How I was wrong about Turkish production. Its just because my wife consume some bunch of stupid soap stories from Turkey.
Persona is heavy story about what is place and role of women in Tukrish society, even today, in 21st century and clearing conscience.
Story is very good, plot is heavy, directing beutifuly, music nice, dialogs in some moments fantastic and with heavy social messages.
It could be shorter for one or two episode but in overall its ok.
159 Reviews
I think this series is top of among the Turkish series.
ahmetkozan26 March 2018
After Fi, I started with a low expectation and continued with admiration. Hakan Günday and Azra Kohen are not comparable to each other. There is no need to look for flaws in Sahsiyet. Thanks to Puhu TV, quality in the Turkish series sector has risen so much. Sahsiyet's story is a bit like Breaking Bad, a bit of a Dexter mix, much more different and much more intimate.
Sahsiyet's greatest trump card; Behind the screen are two successful names such as Hakan Gunday and Onur Saylak. Hakan Gunday, one of the greatest writers that Turkish literature has recently released, writes the screenplay of Sahsiyet. The scenarios in each section are overly pleasing. Those who know their books, I am sure they felt this.
The second biggest trump card in the series is the Haluk Bilginer factor. As for the Cansu Dere... Everyone has a prejudice against her. But I do not think it's bad. I did not see an exaggeration. Exceptionally lean, understated, with a moderate performance on display, without too much trouble. Only the character Nevra, a little too American. The Turkish police is like a Behzat Ç. Police office looks like the American Police Department in Sahsiyet. It's a very successful mini-series. I wish it was a few seasons. 10/10
Sahsiyet's greatest trump card; Behind the screen are two successful names such as Hakan Gunday and Onur Saylak. Hakan Gunday, one of the greatest writers that Turkish literature has recently released, writes the screenplay of Sahsiyet. The scenarios in each section are overly pleasing. Those who know their books, I am sure they felt this.
The second biggest trump card in the series is the Haluk Bilginer factor. As for the Cansu Dere... Everyone has a prejudice against her. But I do not think it's bad. I did not see an exaggeration. Exceptionally lean, understated, with a moderate performance on display, without too much trouble. Only the character Nevra, a little too American. The Turkish police is like a Behzat Ç. Police office looks like the American Police Department in Sahsiyet. It's a very successful mini-series. I wish it was a few seasons. 10/10
Masterpiece
nurullahayberkbudak15 April 2018
Best turkish series ever
bahare-mkhanloo24 April 2018
One of the best
AkKrock16 February 2019
excellent
Hardbottle921 June 2018
This is an excellent serie.
This is rare to see Turkish TV series competing with foreign ones.
I can say this is as good as famous american crime TV series.
Without spoilers I can just say suprise connections were great.
the only dissapointing thing for me was Zuhal and Deva. Their story was a bit weak.
Anyway I highly recommend to watch this show; even for not Turkish people.
This job could be a revolution in turkish TV shows
muhammedali-4288413 March 2019
I don't know why have I delayed this show to watch. A wonderful story, great cinematography, and a flow that does not get you bored. Some how, it keeps you awake. highly unpredictable.
Beside this, the show focuses on some huge problems in turkish society, shamefull incedents and knowing them by a community that act like it is not happening. The show throws this up to us to face this mass so rigorously.
Amazing !!!
princess_lilmisspiggy6 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I have not watched a Turkish serial in this quality for a long time. I watched while I stick to computer screen. Agah Beyoglu's attitude of "not even hurting the ant" learns that his life is going to change, on the contrary it is just a summary of human being's evolution. Nevertheless, she never gave up on her characteristic of valuing women because the people she killed were from people who had been violent to women. Is it really a single diagnosis of Alzheimer's causing murder? Why do we like Agah even though he is a serial killer?
Not unique, but definitely different
gk30300718 April 2021
Frankly, it took for me like ages to get past the first episode. But then, I increased pace and completed the entire season in 2 days; 2 days because i needed some sleep so as to grasp and catch hold of the sequences.
Sahsiyet gets my applause. It has well deserved cinematography, appeal, timing, and pace. It is slow at times, and yet thoughtful and decisive. Bravo its creators, director, and actors.
