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
TurkishHakan: Muhafız
Genre
  • Action
  • fantasy
  • science fiction
Created byBinnur Karaevli
Based onKarakalem ve Bir Delikanlının Tuhaf Hikayesi by Nilüfer İpek Gökdel
Written by
  • Jason George
  • Yasemin Yılmaz
  • Emre Özpirinçci
  • Kerim Ceylan
Directed by
  • Umut Aral
  • Gönenç Uyanık
  • Can Evrenol
  • Burcu Alptekin
  • Gökhan Tiryaki
Starring
Theme music composer
  • Tufan Aydın
  • Tolga Böyük
  • Emin Yasin Vural
  • Ekin Eti
Country of originTurkey
Original languageTurkish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes32 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Onur Güvenatam
  • Özge Bağdatlıoğlu
  • Jason George
  • Binnur Karaevli
ProducerAlex Sutherland
Production locationIstanbul
CinematographyGökhan Tiryaki
Running time30–50 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNetflix
Release14 December 2018 (2018-12-14) –
9 July 2020 (2020-07-09)

Synopsis

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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

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Main

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  • 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

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  • 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

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SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
11014 December 2018 (2018-12-14)
2826 April 2019 (2019-04-26)
376 March 2020 (2020-03-06)
479 July 2020 (2020-07-09)

Season 1 (2018)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Episode 1"Can EvrenolJason George14 December 2018 (2018-12-14)
22"Episode 2"Can EvrenolYasemin Yılmaz14 December 2018 (2018-12-14)
33"Episode 3"Can EvrenolEmre Özpirinççi14 December 2018 (2018-12-14)
44"Episode 4"Umut AralKerim Ceylan14 December 2018 (2018-12-14)
55"Episode 5"Umut AralYasemin Yılmaz14 December 2018 (2018-12-14)
66"Episode 6"Umut AralEmre Özpirinççi14 December 2018 (2018-12-14)
77"Episode 7"Gönenç UyanıkKerim Ceylan, Binnur Karaevli14 December 2018 (2018-12-14)
88"Episode 8"Gönenç UyanıkEmre Özpirinççi14 December 2018 (2018-12-14)
99"Episode 9"Can EvrenolVolkan Sümbül14 December 2018 (2018-12-14)
1010"Episode 10"Can EvrenolYasemin Yılmaz14 December 2018 (2018-12-14)

Season 2 (2019)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
111"Episode 1"Umut AralCansu Çoban26 April 2019 (2019-04-26)
122"Episode 2"Umut AralAtasay Koç26 April 2019 (2019-04-26)
133"Episode 3"Umut AralUğraş Güneş26 April 2019 (2019-04-26)
144"Episode 4"Gonenc UyanikCansu Çoban26 April 2019 (2019-04-26)
155"Episode 5"Gonenc UyanikJason George26 April 2019 (2019-04-26)
166"Episode 6"Gonenc UyanikAtasay Koç26 April 2019 (2019-04-26)
177"Episode 7"Gökhan TiryakiAyşin Akbulut26 April 2019 (2019-04-26)
188"Episode 8"Gökhan TiryakiYasemin Yilmaz26 April 2019 (2019-04-26)

Season 3 (2020)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
191"Episode 1"Umut AralAtasay Koç6 March 2020 (2020-03-06)
202"Episode 2"Umut AralCansu Çoban6 March 2020 (2020-03-06)
213"Episode 3"Umut AralAksel Bonfil6 March 2020 (2020-03-06)
224"Episode 4"Umut AralDeniz Gürlek6 March 2020 (2020-03-06)
235"Episode 5"Burcu AlptekinMelek Seven6 March 2020 (2020-03-06)
246"Episode 6"Burcu AlptekinMerih Aslan, Cansu Çoban6 March 2020 (2020-03-06)
257"Episode 7"Burcu AlptekinAksel Bonfil, Atasay Koç6 March 2020 (2020-03-06)

Season 4 (2020)

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [9]
261"Episode 1"Umut AralAtasay Koç9 July 2020 (2020-07-09)
272"Episode 2"Umut AralCansu Çoban, Aksel Bonfil9 July 2020 (2020-07-09)
283"Episode 3"Umut AralDeniz Gürlek9 July 2020 (2020-07-09)
294"Episode 4"Burcu AlptekinMelek Seven9 July 2020 (2020-07-09)
305"Episode 5"Burcu AlptekinCansu Çoban9 July 2020 (2020-07-09)
316"Episode 6"Gökhan TiryakiDeniz Gürlek, Melek Seven9 July 2020 (2020-07-09)
327"Episode 7"Gökhan TiryakiAtasay Koç9 July 2020 (2020-07-09)

Production

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Principal photography began on 7 March 2018, in Istanbul.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b "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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ a b c d 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.
  9. ^ "The Protector – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  10. ^ Netflix Announces Cast and Start of Production for Its First Turkish Original Series Archived 9 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine, netflix.com
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