Istanbul Encyclopedia is a travelogue infused with poignant social commentary, exploring the complexities of identity crisis and culture shock. The series follows the unlikely bond that forms between two young women: Nesrin, a surgeon preparing to move to France, and Zehra, a university student newly arrived in Istanbul from Amasya, steeped in a conservative upbringing.

Their paths cross due to a shared past—Zehra’s mother, Aylin, was once Nesrin’s closest friend, though the two women have been estranged for nearly two decades. As Zehra grapples with the challenges of a new city and the nuances of her identity, Nesrin confronts unresolved relationships and an aching desire to flee her own history. Through themes of cultural dissonance, the longing for belonging, and the tangled threads of family and love, the narrative paints a vivid portrait of Istanbul in all its layered, restless beauty.

This article contains spoilers.

Istanbul Encyclopedia...