The main lead, Agah, is impressive and quirky. Really, his timings at times made me into thinking like he was really suffering with Alzihmers. How well executed. The other actors also did a great job.
Above all, the last two episodes had a dreadful atmosphere, and i think, that was something which sums up to all the reasons the firsts ten episodes left an impression on me; and definitely the other audiences who watched this show. Unsettling, nervebreaking and tear jerkers. Maybe through a fictional way, the creators wanted to showcase the brutal reality of our "world".
Don't miss this if you love mystery, thrill, and an impeccable creativity.
Sahsiyet gets my applause. It has well deserved cinematography, appeal, timing, and pace. It is slow at times, and yet thoughtful and decisive. Bravo its creators, director, and actors.
The main lead, Agah, is impressive and quirky. Really, his timings at times made me into thinking like he was really suffering with Alzihmers. How well executed. The other actors also did a great job.
Above all, the last two episodes had a dreadful atmosphere, and i think, that was something which sums up to all the reasons the firsts ten episodes left an impression on me; and definitely the other audiences who watched this show. Unsettling, nervebreaking and tear jerkers. Maybe through a fictional way, the creators wanted to showcase the brutal reality of our "world".
Don't miss this if you love mystery, thrill, and an impeccable creativity.
oh. my. fking. god!!!
aannieukr17 December 2020
I created an account here just to leave this comment! i would never expect series (especially turkish ones) to be SO great!
everything is good! acting, shooting, TWIST PLOTS!
i just applaud and bow to the whole crew! producers, directors, actors, everyone! thank you a lot to everyone who had created this!
wow. wow! i am so amazed, guys!
WOW!
very proud of saying that Sahsiyet is very very fascinating Turkish TV serie!
nihal-asli11 June 2018
Thanks to PuHu TV for the quality in the Turkish Series! It's getting a lot better.
Not only actors and actresses but also director and soundtracks are very very successful.
I am very proud of saying that Sahsiyet is a very very exciting and fascinating Turkish TV series, and I am looking forward to see next episodes..
Great tv show especially not-Turkish people should watch it
ozanss5527 May 2018
Master Haluk Bilginer and co-stars Cansu Dere and Metin Akguler and the others (especially young actors and actress did great job). Great cast, unique story and script. For me if you wanna watch fluent tv show dont stop just start to first episode you can find it on puhutv.com
Good for Turkey, otherwise average
aliromario11 October 2020
If you're looking for a ZeroZeroZero, Sopranos, True Detective or Breaking bad... this ain't it.
I come from Turkey and understand why it's gotten a lot of praise. Turkish series tend to be more like telenovelas and filled with cheesy drama. This one has more flair and it is darker in the style of above mentioned series.
So it's the first "serious" attempt of making something other than a "Turkish days of our lives".
The high score is a bit inflated, much like Indian movies tend to have higher scores than they should.. Just my opinion.
It's filled with many cliches and cringy moments. It's unable to shake off typical Turkish entertainment stereotypes, the poorly acted small town drunk or the unnecessary love interest and some parts of the series where you go " okaaaay... they should've just cut that out.. thats just pure ridiculousness"
Kudos; To the cinematography and visuals. Everything production wise are for the most part top notch and.. the lead role by Haluk Bilginer is amazing and a joy to watch. He basically carries the whole series. Absolutely charismatic. Actually that's an understatement.. He is fantastic!
It's tough writing a review without spoiling and ruining it for everybody else. Just keep your expectations low and you might enjoy it.
I come from Turkey and understand why it's gotten a lot of praise. Turkish series tend to be more like telenovelas and filled with cheesy drama. This one has more flair and it is darker in the style of above mentioned series.
So it's the first "serious" attempt of making something other than a "Turkish days of our lives".
The high score is a bit inflated, much like Indian movies tend to have higher scores than they should.. Just my opinion.
It's filled with many cliches and cringy moments. It's unable to shake off typical Turkish entertainment stereotypes, the poorly acted small town drunk or the unnecessary love interest and some parts of the series where you go " okaaaay... they should've just cut that out.. thats just pure ridiculousness"
Kudos; To the cinematography and visuals. Everything production wise are for the most part top notch and.. the lead role by Haluk Bilginer is amazing and a joy to watch. He basically carries the whole series. Absolutely charismatic. Actually that's an understatement.. He is fantastic!
