The Protector (Turkish TV series)
The Protector (Turkish: Hakan: Muhafız) is a Turkish drama fantasy series starring Çağatay Ulusoy.[1][2] The show was created by Binnur Karaevli, and the first season was directed by Umut Aral, Gönenç Uyanık, and Can Evrenol.[3] The story is adapted from Turkish novelist Nilüfer İpek Gökdel's mystery novel Karakalem ve Bir Delikanlının Tuhaf Hikayesi (A Strange Story of Charcoal and a Young Man), which was published in 2016.[4] The first season consists of ten episodes and became available for streaming on Netflix on 14 December 2018.[5] The second season consists of eight episodes and became available on 26 April 2019. On 10 June 2019, the series was renewed for seasons 3 and 4.[6] The fourth and last season was released on 9 July 2020.[7]
The Protector | |
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Turkish | Hakan: Muhafız |
Genre |
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Created by | Binnur Karaevli |
Based on | Karakalem ve Bir Delikanlının Tuhaf Hikayesi by Nilüfer İpek Gökdel |
Written by |
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Directed by |
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Starring | |
Theme music composer |
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Country of origin | Turkey |
Original language | Turkish |
No. of seasons | 4 |
No. of episodes | 32 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producer | Alex Sutherland |
Production location | Istanbul |
Cinematography | Gökhan Tiryaki |
Running time | 30–50 minutes |
Production companies |
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Release | |
Original network | Netflix |
Original release | 14 December 2018 – 9 July 2020 |
Synopsis
After his adoptive father, Neşet, is killed, Hakan Demir, an Istanbul shopkeeper, discovers that he is connected to an ancient secret order whose duty is to protect the city. Hakan must embrace his family's legacy as the Protector, a hero with the duty to kill the Immortal and prevent the city's destruction.[3][1]
He is helped by Kemal and his daughter, Zeynep, members of the secret order of the Loyal Ones, who are dedicated to assisting the Protector.[8]
Cast and characters
Main
- Çağatay Ulusoy as
- the Last Protector, Hakan Demir, a man in his twenties who works for his adoptive father, Neşet, in their small antique shop in the Grand Bazaar but dreams of opening a bigger store and becoming successful. After Neşet is killed by people looking for a mysterious Ottoman shirt, Zeynep and Kemal tell him to put the shirt on. As it fuses with his body, he becomes the Protector, the series' protagonist. (seasons 1–4)
- the First Protector, Harun Muhafız
- Hazar Ergüçlü as Zeynep Erman, one of the Loyal Ones and Hakan's prevailing love interest. She is not much impressed with Hakan at first as she trains him in combat techniques but eventually becomes devoted to him and risks her life for him repeatedly.[8] (seasons 1–4)
- Okan Yalabık as Faysal Erdem / Hüsrev Hodja, the series' antagonist, second Immortal, and a successful businessman whose career has inspired Hakan to try to better himself.[1] (seasons 1–4)
- Ayça Ayşin Turan as Leyla Sancak, Erdem's assistant [1] and Hakan's first love interest[8] (seasons 1–2)
- Burçin Terzioğlu as Rüya Erdem / Cavidan, Faysal's wife / love interest (guest: seasons 1 and 4; main: seasons 2–3)
- Funda Eryiğit as Nisan Türk / Valeria, a chemist, first Immortal, and grand vizier; Hakan and Harun's love interest. (seasons 3–4)
- Engin Öztürk as Levent Demir, Hakan's brother (seasons 2–3)
- Yurdaer Okur as Kemal Erman, Zeynep's pharmacist father,[1] also a Loyal One[8] (season 1)
Supporting
- Mehmet Kurtuluş as Mazhar Dragusha, Erdem's henchman[1] (season 1)
- Mehmet Yilmaz Ak as Tekin, a corrupt cop on Erdem's payroll (seasons 1, 4)
- Yücel Erten as Neşet Korkmaz, Hakan's adoptive father and a Loyal One (season 1)
- Cankat Aydos as Memo, Hakan's cousin with a gambling problem[1] (season 1)
- Defne Kayalar as Suzan Bayraktar (season 1)
- Cihat Süvarioğlu as Yasin Karakaya, a journalist (season 1)
- Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu as Emir, a Loyal One (season 1)
- Şenay Aydın as Derya, a Fallen One (seasons 1–2)
- Kubilay Karslıoğlu as Serdar, a Loyal One (seasons 1–2)
- Helin Kandemir as Ceylan, a Loyal One (seasons 1–2)
- Hakan Ummak as Can, a Loyal One (season 2)
- Çiğdem Selışık Onat as Azra, a Loyal One (season 2)
- Saygın Soysal as Mergen, an Immortal (seasons 1–2 and 4)
- Boran Kuzum as Okhan, an Immortal (seasons 2 and 4)
- Ayse Melike Çerçi as Piraye, an Immortal (seasons 2 and 4)
- Miray Daner as the Oracle (seasons 2–4)
- Emre Mutlu as Sami, a Loyal One (seasons 3–4)
- İlayda Alişan as Aylin, a Loyal One, later an Immortal (seasons 3–4)
- Bige Önal as Berrin, a Loyal One (seasons 3–4)
- Halit Özgür Sarı as Arif, a Loyal One (seasons 3–4)
- Taner Ölmez as Burak, a young man who helps Hakan and the Loyal Ones; Zeynep's love interest (seasons 3–4)
- Aksel Bonfil as Azim, Harun's best friend (season 4)
- Idil Yade Kirnik as Şirin, Harun's daughter (season 4)
Episodes
Season 1 (2018)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
