Black Sails (TV Series) XXXVIII. (2017) User Reviews

What Writing!

[paul-knittel · 10/10 · 15 July 2018]

I thoroughly enjoyed the writing for this episode as well as Toby's INCREDIBLY POWERFUL acting. My favorite? The truly inspired: From Black Sails XXXVIII

"They paint the world full of shadows. And then tell their children to stay close to the light. Their light. Their reasons. Their judgments. Because in the darkness, there be dragons."

"But it isn't true. We can prove that it isn't true. In the dark is discovery; There is possibility. There is freedom in the dark, Once someone has illuminated it. And who has been so close to doing it - As we are right now?"

Sad to see this end

[glenn-whitelaw · 10/10 · 17 September 2018]

Finally decided to watch last 2 seasons and say I have thoroughly enjoyed this show. Can't fault it mixing real and fictional people was a great mix. Sad to see it finish but enjoyed the finally. If they had finished with a massive battle it would have changed the story of treasure island. Kudos to all involved and thanks for a great series.

I feel people are taking the ending too literal

[ben-h-metlis · 10/10 · 29 November 2020]

Those who think it had a "happy ending" are completely missing the character development of both Flint and Silver. What was Silver's greatest strength throughout the whole show? His Silver tounge, he lied to Madi about killing Flint because he knew she was won over by Flint's desire to fight, but Silver also knew this would eventually lead to her death because of what he had seen before with others drawn to Flint. There was no happy ending, Silver Killed flint who left a map behind found by Billy on the Island which leads to the events of Tressure Island. This is a brilliant series finale if you could look past the literal, understand the characters and see what is below the surface but for those who need the show to explain plainley whay happens i can see the confusion and the upsey.

Amazing but could be great..

[akshatdave · 4 May 2017]

No spoilers.. Black sails has always been one of the shows that has episodes that are gripping and dark.The end was completely unpredictable. All actors were good especially Toby..From the on-set it's important to state that popular series like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad first premiered on television to a very small audience and eventually became global hits as word got around. They started off as highly complicated, seriously involved and slow sleeper narrative drama's, but soon audiences were drawn into their worlds with their complex, layered and multi-faceted characters. I truly believe that the above certainly applies to this new gritty TV series. Sure, there's the expected sex, violence, nudity and profanity, but not for one moment is this gratuitous and uncalled for in the specific style and genre of this period piece. The amazing sets, costumes and general attention to intricate detail is astounding and I believe, quite unique and unexpected for original cable television production. Some critics initially expected this Michael Bay production to be meaningless, non-stop action sequences with very little depth, storyline and character development. While other reviewers offered that there was perhaps not enough action and too much conversation and multi- layered story-lines. I honestly see this series offering audiences everything that they'd expect, want and desire in an action drama.This episode gives us hope for another season.And I truly want season 5.this is TV at it's best..

happy ending

[malbakr · 9/10 · 6 April 2017]

i'm really satisfied of the outcome of the series it's really helped me to connect the dots of the famous novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and just remember "Fifteen men on the dead man's chest-- Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! Drink and the devil had done for the rest-- Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!"

Full Circle

[iplagerquist96 · 10/10 · 23 January 2020]

The series finale delivers a satisfying conclusion to a great and often underated show. The final season has been non stop and after a climatic fight with Rogers and Billy, the show takes the time to conclude all character arcs. Both Flint and Sliver's arcs come full circle. Flint is able to o reunite with his lost love and Silver ultimately chooses to do the selfish thing to save himself and more importantly those who he loves. Just like when we first met Silver (who was selfish and only in it for his own gain) he gives up the war to save those he cares about. His decision is a great callback to season one instead this time he makes this choice not only for himself, but those closest to him. Flint's end is both tragic and happy. He doesn't get the war he so desperately wanted but he doesn't really need it. He is allowed a second chance with Thomas and that's all he truly ever wanted. Rogers gets what he deserves and Jack Rackham also achieves what he wants. This season has been fantastic and a great way to close the show. There are so many details in this episode alone that I absolutely love. The show has matured into something great and is deserving of much more recognition.

