Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama As the Crow Flies, which delivers an intense Turkish drama about the cutthroat world of television journalism where ambition knows no bounds and mentorship turns toxic.
Released on June 3, 2022, As the Crow Flies (originally titled “Kuş Uçuşu” in Turkish) premiered on Netflix with 24 episodes spanning three seasons that concluded on April 11, 2024. Each episode runs approximately 45 minutes, creating an addictive viewing experience. Created by Meriç Acemi and produced by Ay Yapım, the series stars Birce Akalay and Miray Daner in powerhouse performances that drive this psychological thriller.
As the Crow Flies masterfully blends workplace drama, psychological thriller, and character study elements to create a compelling narrative about the media industry’s dark underbelly. The series explores themes of female rivalry, professional obsession, media manipulation, and the dangerous lengths people will go to achieve success and recognition in the competitive world of broadcast journalism.
When Admiration Becomes Dangerous Obsession
The story centers around the complex relationship between veteran news anchor Lale Kiran and her young admirer Aslı Tuna who infiltrates her newsroom. As the Crow Flies begins with what appears to be a fan’s innocent desire to work alongside her idol, but quickly transforms into a psychological cat-and-mouse game that will consume both women’s lives.
Aslı’s journey from devoted fan to dangerous rival creates the foundation for the series’ exploration of ambition gone wrong. As As the Crow Flies unfolds, viewers witness how professional environments can become breeding grounds for manipulation, betrayal, and psychological warfare when personal obsessions collide with career aspirations.
Lale Kiran: The Seasoned Anchor’s Downfall
Birce Akalay delivers a masterful performance as Lale Kiran, a successful television news anchor whose carefully constructed professional life begins to crumble when she allows Aslı into her inner circle. Throughout As the Crow Flies, we watch Lale struggle to maintain control of her career and personal life as her protégé’s true nature emerges.
Lale’s character arc explores the vulnerability that comes with success and the paranoia that develops when that success is threatened. Her evolution from confident mentor to desperate woman fighting for survival showcases the series’ understanding of how power dynamics can shift dramatically in professional relationships, especially when trust is weaponized against you.
Aslı Tuna: The Fan Turned Predator
Miray Daner gives a chilling performance as Aslı Tuna, whose admiration for Lale transforms into something far more sinister and destructive. As As the Crow Flies progresses, Aslı’s manipulation tactics become increasingly sophisticated as she systematically works to replace her mentor in every aspect of her life.
The brilliance of Aslı’s character lies in her ability to present herself as innocent and devoted while orchestrating elaborate schemes to destroy Lale’s reputation and steal her identity. Her journey reveals how obsession can masquerade as loyalty and how dangerous individuals can exploit professional relationships for personal gain.
The Breaking Point: When Manipulation Reaches Its Peak
The series reaches its most intense moments when Aslı’s web of lies and manipulations finally threatens to completely destroy Lale’s life and career. As the Crow Flies builds to explosive confrontations where both women’s true natures are fully revealed, leading to consequences that neither anticipated.
These climactic episodes showcase the series’ strength in psychological storytelling, demonstrating how toxic professional relationships can escalate to life-threatening situations. The final confrontation between mentor and student becomes a battle for survival that exposes the true cost of unchecked ambition and the devastating consequences of psychological manipulation.
Success on Netflix
As the Crow Flies has captivated international audiences with its intense psychological drama and exceptional performances from its lead actresses. The series found significant success on Netflix by offering viewers a sophisticated exploration of workplace toxicity and female rivalry that feels both specific to the media industry and universally relatable. With its compelling character development, tight writing by Meriç Acemi, and outstanding performances from Birce Akalay and Miray Daner, As the Crow Flies established itself as one of Netflix’s most talked-about Turkish productions, earning renewal for multiple seasons due to its gripping storytelling and psychological complexity.
A Psychological Masterpiece You Can’t Miss
If you love psychological thrillers with complex female characters and workplace drama, As the Crow Flies is the perfect series to binge on Netflix.
Why This Intense Drama Commands Your Attention
Positive Points:
- Exceptional performances by Birce Akalay and Miray Daner that create genuinely unsettling psychological tension
- Sophisticated exploration of toxic mentorship and workplace manipulation that feels disturbingly realistic
- Tight writing that maintains suspense throughout all three seasons without losing narrative focus
- Authentic portrayal of the media industry’s competitive and often ruthless professional environment
- Complex female characters who defy typical villain and victim stereotypes
Negative Points:
- Intense psychological manipulation themes may be triggering for some viewers
- The toxic relationship dynamics can be emotionally exhausting to watch
- Some plot developments may feel too extreme for viewers preferring realistic workplace dramas
- The series’ dark tone offers little comedic relief to balance the psychological tension
- Certain characters’ motivations become increasingly difficult to empathize with as the series progresses
As the Crow Flies offers a masterclass in psychological thriller storytelling that will leave you questioning the true nature of mentorship, ambition, and the dangerous power of obsession.
Series Details
- Number of Episodes: 24 episodes (3 seasons: Season 1: 8 episodes, Season 2: 8 episodes, Season 3: 8 episodes)
- Platform: Netflix
- Release Year: 2022-2024
- Current IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Genre: Psychological Thriller, Drama, Crime, Workplace Drama
- Production Type: Turkish Drama (Dizi)
- Status: Completed (3 seasons)
- Main Protagonists: Birce Akalay (Lale Kiran), Miray Daner (Aslı Tuna), İbrahim Çelikkol (Kenan)
- Antagonist: Aslı Tuna represents the manipulative force destroying Lale’s life and career