Alef is already one of the most serious works in Turkey because of the quality of acting,directing, dialogues,technical parts and perhaps most importantly cinematography,it is perfect and praiseworthy actually.There are not many series worldwide which offer this kind of a cinematography and detailed work.It is too early to say a certain thing about story but it is intriguing with a opening like this.This series is a co-production between fx and blutv.There is a huge potential in these kinda shows and it should be supported and expanded.I hope it gets the necessary attention.Have a good time everyone.
31 Reviews
Almost phenomenal!
murat-cetin10 April 2020
Quite good
ilir_osmani11 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
After the turkish show Sahsiyet, I did not thought there will be such another tv show as quality as that. The cinematography, the actors and dialogues are pretty good. There is a mysterious part in the show but we will see it how will go. Recommended
Amazing show
blmido10 April 2020
After watching The first 2 episodes I am absolutely amazed at the quality of the show. The acting, dialogue, story, pacing and cinematography are all top notch.
The show immediately grabs your interest from the first few scenes and doesn't let go.
DOES NOT SEEM TURKISH AT ALL
makropoulouk27 April 2020
After watching the 3 episodes ,I must say it does n't seem Turkish at all .So far there is mystery in every aspect of the story that makes you excited about what comes next .No weak woman ,no unnecessary love story .If you didn't hear the language ,you would think it is a good English tv series .Needless to say that the two actors playing the two detectives are really amazing .Very good so far and totally recommended .
Quality
canarslan-4144222 May 2020
Firstly the show is so different from the classical turkish tv shows. The story telling, characters, scenario, cinematography... It's so creative and I think it's one of the best example of turkish criminal series. From time to time it's losing it's tempo but then it making amends. In the final episode, I was so excited. I suggesting for everyone.
Different from the others
alimohamadaljameel-5323222 April 2020
No Spoiler just
I can see why this show is different after watching 3 ep First of all the show follow's the american Rule of design the story which is new in turkey as my experiance , clearly looks like the FX Show "Fargo" and many other mini series in our time
But this is not the only reason the cinematogrphy , acting , soundtracks , the good choices of Songs thats follow the tradtions of turkey
All of this Makes this show different and i should tell you that this Show is Good for Some people thats try to enter the turkish shows or they saw other bad shows from turkey like netflix's ones "the protector"
Very good try if alef complete in the same way
I can see why this show is different after watching 3 ep First of all the show follow's the american Rule of design the story which is new in turkey as my experiance , clearly looks like the FX Show "Fargo" and many other mini series in our time
But this is not the only reason the cinematogrphy , acting , soundtracks , the good choices of Songs thats follow the tradtions of turkey
All of this Makes this show different and i should tell you that this Show is Good for Some people thats try to enter the turkish shows or they saw other bad shows from turkey like netflix's ones "the protector"
Very good try if alef complete in the same way
Good cinematography bad acting/scrlpt
aalabaz15 May 2020
Maybe it's because of the script. The Dialogues between the actors feel so artificial. It feels like the students (actors) memorized their notes and making a presentation about Ottoman history to their teachers. The lines comprising Ottoman terms of actors make it hard for spectators to understand. Hence, makes the show boring. Hope it gets better for the coming episodes.
A Little Bit Creepy
gurkancatal29 May 2020
never exciting me
ahmedothmansabbar7 June 2020
I didn't see much linkage in the story & its never exciting me " i was watching just because Kenan presence who was below standard " & the the episodes was showing once a week :/ so it become worse... the DOP work was the only thing excellent for me .
Excellent!!!
cagdas-21-3150738 May 2020
could have been much better
lonesomedove_8024 October 2021
It seems like its a one man creation ..with the director being the writer as well..it possibly needed more teamwork to make it better
the fact that I fast forward almost half of it..speaks about the problem with the writing ...
the detectives are not real ppl but rather a bunch of cliches.( both are tormented by basically the same thing ! ) except one is young and an outsider ( the english was pretty bad for someone who spent half his life in england tho ) ..and the other one is old.. and very old fashioned
all of what happens for both of them can be predicted before hand..and while the acting is decent ..the characters never invite any interest and that's half of the show
the only interesting part however is the crime itself ..with the marriage between the past and present and the mixture of history and religion ..the way the murders and the clues are researched was interesting and had much more potential than what we actually got ..a better director was needed to make this marriage between past and present a better treat...
finally I have a problem with what seems like an agenda ( the social message and taboos ) to attract attention or awards ( abroad especially ) ...the whole thing ended being more pretentious than authentic ..
my rating really is all about the idea ..being a history buff.
