Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Aşk-ı Memnu (Forbidden Love), which stands as one of Turkey’s most acclaimed romantic dramas that has captivated audiences worldwide.
Originally broadcast on Kanal D from 2008 to 2010, this Turkish romantic drama spans 2 seasons with 79 episodes, each running approximately 90 minutes. It is an adaptation of Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil’s 1899 novel Aşk-ı Memnu set in contemporary Istanbul instead of the novel’s late 19th-century setting.
This isn’t just another romantic drama – it’s a psychological masterpiece that explores the darkest corners of human desire and family loyalty. Set against the stunning backdrop of Istanbul’s Bosphorus mansions, the series delivers an intense exploration of forbidden love that destroys everything in its path. Starring an ensemble cast including Beren Saat, Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, Selçuk Yöntem, Hazal Kaya, and Nebahat Çehre, this drama combines stellar performances with breathtaking cinematography to create an unforgettable viewing experience.
A Tale of Passion That Destroys Everything: The Central Plot
The story takes place in the Ziyagil household, where patriarch Adnan is a wealthy businessman living in a historical mansion along the coast of Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul. After losing his wife a decade ago, Adnan devotes his life to his daughter Nihal and his son Bülent, while also housing his orphaned nephew Behlül.
The drama centers on Adnan, a rich man who marries Bihter, a woman younger than him, and the poisonous forbidden love that begins between Adnan’s nephew Behlül and Bihter who lives in the same mansion. This secret relationship disrupts the family dynamics, leading to a cascade of deceit and betrayal that threatens to unravel their lives.
What makes this plot extraordinary is how it transforms a simple love triangle into a complex web of psychological manipulation, guilt, and moral corruption. Every character becomes complicit in the destruction, making it impossible to look away as their perfect world crumbles.
Bihter Yöreoğlu: The Woman Who Destroys Paradise
Beren Saat delivers the performance of a lifetime as Bihter, creating one of television’s most complex female characters. While searching for peace, safety and happiness in Adnan’s mansion, Bihter meets passion. Her journey from a woman seeking security to someone consumed by forbidden desire showcases Saat’s incredible range.
Bihter isn’t a simple victim or villain – she’s a fully realized woman trapped between societal expectations and her own burning desires. Her evolution throughout the series reveals layers of vulnerability, manipulation, and genuine love that make her both sympathetic and terrifying. The emotion it evokes, all the passion, the sadness, you can feel it in your bones.
Behlül Haznedar: The Charming Destroyer
Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ brings dangerous charisma to Behlül, the orphaned nephew whose presence ignites the family’s destruction. Behlül and Bihter fall completely into each other and become drowned by their passion. His character represents the irresistible force that crashes into an immovable object, creating devastating consequences.
Behlül’s charm masks a fundamental selfishness that makes him fascinating to watch. He genuinely cares for his uncle Adnan while simultaneously betraying him in the worst possible way. This internal conflict drives some of the series’ most powerful moments, as viewers watch him struggle between loyalty and desire.
When Secrets Explode
The series builds to a crescendo where all the carefully hidden secrets explode in a devastating revelation. The climax doesn’t just destroy relationships – it obliterates the very foundation of what seemed like a perfect family. The way the writers handle this explosion of truth creates some of the most emotionally devastating television ever produced.
What makes this climax particularly powerful is how it subverts expectations. Instead of providing cathartic resolution, it demonstrates how forbidden love destroys not just the lovers, but everyone around them. The aftermath explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the impossible weight of consequences.
The Collateral Damage
The supporting cast, particularly Nebahat Çehre as Firdevs and Hazal Kaya as Nihal, creates a rich tapestry of characters whose lives become entangled in the central tragedy. Each supporting character represents different aspects of Turkish society and family dynamics, from traditional values to modern desires.
These aren’t just plot devices – they’re fully realized people whose own stories of love, loss, and betrayal mirror and complicate the main narrative. Their presence transforms what could have been a simple love story into a comprehensive exploration of family, society, and moral corruption.
Success on Turkish Television and Global Streaming
124 years after the original novel, ‘Aşk-ı Memnu’ still remains an irresistible classic after it was aired as a TV series. The series became a cultural phenomenon in Turkey and gained international recognition through streaming platforms. Its 90-minute episode format allows for deep character development and complex storytelling that shorter formats cannot achieve. The combination of stellar performances, stunning Istanbul locations, and psychologically complex writing created a drama that transcends cultural boundaries and speaks to universal themes of desire, betrayal, and moral consequence.
Why You Must Experience This Emotional Masterpiece
If you love complex psychological dramas with morally ambiguous characters, Aşk-ı Memnu (Forbidden Love) is the perfect series to binge on Netflix. This isn’t entertainment – it’s an emotional experience that will stay with you long after the final episode.
Summary: A Devastating Masterpiece That Redefines Romance
Aşk-ı Memnu proves that the most dangerous love stories are those that feel most real, transforming viewers into willing witnesses to the beautiful destruction of everything we hold sacred.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 79 episodes (2 seasons)
Platform: Netflix (also available on other streaming platforms)
Release/End Year: 2008-2010
Rating (IMDb): 7.6/10
Genre: Romance, Drama, Psychological Thriller
Status: Completed
Main Characters: Beren Saat (Bihter Yöreoğlu), Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ (Behlül Haznedar), Selçuk Yöntem (Adnan Ziyagil)
Antagonist: The concept of forbidden love itself serves as the primary antagonist, though various characters embody different aspects of moral corruption