Directed by Umut Aral and Tolga Kara, Netflix Turkish series, “Yakamoz S-245” is set in the same universe as the 2020 Netflix thriller, “Into the Night,” directed by Jason George. The events in both series’ overlap, and we get substantial hints which make you realize that the actions of the characters in one will have implications on the life of the characters in the other.
Kivanc Tatlitug (Arman), Ozge Ozpirincci (Defne), Ertan Saban (Umut), Meric Aral (Hatice), Ece Cesmioglu (Yonca), play prominent roles and drive the narrative ahead, sometimes with their conflicting ideologies and very rarely moving cohesively towards a plan of action. Burak Kanbir, the director of photography, Suleyman Iyisu, and Firat Yunluel, the art directors need special mention for creating a world that not only looked realistic but was able to assimilate the darkness and the void of the greater depths of our planet.
“Yakamoz S-245” is a kind of series that harps heavily upon the fear of the unknown. There is a thrill that originates from anticipation and uncertainty. A cosmic event throws the planet off balance, and there are a handful who survive. The novelty is not in chronicling the lives of the ones who were lost, but in navigating the pathways of those who survived. Such a narrative has the potential to keep you on the edge of your seats and instill a sense of fear that is more effective than a patent horror flick, because you believe in the possibility of an extraterritorial event more than a supernatural one. So let’s see if the makers were able to extract the full potential of the sci-fi thriller and whether they were able to create a captivating narrative.