Show of the Week: Deep In Love

Türkiye’s drama output has become a global phenomenon over the past decade and Deep In Love marks the latest addition to the hugely popular genre, this time with the stunning Black Sea as its backdrop.

At its heart, Deep In Love is a Romeo and Juliet story that follows the fates of two individuals from families that have been in conflict with each other for years, says Ekin Koyuncu, global distribution & partnership director at OGM UNIVERSE.

“The drama takes its inspiration from Türkiye’s Black Sea region, whose striking landscape, deeply rooted traditions and rich folklore provide a powerful foundation for the story. At its centre are two communities whose lives have been shaped by a conflict passed down through generations.”

The story, written by Ayşe Ferda Eryılmaz and Nehir Erdem, explores whether love can overcome inherited hostility and whether a younger generation can free itself from a history it did not create.

“By bringing regional culture and mythology together with universal themes of love, family, identity and belonging, Deep in Love creates a world that is deeply connected to its setting while remaining emotionally accessible to audiences everywhere,” Koyuncu says.

The show has already been a ratings hit in Türkiye and following the success of its first season, will return for a second season in October. Its performance on YouTube also underlines engagement: the 31 episodes of the first season generated more than 700 million cumulative views, with the premiere reaching 51 million alone.

The show opens at the height of the longstanding conflict between the Koçari and Furtuna families, as Esme Furtuna shoots Adil Koçari, the man she once loved.

Despite the hostility and the pain of their shared past, Adil refuses to expose her and claims that the wound was self-inflicted.

His life is saved by a young Greek doctor, who it then emerges is the daughter that Esme and Adil thought they had lost. As the medic explores her past and delves deeper into the family feud, she develops a relationship with another member of the Furtuna clan, with their love story offering a chance to break the cycle of hostility.

Ulaş Tuna Astepe and Deniz Baysal are among cast, while Onur Güvenatam is producer and Çağrı Bayrak is director. The show makes extensive use of the region too, which Koyuncu says is vital to the feel and tone of the 31-episode first season.

“The mountains, villages and volatile coastline of the region are integral to the storytelling, reflecting the passion, danger and unpredictability surrounding the characters,” Koyuncu adds.

The series maintained double-digit ratings throughout most of its 31-episode first season, with appeal to a broad audience.

“Its sweeping romance, family rivalries and emotional storytelling connect strongly with established drama viewers, while Eleni and Oruç’s relationship, the younger cast, the music and the series’ highly shareable scenes have attracted a significant younger following,” Koyuncu adds.

It will also appeal across borders, as evidenced by those YouTube figures. “Forbidden love is a universal, timeless theme, and the series brings fresh emotional depth to it through questions of identity, family loyalty and the pain of parents separated from their child,” Koyuncu says.

“It has the ingredients for a long international journey: a clear emotional hook, proven audience loyalty and appeal across generations. Its unfolding mysteries and evolving relationships give viewers a compelling reason to return episode after episode.”