Promising Show

[MajorBaleegh · 10/10 · 6 June 2019]

I started watching the show after 25 May 2019 and finished with the last episode of season 4 on 6 JUN 2019. Since the beginning of the show, I really love the way STARZ cable commenced the show. The seventeenth century ships the island of Nassau shown in the best possible manner. The brothels and their culture shown in length. The ships battles and the leading character of Captain Flint was very well depicted and his leadership qualities and his assessment to the situation at hand was very beautifully and carefully shown. Mr. Toby Stephens, you did an excellent job and I really salute your acting and really loved the way you lead your men in almost all the victories in land and sea. You made your character lovable and respectful, I really like the way you teach your shipmates, and you power of reasoning remained excellent and above the mark. Next most influential character of Captain Charles Vane, performed by Zach McGowan, he remained a source of attraction of the show until the time he was hanged in three season, which really makes me quite sad. His alliance with Captain Flint on the end of season 2 was very moving, unexpected and brave and I really liked it. Third most likeable character of the show was Mr. Long John Silver played by Luke Arnold; he started in the show as a thief, turned into a cook and finally ended up alongside Captain Flint. He moved from the lowest stage to the top through his excellent acting and very hard work and in the last episode, he was left out with nothing in his hand, which was quite demoralizing and disappointing. Next very important character was Mr. Jack Rackham played by Toby Schmitz; he was funny, bold, reckless and very persistent. His acting was very respectful and he always have knack for problems and comes out of it very smoothly. Next character was of Mrs. Eleanor Guthrie played by Hannah New, and I must say she did and excellent acting apart from her very hot sex scenes as well her commitment to the task. She was very business minded woman and did well to make her definite place in the show. After her was Ms. Max played by Jessica Parker Kennedy, she was the vixen of the show if I am not wrong and she did her part fairly well but her speaking style was not natural rather it was very poetic. She was also a successful character and did stands out from the rest of the cast. The Governor Woodes Rogers played by Mr. Luke Roberts played very bluntly and I did not like his character and I want him to be hanged or shot in the head but was left alive to face the trials that I did not like at all. He should have been killed; in the last episode but he somehow survived and it was demoralizing to watch him live after killing so many people. In the end, I gave this TV series a solid 10 out of 10 as the final score of all the episodes as the people who made it did their job in complete detail.

Such a hard end for the hetero boys who likes explosions

[Boreallis · 10/10 · 13 June 2017]

First of all, for me the end could've been better, but i really liked the way it ended.

For those saying it was a "happy ending", well, Vanes is dead, Black beard is dead, Elanor is dead, billy ( as Hornigold) became a traitor, and Nassau became n island of smuggling with the English watching and John long silver destroyed his relations ship with Madi.

However, i loved the "happy ending" for Flint when he finally get out of his murderous state of mind and finally find peace, Rackham and Anne Bone get to have their own ship and crew ( and for me they really deserve it) and Max ( i hate her) became the new Elanor.

I just thought that Julius would never gave out fighting that's a critic of mine.

Well, my point is, the end didn't have big explosions like some fans wanted, but for me closed the history in a good way, not the best way, but in a good way.

Such a hard end for the hetero boys who likes explosions

[matheusdutra · 9/10 · 13 June 2017]

First of all, for me the end could've been better, but i really liked the way it ended.

For those saying it was a "happy ending", well, Vanes is dead, Black beard is dead, Elanor is dead, billy ( as Hornigold) became a traitor,and Nassau became n island of smuggling with the English watching and John long silver destroyed his relations ship with Madi.

However, i loved the "happy ending" for Flint when he finally get out of his murderous state of mind and finally find peace, Rackham and Anne bone get to have their own ship and crew ( and for me they really deserve it) and max ( i hate her) became the new Elanor.

I just thought that Julius would never gave out fighting that's a critic of mine.

Well, my point is, the end didn't have big explosions like some fans wanted, but for me closed the history in a good way, not the best way, but in a good way.

You guys missed the whole point

[M7SH · 10/10 · 17 November 2022]

Silver killed Flint and lied to Madi because he knew that Flint will never accept the compromise, Flint lost everything, and lost himself in his own anger and desire of vengeance. There are a lot of hints on why Flint is going to be dead at the end of his journey, but I'll talk about the most obvious one, his dreams, see the strange creature? It was described in Eleanor's fake trial (I believe s03 e01) death is waiting him.

