“Resurrection: Ertugrul” is a Turkish war drama that ran for five seasons, 150 episodes, and nearly five years on TRT 1. It follows Ertuğrul Bey, a 13th-century warrior, as he fights the brutal Mongols alongside the Knights Templar while building what will become the Ottoman principality. The show is a slow-burn epic, and it knows it.
Engin Altan Düzyatan plays Ertuğrul, a man whose devotion to his faith and his people anchors every episode. He is not a hero who leaps tall buildings; he is a leader who makes hard calls and lives with them. The show trusts its audience to sit through long stretches of political maneuvering and battlefield strategy, and for the most part, that trust pays off.
Trailer, via Zaka Ullah Khan.
Ertuğrul Bey
Ertuğrul is the heart of the show. He is a strategist, a fighter, and a father figure to the men who follow him. His relationship with his son is central to the narrative. The show spends significant time on the bonds between warriors, and these moments are where the drama lands hardest.
Düzyatan carries the weight of the series. He makes Ertuğrul feel human, not mythic, and that grounding is what makes the battles matter. The show is at its best when it focuses on him.
The Knights Templar
The Templars are the outsiders in this story. They fight alongside the Turks against the Mongols, and their presence adds a layer of historical complexity. The show draws on real figures from the Crusades, and it handles their role with a mix of reverence and skepticism.
The Templars are not presented as simple allies. The show explores their motivations and their methods, which gives the conflict a moral texture that many war dramas lack. Their presence raises questions about religion, loyalty, and the cost of fighting for a cause.
The Struggle Against the Mongols
The Mongols are the villains, and they are depicted as relentless and cruel. The show does not romanticize war, and the violence is often brutal. Battles are lengthy, chaotic affairs that test the viewer’s patience, but they also deliver on the promise of spectacle.
The Mongol threat is constant. Every victory feels earned, and every loss stings. The show respects its audience enough to let defeats land.
Selcan and the Supporting Cast
Selcan, played by Didem Balçın, is Ertuğrul’s wife. She is a strong presence, a mother figure to the community, and a loyal partner to her husband. The show balances the male-dominated world of battle with quieter scenes of family and home, and these moments give the action context.
The supporting cast is full of memorable characters:
- Turgut Alp, played by Cengiz Coşkun, is a loyal friend and a capable fighter.
- Bamsı Beyrek, played by Nurettin Sönmez, brings humor and chaos to the group.
- Abdurrahman, played by Celal Al, is a trusted advisor and a man of principle.
- Dumrul Alp, played by Edip Zeydan, provides comic relief without losing his edge.
- Artuk Bey, played by Ayberk Pekcan, is a younger warrior with a lot to learn.
- Dragos, played by İlker Aksum, brings a foreign perspective to the group.
- İlbilge Hatun, played by Hande Soral, is a prominent figure in the story.
- Beybolat Bey/Albastı, played by Ali Ersan Duru, is a complex figure whose loyalties shift.
- Alıncak, played by Engin Benli, rounds out the ensemble with his presence.
Each of these characters gets room to breathe, even within the sprawling scope of the show. The casting is strong across the board, and the chemistry between the actors reads as genuine.
The Historical Setting
The show is set in the 13th century, a period of great upheaval in the region. The Crusades are still underway, and the Mongol conquests are reshaping the map. The show uses this backdrop to explore themes of identity, survival, and the cost of power.
The historical setting is not just window dressing. It shapes every decision the characters make, from alliances to tactics to personal choices. The show does not shy away from the grim realities of medieval warfare.
The Long Run
At 150 episodes spread across five seasons, “Resurrection: Ertugrul” is a massive undertaking. Some viewers will find the pacing slow, especially in the early seasons. The show takes its time establishing its world, its characters, and its conflicts, and that patience can be frustrating.
But the payoff comes in the later seasons, where the stakes grow larger and the storytelling becomes sharper. The final season, in particular, delivers a satisfying conclusion to the journey that began with Ertuğrul’s rise.
What Works
The show excels in several areas:
- Character development: Ertuğrul and his companions grow over the course of the series, and their arcs are rewarding to follow.
- World-building: The show creates a rich, detailed world that feels lived-in and grounded.
- Performances: The cast delivers consistently strong work throughout the series.
- Themes: The show explores power, loyalty, and the meaning of leadership with intelligence.
What Falls Short
Not everything lands. The show’s slow pace will test the patience of some viewers, particularly in the first two seasons. Some subplots drag, and the show occasionally loses focus on its central characters.
The show also leans heavily on melodrama in its quieter moments, which can feel excessive after a while. These are minor complaints, though, and they do not undercut the overall quality of the production.
Final Word
“Resurrection: Ertugrul” is a compelling, ambitious series that rewards patience. It is not perfect, but it is consistently engaging, and its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. The show builds a world worth caring about, and it fills it with characters worth following.
It is a show that demands time and attention, but it repays both in full. For fans of historical drama, it offers a rich, rewarding experience that stands among the best of its genre.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
