The popular Turkish series Arka Sokaklar, broadcast on Kanal D, has chosen Cappadocia – one of the most important tourist destinations in Turkey – as the setting for the filming of the scenes for the season finale. The show, which premiered on July 31, 2006 — almost 20 years ago — has become one of the most successful Turkish soap operas on Turkish television thanks to its strong ratings throughout its 20 consecutive seasons.
The members of the series’ cast, who have been filming in the Turkish province of Nevşehir — in the heart of Cappadocia — to shoot the season finale, made statements during the shoot in Göreme that were published exclusively by the Turkish news agency DHA.
“The season has flown by in the blink of an eye. We’re already in season 20. I was very young when I started this series. Now, we’ve grown older. We’ve become veteran actors. We’re a big family and a great team. This time we’ve come to Ürgüp, Göreme, and Cappadocia. A new adventure awaits us here,” said Özgür Ozan, the actor who plays Hüsnü Çoban.
“We’ve reached the end of the season. We hope to finish with good ratings. We trust our viewers. We’re doing a great job. This year we’re filming at full speed in a beautiful location, with the magnificent scenery, atmosphere, and character of Nevşehir —something our audience deserves. We’ll wrap up the season here. You’ll see the surprises when you watch the series on screen. Like every year, we’ll have an episode full of surprises. There are also developments that will carry over into the next season,” said the veteran Turkish actor.
For his part, Burak Satıbol, who plays Zeki Çevik in the series, noted that the 20th season has been one of the most exciting for the cast: “It is a great source of pride that a series in Turkey has been on the air for 20 years and has maintained its success since its inception. We’ve had some very exciting episodes. The episodes we’ll be filming here will be just as exciting. The season finale concludes in an exciting, intriguing, and surprising way. We invite our viewers to watch it.”
The actors highlight the “unique” setting of the Cappadocian landscapes
The actor also highlighted the warm welcome the cast members have received while filming outside Istanbul, their usual setting: “People’s interest in Anatolia is much greater, and that’s wonderful. When they see us, people’s reaction to our work and to us is very warm and friendly. It’s the same here. The people in this region are very welcoming. We take photos and chat. Leaving Istanbul and coming to another place creates a different atmosphere. Especially coming to a place like this is something unique; it feels like a fairy tale. It’s very impressive. Actually, you don’t have to do much because the images of this place alone create a rich and complete shoot.”
Felicia Sağnak, who plays Merve, agrees with this very positive assessment of the people of inland Anatolia: “The interest, warmth, and respect of the people of Ürgüp are wonderful. That’s why I want to thank all the residents of Ürgüp,” she said. “Actually, we base all our storylines on real-life stories, although when something is realistic it can be a bit tough. It might be a case we’ve never seen before in the series, like the Minguzzi case (to which the series paid tribute in a moving episode), or some events from last season. When we look at the details of those cases, naturally everything becomes more intense and we experience the emotions more strongly,” admitted the Turkish actress.
Ozan Çobanoğlu, who plays Commissioner Hakan, emphasizes that Season 20 has been successful even though it has been “exhausting”: “We’ve worked incredibly hard. I think we’ve filmed some very good episodes, and that’s reflected in this year’s ratings. The audience is very satisfied, and we’re receiving positive feedback,” he said.
“This season’s finale will be the talk of the town”
Referring to the filming of the Season 20 finale in Cappadocia, Çobanoğlu emphasized that “This is one of the most beautiful places in our country. Turkey is very beautiful. We are in one of the most beautiful places in Turkey.” He also spoke about the season finale, assuring that it will surprise viewers: “I don’t want to give too much away, but the final episode will be the talk of the town.”
Oya Okar, who plays Commissioner Selin, echoed this sentiment: “This season finale holds unexpected surprises for the audience. It’s also an interesting conclusion for us. I don’t think a season finale like this has ever been done before. Since I’ve been part of the series, we haven’t filmed an episode like this. Viewers are in for a very interesting finale.”
“It’s a season finale, so you shouldn’t miss it. I can’t say anything else about the episode,” said Ebru Cündübeyoğlu, who plays Candan. The actress also noted that filming outside Istanbul brings a different atmosphere to the series: “There are many beautiful places in our country. The place where we are right now is magnificent for filming. Urfa was also visually spectacular. Our entire country is beautiful and special, as if it was a movie set. Ürgüp is one of those places. I also remember my scenes around Balıklı Göl in Urfa. Visually, it was spectacular.”
Sarp Levendoğlu, who plays the police officer nicknamed “Bozo,” provided the most details about the finale of the final season: “We’re in Ürgüp, in Nevşehir, for the season finale. There’s an evil terrorist in the series. The trail of his connection leads here, which is why we’ll be filming the episode’s climax here,” said the actor, who also revealed which scene had the biggest impact on him: “The scene that affected me the most was when Commissioner Mesut pointed a gun at me after Hüsnü Çoban was shot. It really shook me up. I also really enjoyed acting alongside Şevket. That was my favorite scene,” he admitted.
Arka Sokaklar is the longest-running Turkish series in history
Considered one of the most iconic productions in Turkish television, Arka Sokaklar is the country’s longest-running weekly soap opera. Premiering in 2006 on Kanal D, this production focuses on the investigations and personal lives of a special police unit working in the streets of Istanbul.
It is a Turkish series that combines action, drama, crime, and family elements: a formula that has allowed it to retain a loyal audience for no less than two decades. Its main character is the veteran Commissioner Rıza Soylu, played by actor Zafer Ergin, who guides the younger members of the team thanks to his extensive professional experience. With more than 20 seasons and hundreds of episodes, Arka Sokaklar (in English, “Back Streets”) has become a staple of the Turkish audiovisual industry.
VOTE
EDITORIAL TEAM
🧿 About us
.
Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
…
📣 Your ADVERTISING on Hispanatolia
.
🤗 HELP US WITH A DONATION:
💗 Paypal
