Netflix’s Rise of Empires: Ottoman is a Turkish docudrama about Mehmed II, the Sultan who took Constantinople. It spans two seasons, twelve episodes, and a war that changed the shape of Europe for centuries. The show follows Mehmed from his rise to power through the fall of the Byzantine capital and beyond, into the campaign against Vlad the Impaler in Wallachia. It is a bold project, and mostly it lands.
Trailer, via turkishdrama.com.
The Sultan and His Prophecy
Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu stars as Mehmed the Conqueror, the seventh Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. He is driven by a lifelong obsession to fulfill a prophecy and cement his legacy. That drive powers both seasons, and Üzümoğlu sells it with a quiet intensity that anchors the whole series. The show frames Mehmed as a man of destiny, and Üzümoğlu plays him as a ruler who believes his own legend.
The Fall of Constantinople
Season one focuses on the historic 1453 Siege of Constantinople. The city falls, and the Byzantine Empire ends. Constantine XI Palaiologos, played by Tommaso Basili, dies saving his capital during the siege. This is the engine of the first half of the series, and the show handles it with a mix of spectacle and political drama.
Vlad the Impaler’s Wallachia
Season two shifts to 1462 and the campaign against Vlad the Impaler in Wallachia. Daniel Nuță plays Vlad, the Voivode who ruled the principality of Wallachia in modern-day Romania. Radu the Beautiful, played by Ali Gözüşirin, is his younger brother and a rival within the same family. Radu defeats Vlad supporting the Ottomans under Sultan Mehmed II, a twist that reshapes the conflict. Nik Xhelilaj plays Mahmud Pasha, the Sultan’s Grand Vizier in the second season.
The Women Around the Throne
Tuba Büyüküstün plays Mara Brankovic, a Serbian princess married to Murad II, Mehmed’s father, and stepmother to Mehmed. She has no children but becomes an important figure in her stepson’s government, serving as his trusted advisor and diplomat with missions to Venice and Hungary. Yasemin Eti plays Gülbahar Hatun, the primary consort of Mehmed II and mother of his prince, Beyazed II. She plays a crucial role in the Ottoman Imperial Harem.
The Creative Team
The first season is directed by Emre Sahin and written by Kelly McPherson. The show is a Turkish production, and its international distribution through Netflix gives it a wide audience. Charles Dance voices the narrator, adding a layer of gravitas to the storytelling.
What Works
The show’s strengths are its performances and its scope. Üzümoğlu commands the screen, and the ensemble cast delivers across both seasons. The historical framework is solid, drawing on actual campaigns and figures. The show does not shy away from the brutal politics of the period, and it rewards viewers willing to sit with its slow-burning character studies.
What Falls Short
The pacing drags in spots, particularly in the second season. Some episodes feel like filler rather than narrative advancement. The show also leans heavily on its star, and the supporting characters sometimes get short shrift.
A Solid Watch
Rise of Empires: Ottoman is a worthy entry in Netflix’s slate of historical dramas. It is uneven but ambitious, and its best moments justify the investment.
Key Facts Box
- Series: Rise of Empires: Ottoman
- Network: Netflix
- Seasons: 2, 12 episodes total
- First aired: 24 January 2020
- Last aired: 29 December 2022
- Genres: Documentary, War & Politics, Action & Adventure
- Score: 8.7/10
Cast
- Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu as Fatih Sultan Mehmet
- Daniel Nuță as Vlad Dracula
- Ali Gözüşirin as Radu
- Nik Xhelilaj as Mahmut Paşa
- Radu Andrei Micu as Dimitrie
- Tuba Büyüküstün as Mara Brankovic
The series is a solid watch for anyone interested in Ottoman history, though it asks for patience through its slower stretches.
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