Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Fatma, which delivers an intense Turkish crime thriller that transforms an ordinary house cleaner into an unlikely serial killer as she searches for her missing husband while confronting a lifetime of trauma and abuse.
Released on April 27, 2021, Fatma premiered on Netflix as a miniseries with 6 episodes, each running approximately 40 minutes. Directed by Özer Feyzioğlu and Özgür Önürme, the series stars Burcu Biricik in a powerhouse performance alongside Uğur Yücel, Mehmet Yılmaz Ak, and Hazal Türesan. This Turkish production was specifically created as a Netflix original, showcasing the platform’s commitment to international content.
Fatma masterfully combines crime thriller, psychological drama, social commentary, and character study elements to create a compelling viewing experience. The series explores themes of domestic violence, class discrimination, female empowerment through violence, systemic oppression, and the transformation of victims into perpetrators. This Turkish drama stands out by presenting a working-class woman’s journey from invisible victim to dangerous predator.
A Cleaning Lady’s Search Turns Deadly
The story centers around Fatma Yılmaz, a middle-aged house cleaner who has spent her life being overlooked and mistreated by society. Fatma begins when her husband Zafer disappears, forcing her to venture into dangerous neighborhoods and criminal circles to find him, despite her fear and inexperience with such environments.
What starts as a desperate search for her missing spouse quickly transforms into something far more sinister when Fatma commits her first murder in self-defense. As Fatma unfolds, this initial killing becomes the catalyst for a killing spree as she discovers that her invisible status as a domestic worker allows her to move through society unnoticed, making her the perfect predator that no one suspects.
Fatma Yılmaz: The Invisible Woman Who Becomes Dangerous
Burcu Biricik delivers a tour-de-force performance as Fatma, portraying her transformation from a meek, traumatized cleaning lady to a methodical killer who uses her anonymity as a weapon. Throughout Fatma, Biricik masterfully depicts the character’s evolution as she discovers her own power while simultaneously being consumed by the violence she’s capable of committing.
Her character journey explores the psychology of someone who has been invisible and powerless her entire life suddenly discovering she can control life and death. Fatma’s transformation showcases the series’ understanding of how systematic oppression and abuse can create unexpected monsters, making her both sympathetic and terrifying as she embraces her newfound deadly capabilities.
The Criminal Underworld and Class Divide
Uğur Yücel and Mehmet Yılmaz Ak portray various criminal figures who underestimate Fatma due to her social status and appearance. Fatma uses these supporting characters to highlight how society’s prejudices against working-class women create blind spots that can be exploited by those seeking revenge or justice through violence.
The series effectively portrays the class divisions in Turkish society, showing how wealth and status protect some while leaving others vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. These dynamics become central to understanding why Fatma’s victims never see her coming and why her crimes initially go unnoticed by authorities.
The Reckoning: When Violence Becomes Identity
The series reaches its most intense moments as Fatma’s killing spree escalates and she begins to lose herself in the violence she’s unleashing. Fatma builds tension as her search for Zafer becomes secondary to her newfound addiction to killing, forcing viewers to grapple with a protagonist who has transformed from victim to villain.
These climactic episodes showcase the series’ exploration of how trauma and empowerment through violence can corrupt even the most sympathetic characters. The revelation of what happened to her husband and the full extent of Fatma’s transformation creates a powerful commentary on justice, revenge, and the cyclical nature of violence.
Success on Netflix
Fatma found significant success on Netflix by offering international audiences a unique perspective on crime drama through the lens of a working-class Turkish woman. The series resonated with global viewers seeking complex female anti-heroes and stories that address class and gender issues through genre storytelling. With Burcu Biricik’s exceptional central performance, tight direction, and its unflinching examination of domestic violence and social inequality, Fatma established itself as one of Netflix’s most talked-about Turkish originals, though it was designed as a limited series and concluded after six episodes.
A Dark Transformation Worth Witnessing
If you love crime dramas with complex female protagonists and social commentary, Fatma is the perfect series to binge on Netflix.
Why This Powerful Series Demands Your Attention
Positive Points:
- Outstanding lead performance by Burcu Biricik that creates a complex, unforgettable anti-heroine
- Unflinching examination of domestic violence and class discrimination in Turkish society
- Masterful character development that transforms viewer sympathy into moral complexity
- Authentic portrayal of working-class life and the invisibility of domestic workers
- Tight storytelling that maintains tension while exploring serious social themes
Negative Points:
- Graphic violence and disturbing themes may be too intense for sensitive viewers
- The protagonist’s transformation into a serial killer may be difficult to accept emotionally
- Limited to 6 episodes may feel too brief for full character and thematic development
- Heavy themes of abuse and trauma throughout provide little relief from dark content
- Some viewers may struggle with supporting a character who becomes increasingly unsympathetic
Fatma offers a rare television experience that uses crime thriller elements to examine serious social issues while creating one of the most complex female characters in recent international drama.
Series Details
- Number of Episodes: 6 episodes (1 season – completed miniseries)
- Platform: Netflix
- Release Year: 2021
- Current IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Genre: Crime Drama, Psychological Thriller, Social Drama
- Production Type: Turkish Drama (Dizi)
- Status: Completed miniseries
- Main Protagonists: Burcu Biricik (Fatma Yılmaz), Uğur Yücel (Bayram), Mehmet Yılmaz Ak (Zafer)
- Antagonist: The systemic oppression and abusive men who have shaped Fatma’s life, making her both victim and perpetrator