Wikipedia
Takki is a Saudi Arabian drama web series that premiered in February 2012. Mohammad Makki, a 25-year-old male, directed this series. Since no cable channel would air this show, it was put exclusively on YouTube. It also became so successful because Saudi Arabian people are of the worlds most avid watchers of YouTube. With Saudi society being one of the most conservative societies in the Middle East, Takki Series depicts its monarchy and strict Wahabbism. The comment section gives Makki an easy way to get feedback from the audience. "Its presence on YouTube works to emphasize that it’s a product of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA’s) youth." The series has 1 season with 14 episodes, each episode airing between 10–20 minutes. UTURN Entertainment produced and distributed Takki Series in its network, making it one of their shows that is posted on their YouTube Channel.
This series aims to target the Saudi Arabian youth by showing the daily lives of 6 young adults. In an interview with Arab News, Makki said, "We want to bring our culture to life and narrow the gap between our different backgrounds in Saudi Arabia and, at the same time, show our Saudi society to the world. To show women wearing hijab, praying, Saudi youth problems and issues and narrow the gap between different mindsets as well as give an image about our culture in a jovial way." This show aims to bend the societal rules that are present in Saudi Arabia. The series focuses on depicting issues in Saudi society. These issues are: gender relations, family dynamics, friendship, poverty, racial tensions, and drug use. Addressing these issues is one of the main reasons why Takki Series is one of the most popular web series to the Saudi Arabian youth.
The series also takes place in Jeddah, a famously liberal, at least in the Saudi Arabian context, seaside city. Such a series would most likely not be produced in a conservative city like the capital, Riyadh. Jeddah has been known for its liberality going back to the oil boom in the 1970s. The slogan of the city even highlights its special status in the country: 'Jeddah is different.' The government has a less noticeable presence, and the police forces are much less stringent than they are in other areas. Jeddah also serves as a vacationing spot for the majority of Saudi Arabian citizens. Women are allowed more freedoms, from walking through malls and sitting in smoking bars to uncovering their faces. Jeddah hosts concerts of both classical music and rap. Public relations manager Rayyan al-Dahlawi reiterates the freedoms enjoyed in the city by stating, "For people in Riyadh, Jeddah is their breathing space if they can't afford to go abroad."