Salve Jorge is a Brazilian primetime telenovela created by Glória Perez and directed by Marcos Schechtman. It premiered on TV Globo on 22 October 2012, replacing Avenida Brasil, and ended on 17 May 2013, before being followed by Amor à Vida. The series is known internationally as Brave Woman and features a cast led by Nanda Costa, Giovanna Antonelli and Carolina Dieckmann.
Production and broadcast
A total of 179 episodes of 55 minutes were produced and aired from Monday to Saturday in the 9 p.m. timeslot. Wednesday episodes were shorter, lasting 35 minutes, because of the football season broadcast of 2012 and 2013. When sold to other countries, the telenovela was reduced to 140 episodes, each fixed at 45 minutes.
Plot and themes
The story follows Morena, a young single mother from Rio de Janeiro who is lured abroad by a fake job offer. In Istanbul she becomes a victim of an international human trafficking ring. Forced to work in a nightclub, she resists her captors and seeks help from a police chief, while also trying to win back the love of Theo, a cavalry officer she left behind.
Ratings
The first episode recorded 36 points in viewership ratings and peaked at 40 points. By episode 90 the average had fallen to 30.8 points, below its predecessors Avenida Brasil and Fina Estampa. The final episode, aired on 17 May 2013, registered 46 points with a 76% audience share, according to Ibope data.