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Those in the Back Row (Arka Sıradakiler)

Those in the Back Row (Arka Sıradakiler) (translated)

TV Series · 2007–2012 · 21 people

Arka Sıradakiler ("Those in the Back Row") is one of the longest-running Turkish teen series, on air from 2007 to 2012. Blending drama and youth storytelling, it tackles gang fights, drugs and extortion. The title points to the forgotten students who sit at the back of the classroom. The show started on FOX on September 30, 2007, and aired on Sunday evenings; it ran six seasons, but the planned 193rd episode never aired.

The action centers on Büyük Zafer High School, a forgotten place that has not sent a single student to university in years. An idealistic new teacher, Kemal, tries to set these students on the right path, and he is the series' most important figure. The cast includes Bülent Emin Yarar, Barış Atay, Sinem Öztürk, Sevda Dalgıç, Anıl Altan, Gürbey İleri and Begüm Öner.

Directed by Hamdi Alkan and produced by Birol Güven, the series began under MinT Prodüksiyon. Its run on FOX ended on November 27, 2011, with episode 170. It returned with new episodes on TNT on January 15, 2012, when Best Prodüksiyon took over production. TNT's announced closure ended its shows, so episode 193 never aired. A spin-off built around Teacher Kemal, Öğretmen Kemal, aired on FOX in 2010-2011 and ended after 18 episodes because of low ratings.

DirectorHamdi Alkan
Production companyMinT Prodüksiyon, Best Prodüksiyon
NetworkFOX
Those in the Back Row (Arka Sıradakiler) Those in the Back Row (Arka Sıradakiler) Those in the Back Row (Arka Sıradakiler)

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Cast

Anıl Altan Anıl Altan Actor · 36 years old Barış Atay Barış Atay Actor · 45 years old Saffet Günaçar Begüm Öner Begüm Öner Actor · 37 years old Bülent Çetinaslan Bülent Çetinaslan Actor · 52 years old Oktay Karaca (Reis) Bülent Emin Yarar Bülent Emin Yarar Actor · 65 years old Kemal Güngör Evrim Doğan Evrim Doğan Actor · 49 years old Suna Gamze Demirbilek Gamze Demirbilek Actor · 58 years old Gonca Cilasun Gonca Cilasun Actor · 60 years old Gözde Mukavelat Gözde Mukavelat Actor · 41 years old Büşra Gürbey İleri Gürbey İleri Actor · 38 years old Kerem Kıratlıoğlu Merve Erdoğan Merve Erdoğan Actor · 35 years old Özgür Özberk Özgür Özberk Actor · 52 years old Pelin Akil Pelin Akil Actor · 40 years old Zehra Güngör Selen Kurtaran Selen Kurtaran Actor · 37 years old Serenay Aktaş Serenay Aktaş Actor · 33 years old Sevda Dalgıç Sevda Dalgıç Actor · 42 years old Sılay Ünal Sılay Ünal Actor · 42 years old Nazan Sinem Öztürk Sinem Öztürk Actor · 41 years old Süleyman Felek Süleyman Felek Actor · 39 years old Uğur Bilgin Uğur Bilgin Actor · 46 years old Zehra's Teacher Metin Metin Coşkun Actor · born 1948 Sadettin

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Through different eyes

History & Society Lens Asks about the period, the social background and what the work reflects.

Arka Sıradakiler takes its name from the students in the back row whom everyone has long given up on, and that choice is a social observation in itself. Büyük Zafer High School, which has not sent a single student to university in years, works as a small mirror of unequal opportunity in education and of forgotten schools. Gang fights, drugs and extortion are handled in a register that was fairly harsh for youth drama of its day. The idealistic teacher Kemal is open to debate, since he pins hope on a single hero; the roots of these problems are bigger than one teacher's goodwill. Still, it is a valuable record for anyone wanting to look at late-2000s youth issues through television.

Family Viewer Asks whether the whole household can watch it; cares about humor and heart.

Arka Sıradakiler is a school series, but it is not for young children. Gang fights, drugs and extortion come up again and again. Watched with teenagers, it can start a good conversation. Teacher Kemal standing up for his students is a fine example. But some of the subjects may feel uncomfortable around the family table. Parents of teenagers should watch a few episodes on their own first.

Series Binger A series devotee tracking character arcs, cast chemistry and season pacing.

Six seasons, two channels, well over 170 episodes: Arka Sıradakiler is a true marathon among Turkish teen series. Teacher Kemal is the backbone of the show; his bond with the students carries the story, and the energy of the large young cast is a bonus. But fatigue is unavoidable in a run this long. Whether the story kept its old spark after the move from FOX to TNT and the change of producer is a question each viewer answers differently. And the fact that the planned final episode never aired leaves a bittersweet taste for those who stayed with it for years.

These are not reader reviews: they are short editorial takes written from different viewer perspectives with AI assistance. Reader reviews are below.

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