And if Thomas was really alive then why not telling Flint immediately? Why take the risk of getting killed by fighting him? Doesn't make sense. And how dose Flint surrendering help the plot and character's development? It would be a totally bad ending.

Sorry guys but you totally missed it.

One more thing... look at this episode's pic, do you notice anything? :)

Could have been a great show

[tanjacologne · 8/10 · 10 April 2017]

This could have been a great show. It had a lot going for it: great production, interesting characters, interesting story lines, good acting. But somewhere along the line, about the end of season 3, it just got lost and wandered of course , somewhat chaotically. One of the reasons for this might be that the story involved some real historical figures from the Golden Age of Piracy (cap. Charles Vane, cap. Rackham, Anne Bonny, Blackbeard) and fictional characters from the famous Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (Long John Silver, Billy Bones, cap. Flint, Ben Gunn). (This has lately become a trend in the entertainment industry.) While this scenario gave great opportunities to create an epic story, however dark its conclusion would have been, at the end it just became a mash-up of greatly distorted historical events and weak fan fiction with a cheesy semi-happily-ever-after final. The development of complex characters in seasons 1-3 was portrayed in an excellent manner, but in season 4 one has the impression that some of the characters had either suddenly suffered of-screen brain damage or had a personality transplantation. I gave this show 8 out of 10, because of the first 3 seasons that were spectacular and chose to ignore the existence of season 4.

Solid Finale, Somewhat Underwhelming

[baragon94 · 7/10 · 3 April 2017]

Black Sails has been an interesting progression of a show. After a promising but slow start, seasons 2 and 3 picked up and proved to be on par with TV's best productions. The first half of season 4 was phenomenal as well, but... the last four episodes have left a lot to be desired. I REALLY wanted to enjoy this, and for the first half hour of the finale, all guns are blazing and it's great. But from there on out it feels like the writers are trying to wrap things up in a hurry; which makes sense given the essential tie in to "Treasure Island," the novel on which the series is based. Still, as the end credits rolled, I couldn't help but feel like this was an opportunity partially missed.

Blackbeard was underutilized as a character, that much is clear by the ending. The keelhauling episode was fantastic on its own; but when you take into account the endless banter (and no action) of episodes 7 and 8, his presence is sorely missed and makes you wonder what could have been. Part of me is biased because I wanted to see him get vengeance for Vane, but we never got to see much of what made him a legend; lighting cannon fuses in his beard for example. It's disappointing when a pirate show featuring the most fearsome pirate in history doesn't have a major role in the narrative.

It also would have been fulfilling to see Jack meet his historical end at the hands of the noose. He's visibly affected by Vane's death throughout the season, and there is foreshadowing early on that he might meet the same fate. Seeing how he would respond in the face of death and a heartbreaking last scene with Anne would have been more satisfying for his character arc. The nod to Mary Read at the end was cool though.

I'm not buying Thomas Hamilton being alive on a slave plantation after all those years, even if it is in Savannah, where Flint dies in the book. The entire war against civilization is thrown away so that Silver can be with Madi... kind of cliché and anticlimactic that that's the primary basis for their divide.

And Max? Most useless character ever.

Overall, Black Sails has been a very good series and is easily the best pirate production ever filmed. That said, it does fizzle out a bit in the end and leaves some things to be desired. Hopefully it will serve as a blueprint to be expanded upon in future productions.

Finale a let down. (Contains spoilers)

[jbaddock · 4/10 · 5 April 2017]

(Contains spoilers)

I was looking forward to the finale, even though the series as a whole has been a bit uneven, but I ended up feeling more than a little disappointed. I had the impression that the writers were leading up to a much darker ending, right up to when Silver is holding a gun on Flint, then chickened out and decided on a feelgood ending instead. Basically, almost everyone has a happy ending (the exceptions being Billy Bones and Rogers and even they get off pretty lightly). Flint is reunited with Thomas (who just happens to have been alive all along - yeah, right), Max gets to rule Nassau, Jack and Ann have their own ship (and a new flag) and it would appear that Madi forgives Silver for saving herself from herself. Even Fetherston becomes Governor (officially) of Nassau - I mean, really? You're left with the impression that everything in Nassau is hunky dory now for the pirates now that Flint's obsession with having a war has been deflected (but in the nicest way possible for him, of course). In reality, of course, the age of piracy had run its course, Rackham is due to be hanged within the next couple of years and Rogers will return as Governor.

