Madd's "The good & the bad" was named “Best Series” at the Seoul International Drama Awards

MADD Entertainment announced that Ay Yapim’s popular primetime drama “The good & the bad” was named “Best Series” at the 20th Seoul International Drama Awards. This prestigious award was presented October 2 at a star-studded awards show streamed around the world. The series is also nominated for an International Emmy in the “Telenovela” category, the only Turkish drama so honored.

“The good & the bad” premiered in 2024 on Show TV, where it was broadcast under the Turkish title “Deha”. The highly rated series features a genius mathematician who is pulled away from a promising academic career by his estranged father, who embroils him in a dangerous scheme that could ruin the whole family.  MADD Entertainment is the exclusive distributor of “The good & the bad”, which has already been licensed to over 40 territories.

In accepting the award, Umut Aral, who stated that the series was the result of a major two-year team effort, thanked the series writer Damla Serim, producer Kerem Çatay, and the cast members Aras Bulut İynemli, Uğur Polat, Taner Ölmez, Melis Sezen, and Ahsen Eroğlu, whom he referred to as ‘our extraordinary cast,’ with the words, ‘Thank you for making this incredible journey a reality; this award belongs to all of us.’ ‘To have our work recognized by the Seoul Drama Awards is truly an honor,’ he added.

“The good & the bad” is also a finalist for an International Emmy® in the “Telenovela” category, where it is up against series from some of Brazil and Spain’s top producers. The Ay Yapim series is the only Turkish drama to make the cut. Winners will be announced at the 53rd International Emmy Awards Gala in New York City, on Monday, November 24, 2025.

Ateş Ince, MADD’s Managing Director predicted that the series would have a strong run at MIPCOM: "‘It is a great honor to be recognized by the Seoul International Awards. Viewers around the world associate Ay Yapim with high-quality programming,’ ‘This award, as well as the International Emmy nomination, just underscore the point and success of the series. The good & the bad” is a powerful drama. We’re very proud to represent this series to the international market at MIPCOM this year," noted.

“The good & the bad” is an Ay Yapim series that aired on Show TV under the Turkish title “Deha”. In it, Devran’s life takes a dramatic turn from poverty to prestige when his genius is discovered, and he solves a thousand-year-old math problem to earn a prestigious position at a top U.S. university. Raised in a ghetto with his mother, grandmother, siblings and his first love Esme, Devran’s success seems to be his ticket from hardship. At the same time, his estranged father, İskender, a notorious con artist, is on the brink of a lucrative investment that could secure his wealth and power.

The tension escalates when Devran’s brother sets out to find İskender, prompting the con artist to drag his son into a perilous scheme that threatens the whole family. Furious and determined to avenge his family’s suffering, Devran turns his back on a new life in the U.S. to confront İskender. Armed with his brilliance and a deep-seated desire for justice, Devran faces his father in a high-stakes battle where his ruthless intelligence is pitted against İskender’s deceit and ambition.

“The good & the bad” features a cast of international stars, including Aras Bulut İynemli (“The Pit”, “Insider”, “Magnificent Century”, “As Time Goes By”), Uğur Polat (“Family Secrets”), Melis Sezen (“Gülcemal”, “A Woman Scorned”), Taner Ölmez (“A Miracle”, “Medcezir”), Ahsen Eroğlu (“The Agency”, “Kuzgun”), Onur Saylak (“No Mercy”, “Crash”, “Kuzgun”), and Seda Akman (“My Wonderful Life”). It was written by Damla Serim (“The Choice”, “The Pit”) and directed by Umut Aral (“Who Were We Running From”, “The Protector”).