The Bad Penny (TV Series 2021–2022) Poster

(2021–2022)

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8/10
Turkish series that pits cops vs mobsters, until they have to come together to stop a serial killer.
cgvsluis14 June 2022
There are 28 episodes in this Turkish series about a tight knit gypsy neighborhood in Istanbul, a serial killer and a strait-laced police officer who wants to bring down the mob. In episode 18, the series jumps three years in time giving episodes 18-28 a very different feel from episodes 1-17.

Great acting and an interesting addition of a serial killer make this a must see Turkish series, especially for fans of shows like Icerde.

The overall story is about Kartal (Eagle), a bit of a two bit criminal who lives in a large family home in his tight knit gypsy community in Istanbul. Kartal has lots of responsibilities...he has set himself up as the head of the community, which comes with financial obligations. In Kartal's household is his father Oktay-who used to make a living playing his clarinet...but due to a tragedy in the past lost his arm and is now an alcoholic pensioner, his aunt Neriman-who has been nurturing and stepped in to be parent since Kartal's mother passed away and her brother checked out after loosing his arm, His sister Layla-who works as a part time bartender and also nurtures the family, his younger brother Sahin-who was sent to college but really just wants to be like his brother Kartal, and his sweet and innocent cousin Halide. Kartal is haunted and driven by his past...and motivated by his family and neighborhood.

Kartal's nemesis is a young police officer named Efe, who is determined to put Kartal in jail and shut down all of his illegal businesses. Efe is running from his own personal demons in the shape of his father, who he views as a dirty lawyer. In the process of putting some heat on Kartal...Efe meets Layla and boy do the sparks fly! These two smolder on the screen and I kept coming back for more. Easy on the eyes and chemistry for days, I'd recommend this series for the romance between these two alone! Efe looses his mentor and his mentor's wife causing him to make some tough decisions that have serious ramifications for his job in the special crimes unit.

Now let's talk about the serial killer...I have seen a lot of Turkish series and this is the first time I have seen a serial killer and it was handled wonderfully! The serial killer had great motivation, left an unmistakable signature at their crime scenes and served the wonderful purpose of uniting two foes to catch them! This really elevated the series for me.

I fell in love with Aslihan Malbora, the actress who plays Layla, when I saw her in Her Yerde Sen (another series I loved) and I thought this series allowed her even more range for her acting.

This series had a satisfying ending and I would put this on my recommendation list especially if you like crime dramas...but really this series has it all love, family, mental illness, abuse, gambling, smuggling, police, mobsters, musicians, interpersonal struggles, and a serial killer! I think you will enjoy this if you are a fan of Turkish dramas or if you are new to them.
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10/10
Very good show with a great plot
hari-3128710 November 2021
Don't know what the person with the 1/10 rate was thinking but clearly some hate. Amazing cast irregardless!!! If you have taste this is for you! If you're bland I suggest to watch Sen Cal Kapimi :)
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9/10
A fresh crazy mixture of crime, murder, mob and romance series
mosquitocyn6 May 2022
I like this series for its wackiness, growing camaraderie between the crime boss and commissioner as they try to solve a serial killing together, a double romance brewing and very quirky lifestyle of a tightly knit gypsy community. Acting by the entire cast is good. The songs and soundtrack are quirky too. Sometimes I find myself thrown back into Icerde soundtrack and sometImes I even get hints of Phantom of the Opera! The series is fast moving, funny, at times over the top making me laugh and yet gripping and intense. I'm only at episode 6 now and hope the series continues to be good.
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1/10
hari-31287 i think you are the one spreading hate not others
leginyxa2 March 2022
@hari-31287 1/10 does not mean hatred. It is given as the plot is not unique. It talks about same old issues of mafia and police wanting justice, no uniqueness like the one offered by Halka which does more justice to scenario and actually adds something new to the table rather than this eries which is keep on repeating same ideas. We as viewers also want new stories not just different fces re-enacting same plot lines, for goodness sake @hari-31287 just get it together!
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10/10
Ekin Koc is in it!
hamidahsandhu17 November 2021
Love the plot n acting! The actors are able to bring the characters to life. The emotions. Getting to know the Romani community is educational. After the UBS cancellation, glad to see Ekin Koc in action as Efe. Good chemistry between him n Layla. Amazing young actress. Another good one from Ay Yapim - Worth watching!
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5/10
They just killed it
ekaterinakowalski17 January 2023
The first 10 episodes were a masterpiece. Then it started getting more and more clichéd with bright colors disappearing and characters becoming either plain stupid (women) or utterly selfish (men). In the end, it's just bang bang bang and tough guys' jokes like "Is everyone dead yet? Dude, I'm not even tired". I was so puzzled by this sudden change of style that I even did some research to find out the reason. Apparently, the team of screenwriters changed four times with Murat Uyurkulak leaving after the 12th episode, and Berrin Tekdemir joining after episode 15, which has to mean that the show pretty much hung on Uyurkulak's writing, though it's just a hypothesis of mine.