So what ending should it have had? Something that reflected the fact that the pirates had had their day. Silver kills Flint because nothing else will stop the war, but loses Madi over it (because her people's freedom is more important than him - Flint actually means more to her than Silver by now), so Silver loses everything (as Flint predicted) and becomes the embittered character we see in Treasure Island (which he isn't at the end of the series). Much more dramatic (if darker), but much more reflecting actual history as well. Essentially, the pirates were doomed characters all along, but the ending we've got implies that they're going to prosper from now on.

Uncertainty about Flint's sexuality

[asad_yaqoob10 · 7/10 · 3 July 2017]

Black Sails has been one of the most entertaining shows, I've had the pleasure of watching. As the Season Finale approached, there were a lot of questions that needed answers and a lot of plot-lines that needed to reach conclusion. Some of them were answered, most characters reached a good conclusion, however I felt a bit disappointed about a lot of aspects.

Captain Flint, a fictionalized character ever-present in "Treasure Island", show-runners decided to give him a new take. Out of nowhere, in a matter of a single episode in Season 2, Captain Flint came out as a gay/bi-sexual, with a "special" relationship with Thomas Hamilton. Gone are the days when two men could have something more than friendship and not sexual. Relationships like mentor-understudy, visionary-follower, teacher-student, and leader-supporters etc. are a thing of the past.

In Season 3, Captain Flint forgets about Thomas Hamilton entirely and is instead romantically and spiritually involved with Miranda Barlow. She becomes the vision of his dreams, guiding him to a path. Her untimely death shatters Captain Flint and turns him into a rage filled maniac, whose sole purpose is to start a war with England.

Then comes the Season Finale and by some miracle Thomas Hamilton is still alive and Captain embraces him with open arms and locked lips. The show-runners themselves seem to confused about Captain Flint's sexuality. In Season 1, he is straight and having sexual relationship with Miranda Barlow. In Season 2, all of a sudden Flint is revealed as a lover of Thomas Hamilton. In Season 3, Flint reverts to his romance with Barlow woman and reiterates how she completes him. Finally, in the Series Finale, Flint turns gay again. Make up your mind already! Don't hold anything against Gay/Lesbian leading characters but at least there should be an indication and not sudden bombshells.

On a different note, Max is one of the most annoying characters ever. For some reason, the show-runners decided to make her the center of Series Universe. It would've been more appropriate to cast someone whose accent sounds natural and convincing.

Worst ever final of a series

[Janbouli · 1/10 · 3 April 2017]

For 37 episodes I have enjoyed Black Sails only to be let down by the final episode. Seems as if the producers , writers , directors etc. all decided to end this series the easiest and cheapest way out . Out of the blue it's over and done for . Why build up to a final , when the final is not there. Never have I been so disappointed with a series I liked so much.

Reminiscent of GOT ending

[earl-52854 · 6/10 · 3 January 2020]

Such a good series until the final episode. Again writers trying to create a "new normal" just to get their own agenda across.

Season Finale

[tenfootsets · 1/10 · 7 August 2017]

*Spoilers* I really appreciated this series from start until almost finish. I could go on and on like all the previous posts. Yet I would feel almost as unfulfilled as this finale left me. Why those in charge decided down the path that lead them to this finale piece of garbage. Who knows?

Are you disgusted?

[DrZom-77-388656 · 1/10 · 3 April 2017]

Such touchy-feely pirates. Makes me want to puke my guts out.

Silver does not kill Flint, but being the great humanist and progressive pirate that he is Silver helps Flint to find his heaven on Earth. Flint can work in the sun with all the other sweaty Englishmen, live out his days, and disappear in Georgia. Oh yeah, I think that makes sense, don't you? Perhaps not?

What of the treasure? What of Ben Gunn? What of Billy Bones and how he comes by the map to Treasure Island? And what becomes of Silver? Did the writers/producers forget that some of us have actually read the book? Not to mention read the histories of the real pirates?