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1 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Can Evrenol | Jason George | 14 December 2018 |
2 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Can Evrenol | Yasemin Yılmaz | 14 December 2018 |
3 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Can Evrenol | Emre Özpirinççi | 14 December 2018 |
4 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Umut Aral | Kerim Ceylan | 14 December 2018 |
5 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Umut Aral | Yasemin Yılmaz | 14 December 2018 |
6 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Umut Aral | Emre Özpirinççi | 14 December 2018 |
7 | 7 | "Episode 7" | Gönenç Uyanık | Kerim Ceylan, Binnur Karaevli | 14 December 2018 |
8 | 8 | "Episode 8" | Gönenç Uyanık | Emre Özpirinççi | 14 December 2018 |
9 | 9 | "Episode 9" | Can Evrenol | Volkan Sümbül | 14 December 2018 |
10 | 10 | "Episode 10" | Can Evrenol | Yasemin Yılmaz | 14 December 2018 |
Season 2 (2019)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
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11 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Umut Aral | Cansu Çoban | 26 April 2019 |
12 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Umut Aral | Atasay Koç | 26 April 2019 |
13 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Umut Aral | Uğraş Güneş | 26 April 2019 |
14 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Gonenc Uyanik | Cansu Çoban | 26 April 2019 |
15 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Gonenc Uyanik | Jason George | 26 April 2019 |
16 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Gonenc Uyanik | Atasay Koç | 26 April 2019 |
17 | 7 | "Episode 7" | Gökhan Tiryaki | Ayşin Akbulut | 26 April 2019 |
18 | 8 | "Episode 8" | Gökhan Tiryaki | Yasemin Yilmaz | 26 April 2019 |
Season 3 (2020)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
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19 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Umut Aral | Atasay Koç | 6 March 2020 |
20 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Umut Aral | Cansu Çoban | 6 March 2020 |
21 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Umut Aral | Aksel Bonfil | 6 March 2020 |
22 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Umut Aral | Deniz Gürlek | 6 March 2020 |
23 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Burcu Alptekin | Melek Seven | 6 March 2020 |
24 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Burcu Alptekin | Merih Aslan, Cansu Çoban | 6 March 2020 |
25 | 7 | "Episode 7" | Burcu Alptekin | Aksel Bonfil, Atasay Koç | 6 March 2020 |
Season 4 (2020)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [9] |
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26 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Umut Aral | Atasay Koç | 9 July 2020 |
27 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Umut Aral | Cansu Çoban, Aksel Bonfil | 9 July 2020 |
28 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Umut Aral | Deniz Gürlek | 9 July 2020 |
29 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Burcu Alptekin | Melek Seven | 9 July 2020 |
30 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Burcu Alptekin | Cansu Çoban | 9 July 2020 |
31 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Gökhan Tiryaki | Deniz Gürlek, Melek Seven | 9 July 2020 |
32 | 7 | "Episode 7" | Gökhan Tiryaki | Atasay Koç | 9 July 2020 |
Production
Principal photography began on 7 March 2018, in Istanbul.[10]
References
- Keller, Joel (14 December 2018). "Stream It or Skip It: 'The Protector' on Netflix, a Turkish Drama Where a Guy with Dreams Becomes an Indestructible Hero". Decider. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- Bhaskaran, Gautaman (22 December 2018). "Review: Turkish Netflix drama 'The Protector' a let-down". Arab News. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- "Netflix renews contract for Turkish series 'Protector'". Hürriyet Daily News. 5 December 2018. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
- Arsiya, İklim (5 May 2018). "The novel that inspired the first Turkish Netflix Original". Daily Sabah. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- The Protector on Netflix release date, cast, trailer, plot: When is The Protector out? Archived 16 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine, express.co.uk
- Beyazperde (10 January 2019). "'Hakan: Muhafız'a 3. ve 4. Sezon Onayı!". Beyazperde. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- "Final Season of 'The Protector' Coming to Netflix in July 2020". What's on Netflix. 17 June 2020. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- Patton, Rebecca (14 December 2018). "Will 'The Protector' Return for Season 2? The Fantasy Series Is a First for Netflix". Bustle. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- "The Protector – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- Netflix Announces Cast and Start of Production for Its First Turkish Original Series Archived 9 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine, netflix.com