It's tough writing a review without spoiling and ruining it for everybody else. Just keep your expectations low and you might enjoy it.
Definitely false rating
Filmolojist31 March 2020
When you compare the show with the existing Turkish TV shows, yeah it does deserve some rating around 9. But when you compare it with the popular shows around the world, it just deserves up to 5 of rating. Looks like Turkish people compare this with the other Turkish TV shows or they are just supporting it just because the show is from our own nation. If that second thing is happening, thats not right thing to do. Because, you will lose more than whatever you earn by deceiving others.
Fresh and original!
hakan-akkurt26 March 2018
Not much of this subject has been done on turkish tv, generaly it is a lovestory between a rich boy and a poor girl and their impossible "love story". But a serial killer on the loose with alzheimer - well that is something brand new ! But Onur Saylak did it!! What a great show with great visuals and sound. The intro by it self is already something never done - and to add the brilliant acting and story, you got an istant HIT. Let's hope that every episode keeps this line steps up and does not fall back on typical turkish tv shows.
Haluk bilginer sir, you already proven that you are a great actor. But boy o boy do you keep getting greater and better.
From the first episode in I give this show a 9/10
Haluk bilginer sir, you already proven that you are a great actor. But boy o boy do you keep getting greater and better.
From the first episode in I give this show a 9/10
With one word : Fascinating
ilkerzorluoglu24 June 2018
One word "Goosebumps"
Rustynail-950-86222919 June 2018
In the beginning it takes some getting used to the first 3 a 4 episodes. But later it will only get better and better. You can no longer stop watching and want to watch them all! I can advise you not to do that. Save it for later and watch it with a fresh head, then its been better.
Really Outstanding
jensimmons5520 December 2019
An absolute treat and fully deserving of the praise heaped upon it in other reviews. A wonderful cast with Haluk Bilginer giving a performance for the ages as the lead, but with many other terrific performances throughout the cast.
A well-directed and nicely shot series with some very deep themes about Turkish society. It is a highly original and inventive story, which builds to a deeply affecting conclusion. This is ten hours well spent of anyone's time. Thoroughly recommended.
Masterpiece
cempecenek10 May 2018
I was expecting more
Hawkeleven22 November 2019
After seeing the 9.1 ranking of this series, I decided to watch it, and I like to watch it, very good main character and plot. The end is really great, but the majority of episodes until there needed more tension and breathtaking scenes, sometimes it gets boring, lacking emotional depth and touching strong subjects in a soft way. Overall it's worth watching but i get the feeling that the show had potential for way more.
It's truly a masterpiece, -1 star for some boring events in first couple of eps
blankyblank7 October 2021
As serial killer stories go - there's a psycho, presumably, on a killing spree with seemingly unrelated victims making local police station look like a circus. Pretty much everything is revealed to us viewers except how will they catch him and more importantly- why is he doing this. The "why" will keep you glued to your seat, make you assume and connect these men in your head. And once you think you've got the hangs of it the story turns upside down and leaves you speechless. Seriously, I did not expect *that* at all
The finale is easily 11/10 but it takes a while to get there
Around first 5 or 6 episodes I found everyone who is not Agah very boring, almost a snooze fest which I have to go trough in order to understand what's going on. Especially Nevra, who seemed like your typical idealistic protagonist with added struggle of a woman in man's world. Agah carries that first half of the series, he's pretty funny guy actually. Follow him on his quest of revisiting old friends while Nevra slowly takes bigger and bigger role and very sharply becomes the focus of the story. Wait and see what all of those 53 similar looking men did to deserve the sticker on the forehead. You won't be dissappointed. I mean, you will detest them even if they're fictional but it makes a great story Avoid the spoilers like a plague and take the story as It goes. Warning -it's a lot. It's heavy, it's scary, it leaves a knot somewhere inside that hard to untangle. Because it is very much real. It certainly happened in the past, And it might as well be happening right now. And although this series ends on a positive note, justice isn't that common in the real world sadly.
