The Curse of Oak Island heads to the Azores as Lot 8 discovery adds fresh weight to Templar theory

The Curse of Oak Island appears ready to take one of its boldest turns yet in season 13 episode 23, Island Hopping, as the long-running mystery expands beyond Nova Scotia and into the wider Atlantic world. With the episode set to combine a potentially significant discovery on Lot 8 with a research trip to the Azores, the series is pushing two of its most intriguing threads together at a pivotal stage of the season.

At the centre of the episode is a dual investigation. On Oak Island itself, Marty Lagina is involved in what is described as a deeply interesting new find on Lot 8, an area that has increasingly emerged as one of the most important locations in the modern search. At the same time, Rick Lagina leads part of the team to the Azores, where they pursue evidence that may connect Oak Island to Portuguese exploration and, more provocatively, to a Templar-linked network that may have operated across the Atlantic centuries ago.

That combination marks a notable evolution in the show’s approach. Earlier seasons often concentrated heavily on drilling, scanning and excavation within a relatively limited footprint on the island. Over time, however, the investigation has broadened. Archival work, scientific testing and international travel have all become larger parts of the story. In Island Hopping, those elements appear to converge in a way that could reshape how viewers interpret the entire mystery.

The material surrounding Lot 8 suggests the discovery there may be more than another isolated artifact. The tone of the preview implies that Marty’s attention is captured by something that could fit into a larger historical pattern, particularly one involving activity on Oak Island that predates the better-known searcher era. That matters because Lot 8 has already gained importance through finds that seem to hint at early European presence. If the latest discovery strengthens that line of evidence, it could deepen the argument that organised groups were active on the island far earlier than conventional timelines suggest.

The journey to the Azores adds an even wider historical frame. The island chain has long been viewed as a plausible waypoint for early Atlantic travel, sitting in a strategically important position between Europe and the New World. According to the material you shared, the team believes evidence in the Azores may point to a 14th-century Portuguese presence linked in some way to Oak Island. That period is especially significant because it follows the suppression of the Knights Templar in the early 1300s, a moment that has fuelled theories that surviving members continued their activities elsewhere, particularly in Portugal.

This is where the episode appears to move beyond routine speculation and into a more focused historical argument. In Portugal, the Order of Christ is often cited as the successor body that inherited Templar assets, influence and possibly knowledge after the original order was suppressed. If the show presents meaningful links between Oak Island and this Portuguese-Tied network, it would help explain why the Templar theory has remained so persistent. Unlike some other ideas attached to Oak Island over the years, this one attempts to connect engineering, symbolism and maritime history into a single narrative.

The appeal of that theory is clear. It offers a framework for understanding several elements that have long puzzled both the team and viewers, including unusual construction methods, symbolic markings and artifacts that do not sit comfortably within later British colonial contexts. By extending the search to the Azores, the series appears to be asking whether Oak Island should be understood not as an isolated mystery, but as one node in a much larger Atlantic story.

Another striking aspect of the episode is the suggestion that important evidence in the Azores may also lie underground. That parallel with Oak Island is hard to ignore. If both locations contain buried traces of related activity, it raises the possibility of coordinated methods, shared knowledge or even direct involvement by the same group. The show seems especially interested in whether similarities in symbols, structures or materials could tie the sites together. Even a partial overlap would be enough to intensify debate around a Portuguese or Templar connection.

The emotional tone also appears significant. Reactions from the team in the preview suggest that what they encounter in the Azores is not easily dismissed. Over the years, the series has often balanced excitement with caution, but moments of genuine astonishment tend to signal findings that at least challenge long-held assumptions. That mood matters because episode 23 arrives late in the season, when viewers naturally expect discoveries with more narrative weight.

There is, of course, still reason for caution. The Curse of Oak Island has built its success on mystery and interpretation, and not every theory presented on the show survives close scrutiny. Yet the value of the series has often come from the process itself: gathering evidence, testing possibilities and revisiting accepted history through fresh lenses. In this episode, that process appears particularly interdisciplinary, with archaeologists, historians and scientific experts working together more closely than in the show’s earlier years.

Rick and Marty’s different instincts also seem central to the episode’s shape. Rick’s expedition to the Azores reflects his long-standing interest in meaning, context and historical possibility. Marty, by contrast, remains the more analytical voice, focused on discoveries that can be measured, tested and grounded in evidence. That contrast has long driven the show, and in Island Hopping it appears especially useful, with one brother pursuing broader connections abroad while the other pushes for tangible progress on the island itself.

If the episode succeeds, it may do so not by proving one grand theory outright, but by showing how different strands of evidence can begin to converge. Does the Lot 8 discovery align with what is found in the Azores? Are there shared patterns in design, chronology or material culture? Those are the questions likely to shape viewers’ reactions as the episode unfolds.

What seems increasingly clear is that the mystery of Oak Island is being framed as part of something much larger than a single buried treasure story. By connecting discoveries across oceans and centuries, Island Hopping positions the island within a broader history of navigation, secrecy and transatlantic movement. Whether that ultimately leads to definitive answers or simply a more sophisticated mystery remains to be seen. But as the search expands in scope and ambition, the series is once again suggesting that Oak Island’s secrets may be tied to a far wider chapter of history than anyone first imagined.