Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Azize, which delivers an intense tale of vengeance, identity transformation, and unexpected love that will keep you questioning whether revenge is truly worth the cost.
Azize premiered in November 2019 and aired on Kanal D, bringing together the star power of Hande Erçel and Buğra Gülsoy for the first time in an emotionally charged revenge drama. The series tells the gripping story of Melek, who transforms herself into Azize to infiltrate the mafia family responsible for destroying her life. Unfortunately, the series was cancelled before reaching its planned conclusion, leaving fans with an incomplete but nonetheless compelling narrative.
This Turkish drama stands out for its psychological complexity and moral ambiguity. The story follows a young nurse whose father was killed by the Alpan mafia family when she was little, forcing her to grow up in difficult conditions while planning revenge. What makes Azize particularly engaging is how it explores the cost of revenge not just on the target, but on the person seeking it. The series masterfully balances dark themes with moments of genuine emotion and connection.
The Transformation of Melek into Azize
Melek’s journey from victim to avenger is the heart of the series, as she changes her identity to Azize and infiltrates the Alpan family to destroy them from within. Hande Erçel delivers one of her most nuanced performances, showcasing Melek’s internal struggle between her desire for justice and her growing humanity. The character’s evolution is fascinating because she must constantly navigate between her true self and the persona she’s created.
The series excels at showing how revenge consumes a person’s identity. Melek becomes so focused on her mission that she risks losing herself entirely in the process. Her transformation into Azize isn’t just about changing her name – it’s about suppressing her natural compassion and kindness to become someone capable of calculated destruction. This psychological complexity elevates the series beyond typical revenge narratives.
The Alpan Family Dynamics and Forbidden Romance
Buğra Gülsoy brings depth and complexity to his role within the Alpan family structure, creating a character who becomes both Azize’s target and her unexpected emotional anchor. The forbidden romance that develops adds layers of moral complexity to the revenge plot, as love threatens to derail carefully laid plans for vengeance.
The chemistry between Erçel and Gülsoy is undeniable, making their characters’ relationship feel both inevitable and tragic. The series tells a passionate but impossible love story that forces viewers to question whether love can truly conquer hate, or if some wounds run too deep to heal. Their scenes together are electric with tension, knowing that their love is built on a foundation of lies and revenge.
When Love Becomes the Greatest Obstacle
The most powerful moments in Azize occur when Melek’s carefully constructed revenge plan begins to crumble in the face of genuine human connection. She faces an obstacle she completely excluded from her plans: love. These scenes are masterfully written and performed, showing how love can be both salvation and destruction.
The series builds to moments where Melek must choose between her mission and her heart, creating some of the most emotionally charged scenes in Turkish television. The writing doesn’t offer easy solutions, instead forcing characters and viewers to grapple with the reality that some choices have no right answers.
Supporting Cast and Complex Relationships
The ensemble cast of Azize deserves recognition for creating a web of relationships that feel authentic and consequential. From the Alpan family members who each harbor their own secrets and motivations, to Melek’s allies who question her increasingly dangerous mission, every character serves a purpose in the larger narrative tapestry.
The series does an excellent job of showing how revenge affects not just the primary players, but entire families and communities. The supporting characters help illustrate the ripple effects of violence and the difficulty of breaking cycles of hatred and retribution.
Success on Kanal D
Azize garnered significant attention during its run on Kanal D, particularly for bringing together two beloved Turkish stars in a darker, more complex narrative than typical romantic dramas. The series achieved an impressive 8.9 rating on IMDb, reflecting its quality despite its premature cancellation. The show’s exploration of revenge and redemption themes, combined with strong performances from Hande Erçel and Buğra Gülsoy, created a devoted fanbase. Azize proved that Turkish audiences were hungry for more psychologically complex narratives that challenged traditional genre boundaries.
A Story That Deserved Its Complete Journey
If you love stories about revenge, identity transformation, and the power of unexpected love, Azize is a series that will captivate you on Kanal D. Despite its incomplete ending, the journey it takes you on is emotionally rewarding and thought-provoking.
Why This Incomplete Masterpiece Still Matters
Positive Aspects:
- Exceptional chemistry between Hande Erçel and Buğra Gülsoy
- Complex psychological exploration of revenge and identity
- Strong supporting cast that brings depth to every storyline
- Sophisticated writing that avoids simple moral judgments
- Beautiful cinematography that enhances the dark atmosphere
Negative Aspects:
- Series was cancelled before reaching its planned conclusion
- Dark themes and violence may not appeal to all viewers
- Some plot threads remain unresolved due to cancellation
- Limited international availability with subtitles
- Emotional intensity can be overwhelming for sensitive viewers
Azize remains a testament to the potential of Turkish television to tackle complex psychological themes while delivering compelling entertainment that stays with viewers long after watching.
Series Details
- Number of Episodes: 13 (incomplete due to cancellation)
- Platform: Kanal D
- Release/End Year: 2019-2020
- Current IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
- Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller, Crime
- Production Type: Turkish Dizi (Turkish Drama)
- Status: Cancelled (incomplete)
- Main Protagonists: Hande Erçel (Melek/Azize), Buğra Gülsoy
- Antagonist: The Alpan mafia family