This series premiered back in 2022, but it continues to be the focus of viewers' attention.

The plot revolves around the young and carefree Ferit (Mert Ramadan Demir), the heir to the rich Korkhan family. The grandfather, who is always unhappy with his grandson's behavior, decides to marry him off in order to force him to become a worthy heir. The modest and well-behaved Suna is chosen as the bride. However, fate dictates otherwise: at the last moment, her younger sister Seyran (Afra Saracoglu), a quiet girl but with a strong character, becomes the bride. From this moment, the story of a difficult relationship between the spouses begins, filled with passion, jealousy, intrigue and family dramas.