My family immigrated to Canada from the Azores, a group of Portuguese islands in the middle of the Atlantic. When the show Rabo de Peixe (in English: Turn of the Tide) came out on Netflix, I marathoned it, since it takes place where I spent my childhood summers and where my parents returned to live. Naturally, I have some thoughts.

•            The scenery feels true to the place, with beautiful shots of the Island.

•            My Portuguese isn’t great, but I know how people in São Miguel speak, and this isn’t it. For example: the way they say “America.” In the Azores, it’s pronounced “Ahh-merka,” not “Ah-mer-i-ka.” I can tell that the actors are from the mainland. Why didn’t they hire local actors? Or use a dialect coach?

•            There’s a serious lack of elderly people compared to reality.

•            Cows block traffic. This is a fact.

•            Interior shots of homes and details—like the Holy Spirit flag hanging from the car’s rear-view mirror—are accurate.

•            The depiction of poverty and desperation is overblown. The Azorean economy is built on agriculture and fishing (and now tourism). Yes, hardship exists. And many families immigrated (including mine in the 1970s) for greater economic opportunity. But the show makes it seem like the Azores is destitute. It’s not.

•            The series's Portuguese title refers to Rabo de Peixe, the village where the action takes place. It means fish tail, and I used to make fun of it as a kid. But it’s a pleasant place. On my most recent trip, we visited a liqueur distillery, had an all-you-can-eat lunch, and stopped in at the fish market.

Despite the show’s flaws, I revelled in seeing my second home on screen. If you’re curious about the Azores, this will give you a not-so-accurate peek. But it’s better to go. It’s not like anywhere else.

—Debby Reis