Ezel

Ömer comes back from military service expecting a normal life, but he's betrayed by people he trusts and framed for a crime that lands him in prison for a decade. He stages his own death and reappears as Ezel, a polished gambler and wealthy figure who uses a new identity to get close to his former circle. He moves in high society while quietly piecing together what happened, balancing careful manipulation with flashes of raw anger. The show follows his slow, strategic unmasking of lies and loyalties, keeping its focus on the mystery of who set him up and why, without revealing the final resolutions here.

Released in 2009, Ezel was created by Kerem Deren and Pınar Bulut and directed in part by Uluç Bayraktar. The series stars Kenan İmirzalıoğlu, Cansu Dere, Yiğit Özşener, Barış Falay and Sarp Akkaya, and it helped define modern Turkish crime television production values.

While I don't have a complete list of awards, Ezel received notable attention in Turkey and at regional television ceremonies, earning nominations and recognition that raised the profiles of its cast and creative team.

Ezel left a visible mark on pop culture in and beyond Turkey, sparking active online fan communities and lively discussion about its plot twists and characters. Its mix of crime, melodrama and stylish production helped Turkish serialized dramas find wider international attention, and its characters remain frequent references in regional TV conversations.

Critical and audience response skewed positive, reflected in an average vote of 8.394/10 from 90 votes. Reviewers and viewers praised the performances, particularly Kenan İmirzalıoğlu's transformation, and the series kept viewers engaged with moral questions about loyalty, betrayal, identity and revenge. Its tone balances gritty crime elements with melodramatic relationships, so it appeals to fans who like tense character drama wrapped in intelligent plotting.