Dizi Friends Podcast

Eda S and Maha J
  • 5.0 (6)
  • TV REVIEWS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Podcast description: Join Eda and Maha biweekly for an entertaining and informative chat about Turkish TV shows aka dizis. Eda is Turkish and Maha lives in the US and they find joy in exploring our differences as well as our similarities through watching dizis. Find us on Twitter(X) as @dizi_friends and on Instagram as @dizifriends

  1. Violence, Shock Value & Mafia Fatigue on Turkish TV

    3D AGO

    Violence, Shock Value & Mafia Fatigue on Turkish TV

    Episode Notes This week on Dizi Friends, Maha and Eda explore a noticeable shift in Turkish television: Why do so many new series revolve around crime, violence, and mafia-style narratives? We discuss several recent projects, including: Aynı Yağmur Altında – A show that sparked debate due to a controversial early scene and its reliance on shock-driven storytelling. Sevdiğim Sensin – A series with emotional potential about a young woman rebuilding her life in Istanbul, yet framed within darker narrative elements. A.B.İ. – An age-gap romance entering an already crowded dramatic landscape. Yeraltı – Another love story built around a mafia-centered world. Rüya Gibi – A promising show featuring a refreshingly different protagonist (a hairdresser), which concluded at episode 13 as darker themes took over. We also briefly mention Eşref Rüya ** and discuss broader concerns about how excessive violence might influence younger viewers. This episode is not about criticizing individual creators. It’s about recognizing a pattern. We ask: Why has “crime” in Turkish TV become almost synonymous with “mafia”? Is shock value replacing layered storytelling? Are audiences growing tired of violence-heavy narratives? And what does this trend say about the current state of the industry? Crime stories can be powerful. But does every story need a mafia backdrop? Join the conversation and tell us: Are you experiencing mafia fatigue too? Find out more at https://dizi-friends-podcast.pinecast.co

    1h 18m
  2. From Uzak Şehir to The Holiday: A Cozy December Episode

    12/21/2025

    From Uzak Şehir to The Holiday: A Cozy December Episode

    Episode Notes Two friends, many dizis, and an accidental Christmas special. 🎄✨ This week Eda and Maha start with what they’ve been watching, then wander happily into colors, words, creativity, and cozy holiday traditions. What we watched this week Eda: Halef Uzak Şehir Go Türkiye series: An Istanbul Story Kıskanmak Maha: Uzak Şehir Go Türkiye series: An Istanbul Story Veliaht Güller ve Günahlar We talk about what’s working (and not working) in these shows, how our expectations are changing as viewers, and why some dizis keep pulling us back even when they drive us crazy. From there, we go full “seasonal special” with some current cultural obsessions: Pantone picking Cloud Dancer (white) as Color of the Year Dictionary.com choosing “6–7” as Word of the Yea Maha’s experience at a“Bedazzling” book event and how using our hands (crafts, making things, handwriting) can quietly feed our creativity Eda's thoughts on Christmas as a non-Christmas person – not celebrating it religiously as Muslims, but still loving the lights, decorations, and the shared joy of the season Maha's thoughts on Christmas as someone who celebrates it and what makes it so special And of course, we had to end with comfort Christmas movies: Eda’s picks: -The Holiday -The Holdovers -The Chronicles of Narnia -The Muppet Christmas Carol -How the Grinch Stole Christmas Maha’s picks: -While You Were Sleeping -Home Alone -Miracle on 34th Street -Mickey’s Christmas Carol -The Chronicles of Narnia Cozy chats, light dizi spoilers, and lots of inspiration for what to watch next. 🎧 Find out more at https://dizi-friends-podcast.pinecast.co

    55 min
  3. Season 5 Premiere: Our Thoughts on Uzak Şehir, Halef, Veliaht, Kıskanmak

