The series is based on Alexander Rose's 2007 nonfiction book Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring, which recounts the history of the real Culper Ring.

The show was originally titled simply Turn before being stylized as TURИ: Washington's Spies for its AMC run.

The first season received mixed reviews (54% on Rotten Tomatoes, 62/100 on Metacritic), but the second season was much better received, with a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score and consensus praising its improved espionage thrills and historical grandeur.

The third season scored a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on five reviews, while the fourth season scored 80%.

The first season won the 2014 Media & Entertainment Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution.

AMC released a digital comic called TURN: Origins on March 26, 2014, illustrated by Steve Ellis, depicting the childhood and adult lives of main characters like Abraham Woodhull, Benjamin Tallmadge, Anna Strong, and Caleb Brewster.

A second digital comic, TURN: Rivals, was released by AMC in April 2015, focusing on the past rivalry between George Washington and Robert Rogers.

After leaving Netflix in December 2021, the series became available again on Netflix in December 2025, though the fourth season has still never been released on DVD or Blu-ray.