People unexpectedly finding a large fortune that could drastically alter their lives is a very common thriller drama trope. In the Fargo universe, randomly stumbling upon a briefcase full of cash is an important plot catalyst. Even the British show, The Outlaws, uses this common trope. A group of misfit criminals came across a bag full of cash at a construction site, and as usual, the money belonged to a dangerous criminal gang. The trope pretty much takes the story forward. A Simple Plan and No Country for Old Men also use the same ‘found money’ angle to move the plot forward. Netflix’s new Turkish drama, The Town, falls into this very familiar category. A group of very ordinary individuals living mundane lives suddenly come across a trunk full of cash. Will they keep it? And if they do, are they going to be safe? Because clearly, it was dirty money, and there will be criminals soon coming in search for it. Through the eight episodes, The Town reveals the fate of this ordinary group’s extraordinarily daring decision.
The series primarily revolves around Efe, Ahmet, Selim, and Begum, though Efe is the central figure. They randomly chanced upon a broken down car with two dead men in it. They instinctively decided to call the police, but as soon as they checked the trunk of the car, they changed their decision. Selim advised that they keep only one bag, but Efe believed that if they were going to steal, they might as well keep all the money. You see, Efe, Ahmet, Selim, and his wife, Begum, weren’t doing financially well. They were all struggling one way or another, and the money could change their lives for good. Selim and Efe had recently lost their mother. Selim lived in Istanbul, and after a long time, they had finally reunited. He didn’t have any intention of staying back, but the money affected his plans. The moment they found a man searching for something in the broken car, they knew that they would soon be in trouble. The man had seen them, and it was obvious that he’d figured out the three men were responsible for the missing cash. Efe knew that, sooner than later, criminals would come searching for the cash, but he intended on outsmarting them and keeping the money. Now, Efe thought he knew what he had gotten himself into, but he didn’t really have a very realistic idea of the damage his decision could cause. It was all fun and games at first, until it wasn’t. Things started to get serious too soon. Ahmet was hunted down by the man who had seen them staring at him from a distance. He was desperate to get his hands on the money, and soon they discovered he wasn’t operating alone. They had dared to cross paths with a mafia gang, and quite expectedly, they soon had to start paying the price for it. To make matters worse, Efe realized that even the cops were involved with the notorious criminals. They didn’t really have anyone to ask help from, but at the same time, standing up to a criminal gang all by themselves sounded like an impossible idea. So, did they somehow manage to escape with the money? Well, you have to watch the show to find out.
The small town definitely adds a charm to the show, and it was interesting to see how integral the close-knit community, which is very characteristic of a small town, is to the show. People mostly know one another, and they deeply care for each other. So, when Efe and the rest took such a drastic decision, it wasn’t just themselves who were affected by it, the innocent people of the town also had to bear the price of their decision. The show aptly captures the moral dilemma that Efe, Ahmet, and Selim experienced as they started to face the consequences of their actions. They wanted, or rather they believed they needed, the money, but was it worth all the trouble they had to go through? This question crossed the minds of the characters repeatedly throughout the show. The Town emphasizes how far one might be willing to go for the sake of greed. Would they be comfortable losing the people around them for cash? What is really interesting is that there comes a point when they stop caring about the money, but life had brought them to such a precarious point that there was no backing out. Returning the money no longer guaranteed a peaceful existence. Soon, they realized that they were stuck in a cage and there wasn’t really any escape. The tension, the panic, and the moral dilemma are conveyed quite well in the series. The episodes run for somewhere between 30 and 40 minutes, and that helps maintain the intensity.
I don’t know if it’s a case of ‘lost in translation,’ but I really didn’t connect with the characters. The protagonist, Efe, possibly suffered from a hero complex, and he always felt the need to fix things and sacrifice himself for the sake of others. And while that adds an interesting shade to the character, there was something missing to make you want to really root for him. The series delves a little into the past to explain the reason behind Efe’s guilt, but it wasn’t well fleshed out enough to evoke any emotions. Also, there were quite a few subplots that were mentioned and delved into in a half-baked way. For example, that of Efe’s late brother, whose demise had a devastating effect on Efe, yet the show fails to make the audience truly care about the backstory. Most of the characters on the show, except Efe, are one-dimensional. Ahmet is an entertaining character, but you don’t really get to know him well, and that’s sort of disappointing. There seemed to be a rough plot with a very clear ending, and everything that happens in between is either not well defined or somewhat of an afterthought.
The performances in the show are worth a mention. Okan Yalabik delivers a convincing performance as the confused yet heroic Efe. Capturing the character’s moral dilemma, his need to make things right, and his dedication to holding onto his loved ones to perfection. The rest of the cast have delivered a solid performance as well. Overall, if you are an avid thriller drama fan, then you might as well give The Town a watch. I won’t say it’s one of the best in this ‘found fortune’ subgenre; I believe the show had a lot of potential, but it got only a few elements right.