Around first 5 or 6 episodes I found everyone who is not Agah very boring, almost a snooze fest which I have to go trough in order to understand what's going on. Especially Nevra, who seemed like your typical idealistic protagonist with added struggle of a woman in man's world. Agah carries that first half of the series, he's pretty funny guy actually. Follow him on his quest of revisiting old friends while Nevra slowly takes bigger and bigger role and very sharply becomes the focus of the story. Wait and see what all of those 53 similar looking men did to deserve the sticker on the forehead. You won't be dissappointed. I mean, you will detest them even if they're fictional but it makes a great story Avoid the spoilers like a plague and take the story as It goes. Warning -it's a lot. It's heavy, it's scary, it leaves a knot somewhere inside that hard to untangle. Because it is very much real. It certainly happened in the past, And it might as well be happening right now. And although this series ends on a positive note, justice isn't that common in the real world sadly.
Best turkish series.
fth-evren12 January 2019
The best turkish-made series you've ever seen. fiction made very well. the director of photography has done a wonderful job with blue and red colors. they chose the songs very well. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this series.
A creative and compelling Turkish crime drama
tinytots219 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
In Sahsiyet, an elderly ex-court official newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's resolves to act as judge, jury and executioner before he completely loses his memory. The story also follows a female police investigator who must confront her own troubled past to uncover the dark secrets that drive the criminal's motivations and actions.
The show adroitly handles and presents topics like the difference between law and justice, repression of past trauma, discrimination against foreigners, and the inequality of the sexes. The script too deserves praise for effectively weaving together poignant emotional moments, subtly humorous conversations as well as thought-provoking soliloquies. The cast's acting is wonderful with Haluk Bilginer's portrayal of the troubled and conflicted lead protagonist deserving special mention. Moreover, the setting is very realistically constructed be that in the layout of the sets or the music chosen for the scenes, increasing the intensity of the depiction.
Insofar as criticisms go, a lot of them could stem from my unfamiliarity with Turkish culture; after all, Sahsiyet is the first Turkish television show I have watched. Perhaps this is why many of the subplots and secondary storylines tended not to engross me - none of Zulal's insecurities, Deva's rebelliousness, or even Neyra's fumbling progress captivated me as much as Agah's morally questionable enactment of justice. Considering the premise and plot, the show also felt drawn out in parts and may have benefitted from a tighter half dozen episodes and a more satisfying conclusion. Furthermore, some suspension of disbelief was necessary to explain away aspects like the utter incompetence of the authorities, the lack of public knowledge of a secret shared by almost an entire town, and the neat wrapping up of all loose ends. Finally, the Alzheimer's disease condition was disappointingly used more for characterization instead of playing an integral role in the events of the narrative itself.
To sum up, I consider Sahsiyet an intriguing drama highlighting the promise and potential of Turkish television. The mystery is suspenseful, the themes are mature, the acting is excellent and the setting is vivid. While the show does not quite deliver on its premise and has some forgettable B-plots, it still makes for an entertaining and gripping watch that can be appreciated by an international audience.
The show adroitly handles and presents topics like the difference between law and justice, repression of past trauma, discrimination against foreigners, and the inequality of the sexes. The script too deserves praise for effectively weaving together poignant emotional moments, subtly humorous conversations as well as thought-provoking soliloquies. The cast's acting is wonderful with Haluk Bilginer's portrayal of the troubled and conflicted lead protagonist deserving special mention. Moreover, the setting is very realistically constructed be that in the layout of the sets or the music chosen for the scenes, increasing the intensity of the depiction.
Insofar as criticisms go, a lot of them could stem from my unfamiliarity with Turkish culture; after all, Sahsiyet is the first Turkish television show I have watched. Perhaps this is why many of the subplots and secondary storylines tended not to engross me - none of Zulal's insecurities, Deva's rebelliousness, or even Neyra's fumbling progress captivated me as much as Agah's morally questionable enactment of justice. Considering the premise and plot, the show also felt drawn out in parts and may have benefitted from a tighter half dozen episodes and a more satisfying conclusion. Furthermore, some suspension of disbelief was necessary to explain away aspects like the utter incompetence of the authorities, the lack of public knowledge of a secret shared by almost an entire town, and the neat wrapping up of all loose ends. Finally, the Alzheimer's disease condition was disappointingly used more for characterization instead of playing an integral role in the events of the narrative itself.