Kept my attention
laduqesa20 June 2020
Well, I loved the locations and found the story interesting. The sprinkling of supposed "history" in the present-day police investigation was germane and fascinating. I suppose I should have seen the motivation for the murders coming a mile off but the plot writers skillfully kept me off the scent. Likewise the machinations of one of the main characters.
Now, about that word character. None of the protagonists really had one. They were simply a vehicle to advance the series despite some of the major players having their backstories explained. For the rest, they were simply ciphers. For instance, the 3 "dogsbodies" working under the direction of the two detectives. We knew nothing about them and they were only used to impart new information. Indeed, I don't think there was one single occasion when they spoke to each other; they simply only spoke to their superiors.
To conclude, I watched it all and didn't regret it. But a "great" series as some are saying? Not in a million years.
Now, about that word character. None of the protagonists really had one. They were simply a vehicle to advance the series despite some of the major players having their backstories explained. For the rest, they were simply ciphers. For instance, the 3 "dogsbodies" working under the direction of the two detectives. We knew nothing about them and they were only used to impart new information. Indeed, I don't think there was one single occasion when they spoke to each other; they simply only spoke to their superiors.
To conclude, I watched it all and didn't regret it. But a "great" series as some are saying? Not in a million years.
Excellent...
firatberkk22 May 2020
Amazing series
aberk_tea1 May 2021
Phenomenal
taminceyunus26 December 2020
Second season bad
rifhorse10 May 2022
Watch it, but DO NOT HOPE! Sorry not good.
melih_onder20 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The drama started well but ended badly. The historical and religious issues the series touched upon were different and excited me. However, their connection with the crime events was not well established. Also, the script was very, very BAD. The actors had done their best. But as the fiction of the events got stupid, it unfortunately pulled them down.
Perfect
malbrehawy2 May 2020
Wow Just wow
ysndyrmn10 January 2021
I guess Emin Alper when the watch Broen said i can do in same quality job in istanbul also i am more Lucky about the places, stories and here it is. Who loves Broen definitelly loves this and finds simillarities.great work.
Problematic plot
cakar-ceyhun27 April 2020
Cinematography is good. But, its plot is very problematic. Serial killer do, and our guys are just watching. They are not even try to find the motivation of the killer for 4 episodes. There are plenty of Chekhov's gun not fired in the show.
masterpiece
mehdi_aitbou23 May 2020
I've just finished watching the finale The only word fit to describe this show is "perfect"..The writing is brilliant; the characters are complex and really well developed, the directing is just outstanding, such beautiful camera angles, such immersive atmosphere, such great suspense.
A gritty murder detective series
mosquitocyn19 July 2023
I really like this series. It was quite intense, gruesome, brooding. Not actually fast paced but yet catches my attention from start to end. It did remind me of a combination of True Detective and Seven. The series brings together 2 detectives who are different from each other in many aspects and we see their difficulties to work with each other but must combine their resources in order to track down a gruesome serial killer. The killer's motives are tied up with some deviations of Islamic teachings - I found it hard to follow as this is new to me and had to watch certain parts again to understand this part. It was interesting. Whilst a short series, it does cater for sharing some personal aspects of both the detectives lives that affects their actions and characters. Pretty good series. I have now started on season 2 which I realize is completely independent of season 1.
The perfect scenario
pnartaskn4 July 2023
They did a great job with quality actors and a quality script . A great production featuring Ahmet Mumtaz Taylan , Kenan Imirzalioglu , Melisa Sozen and many more master actors . Definitely a quality production that we are not used to seeing . While the show implicitly talks about our current country problems, it also takes us back to the past . There are many messages for those who can understand, in the details in the series. I am very happy that such a production came out of our country . It felt like a medicine, especially in this period when quality content decreased. I hope we see more of the same quality works . Congratulations to everyone involved .
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