The City Through Her Eyes: ‘Istanbul Encyclopedia’ and the Search for Self in a Shifting Metropolis
A nuanced new Turkish drama on Netflix uses the intimacy of two women’s lives to explore identity, generational divides, and the layered soul of Istanbul.
If Istanbul has long been described as a city of contrasts, Netflix’s new Turkish drama ‘Istanbul Encyclopedia’ takes this metaphor and distils it into a deeply human narrative of intergenerational reckoning.
In a media landscape saturated with thrillers and formulaic melodramas, Istanbul Encyclopedia (İstanbul Ansiklopedisi), a new eight-part mini-series from director and screenwriter Selman Nacar, stands apart. Released on Netflix on 18 April 2025, the drama has garnered quiet praise across social media and critical platforms alike—for its restraint, its realism, and its refusal to sensationalise the complexity of everyday life in Turkey’s sprawling cultural capital.
At the heart of the story are two women: Zehra, a young university student from the provinces, and Nesrin, a middle-aged doctor in Istanbul who once shared a profound friendship with Zehra’s estranged mother. When Zehra moves to the city for her studies, she is placed in Nesrin’s care—thus initiating a reluctant cohabitation between two women with little in common beyond a past that binds them indirectly.
Urban Transformation, Private Turmoil
Rather than offering an idealised or exoticised portrayal of Istanbul, the series roots its narrative in the ordinary. The city is not merely a backdrop—it is a living, breathing presence that shapes the experiences of its residents. The dissonance between Zehra’s rural upbringing and the urban anonymity she now inhabits echoes a broader social transformation: the migration of youth, the erosion of traditional ties, and the redefinition of identity in an increasingly digital, disconnected age.
The emotional tension between Zehra and Nesrin mirrors this shift. While Zehra searches for herself in a city that both entices and overwhelms, Nesrin grapples with the weight of the past—her choices, regrets, and fractured relationships. Through their interactions, the series explores fundamental questions: What does it mean to belong? Can memory be reconciled with reinvention? And how does one navigate intimacy in an environment defined by distance?
Aesthetic Realism and Performative Subtlety
Nacar, known for his previous award-winning films Between Two Dawns and Hesitation Wound, brings a cinematic sensibility to the series that prioritises mood over plot. Long takes, ambient sound, and subdued colour palettes foster a sense of realism that is both immersive and contemplative. It is not a show of high drama or cliffhangers, but one of emotional accumulation—where glances speak louder than monologues.
The performances by Helin Kandemir (Zehra) and Canan Ergüder (Nesrin) are nuanced and restrained, allowing the audience to witness internal conflicts without overt exposition. Supporting roles from seasoned actors such as Müjde Ar and Tolga Tekin add gravitas, anchoring the series in a wider generational context.
Themes of Identity, Gender, and Belonging
What makes Istanbul Encyclopedia particularly compelling is its delicate handling of identity—not only in terms of personal development, but also in its intersections with gender, geography, and class. Zehra’s journey is not just about navigating a new city; it is about negotiating her place within a society that places young women in a constant tug-of-war between autonomy and expectation.
In this sense, the series invites comparisons with earlier Turkish dramas like Ethos (Bir Başkadır) and Fatma—both of which explore women’s roles in shifting sociopolitical landscapes. Yet Istanbul Encyclopedia carves its own space with a gentler tone, one that privileges ambiguity and emotional subtlety over political didacticism.
A City as Character
The choice of shooting in various districts of Istanbul adds texture to the story. From timeworn apartment blocks in Fatih to newer developments on the city’s periphery, the series presents a map of Istanbul not as a postcard but as a palimpsest—layered, lived-in, and unresolved. It is a reminder that cities, like people, are shaped as much by what is absent as what is present.
A Quiet Revolution in Turkish Drama
While many international audiences may approach Turkish series with expectations of melodrama or period intrigue, Istanbul Encyclopedia is part of a growing trend that favours realism, introspection, and social commentary. Its strength lies not in spectacle but in suggestion—in what remains unsaid, unexplained, or unresolved.
For viewers seeking a different lens through which to experience Istanbul—not just as a destination, but as a dynamic site of personal transformation—this series offers a thoughtful, beautifully rendered invitation.
