I have never felt so deeply moved and enthralled as I feel about Black Sails. First show that made me cry. First show that made me scream. First show that made me weep.
This show is an absolute GEM, in so many respects.
The scenery and costumes? Splendid. The fights and action scenes? Brutal and efficient. The dialogues? Ciseled. The historical accuracy? Very compelling. The acting? varies from "very good" (Hanna New, Tom Hopper) to "absolutely MIND-BLOWING" (Toby Stephens, Luke Arnold).
And then, the story and the characters. Both are... probably my favorite story and characters of all time, all media types confunded. We follow Captain Flint, John Silver and the crew of the Walrus through the political upheavals on a rogue Bahamas island, in a fight for power and against colonial domination. Pirates and politics? Does this mix? Oh yes it does, and how it does. This is a show about revolution, about freedom and difference and the deep wish to find something true. This is a show that explores the depths of human psyche, plunging into the darkness and raising to the light. It's full of tragedy and violence and glory. It's full of characters so alive and flawed and mesmerizing, I can't believe they are fictional. It's deep and clever and bold and thrilling. In short, Black Sails just...pulverized everything I expected out of a TV series about pirates, and made something new and incredible.
The first season still struggles to find its footing, and then Black Sails lets go of any wish for conformity and soars high, becoming the most heart-breaking, glorious thing I've ever witnessed. It's been months since I finished it and I still think about it every day.
Truly, the best gift you can make yourself.
The scenery and costumes? Splendid. The fights and action scenes? Brutal and efficient. The dialogues? Ciseled. The historical accuracy? Very compelling. The acting? varies from "very good" (Hanna New, Tom Hopper) to "absolutely MIND-BLOWING" (Toby Stephens, Luke Arnold).
And then, the story and the characters. Both are... probably my favorite story and characters of all time, all media types confunded. We follow Captain Flint, John Silver and the crew of the Walrus through the political upheavals on a rogue Bahamas island, in a fight for power and against colonial domination. Pirates and politics? Does this mix? Oh yes it does, and how it does. This is a show about revolution, about freedom and difference and the deep wish to find something true. This is a show that explores the depths of human psyche, plunging into the darkness and raising to the light. It's full of tragedy and violence and glory. It's full of characters so alive and flawed and mesmerizing, I can't believe they are fictional. It's deep and clever and bold and thrilling. In short, Black Sails just...pulverized everything I expected out of a TV series about pirates, and made something new and incredible.
The first season still struggles to find its footing, and then Black Sails lets go of any wish for conformity and soars high, becoming the most heart-breaking, glorious thing I've ever witnessed. It's been months since I finished it and I still think about it every day.
Truly, the best gift you can make yourself.
