Ill-Fated – The New Corsairs of the Islands

Mal-Amanhados – The New Corsairs of the Islands is a television program consisting of ten episodes, created by Luís Filipe Borges (a comedian from Terceira) and Nuno Costa Santos (a writer from São Miguel).

It premiered on April 16 and its final episode aired on June 18. It emerged at a time when people could travel through the Azores while staying at home.

Mal-Amanhados

Mal-Amanhados was written by Alexandre Borges, Luís Filipe Borges, and Nuno Costa Santos.

Each of the ten episodes takes place on a different island of the Azores, with the 10th episode spanning the entire archipelago. Anyone who thinks this program will merely showcase the magnificent and unique landscapes of the Azores is mistaken.

Get ready to experience and relive the history, curiosities, music, and – of course – the good humor in the company of the two hosts and their guests. It’s a genuine journey through time and more. Learn more details below about the episodes already aired and those coming up.

Episodes

Episode 1 – Island of Pico

“The long-dreamed journey begins after more than 20 years. The two friends from allegedly rival islands, one from Terceira and one from São Miguel, arrive (in bad weather in the channel) at an astonishing neutral territory.”
“On the mountain island, while grappling with the mission of whether to climb – or not – to the highest point in the country, they will meet the true protagonists. People from Pico with the soul, resilience, pride, and entrepreneurial spirit that transformed what was once called ‘the island of exile’ into a miracle of sustainability, mystery, and joy.”

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Episode 2 – Island of Faial

“Nuno and Luís arrive in Horta after… hijacking a yacht. In one of the cities that Nemésio loved most, they are divided by personal missions: Luís wants to mountain bike, while Nuno seeks to uncover the story of Jacques Brel – welcomed to the island with typical Azorean hospitality, having sung at Peter (the only place in the country where the Belgian legend showcased his art). Amid memories of a cosmopolitan era, the aftermath of the Capelinhos eruption, and a strong foreign presence, we embark on an episode filled with sweet nostalgia.”

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Episode 3 – Island of Terceira

“Luís is proudly at home. From the history of Angra, which was the capital of the kingdom twice, to the volleyball team from a parish in Praia da Vitória that has been national champions, Nuno and Luís are captivated by one of Portugal’s greatest photographers (while holding onto a bit of youth), recalling the ‘Açorean Breviary’ that marked their childhood, and experiencing some of the fun and ‘joie-de-vivre’ that characterizes the so-called ‘amusement park’ of the archipelago. As for the mission: will they be able to catch a bull?”

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Episode 4 – Island of Graciosa

“The unstable climate of our Atlantis gave way on the white island, where the micaelense Nuno is dedicated to finding traces of his ancestors, and Luís takes his brother to see a cathedral sculpted by nature: the Furna do Enxofre. Among thermal baths, aguardente, dwarf donkeys, and pianos, the comedian and the writer are fascinated by the unusual names of Graciosa, attend a sold-out performance by an amateur theater group, and discover why the ilhéu da Praia is probably the most relevant in the country.”

Episode 5 – Island of Flores

“Our hosts tread across more than 140 majestic square kilometers of Flores, claiming the dream of touching the ilhéu de Monchique, the westernmost point of Europe. The entire team is adopted by ‘godmother’ Gabriela Silva, a writer, cultural activist, and true force of nature, who takes them to uncover the three centuries of history of Aldeia da Cuada and meet the 12 nationalities that share the land that perhaps comes closest to the Paradise that humanity has long fantasized about.”

Episode 6 – Island of Corvo

“Our smallest island, where Macau would fit perfectly, is an absolute lesson in respect for nature and community spirit, given by its nearly 500 inhabitants. Nuno and Luís meet Andreia, the dynamic young woman responsible for the Ecomuseum, perhaps the most communicative and energetic protagonist among the more than 70 of this series. They encounter a Catalan, learn to speak ‘cagarro,’ listen to old whaling and pirate stories, and end with an epic… football match.”

Episode 7 – Island of São Jorge

“In the sublime rugged beauty of this stunning scar of land in the sea, the two middle-aged men risk their lives: between surfing, stand-up paddling, trails, and canyoning, São Jorge will test their limited physical abilities. Fortunately, there’s the unique café run by the Nunes family to recharge, a studio in the middle of the Atlantic producing for both shores, and an episode finale, at the table, with drinks and singing, that brings together a Dutchman, a luso-descendant, an Angolan, a Madeiran, a Lisbonite, and various Azoreans in one of those nights when we forget that one day none of us will be here.”

Episode 8 – Island of São Miguel

“Nuno takes his friend to Rosto de Cão, the birthplace and site of so many emotional memories. Luís continues to grapple with which will ultimately be his favorite place in the entire archipelago… and takes his buddy to the spot where he was conceived, the Furnas. Their mission: to kick a ball around with the idol Pauleta. While dreaming of that achievement, they travel about 1000 km across the largest island territory, have the most encounters of the series, and, like Natália Correia, even contemplate the independence of the ilhéu de Vila Franca.”

Episode 9 – Island of Santa Maria

The journey ends where it all began: on the oldest island of the archipelago, between 5 and 6 million years old, which refuses to stand still in time – between NAV, ESA, Galileo, and possibly a future rocket launch pad, Santa Maria is a triumphant dance between the old and the new, the traditional and the technological. Nuno and Luís get lost in the desert, touch fossils, reveal ‘Little America,’ and end up on a joint and unusual mission: in a Body Awareness class.

Episode 10 – Special

A final episode made up of unreleased clips from all the others, a fast-paced journey through the 9 islands, with new protagonists, bloopers, music, stories of the Divine Holy Spirit, the meeting between Luís and the teacher who shaped his adolescence and what would become his path to the future, and the dream of a new journey germinating: Azoreans around the world, from Bermuda to the West Coast of the United States, from Canada to Florianópolis.

Broadcast and Schedule

The airing of this series has come to an end. You can watch all the episodes on this page or on RTP Play.

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The program is broadcast on RTP-Açores. It can be viewed on television (see positions below) or on social media – RTP Açores Facebook and RTP Play.

RTP Açores Channel Positions

NOS: Channel 189
Vodafone: Channel 175
MEO: Channel 160
Cabovisão: Channel 28

RTP Play