The show is set in the 13th century and is based on the life of Ertuğrul, the father of Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire.

Ertrugrul TV serial attempts to present a vivid imagining of a 13th-century Turkic Asian community and Muslim culture.

[8] Süleyman Şah, Bey of the Kayı sends his son, Ertuğrul, to ask for land from the Emir of Aleppo.

This is made almost impossible when the Kayı are put in a series of problems with the Templars after saving Şehzade Numan, Halime Sultan, and Şehzade Yiğit because of the traitor in the Emir's palace, Nasir, who works for the Templars but is later killed by Ertuğrul and the truth is shown to the Emir.

A problem also arises with Kurdoğlu Bey, Süleyman Şah's adoptive brother, who seeks his brother's Beylik with the help of Selcan Hatun, Ertuğrul's adopted sister and sister-in-law, who wants revenge from Süleyman Şah as he killed her treacherous father, Alptekin Bey.

Selcan's husband, Gündoğdu, grows angry regarding Ertuğrul's actions but eventually calms down and supports his brother.

Towards the end of the season, Kurdoğlu is beheaded, Ertuğrul successfully defeats the Templars and captures their castle, and Selcan repents.

The Kayı, settled in Erzurum, seek refuge with the Dodurga after the Mongols, led by Baycu Noyan, massacre half their tribe.

This leads to Ertuğrul facing Tuğtekin, his cousin, who is jealous of him along with Gündoğdu again who is misled by the big threat within the Dodurga; Aytolun and her brother Gümüştekin.

Only Selcan is aware of this threat and constantly attempts to warn Gündoğdu, who ignores her for her misdeeds in the past.

Ertuğrul defeats Hancı Simon and conquers Hanlı Pazar, leaving Ural more jealous than ever.

The plan nearly works but Köpek is saved by the Sultan's wife, Mahperi, and leads to an event turning Ares, later killed by Noyan, into a Muslim.

Halime dies in childbirth, giving birth to Ertuğrul's third and youngest son - the prophesied Osman.

After this, Ertuğrul faces the return of Noyan but is successful in defeating him and his devious sister, Alangoya, who attempted to kill Osman.

Umur Bey was killed by the disgraced Byzantine commander, Dragos, disguised as Söğüt Zangoç (transl.

A special area similar to a zoo (but on a smaller scale) was created for all the animals which appear in the show, which include gazelles, sheep, goats, nightingales and partridges.

[45] The series has been called a Turkish Game of Thrones, and fans include Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro[46][47] and the queen of Malaysia Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.

According to professor Burak Ozcetin, "They are, in a way, rewriting the Ottoman history for the current Turkish public.

[46] He requested the state-owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) to dub the Turkish series into Urdu and broadcast it on TV.

[63] Several of the actors expressed gratitude for the attention from Pakistani fans, Engin Altan Düzyatan and Esra Bilgiç adding that they would like to visit the country.

[65] He arrived in Lahore and visited historical Lahori sites including Badshahi Mosque on his short trip.

"[70] According to Renuka Narayanan while TV series provides interesting window into imagined Muslim culture of 13 century, the serial does not seem to be innocent enough.

[8] Narayanan says the serial amounts to be state-endorsed vigorous promotion of Islamic revivalism by the Turkish government.

[8]  The script even takes a subtle dig at Iranians by naming a slimy trader-spy ‘Afrosiyab’ after a Persian hero.

[8] On 10 February 2020, Diriliş: Ertuğrul was banned in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

[73] The show blurs the difference between entertainment and state-sanctioned propaganda, according to Josh Carney in a study published in Review of Middle East Studies; he points at a four-minute commercial that TRT (and a private pro-government channel, A Haber) ran to promote the 2017 Turkish constitutional referendum, presenting Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a successor to a list of historic Turkish leaders including Ertuğrul, using the music from the show.

[75] The series proceeds with Kuruluş: Osman which is situated after Ertuğrul goes to Konya and Dündar returns to the tribe.