Dubbed the Turkish Game of Thrones, the series comprises more than 110 episodes with a duration about two hours and 30 minutes each. The show portrays the life of Ertuğrul Bey in the 13th century. He is said to be the very man who founded the Ottoman Empire.

Ertuğrul, an ambitious man, wants to bring peace to his country but is trapped in raging wars with neighboring lands. There were the Crusaders on one side, the Byzantine, the Mongols, and those from his own tribe.

First aired in 2014 on TRT 1, a local TV station in Turkey, Diriliş Ertuğrul has attracted many fans all over the world, albeit unexpectedly. More than just the lavish costumes, the horses and the historical feel, the message conveyed by the show seems to touch a global audience.

A fan of the series testified to www.trtworld.com that when he watches Diriliş Ertuğrul, he sees role models. “I see beautiful behavior, mannerisms and character,” he concluded.

The series doesn’t follow male and female stereotypes either, where the latter are generally weaker and oppressed, and the former are the terrorists’ sidekicks. Men and women in Diriliş Ertuğrul are portrayed as equals. Some are good, while some are the villains.

Muslim viewers can also relate to the characters in the series. Diriliş Ertuğrul is also acceptable for younger audiences.

Read also: Four TV shows to fill this year’s ‘Game of Thrones’ void

Requests for subtitled version of the series have come from all over the world.

“I’m not a Muslim, but I appreciate finding out about Sufism,” said a woman to trtworld.com. “I’m 74 years old and I live in Oxfordshire in England. It’s the best series ever made.”

This historical television series is available on Netflix. (ely/mut)

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