Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the Turkish drama Eşref Rüya, which has been captivating audiences with its intense blend of mafia drama, lost love, and dangerous secrets.
Eşref Rüya premiered on March 19, 2025, on Kanal D and is currently airing with episodes running approximately 120 minutes each. The series stars Çağatay Ulusoy as “Eşref” and Demet Özdemir as “Nisan”, along with Necip Memili, Bushra Develi, and Tolga Tekin. This marks the first time Turkish stars Demet Özdemir and Çağatay Ulusoy are sharing the screen, creating unprecedented excitement among Turkish drama fans worldwide.
This isn’t your typical romance series. Eşref Rüya weaves together themes of childhood love, criminal empires, and police undercover operations in a complex narrative that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The series explores how love can survive across time and circumstances, even when shadowed by betrayal and violence.
A Childhood Dream Turned Criminal Empire
As a child, Eşref fell in love from afar with a girl he called “Rüya” and spent years searching for her, only to become a powerful mafia figure along the way. The series opens with Eşref as a wealthy and reckless man who has built a criminal empire while never forgetting his first love. His obsession with finding Rüya has shaped every decision in his life, turning what began as innocent childhood affection into a driving force behind his transformation into a dangerous crime boss.
The backstory reveals how Eşref’s search for his lost love led him down increasingly dark paths. What makes this narrative compelling is how the series shows that his criminal activities weren’t born from greed or power lust, but from a desperate need to have the resources and connections necessary to find one person in the world. This origin story gives depth to what could have been a stereotypical mafia character.
Eşref’s Dangerous Obsession: Power Meets Vulnerability
Çağatay Ulusoy delivers a masterful performance as Eşref, balancing the character’s ruthless criminal nature with the vulnerability of a man still carrying childhood heartbreak. His portrayal shows how power and wealth have both enabled and corrupted Eşref’s search for love. The character is simultaneously intimidating and sympathetic, making viewers question whether his actions are driven by love or possessiveness.
Eşref’s evolution throughout the series is fascinating to watch. He’s a man who has everything money can buy but lacks the one thing that truly matters to him. Ulusoy captures the internal conflict of a character who must maintain his dangerous reputation while being emotionally exposed by his feelings for Nisan. The performance showcases how love can be both salvation and destruction for someone living in the criminal underworld.
Nisan’s Deadly Double Life: Music and Betrayal
Meanwhile, Nisan, an idealistic musician, finds herself in grave danger after performing at a wedding held at Eşref’s hotel. Demet Özdemir brings incredible depth to Nisan, a character who must balance her genuine feelings with her dangerous mission. As a police informant, she’s walking a tightrope between maintaining her cover and surviving in Eşref’s world.
What makes Nisan’s character compelling is the moral complexity of her situation. She is working as an informant against him for the police, yet she’s also the very person Eşref has been searching for his entire life. Özdemir masterfully portrays the internal struggle of a woman who must betray the man she’s growing to care about, all while knowing that discovery could mean death.
When Love Collides With Truth
Eşref falls for Nisan, unaware that she is both the long-lost Rüya he has been chasing for years and a police informant. The climactic revelation promises to be devastating for both characters. The series builds tension masterfully as viewers watch Eşref fall deeper in love with Nisan, knowing that both her true identity and her mission will eventually surface.
This setup creates multiple layers of dramatic irony that keep audiences engaged. Every romantic moment between the leads carries the weight of impending disaster. The series explores whether love can survive when built on deception, and whether redemption is possible for someone who has committed crimes in the name of love. Trapped in a whirlwind of love, betrayal, and power struggles, Eşref is forced into a brutal reckoning—both with his criminal empire and his own emotions.
Supporting Characters: Loyalty in a World of Betrayal
Necip Memili and Tolga Tekin provide strong supporting performances that anchor the world of Eşref Rüya. Each supporting character represents different aspects of loyalty and betrayal within Eşref’s organization. They serve as mirrors for the main characters, showing how different people navigate the moral complexities of the criminal world.
The ensemble cast creates a believable criminal ecosystem where every relationship is complicated by questions of trust and survival. These characters help establish the high stakes of Nisan’s mission while showing the personal costs of life in organized crime.
Success on Turkish Television
Eşref Rüya has generated significant buzz since its premiere, with viewers particularly excited about the reunion of two major Turkish stars in their first collaboration. The series format allows for deep character development and complex storytelling that unfolds gradually over extended episodes. The show’s success lies in its ability to blend traditional romantic elements with thriller and crime drama, creating a viewing experience that appeals to multiple audiences. The chemistry between Ulusoy and Özdemir has been praised by critics and fans alike, validating the anticipation surrounding their first joint project.
A Love Story Worth the Risk
If you love complex romantic dramas that explore the intersection of love, crime, and moral ambiguity, Eşref Rüya is the perfect series to follow on Prime Video and Kanal D. This isn’t just another love story; it’s a psychological exploration of how the past shapes our present and how love can both redeem and destroy, delivered through exceptional performances and masterful storytelling.
Why Eşref Rüya Captivates Hearts and Minds
Eşref Rüya stands as a testament to the sophistication of contemporary Turkish television, offering viewers a multi-layered narrative that challenges conventional notions of love, loyalty, and redemption. It’s a series that proves love stories can be both beautiful and dangerous, leaving audiences questioning the true cost of obsession and the possibility of forgiveness.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: Currently airing (ongoing series as of July 2025)
Platform: Kanal D (Turkey), Prime Video, Turkision
Release/End Year: 2025 (premiered March 19, 2025)
Current IMDb Rating: 7.5/10 (early rating)
Genre: Romance, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Status: Currently airing
Protagonists: Çağatay Ulusoy (Eşref), Demet Özdemir (Nisan/Rüya)
Antagonist: Various law enforcement and rival criminal figures