Black Sails – XXIX

By: Naomi Johnson

Anyone else excited for the rise of Long John Silver (Luke Arnold)? I have been waiting for “Black Sails” to make its way towards a Treasure Island conclusion the second I heard it was a prequel of sorts. And Sunday’s episode was a great start to the end of a fantastic show. Also, we saw a resurgence of my favorite high seas couples Silver (Luke Arnold) and Madi (Zethu Dlomo) along with Eleanor (Hannah New) and Max (Jessica Parker Kennedy). But I digress as this is a pirate show and unlike some pirates they act like pirates. So, on to the action of Sunday’s episode.

With the battle behind them, the pirates of Nassau have set their sights on Nassau’s shores. The plan is to retake the island under the influence of Long John Silver, The Pirate King. Flint’s (Toby Stephens) ships fall victim to cannon fire, which is a surprise seeing how we’re used to Flint’s fleet winning every battle it gets itself into. But entering the harbor is no easy task. Ships have been scampered beneath the surface and the fort is operational once again. Obviously, it is a trap set by Rogers (Luke Roberts) and his new second in command, Captain Berringer (Chris Larkin), who attempt to shut down the revolution before it reaches the island shores. With many men captured, including Mr. De Groot (Andre Jacobs) and Doc Howell (Alistair Moulton Black), the survivors make their way to the far shore. That is all except John Silver, whose metal prosthetic boot is tangled in the rigging and being dragged down by a cannon.

Aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, Blackbeard (Ray Stevenson), Rackham (Toby Schmitz) and Bonny (Clara Paget) lead the fight away from shore. Jack, eager to prove himself, leads the vanguard when the Navy boards and reminds the men what they are fighting for – the memory of Charles Vane. Away from the fight, Eleanor and Max have been mollified. Though Max refuses to play the role, Eleanor takes up needlepoint and the life of a simple housewife, quite the opposite of the woman who once ran Nassau. She sits in silence and does as she’s told. Meanwhile, Billy Bones (Tom Hopper) along with his men, have kept the rebellion alive and in doing so do not feel indebted to Flint. So, the tension between Billy and Flint is starting to escalate since the world is not big enough for Billy and Flint (Hamilton reference).

Now about Rogers…he has resorted to torture, mutilation and bullying Max and demanding financial support from her. What I thought was good is the Woodes Rogers is a man heavily in debt due to his cleanup of Nassau. It fits in with the actual historic fact that Rogers is terrible with his money and he really is just a well-rounded villain who truly believes he is doing the right thing.

With John Silver sinking to the bottom of the Caribbean during the attack, this is without a doubt the most epic battle ever fought on television and this is only the premiere. I was literally afraid for every one of the characters and wasn’t sure if anyone will survive. Dooley (Laudo Liebenberg) and Joji (Winston Chong) make it out, but De Groot and Doc Howell are not so lucky. This feels like the beginning of the end and there is a lot going on.

This episode sets everything into motion for the final season. John Silver is now with Madi and they together govern the alliance of pirates and slaves. Silver believes it is he and Flint who rule alongside her, but Madi tells him differently. Though Silver has become a leader he feels he isn’t ready for the task. Flint fills that need. He seems hesitant to fully take on the responsibility of being not only a leader but a captain. With how Silver and Flint have been intertwined since the series beginning, no doubt Silver still has some feelings of loyalty or obligation towards Flint. With Flint still in a leadership position, Silver may soon realize that any plans that go sour will be blamed on Flint and how that could benefit him because while Flint will be blamed for any mishaps any victories will be credited to him. Time will tell. Once again, Luke Arnold owns every scene he’s in. An amazing performance.

Max and Eleanor have been put out of business, but Max is a survivor and is doing what is necessary though she voices her opinion. She has always been a strong woman, even in her darkest hours. With these changes and the dying out of the pirate life, these are desperate times. Max is still the Queen of Nassau and I cannot wait to see her next move and, hopefully, Eleanor gets out of her funk and helps. Lately it seems Eleanor has a singular motive – to remain a woman of status. It is not enough to survive; she wants to be comfortable. She wants position.

Jack and Anne are now aboard Blackbeard’s ship. Jack really comes off like a school boy once again. It appears that he has found a new idol in Blackbeard and, once again, is seeking approval. Yet once more by the end of the episode, Anne schools Jack and Jack returns to form and schools Blackbeard just a bit. It’s a great episode for these three. Billy has also changed. Though I support Billy, he seems to be acting out of his hatred for Flint rather than logic. This pushes him into making a decision that will set him on a course from which he will never recover. He and Flint’s confrontation is like two bulls locking.

But this episode was about Long John Silver and though he is a story created by Bones he is clearly becoming that legend. There is a beautiful scene with the vastness of the sea and the ships sinking slowly to the bottom of that vastness. There is the sound of Silver’s heart and thinking all is lost and suddenly him emerging gasping for air. All the pieces are laid out. With a brilliantly executed season premiere, you better believe that it is going to get better from there. This season will bring all the characters to where they need to be in Treasure Island. This is what it was all leading to and as a fan of the book I was excited to see how they would tie “Black Sails” into the actual story.

Another hope I have is that Rackham doesn’t die…he probably will. Hopefully, Anne isn’t going down with that ship when or if it happens. Hopefully, Max can get through that loss and maybe Eleanor can smarten up…or maybe not. Honestly, I am freaking out because I have so many feelings with this show coming to an end. There will no doubt be many deaths to come and I am not prepared, but it is the end I see. Next week will get into much more of Jack and Blackbeard’s plan for Eleanor, where Billy and Flint stand and whether they will ever reach an accord and who picked up John Silver off the beach and will this person allow the legend of Silver to come to full fruition.