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Black Sails Season Two Review

 

Image: Starz
Image: Starz

 

Black Sails’ returns for season two, and brings with it the same ‘Jack Sparrow’ swagger we have come to expect. It picks up directly where last season left off, and we are again following the Pirate city of Nassau and it’s most notorious captain, James Flint, (Toby Stephens) as he struggles to adapt to a changing world.

It takes place 20 years before the Robert Louis Stevenson classic ‘Treasure Island‘ and chronicles the struggle of pirates in the new world. Not content to remain in the safe confines of the simple action/adventure genre, the show takes on harder topics and delves into the political realm the same way as ‘Game of Thrones‘. Each crew is subject to the internal power struggles that go with ‘pirate democracy’, and different crews jostle for position and influence over the islands makeshift governor, Eleanor Guthrie (Hannah New).

There are a number of surprises in the opening episode of season two, but perhaps the most unusual was a cast member change for the minor character ‘Dufresne’. The previous actor Jannes Eislelen was far more charismatic in the role compared to the new actor Roland Reed. This change has no direct impact on the plot, but was unnecessary and a distraction from the story.

Luke Arnold, who plays John Silver, and Toby Schmitz, as Jack Rackam, stand out for their portrayal of two incredibly nuanced characters. The casting is mostly excellent except for Zach McGowens’ portrayal of the infamous Charles Vane. He definitely looks that part, but his voice sound like a prepubescent teen trying to sound tough.

Season two sticks to the same format as season one, with a heavy focus on multiple plot lines that weave in and out of each other. This can be frustrating, as your favorites will inevitably end up pitted against each other, but it does keep you interested. Every time there is a lull in a certain storyline, another jumps in and picks up the dramatic slack.

You can often forget that you are watching a TV series as the set gives off a natural vibe, something which has been lacking in small screen productions in the past. They have left behind CGI landscapes in favour of the real thing. The only exception is a short stint spent in Charlestown, which can be forgiven as it is only a temporary location.

Overall, the show is engrossing, and not the kind of show that can be watched casually. You are immediately attracted to the characters and invested in their story. Aside from a few minor annoyances, most notably the change in casting, and the unrealistically gravelly Charles Vane, the show has no major flaws.

Black Sails season two should be watched with caution. It is not an ideal series for those short on time, uncomfortable with graphic violence, or the odd sex scene (there are significantly less in this season compared to the first). However, it is the perfect binge watch when you have the free time, say during uni break for example.

 

9/10

 

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