The series is set in the present, after Kuzey's release from prison, but there are constant flashbacks to the past that reveal more of the present and more about the characters themselves.
The two brothers in the series are named Kuzey and Güney. "Kuzey" means "north" while "güney" means "south". The name contrast also stretches to the pair's appearance (Kuzey is blond, Güney is brunet) and the dissimilarities in their characters.