Back Streets

Back Streets follows a tight knit special unit within Istanbul Police Department's Public Security Department, showing how officers juggle their work and home lives while handling street-level cases. The show centers on Police Chief Rıza Soylu, a veteran whose years on the force and fatherly manner set the tone for his team. Episodes alternate between lighter, human moments and darker, emotionally taxing incidents as the unit meets people from all walks of life. Young officers learn from Rıza's steady hand while dealing with mysteries, crimes and family pressures, and the series moves between action, procedural investigation and quieter domestic scenes without giving away any major plot twists.

Premiered in 2006, Back Streets stars Zafer Ergin as Rıza Soylu, Şevket Çoruh as Mesut Güneri, Özgür Ozan as Hüsnü Çoban, Oya Okar as Selin Demirci Güneri, and Ozan Çobanoğlu as Hakan Çınar. It was produced for Turkish television and blends crime drama with moments of comedy and family focus.

The series did not pick up major international awards, and it didn't have a big presence in global prize circuits. It remained primarily a domestic production, seen and discussed within Turkey rather than on wider award stages.

Back Streets painted a recognizably local picture of Istanbul, using the city as a character in its own right. Its mix of street-level cases and family scenes gave viewers familiar urban landmarks and everyday social situations, and it contributed to Turkish TV portrayals of policing that emphasize community ties as much as criminal investigation.

Critical and audience reaction was mixed, reflected in a modest vote average of 5.6 out of 10 from 28 votes. Viewers who liked the show pointed to the ensemble chemistry and the balance of humor with drama, while critics noted uneven pacing. Main themes include duty, family responsibilities, moral complexity in policing, and how personal lives intersect with public service.