Starz Black Sails

[Batmannerism]

Y'all got me excited about some news about a Treasure Island sequel lol

To this day I recommend Black Sails every time people ask me what to watch. Hands down one of my favorite series of all time.

Can't believe it doesn't get more kudos for its well written characters- especially the women

 

[Batmannerism]

Interesting and accurate take, @Batmannerism. I remember early on, I couldn’t stand Jack because he was so foppish and wouldn’t last a minute if he took on practically anyone else in the series, but he grew on me over the course of the show. The bone that he shares with Anne is really powerful, especially after she realizes she’s a lesbian. They nevertheless stay loyal to each other even though their relationship has changed.

But you’re not wrong when you say that his primary motivation is his reputation and how he’ll eventually be written about and remembered. While I would agree that is petty, I think you also have to consider that a pirate’s reputation is everything, right? It’s what kept some ships from even engaging in battle. “Oh, **** it’s Blackbeard! Raise the white flag now!”

Although in Jack’s case, it also comes from a place of insecurity. He knows he’s not a good fighter and not a particularly effective leader. On the other hand, he is very pragmatic and rational in a way that many pirates are not (while smarter than most pirates, Flint refuses to see anything but his own way and usually doesn’t compromise). So maybe in a way, Jack represents the world’s political future… a world where you don’t have to be the best fighter or even the best military strategist; you just need to find ways to appeal to people and get them on your side.

All in all, I find Rackham to be a fascinating character. I was glad he made it to the end.

Something else that occurred to me was that Flint didn't deserve the happy ending that he got.

Flint is responsible for lot of death and destruction
that occurs and murders close friends when their aims conflict with his. He was a good man once, but by the series end he's willing to churn through more friends and allies, just to pursue his war of revenge.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Something else that occurred to me was that Flint didn't deserve the happy ending that he got.

Flint is responsible for lot of death and destruction
that occurs and murders close friends when their aims conflict with his. He was a good man once, but by the series end he's willing to churn through more friends and allies, just to pursue his war of revenge.

Thats true but… the way the show ended, I’m not so sure he DID get his happy ending. There has been a lot of debate in the fan community about whether Silver was telling the truth at the end or if he actually shot Flint and made the happy ending up. When you couple that with Rackham’s speech at the end (I don’t remember the specifics but the general idea is that the truth isn’t as important as the story that’s told over the years), it’s deliberately ambiguous as to whether Flint got his happy ending. And if we go back to Treasure Island, it’s stated in the book that Flint is dead. The show obviously takes a lot of liberties with the story but… it’s possible that they did indeed keep this plot point.

And even if he did survive, he would still be living out the rest of his life on a penal colony, so while he got to possibly be with Thomas, that’s not exactly the fairy tale ending it’s presented as.

Damn, now I want to rewatch this show. So damned good.

Also, fun fact for Sails fans… both Woodes Rogers and Thomas appear in The Batman. While their roles are small, it’s kind of significant in that Rogers plays Thomas Wayne and Thomas plays the mayor, whose death and it’s aftermath parallels Wayne’s.

 

[Batmannerism]

Thats true but… the way the show ended, I’m not so sure he DID get his happy ending. There has been a lot of debate in the fan community about whether Silver was telling the truth at the end or if he actually shot Flint and made the happy ending up. When you couple that with Rackham’s speech at the end (I don’t remember the specifics but the general idea is that the truth isn’t as important as the story that’s told over the years), it’s deliberately ambiguous as to whether Flint got his happy ending. And if we go back to Treasure Island, it’s stated in the book that Flint is dead. The show obviously takes a lot of liberties with the story but… it’s possible that they did indeed keep this plot point.

And even if he did survive, he would still be living out the rest of his life on a penal colony, so while he got to possibly be with Thomas, that’s not exactly the fairy tale ending it’s presented as.

Damn, now I want to rewatch this show. So damned good.

Also, fun fact for Sails fans… both Woodes Rogers and Thomas appear in The Batman. While their roles are small, it’s kind of significant in that Rogers plays Thomas Wayne and Thomas plays the mayor, whose death and it’s aftermath parallels Wayne’s.

Hmmmm...... in that final episode Flint has some serious plot armour as he manages to defeat the very best fighters in the Pirate world ( Joji and Israel Hands) and get through the final battle with the governor largely unscathed.

As for the ending......did Silver make it all up ? The reason I doubt this theory is that the groundwork was laid for it about midway through the season when Silver learned of the penalty colony from Max - it's good storytelling, set up and payoff.

As far as fairy tale endings go, considering what Flint has done, how much death, destruction and suffering he's responsible for, living in a pretty relaxed penal colony with the love of his life IS a fairy tale ending IMO.

Treasure Island is set in the mid 1700s, whereas Black Sails starts in 1715, and with life expectancies short, Flint likely would be dead - also, Silver could mean that the persona of Captain Flint is dead, because he describes taking Flint to Thomas as "un-making " him, so that he's no longer Captain Flint, he's back to being James Mcgraw.

If we assume Treasure Island as a sequel, then Billy escapes being marooned on the island and lives a good while in retirement- as an angry drunk, although poor old Ben Gunn takes his place, and Silver gets a pet parrot

Woodes Rogers eventually returns to govern Nassau but dies of health related issues.

Rackham is hung.

I did spot Rupert Penry Jones in the Batman, but totally missed Luke Roberts.