It Shouldn't End Like This (TV Series)

Böyle Bitmesin is a Turkish television series in the drama, crime, and social genres, broadcast on TRT 1 from September 21, 2012, to June 6, 2014. Produced by AT Yapım, the series spanned two seasons and 69 episodes, addressing the rising divorce rates in Türkiye and the challenges facing the family institution through an episodic approach. The main characters are Nisa, Yusuf, and Nazlı, who form a team that intervenes in each episode to help different families preserve their unity. The series drew attention for its social messages and realistic storytelling.

Plot and Themes

Plot Summary

Böyle Bitmesin centers on the rapidly increasing divorce rates in Türkiye over the past two decades and their social consequences. The series tells the story of a team dedicated to preventing divorces. Each episode explores the reasons and conflicts behind a different family’s separation, dramatizing their efforts to preserve family unity. The main characters—Nisa, Yusuf, and Nazlı—work in a unit called the Family Table. The series begins when Nazlı and Yusuf decide to separate after an incident on their wedding night. Months later, a case at a women’s shelter brings these three characters together, initiating a desperate struggle to reconcile relationships.

Themes

The series aims to strengthen the concept of family and examine the social consequences of divorce. Themes such as family unity, social values, communication breakdown, trust issues, and cultural differences are explored. The narrowing gap in divorce rates between eastern and western Türkiye demonstrates the series’ sociological perspective. Nisa’s unconventional methods add both dramatic and educational dimensions to the show.

Production and Broadcast

Production Process

Böyle Bitmesin was produced by AT Yapım for TRT 1. Directed by Emre Kabakuşak and Hüseyin Soysalan, the writing team included Necati Şahin, Özgür Evren Heptürk, and Hürer Ebeoğlu. The series was filmed in various neighborhoods of Istanbul, with meticulous set designs reflecting authentic family environments. Its episodic structure allowed each episode to tell a distinct story.

Broadcast Information

The series premiered on TRT 1 on September 21, 2012, and concluded on June 6, 2014, with its 69th episode. Aired weekly, it typically reached audiences during the evening time slot. Each episode lasted approximately 90 minutes. TRT 1’s official website provides archival access to all episodes.

Böyle Bitmesin (TRT 1)

Characters and Cast

Main Characters

• Nisa Yazıcı (Nergis Öztürk): Leader and intellectual force of the Family Table, a police commissioner. Known for her willingness to take risks and unconventional problem-solving methods, she approaches divorce cases with bold and creative strategies—for example, staging a murder to demonstrate the consequences of domestic violence or sending a character on a long journey to prevent a divorce. Her exceptional memory enables rapid solutions in complex cases.
• Yusuf Hakbilir (Cemal Toktaş): Legal consultant and Nazlı’s former fiancé. He contributes analytical insights into couples’ dynamics within the Family Table. His separation from Nazlı after the incident on their wedding night affects both his personal and professional life. His evidence-based approach helps the team make balanced decisions.
• Nazlı Hakbilir (Yeliz Kuvancı): Marriage counselor and Yusuf’s former fiancée. She brings an emotional and humanistic perspective to the Family Table. After separating from Yusuf following the wedding night incident, she was reunited with him through a case at a women’s shelter. She maintains close collaboration with Nisa.

Other Important Characters

• Latif Yazıcı (Kaan Çakır): Nisa’s husband, who provides external support to the Family Table. Known for his wide network of contacts—from taxi drivers and forensic doctors to special forces and kebab shop owners—he fulfills Nisa’s requests for “someone who can do this,” playing a crucial role in helping the team find practical solutions.
• Hümeyra Akkale (Tomris İncer): Nisa’s mother. She guides the team with her maturity and common sense, acting as a mediator in conflict situations. Her character reinforces the series’ message of family unity.
• Zeliha (Duygu Keser): Actively involved in fieldwork, especially supporting Nisa in cases related to women’s shelters.

Impact and Reception

Social Impact

Böyle Bitmesin aimed to raise awareness about rising divorce rates and the challenges facing family institutions in Türkiye. With the slogan “Every marriage deserves a second chance,” it promoted the value of family unity. By addressing sensitive issues such as women’s shelters, the series heightened public sensitivity. As a social responsibility project of TRT 1, it sparked public debate by placing family values at the forefront.

Criticism

The series received positive reviews for its dramatic structure, ensemble cast, and Alp Yenier’s emotionally resonant theme music. However, some critics noted that the episodic format occasionally became repetitive. Nisa’s unconventional methods and the personal stories of Yusuf and Nazlı kept viewers engaged. Episode summaries on TRT 1’s official website indicate that the series reached a broad audience.