A mother and her daughter move from one luxury hotel to the next, never settling, never relaxing, and never explaining what they are running from. Their life appears comfortable on the surface, yet it is governed by fear, rigid routines, and the constant expectation that danger is close. Who Were We Running From? is a Netflix psychological thriller series that turns paranoia and maternal control into its driving force.
The Turkish limited series distinguishes itself from conventional crime dramas by prioritizing atmosphere over action and psychology over easy answers. Its slow-burn tension and unsettling central performances have kept it in focus well beyond its initial release. Netflix’s Who Were We Running From? unfolds as a psychological crime thriller driven by paranoia, secrecy, and control rather than action. Viewers drawn to Netflix’s darker true-crime and crime-drama titles, such as Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart will recognize the same emphasis on fear shaped by manipulation and trauma. As the series slowly peels back its central mystery, it explores how survival instincts can distort trust, identity, and moral boundaries. Here is everything you need to know about Who Were We Running From? on Netflix — from the plot and cast to reviews. The trailer is at the bottom of the article.
Who Were We Running From?: All the key details
- Title: Who Were We Running From?
- Original title: Biz Kimden Kaçıyorduk Anne?
- Format: Limited Series
- Episodes: 7
- Genre: Drama, psychological thriller
- Country of production: Turkey
- Original language: Turkish
- Release date (Netflix): March 24, 2023
- Director: Umut Aral
- Based on: The novel Whom Were We Running From? by Perihan Mağden
- Lead cast: Melisa Sözen, Eylül Tumbar, Musa Uzunlar
- Platform: Netflix
What Who Were We Running From? is about
The series centers on an unnamed mother and her daughter, Bambi, who move from one upscale hotel to the next, treating every new location as temporary shelter. They keep a low profile, pay in cash, and live by strict rules designed to avoid attention. Yet the mother’s control and vigilance suggest more than caution: it is a worldview built on suspicion.
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Who Were We Running From? is a psychological mystery that leans on atmosphere and sustained tension rather than traditional thriller mechanics. The series withholds clear explanations, allowing unease to accumulate through repetition, displacement, and shifting perspective. What emerges is a story driven less by action than by psychology, and by the lingering impact of fear on those who live within it.
Who Were We Running From? cast: the main characters
Melisa Sözen stars as the nameless mother, the force shaping every decision and every rule. Her performance is built around control and contradiction, with the character’s protectiveness and paranoia often indistinguishable.
Eylül Tumbar plays Bambi in her television debut, a daughter raised inside her mother’s version of reality. As the series progresses, Bambi’s perspective becomes increasingly important, especially as curiosity and doubt begin to press against obedience.
Musa Uzunlar appears as the mother’s unnamed father, adding another thread to the show’s carefully rationed backstory.
Reviews and reception
The critical write-ups on Who Were We Running From? tend to converge on one takeaway: this is a deliberately odd, atmosphere-first thriller that prioritizes mood and psychological disturbance over clean answers. On Rotten Tomatoes, Season 1 is listed at 70% on the Tomatometer and 70% on the Popcornmeter, suggesting modest but generally favorable sentiment among the viewers who rated it there.
One of the most visible published reviews comes from Common Sense Media, which rated the series 3/5 and characterized it as an “odd duck,” calling out the show’s off-kilter tone and the mother’s abrasive behavior as central features rather than side notes. Audience scoring is more mixed on IMDb, where the series holds a 5.8/10 rating. That split aligns with the show’s approach: it is designed for viewers who can tolerate ambiguity and discomfort as intentional choices, not flaws to be resolved quickly.
Is Who Were We Running From? based on a book?
Yes. The series is adapted from the novel Whom Were We Running From? by Turkish author Perihan Mağden.
Behind the scenes and production notes
Directed by Umut Aral, the series was positioned as part of Netflix Turkey’s broader slate of local originals. Netflix preview materials emphasized the adaptation angle and the premise of a mother and daughter living on the run, an approach that matches the show’s focus on displacement, secrecy, and psychological pressure.
Why Who Were We Running From? is worth adding to your watchlist
This is not a conventional crime series built around procedural clarity. It is a psychological thriller that uses luxury settings to amplify discomfort, and a mother-daughter relationship to explore control, fear, and identity. If you enjoy character-led Netflix thrillers where atmosphere and ambiguity are the point, Who Were We Running From? should be on your radar.
Who Were We Running From? release date and where to watch
Who Were We Running From? premiered on Netflix on March 24, 2023, and is streaming now. Watch on Netflix
