Netflix’s new Turkish thriller Not A Stranger follows a new mother who hires the perfect nanny — and then realizes the nanny has a past with other members of her family. Decider‘s review focuses on the pressure driving the story rather than the twist itself, which gives the recommendation weight.
The Setup
Funda (Elçin Sangu) is struggling after giving birth to her one-year-old daughter. She hasn’t painted anything new since her pregnancy, and she and her husband İlker (Ozan Dolunay) haven’t had sex in months. She’s also overprotective of her daughter, firing nannies if she cries a little in their presence.
When Nazlı (Melis Sezen), the baby’s swim instructor, announces she’s quitting and moving away because of a bad roommate situation, Funda hires her on the spot. Nazlı seems perfect for the job, but things go wrong when İlker returns from a business trip and recognizes her as someone he once slept with.
What It Reminds Us Of
Not A Stranger was written by Tuğba Doğan. The review compares it to other “suspicious nanny” thrillers like Secrets We Keep and Servant.
The Review’s Take
Most of the story is told from a future moment where Funda is talking to someone from either prison or a psychiatric hospital. The review describes the show as an examination of how overwhelmed first-time mothers can get, even those with resources. Funda puts her trust in Nazlı, and it’s clear Nazlı schemed her way into the family.
The review is intrigued by how determined Funda is to making the arrangement work so she can get back to her art and former self.
The Performances
While Melis Sezen has to do some creepy heavy lifting as Nazlı, the review is more fascinated with Elçin Sangu’s range of emotions as Funda. The performance is worth watching.
Sex And Skin
There are a few sex scenes as Funda tries to revive her and İlker’s sex life, but not much nudity.
The Parting Shot
“Whatever happened, happened because of me,” Funda says from the hospital and/or prison. “You get hubristic, you lose.”
Our Call
The reviewer calls it a solid first episode with room for twists. The pressure is the draw, not just the reveal.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Writer | Tuğba Doğan |
| Nanny | Nazlı, played by Melis Sezen |
| Mother | Funda, played by Elçin Sangu |
| Husband | İlker, played by Ozan Dolunay |
| Genre comparison | Secrets We Keep, Servant |
The reviewer calls it a solid first episode with room for twists. The pressure is the draw, not just the reveal.
Source material: “Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Not A Stranger’ On Netflix, A Thriller About An Overwhelmed New Mother And A Nanny Who Is Too Good To Be True,” Decider.
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