I was very apprehensive when I decided to give "Aktris" a try. The trailers were very promising but the Turkish film industry has disappointed me more times than not and so, having low expectations was the best way to go... And I'm happy to admit that I was proven wrong!
The story was very exciting; constantly misleading you and making you entertain the potential of different scenarios, only to prove you wrong in the end. Its best element was that although the series is about a serial killer, it is made very clear from the beginning that the character should not be sympathized with. Yasemin Derin is a cold-blooded killer that her tragic backstory in no way can be used to justify her actions. She kills out of boredom, for her own pleasure and embraces her cruelty. Murder for once is not beautified! Of course there are also some clichés in the story, but they are incorporated in a great way and the plot holes that exist are filled in various artistic ways, with the employment of sketches, famous movie references etc. Many questions are left unanswered though, which I believe are hints for future seasons.
Another great element is the cinematography. Vibrant colors, great exposure with the camera placement, assisting greatly with the feelings that need to be evoked as well as its movement, following faithfully the protagonist's moves when the latter is in distress and staying static when she is fighting her inner wars.
I admired the use of lighting the most. With the series slogan being "When all lights are on you, no one can see you", the handling of light and darkness was immaculate!
The soundtracks were excellent and enriched the experience beautifully!
The cast was also great! From the beginning it's made clear that the focus is on the protagonist and that we are supposed to follow the story through her. The actress that played Yasemin Derin, Pinar Deniz, was phenomenal! From the first minutes she conveys the character's difficulty to grasp the concept of humanity perfectly. At first she exaggerates her moves in order to help the viewer understand that Yasemin is only imitating how people are acting in order to fit in, but as the story progresses and different feelings are stirred into her, we watch her act more sincerely. My personal favorite scenes are when the focus is completely on her, when she is alone and vulnerable to her thoughts and feelings. Every emotion is depicted in her expressive eyes and I have to admit that the actress just gained a new admirer! The rest of the cast is also great, with another instant favorite character being Ahmet, Tolga Tekin, because the dynamic between him and Yasemin was very raw and emotional.
In conclusion, Aktris was a great journey, which I can't wait to continue hopefully with more seasons to come! I am quite generous with my rating but the team deserves it for the effort and thought they put in the project! I fully recommend it!
