Mil e Uma Noites

I agree with the person who posted the other comment. If I knew that Turk tv shows were called soap operas I wouldn't have watched just because in my world, a soap opera was a long drawn out adult themed story line that goes on endlessly (like Yemin with a continuous open narrative).

The first show I watched was Behzat C, and its story arc was so complex and intricate that I knew that the screenwriters were writing to an audience who could hold a mystery in their thoughts for many episodes and that it had resolution and wasn't open ended. Then someone from Turkiye called it a dizi, and said they didn't watch soap operas. I was shocked..how could this be a soap opera.

I have come to accept that the word has a different meaning. I looked it up. It said: "Turkish television series (Turkish: Türk dizileri)". I now believe that the dizi is simply a tv series unlike a movie, and has "soap" elements of sentimentality and emotion, and melodrama because a story has to have peaks and conflict and resolution but of course a good tv series will have that. It is true some people don't watch tv shows period. That is what they meant when the Turk friend said that to me, using what they thought was a universally understood concept of what a soap opera was. It threw me.

Also, I was told that the US story arc has less complexity than other countries. I talked to a Malaysian screenwriter teacher. She said the US writing style is in the 101 class, and the Turk style is in a more complex writing class.

Simply said, the word dizi does not have the same connotation as our English soap opera. ("The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored by soap manufacturers". ~wiki description) 1001 Nights was a great show, call it a dizi or a tv show, it was well worth the time to watch it. And the music...wow!

Binbir gece makes you addicted, if you watch 1 episode, you can be sure you will watch them all. Great actors, very expressive, great music, great directing,great scenario, the subject and the characters very realistic. Berguzar Korel and Halit Ergenc are the perfect pair. Has record audience in Turkey and in Romania, because is different from everything you ever seen. I recommended to everyone. The only problem is that the information about it, almost it doesn't exist in English, and Turkish language is quite difficult. The story is about Sehrazat, an architect, single mom, that has a sick child. She will do anything to save her sun, including spend a night with her boss, to get the needed money for her sun operation...

There is a lot to love about this- even for guys. I have only seen the first series- as that is all I can see on Netfix at the moment - I hope that they do put the rest of it on. Generally I love Turkish series, I did not think I would, but they are gripping, human and there are strong moral themes running through them, without them being preachy about it or moralistic. They have a beauty, sweep and realism about them that is so lacking in the Hollywood machine. I am pleased Netflix gives me the opportunity to see these and the leads are excellent.

Just recently viewed this on Netflix, I loved it and I love Turkish series. I am disappointed though that we only got season 1 with English subs, waiting and hope to get season 2 and 3 on netflix. I think Turkish soaps are really aimed at women. I loved keyitt and sura, which was on netflix also. I could watch these all the time. so much better than American and English soaps.

And no wonder - they apparently actually fell in love during the filming. Plot is razor thin and stretched to unbelievable lengths. But you keep watching because of the fiery chemistry between the leads. Grandparents were great, kids were awesome (especially Kaan). Bennu and Kerem were awesome too. Some of the story extensions were totally unnecessary - Burak, what ever happened to Mihirban, Ahu etc. But I guess they had to fill in 80 episodes. Good escapist soap in these troubled times.