THE PIRATE SERIES, "BLACK SAILS."

thothguard51 · Jan 26, 2014

As the title says, there is a new pirate series on premium channel STARZ, or the non premium channel Encore, called Black Sails.

1st episode is currently playing and I am watching. So far not bad, but does not live up to the opening of a series like Rome, the Tudors, or even, AGOT.

But, as I suspected, the nudity gods have opened the portal and it seems each new series wants to out nude the previous series. Not as bad as Spartacus, but about as eventful as AGOT.

But what the hey, what can we expect from a series about Pirates...

Anyone else watching?

elinor · Jan 26, 2014

It's called Black Sails. It's pretty awesome. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sails_(TV_series)

BlueMach5 · Jan 26, 2014

I watched the first episode. So far I like it, however I thought the acting/script was a little cheesy at times. I'd like to see where the series goes.

I hate that I have to wait a week for the next episode though. Netflix has spoiled me.

Calla Lily · Jan 27, 2014

Eh. Acting wasn't bad. High production values. I got bored about 2/3 through. Mr. Lily said he was interested.

[begin cynical mode]

Overall, it came across to me as what Pirates of the Caribbean would've been if Disney allowed gratuitous f-bombs and all other slang terms for one's naughty bits, plus the totally unexpected really, never saw it coming

soft-core girl-on-girl scene(s).

[/cynical mode]

All that said, we'll give it one more ep at least.

V.W.Singer · Jan 27, 2014

The setting looked pretty accurate, from the architecture to the pirate politics, and prostitution was one of the major industries of the pirate colonies.

Anninyn · Jan 27, 2014

I'm really liking it. Especially with canon bi characters. Besides, anything with pirates will sell to me.

eternalised · Jan 28, 2014

I wish Eleanor was a stronger character. She comes across as rather weak in this ep, even though they seem to have want to portray her as a strong character.

So far, most intriguing are Vane, Rackham and Anne Bonny. Didn't like Flint all that much.

I kind of wish this would be a little bit more like Pirates of the Carribbean - more action, more sly schemes - but maybe it will after a while.

Jersey Chick · Jan 28, 2014

We don't have Starz, but we do have the Encore channels - I'll have to look for it there, eventually, because I thought it looked interesting. I have a soft spot for pirates of the Caribbean, Disney or otherwise.

Calla Lily · Jan 28, 2014

We saw it on Encore, Jersey Chick. We don't have Starz either.

Jersey Chick · Jan 28, 2014

Then I will definitely look for it.

JohnnyGottaKeyboard · Feb 22, 2014

Anyone still watching this?

CrastersBabies · Feb 22, 2014

I wonder if they'll portray Rackham as the gigantic wuss he really was at the end. Wasn't he the guy who Anne Bonny essentially called a cowardly dog? (After he and his men hid while Anne Bonny and Mary Read fought?)

Jersey Chick · Feb 23, 2014

As far as I can tell, it hasn't shown up on any of my Encore stations, only Starz (which we don't get) so I can't watch it.

thothguard51 · Feb 23, 2014

I haven't found it since the first episode. I think Encore showed the premere and that was it. And that pisses me off...

JohnnyGottaKeyboard · Feb 23, 2014

CrastersBabies said:
I wonder if they'll portray Rackham as the gigantic wuss he really was at the end. Wasn't he the guy who Anne Bonny essentially called a cowardly dog? (After he and his men hid while Anne Bonny and Mary Read fought?)

Being Pirate-illiterate, I didn't realize they were including real pirates. I do know Flint and crew are all characters from Treasure Island--which, even though Billy is always flirting with danger, makes me think he's somewhat safe from harm (he has to get the map to Jim!).

Jack is sort of being portrayed as a "coward" already--tho a smart and conniving one. I actually quite like him.

Manuel Royal · Feb 24, 2014

Piracy has gone on on for thousands of years, in many bodies of water. I wonder why popular culture is so fixated on the Caribbean in the 17th and 18th centuries.

At least they're not all talking like Robert Newton.

The production values are pretty impressive, and I always like seeing wooden sailing ships.

Cyia · Feb 24, 2014

Manuel Royal said:
Piracy has gone on on for thousands of years, in many bodies of water. I wonder why popular culture is so fixated on the Caribbean in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Because those were the first pirate movie settings, and they're the stories that writers like Poe used in their stories (Capt. Kidd). It's the same reason that people imagine pirates sailing huge ships like the Jolly Roger or the Black Pearl, when the real ones would have been smaller and faster. Hollywood needed the space provided by the bigger vessels to stage swordfights, so it's what people "know".

Nina Kaytel · Feb 24, 2014

Dag. I was I still had Starz.

I'll lurk on this thread and see if it is worth buying since I have limited internet no Netflicks or similar for Nina.

Jett. · Mar 9, 2014

Anninyn said:
I'm really liking it. Especially with canon bi characters. Besides, anything with pirates will sell to me.

If only it weren't that, in the meantime, one part of the FF pairing gets raped for 4 episodes. Yep, very refreshing, well done, show...

Am I the only one that finds the dialogs sounding a bit too modern, or as they might say "f%*#ing modern"?

JohnnyGottaKeyboard · Mar 9, 2014

Jett. said:
If only it weren't that, in the meantime, one part of the FF pairing gets raped for 4 episodes.

I was also disappointed by the near-miss-kiss with Flint last night.

But I'm most annoyed by the whole "Billy's Dead" fakery. How long do you think they'll drag it out?

Jett. · Mar 12, 2014

I'm not enjoying this show very much. I find most of the characters unlikeable, and there's no witty or intriguing dialogues to save them.

But I'll probably finish watching it because is in the same time period as my WIP. If they'd only get out of the island more often...

thothguard51 · Mar 12, 2014

I finally caught up with the series this past weekend. One thing I have noticed, very little humor in the series...

thothguard51 · Mar 16, 2014

Watched the season final last night...

I will say this, they took a lesson from A Game of Thrones in that none of the characters are safe. I wonder if this is going to be the new normal now, no characters are safe...

Manuel Royal · Mar 16, 2014

Jett. said:
Am I the only one that finds the dialogs sounding a bit too modern, or as they might say "f%*#ing modern"?

It was like that with HBO's Deadwood, a few years back. They want to show that it's a dangerous, rough place, where everybody uses bad language; but they don't think a modern audience will understand historical cussing.

Jett. · Mar 20, 2014

thothguard51 said:
Watched the season final last night...

I will say this, they took a lesson from A Game of Thrones in that none of the characters are safe. I wonder if this is going to be the new normal now, no characters are safe...

Mhh, though that was no Ned Stark. More like a Robert Baratheon...
I had read your post before I watched the finale. They offed the one I predicted... though not one from the ones I hoped - big pool.

I'm a bit angry at the show: so far violence, rape , nudity, f-bombs have been used to try to convey what characters, story and dialog are lacking.

Ep08 had one good point though: finally some good looking naval action and broadsides.

I'll stop griping, now.

THE PIRATE SERIES, "BLACK SAILS."

A Gentleman of a refined age...

On hiatus

Purveyor of naughtiness

Stealing your twiglets.

practical experience, FTW

Up all night to get Loki

On hiatus

Up all night to get Loki

Who let this guy in...?

Burninator!

Up all night to get Loki

A Gentleman of a refined age...

Who let this guy in...?

Rewriting My Destiny

I spell Gray with an 'E''

House: RumNcoke; Sigil: Jelly Donut

Who let this guy in...?

House: RumNcoke; Sigil: Jelly Donut

A Gentleman of a refined age...

A Gentleman of a refined age...

House: RumNcoke; Sigil: Jelly Donut