The one and only face saving moment is Jack taking on to his crew Mary Reed and adopting his historic flag. A bit late to make an interesting story, but at least a slight nod to history.

This series had so much going for it. Real pirates who lived real pirate lives and died real pirate deaths. All set as a prequel to perhaps the greatest pirate story of all time: Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island". I was so excited to see how the writers/producers would weave all the historic references with the fictional elements to create an intelligent and entertaining fusion.

Up until the series finale, the writers/producers had kept the anticipation on a razor's edge. But then came the epic fail. No resolution at all.

What a huge let down. Worst season finale I have ever seen.

Charles Vane died in vain.

Disappointing

[martin-404-665551 · 1/10 · 28 May 2017]

This has been an edgy series - only to be let down by typical American Hollywood agenda of a happy ending for a subject matter (history or fiction) that is anything but! When are the Hollywood writers going to realize that a good series ender doesn't need to end on a cum-bi-yah. We might as well have ended on a group hug.

Rewriting history with today's agenda

[phaeded216-182-339954 · 3/10 · 9 April 2017]

There is no parallel universe where Flint lives out his days picking cotton or cutting cane (how could he not end up despising Thomas for not at least becoming a maroon in his own fashion?), while his cronies live happily ever after running Nassau (historically the pirates are wiped out).

And if Silver in fact shot Flint and the whole plantation story was just that, a made-up story (and the finale underscores the problem of "stories")...who among the pirates and their maroon allies would give that story even a kernel of truth, least of all Madi? Its just completely cuts across the grain of character of Flint - any kind of servitude is anathema to Flint.

The introduction of Thomas and his incarceration for the "unspeakable", was all rather brilliant when introduced to explain why Flint went rogue from the Royal Navy. But in the hindsight of the finale, it makes this series seemed tainted in terms of rewriting history from our contemporary perspective of LGBT and black right movements - worthy struggles to be sure, but not at the expense of history. For what was the main narrative of Black Sails if not a wronged gay man, Captain Flint, allied to escaped Caribbean black slaves (maroons), waging "Flint's War" (of liberation)? In terms of gender/orientation as political motivation it is limited to Flint, but how could that galvanize a larger 18th century movement? And yes, the various historical Caribbean maroon groups are interesting politically (especially later, on Saint-Domingue in 1791) but this gay/black cause alliance just smacks of the 21st century hopes for a fully liberated future...retro-dated to imaginary 18th century beginnings. At best Flint was using the maroons - selling them the unbelievable story of a pan-Caribbean uprising - for revenge against England; and the maroons followed Flint...why? Especially if Madi knows his story, she must have regarded Flint as, at best, emotionally unbalanced. Historically, white sympathy for the maroons would have come from the slavery-hating Quakers in Philadelphia, yet that was a missed (historical) opportunity.

For those of you who just want a good story, fine (and the finale is not that, except for those who cherish Hollywood's "lived happily ever after"), but some of us are disturbed by the constant rewriting of history by the film industry.

Liked the series, but the finale was literally unbelievable.

Worst ending ever!

[btl_blc · 1/10 · 12 December 2020]

It was such a great series and there was a big story to continue, shame to see this end. Don't want to give spoiler but really this is how you ended that perfect show? Very disappointed!

Pointless

[whufc1980 · 1/10 · 3 April 2017]

First off enjoyed this as was a different idea using the fictional characters alongside the real historical ones. I can accept a certain amount of adaptation but the way this has progressed has just been a complete rewrite. Adapting the odd death or narrative is fair enough but the way this has progressed has become tedious.

I am now just glad it's over, sadly a good opportunity was missed. I mean Woodes Rogers died as governor of Nassau at the age of 53. Just shows the utter drivel this became.

Another boring series finale

[larosat · 3/10 · 3 April 2017]

Nothing happened...........again. Tedious scenes, boring dialogue, a decent battle and characters end up...... who knows where since its hard to focus on the boring drivel. This show has never had a strong narrative. Just people spouting inane nonsensical diatribe. Glad it's over. Last night was torture with The Walking Snooze on also. At least now we can look forward to some real quality. The Leftovers and hopefully American Gods.