Netflix’s Turkish psychological drama As The Crow Flies explores the underbelly of TV production and obsession through a pretty personal class war whipped up by the impetuous and narcissistic Asli. The show explores themes of jealousy, betrayal, and ambition against the backdrop of a TV news network — and it isn’t the first to tackle these ideas head-on. Here are five shows like As the Crow Flies that exist in or around showbusiness.
The Morning Show (2019)
The Morning Show | Image via Apple TV+
The TV news background will remind many of you of the glitzy series that stars Jennifer Anniston and Reese Witherspoon, which would give viewers a look at the lives of the people who help America wake up in the morning, turn on the news, and start hating each other. The Morning Show also examines the strange world of TV and the even stranger interpersonal relationships happening around it.
It was reported that Witherspoon and Aniston received two million bucks an episode, plus even more money for being producers on the show. Now that’s a story.
Swarm (2023)
Swarm | Image via Prime Video
Swarm takes a look at the obsessions people can develop over celebrities, and in this case, we find a young girl who has an unhealthy obsession with a pop star. The show was a slow burner that relied on the performance and script to carry it along, but the idea of a celebrity-fixated fan always captures the imagination, and the added thread of dark comedy also warped the effect.
The Newsroom (2012)
The Newsroom | Image via Prime Video
It’s hard not to think of this series as a comparison to As The Crow Flies, as it takes place within a busy and constantly evolving workplace that must have been an influence on shows of this nature. Written at breakneck speed by Aaron Sorkin, the ensemble cast and quick-fire repartee highlight and capture the hustle and bustle of the environment, and although Sorkin’s walky-talky dialogue can leave some viewers annoyed, the plot threads and tone of this show was devoured by fans of his work that felt this was his best series ever, regarding it as a masterclass in episodic television.
Mad Men (2007)
Mad Men | Image via Prime Video
As far as ambition and drive go, it is hard not to think of Mad Men, the incredibly stylish and popular long-running drama set within the world of advertising in the 1960s. John Hamm would become a household name through the show as Donald Draper, an iconic, ambitious, and deeply flawed character who would evolve and change as the show continued.
Often ranked alongside The Sopranos and Breaking Bad, this series was groundbreaking and a true diamond on the schedules that still holds up today due to its timeless setting and relatable storylines.
Swimming with Sharks (2022)
Swimming with the Sharks | Image via Showmax
This overlooked series hits many of the same beats as our featured show today, and the story sees a young female assistant working at a studio that has more than its fair share of manipulative ladder climbers. However, our protagonist has plans of her own and is maneuvering herself to become a bigger player than anyone expects.
Based very loosely on a 1994 movie of the same name, the show tries hard to show a dark side of showbusiness but tends to run out of steam along the way. If you are a fan of this kind of story, though, you could do worse than give it a go.
Do you have any more recommendations for shows like As the Crow Flies? Let us know in the comments.