To sum up, I consider Sahsiyet an intriguing drama highlighting the promise and potential of Turkish television. The mystery is suspenseful, the themes are mature, the acting is excellent and the setting is vivid. While the show does not quite deliver on its premise and has some forgettable B-plots, it still makes for an entertaining and gripping watch that can be appreciated by an international audience.
Low-ish production values and effort drag down this strange but charismatic series
yavermbizi5 June 2020
If I had to say something positive about this series, the first thing that comes to mind is the intro, which is incredibly atmospheric and visually stunning, although it hardly fits the series. Another positive thing is the music - it is varied but broadly speaking great, much of it being synth-based and reminiscent of something like "Half-Life"; however that cyberpunkishness, like the intro, doesn't feel like it quite belongs.
This is a crime drama about a serial killer, where the murderer is the protagonist and the cops hunting him down are the secondary protagonists. However, even though the killer is with whom we spend the most time, the audience remains in the dark as for his motives and reasons until - literally - the last two episodes. Sure, we get some breadcrumbs in the meantime, but the logic of the narrative feels a bit disjointed, where we have no idea what Agah, the murderer, is after, and the cops follow up on leads quite arbitrarily. The whole plot is honestly a bit arbitrary, and a few plotlines just end without resolution or explanation. Others end with some explanation, but quite unsatisfactorily.
The production values are quite cheap at times, and continuity is dreadfully overlooked: in the worst case, a character might warp from one side of the room to another from shot to shot, all within the same conversation. The at times just awful camerawork makes it even more confusing (seriously, almost half of the shots don't seem to have any particular reason behind them, as if the camera was placed on whatever spot a fly happened to land in the room). The series also suffers a bit from a certain prudishness, where they want to tease the audience with erotic shots of attractive female characters the way them western series do sometimes, but the most they can show is a bra, if that. Finally, the acting is hit or miss - while it's difficult to judge while watching with subtitles, quite a few scenes left me with a raised eyebrow or a felling of cringe instead of the desired emotion (ex. Agah's breakdown about the phonecall at the automechanic's).
With all that said, the actors are generally charismatic and enjoyable to watch, and as a person quite distant from Turkish culture, getting a slice of life from Turkey and learning/unexpectedly recognising some Turkish words is an interesting thing by itself.
(I've watched this series in Turkish with English subtitles)
This is a crime drama about a serial killer, where the murderer is the protagonist and the cops hunting him down are the secondary protagonists. However, even though the killer is with whom we spend the most time, the audience remains in the dark as for his motives and reasons until - literally - the last two episodes. Sure, we get some breadcrumbs in the meantime, but the logic of the narrative feels a bit disjointed, where we have no idea what Agah, the murderer, is after, and the cops follow up on leads quite arbitrarily. The whole plot is honestly a bit arbitrary, and a few plotlines just end without resolution or explanation. Others end with some explanation, but quite unsatisfactorily.
The production values are quite cheap at times, and continuity is dreadfully overlooked: in the worst case, a character might warp from one side of the room to another from shot to shot, all within the same conversation. The at times just awful camerawork makes it even more confusing (seriously, almost half of the shots don't seem to have any particular reason behind them, as if the camera was placed on whatever spot a fly happened to land in the room). The series also suffers a bit from a certain prudishness, where they want to tease the audience with erotic shots of attractive female characters the way them western series do sometimes, but the most they can show is a bra, if that. Finally, the acting is hit or miss - while it's difficult to judge while watching with subtitles, quite a few scenes left me with a raised eyebrow or a felling of cringe instead of the desired emotion (ex. Agah's breakdown about the phonecall at the automechanic's).
With all that said, the actors are generally charismatic and enjoyable to watch, and as a person quite distant from Turkish culture, getting a slice of life from Turkey and learning/unexpectedly recognising some Turkish words is an interesting thing by itself.
(I've watched this series in Turkish with English subtitles)
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