    11/30/2025

    Season 5 Premiere: Our Thoughts on Uzak Şehir, Halef, Veliaht, Kıskanmak

    Episode Notes We’re back for Season 5! In this episode, Eda and Maha catch up on the chaos of returning Turkish dizis and the wave of shiny new projects. We talk about why Uzak Şehir is quietly setting the benchmark for what a good dizi can be, why Eşref Rüya and Bahar are breaking our hearts for all the wrong reasons, and how Kızılcık Şerbeti has managed to lose both its premise and most of its cast. Then we dive into the new kids on the block: Güller ve Günahlar (we like it… but the ethics are messy), Veliaht (with Maha’s takes), Halef (which Eda absolutely despises), Sahtekarlar (we’re weirdly curious), Kıskanmak (full of potential with some sharp criticism), Aşk ve Gözyaşı (why we think it’s on its way out), plus quick thoughts on Çarpıntı, Ben Leman, Sakıncalı, and Taşacak Bu Deniz. If you love Turkish dizis, character drama, and a bit of ranting with love, this one’s for you. As always thank you for listening and make sure you follow us on social media to keep up with our new episodes. Find out more at https://dizi-friends-podcast.pinecast.co

    1h 17m
  4. Spotlight Chat with Samhar: Our First Male Guest & The Psychology of Dizi Obsession

    08/24/2025

    Spotlight Chat with Samhar: Our First Male Guest & The Psychology of Dizi Obsession

    Episode Notes In this special Spotlight Chat, we welcome our first male guest — a therapist and lifelong dizi fan — to talk about the psychology of Turkish TV. We explore why dizis are so addictive, how emotional storytelling creates connection across cultures, and why familiar characters like the “wounded protector” or “resilient caregiver” strike such a chord. From Poyraz Karayel to Kiralık Aşk, from Istanbul memories to cross-cultural insights, this conversation goes beyond fandom into healing, nostalgia, and everything in between. As always we love to hear from you, please follow us on social media and let us know what we should talk about next! Find us as "Dizi Friends" on X, Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and Bluesky. Find out more at https://dizi-friends-podcast.pinecast.co

    1h 9m
  5. Is Çift Kişilik Oda the Last Romcom on Turkish TV?

    08/10/2025

    Is Çift Kişilik Oda the Last Romcom on Turkish TV?

    Episode Notes This week, Maha and Eda dive into a pressing question: "Have Turkish TV series lost their magic, or is it an industry problem?" Following the cancellation of Çift Kişilik Oda, the girls felt compelled to unpack why romantic comedies—a genre once loved both in Turkey and abroad—are now struggling to survive. Once guaranteed hits, romcoms have faced a sharp decline in ratings and nearly all new titles since 2022 have been canceled early. Could the rise of streaming platforms be part of the issue? Are TV channels falling behind? Or is the genre simply out of touch with what audiences want? 🎧 Tune in for a thoughtful (and passionate!) conversation on the fate of Turkish romcoms, the changing dynamics of the dizi industry, and what it all means for creators and viewers alike. 💬 Let us know your take on social media—and don’t forget to share this episode with your fellow dizi lovers. That’s how we grow our community of Dizi Friends! 📲 Find all our links & socials here: https://linktr.ee/dizifriendspodcast Find out more at https://dizi-friends-podcast.pinecast.co

    1h 7m
  6. From Emir to Eşref: The Journey of Çağatay Ulusoy

    07/27/2025

    From Emir to Eşref: The Journey of Çağatay Ulusoy

    Episode Notes In this premiere episode of our new Career Deep Dive series, we explore the evolution of Çağatay Ulusoy’s journey — from his breakout role as Emir in Adını Feriha Koydum to becoming a leading figure in Turkey’s streaming revolution with projects like The Protector, Yeşilçam, Kübra, and The Tailor. We unpack the turning points, image shifts, acting style, and the impact of his latest drama Eşref Rüya. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just curious about one of Turkey’s most intriguing actors, this episode dives deep into what makes Çağatay’s career so unique. Find out more at https://dizi-friends-podcast.pinecast.co

