Fatma
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Fatma
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Fatma is a Turkish drama about a woman who becomes a serial murderer. For its U.S. release, the series is dubbed in English. Though it's about killing, Fatma is mostly restrained and deliberate in its use of violence. It shows the central character (Burcu Biricik) committing murders (shooting someone, pushing someone into a train, etc.), but most of the drama is about the consequences and decision-making around the crimes. The main plot involves organized crime, and crimes including drug use and threats of sexual assault are discussed throughout. Characters smoke and drink. Fatma is essentially a parable about what drives people to commit crimes and become criminals; it uses violence, drugs, and other elements in order to tell a story about morality.
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
FATMA tells the story of a woman who unexpectedly becomes a serial killer. When her husband disappears after his release from prison, Fatma (Burcu Biricik) supports herself by working as a housecleaner while searching for him. She seeks out his old criminal connections, and when she kills one in self-defense, Fatma discovers that murder is easier than she ever suspected. Might it help solve a lot of her problems?
Is It Any Good?
After a couple of decades of TV shows about Tony Soprano-type charismatic sociopaths, there's something intriguing about getting to know a truly empathetic serial killer. Unfortunately, Fatma comes off as morally simplistic in a way that tends to undermine the show's premise. It's not just that Fatma is mistreated but that she's mistreated in scene after scene by everyone in her life, which tilts everything in her favor so far that it feels manipulative. Instead of being a true character study, the result is a simple morality tale stretched over a season of television.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the character Fatma. What do we know about her? What has happened in her life prior to the first episode? What does Fatma care about? How is she perceived by the other people in her life?
How does violence change Fatma through the course of the story? What are the decisions that she makes? How do these decisions tell viewers about the type of person she is -- or is becoming?
What do we know about Fatma's husband? How does her opinion of her husband differ from others'? What do you think has happened to her husband?
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 27, 2021
- Cast: Burcu Biricik, Uğur Yücel, Mehmet Yılmaz Ak
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
-
The Investigation
Compelling Danish true crime drama sticks to the facts.
-
The Fall
Serial-killer drama targets adults with sex and violence.
-
Breaking Bad
Morally ambiguous show has crime, drugs, Latino stereotypes.
-
The Sopranos
Violent mob drama doesn't pull any punches.
For kids who love true crime
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate