A British publication delved deep into the global success of the smash hit historical drama "Resurrection: Ertugrul," referring to the Turkish saga as the “Muslim Game of Thrones.”
In an article entitled "Ertuğrul: how an epic TV series became the Muslim Game of Thrones", Aina Khan, a writer for The Guardian, ascertained what led the Turkish hit to become a global phenomenon.
Khan begins her article by expressing that her mother is also a huge fan of the sweeping epic.
"Its positive depiction of Islamic rituals and scripting, which often includes words of wisdom from Ibn ‘Arabî of Andalucía – one of the greatest Muslim philosophers – has helped it to carve out a unique place in the entertainment landscape," she said.
The writer touches upon romance, opulent costumes, the sweeping musical score, the portrayal of Muslims, and the representation of Muslim women in the globally-acclaimed drama.
"It’s because we want to see brown people on TV who are portrayed in a good light and are proud of their culture,” Tausif Khan, a 30-year-old senior manager at a consulting firm in the UK told Khan on Wednesday, critisizing cinematic stereotypes.
Often described as the Turkish Game of Thrones, the series depicts 13th century Anatolia and tells the story before the establishment of the Ottoman Empire. It illustrates the struggle of Ertugrul Gazi, father of the empire's first leader.
The series illustrates the struggle of Ertuğrul and his warriors against a plethora of adversaries from the Knights Templar to Mongol invaders.
Turkey is one of the top five series-exporting countries in the world, enthralling audiences from Latin America to Central Asia.
Dozens of Turkish series are being followed by more than 500 million viewers in over 150 countries, according to Turkey's Culture Ministry.
Resurrection: Ertugrul has attracted particular acclaim with viewers from over 70 countries.