    55 min
  7. Eşref Rüya

    07/13/2025

    Eşref Rüya

    Episode Notes This week's episode is about Eşref Rüya. Eda and Maha explore the mafia romance genre, take a look at the main characters and do some analysis on each. They also make some predictions about the second season. Let us know what are your thoughts about Eşref Rüya in general. Did you enjoy the season finale? What are your expectations? Dizi Friends is on X and Instagram as well as Tiktok and Bluesky. Reach out to us, we're always excited to hear from you :) Here's a link to Eda's essay about Eşref Rüya: https://edasavaseri.medium.com/eşref-rüya-and-the-three-musketeers-of-istanbul-dc19937690ce Time Stamps: 00:00:00 - 00:12:00 Our thoughts on the mafia romance genre 00:12:00 - 00:26:38 Analyzing Eşref Tek 00:26:38 - 00:34:53 Analyzing Nisan/Rüya 00:34:53 - 00:48:17 Analyzing Çiğdem 00:48:17 - 00:56:40 Analyzing Kadir 00:56:40 - 01:00:19 Gürdal, Faruk and Müslüm 01:00:19 - 01:19:05 Season 2 Predictions 01:19:05 - 01:25:25 Closing words As always, thanks for listening! See you on our next episode! Find out more at https://dizi-friends-podcast.pinecast.co

    1h 25m
  8. Spotlight Chat with Rachel and Janina: A Group Chat gone live!

    06/22/2025

    Spotlight Chat with Rachel and Janina: A Group Chat gone live!

    Episode Notes This week Eda and Maha have two special guests, Rachel and Janina. Rachel is from New Zealand and Janina is from Estonia. They are Eda's first dizi friends and therefore have a special place in Eda'a heart. Highlights from the episode: 03:18 - 05:39 Rachel introduces herself. 05:39 - 07:08 Janina introduces herself. 07:08 - 11:54 Janina's first dizi is "No 309". "Benim Tatlı Yalanım" also gets a mention. 11:54 - 13:17 Rachel's first dizi is "Sen Çal Kapımı". 13:17 - 18:20 How they would describe the dizi community during the pandemic 18:20 - 22:35 How different is the dizi community now 22:35 - 22:50 Mention of "Ateşböceği" - a cute romcom we recommended before 22:50 - 26:30 Mention of k-dramas and dizi edits 26:30 - 28:25 The effect of good translation 28:25 - 29:00 The new romcom: "Çift Kişilik Oda" 29:00 - 34:29 How the girls feel about mafia dizis and "Eşref Rüya" 34:29 - 36:17 Kuzgun is mentioned 36:17 - 38:21 Over the top villains that become boring ("Yargı" and "Uzak Şehir" mentioned) 38:21 - 40:03 "Maraşlı" is mentioned. 40:03 - 41:26 Elimi Bırakma mentioned 41:26 - 45:00 Their favorite actors (Son Yaz, Burcu Biricik, Gözde Cığacı, Aslı İnandık) 45:00 - 48:37 Janina recommends Oregon and 10 Days of a Curious Man on Netflix 48:37 - 51:12 What they would tell someone who is just starting watching dizis 51:12 - 53:49 Eda gives her thanks 53:49 - 56:13 Final thoughts As always thank you for listening and please follow us on social media to get the latest news on our podcast! Find out more at https://dizi-friends-podcast.pinecast.co

    56 min
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5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Podcast description: Join Eda and Maha biweekly for an entertaining and informative chat about Turkish TV shows aka dizis. Eda is Turkish and Maha lives in the US and they find joy in exploring our differences as well as our similarities through watching dizis. Find us on Twitter(X) as @dizi_friends and on Instagram as @dizifriends

Information

  • Creator
    Eda S and Maha J
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Eda S and Maha J
  • Show Website
    Dizi Friends Podcast