Anyways, as I have already said, the first ten episodes were, as Kartal put it, "kaymak" (the Turkish for very thick cream). It was a very well-written crime mystery set in an authentic gypsy neighborhood with folk music, rhinestones, leopard coats, dancing bears, and ruminations upon racial pride. It's a shame they stripped the show of what was so special about it, making it a mainstream revenge shooter we've seen so many times before.
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10/10
Appropriate
iliabarzin3 November 2021
Good and interesting characters , Cool and action story , The music is a little weird but good for variety , I enjoyed it and I am waiting for the next episodes.

And I try not to be prejudiced like some people and not to judge by watching an episode and not to say it is bad and hate it.
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10/10
Excellent work
AstroKaber21 August 2023
I don't know why my review of the work in terms of this app hasn't been posted But I'll make it short the best Turkish work I've seen of this kind

My feelings continued to change throughout the episode I was laughing crying afraid excited and shocked How did that happen until the last episode?

All characters are written perfectly I do not know who I will thank Kartal Caka Efe Tekin Irfan Kahraman\Ferhan Sensoy Bahar Leyla my sweetheart Neriman Oktay Baybars Azade Sesu Sahin Rusen Halide Cetin Kilic Korkmaz Mesut I love you all.

I won't forget the soundtrack either Everything is perfect perfect.
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10/10
Good show
bartans-512-86412315 November 2021
Some people are criticizing the show too much as they keep comparing it to The Pitt. It is quite good and will get better and better each episode. The actors are good, storyline is good, we have some of the actors from The Pitt which is nice. People need to be patient and give the makers of the show a chance.
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9/10
A great show... one of the best this year
biaz-7326115 December 2021
Nice plot, events unfold nicely, exciting and has a crazy edge to it.

There's a funny twist in the characters, despite the tragedy that brings different worlds together, you love the characters each for his or her own crazy side.

I don't know if it is really represents the gypsy ghetto but makes one definitely think to learn and appreciate more the diverse groups that exist and we hardly notice them.

Brings also many favorite actors and actresses that we love to see.

Good job!
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10/10
Icerde'den ciktik, cukur'a dustuk, sirada "uc kurus"
egzonavdiji17 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I watched the 2 series, icerde, cukur. Now I see "uc kurus", in icerde it was about the police and the mafia, while in cukur it was about the neighborhood for the loyalty that the inhabitants had with kocoval, while in "uc kurus" it is about the policeman for the neighborhood and the inhabitants of the neighborhood that they love kartal and the kartal family very much, meaning that "uc kurus" is a mixture of the 2 series icerde and cukur and both were super but cukuri was better, now I am in the 10th episode of "uc kurus" and so far in these 10 episodes uc kurus was super, but unfortunately the rating is not good, and i hope that in the next episodes they will throw more action. I suggest you watch uc kurus it is super serial with drama and action.
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10/10
Great
aryamjo9 November 2021
Not a fan of Turkish series here, but this one! I'm hooked. The episode finishes and I'm already starting to count down the days till next Monday. Truly great a story, plot, writing, casting and acting. Uraz and Ekin delivered as always. This is my first time watching aslihan in a series and she's really good. You should all watch it!!!!!
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10/10
Very Exciting & Action
itsms-127433 May 2022
After Çukur this series is the best, It's just like Çukur, a bit different tho. Also some of the actors are the same and ofcourse the Director. I definitely recommend it. This series should be very famous...
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10/10
Great one
sharmilaks21 March 2022
Nice concept ......and starting. Mixed up of everything.......upto episode 18 the truth part( Efe) lowered. Everytime Efe is correct but fails mostly. Hope for the strong Efe role comes in future. Wish for the more time to lyela n efe......In drama. Chemistry goes one fire with Kartal and Lyela of Efe........The main ingredient with brings addiction to think everytime of this drama. It is unfinished drama........thus in spite of feeling dead everytime beacuse of waiting every episode i quit to watch this drama for sometime......so that i can watch it easily with no sleep. Hope for the valuable twist and turned comes in the drama in future.
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10/10
BEST SERIES OF THE SEASON
urrehmanshafeeq15 February 2022
Uc kurus is showing their best in all aspects crime ,mystery ,thrill with a pinch of romance this series makes you speechless like it makes viewers eager to wait for another episode .

Everything in this series is just builted amazingly . I love Uraz's (kartal) acting he's just living the character, and also their neighborhood and each n every character is doing thier best .

Request for turkish citizens to please watch it on TV so that we can get higher ratings please help it in growing we want this masterpiece to be alive.. And would like to recommend it to everyone this series is justt wow. A must watch material.

Lots off lovee for "UC KURUS"
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