This article examines Portuguese contemporary memories of revolution and the end of colonialism as represented in the 2013 television series Depois do Adeus. It argues, first, that a popular series such as this can perform useful memory work in society, and, second, that the series use of nostalgia can be regarded as a productive critique of prevailing views of the end of empire. After an analysis of the early episodes of the series, and in particular their use of intermediality, the article concludes by suggesting areas where a more critical discourse of cultural memory might contribute to a revision of Portuguese analyses of colonialism, postcolonialism and decolonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]