Netflix’s Turkish series, Istanbul Encyclopedia, analyzes the city, Istanbul, through the lens of a newcomer and that of someone who’d been living in the city for over twenty years. Zehra, a young college student, had arrived in Istanbul with hopes and dreams. As a small-town girl, the big city was full of possibilities, and Zehra was keen on finding herself amidst the chaos. She had decided to stay at Nesrin’s apartment. Nesrin was her mother’s childhood best friend, and while they were not on talking terms, Nesrin was the only reliable person Zehra knew in Istanbul, and she hoped Nesrin would not mind her moving in. Nesrin didn’t know how to react to the situation. She was not against Zehra staying with her, but she wondered if her mother, Aylin, would approve of their arrangement. Soon, Zehra’s insecurities started to creep in; she suspected...