Black Sails is back and it’s been two weeks since the end of Season 2. John Silver has accepted his role as Quarter Master of the Walrus, however Captain Flint hasn’t fully excepted him as a pirate, let alone as a Quarter Master. Flint has his own demons he is battling, as he has become a darker and more vengeful man. Vane is on a favor to capture cargo for Jack Rackham, who is now in charge of rebuilding the fort that was captured at the end of Season 2 and Jack has his own problems.
If I have one complaint about the beginning of Season 3, or rather this whole series all together, is that Black Sails is all over the place. It’s this series biggest problems and shows in this episode however, it’s not enough to hold it back from being a great opening. If you’ve been following the promotional material, you know that Black Beard is coming. We get introduced to the greatest pirate to ever sail in a mysterious way, but when the camera finally reveals his face you’ll immediately recognize him. Ray Stephenson, who portrays him, didn’t get a lot of screen time but we what little we did get left you anticipating what’s to come.
John Silver has had an interesting few weeks since we last saw him at the end of season 2. It’s interesting watching him grow and develop into his new role as Quarter Master, but he now has a personal struggle of battling a life change with his new peg leg. All that’s missing now is a parrot and maybe he’ll be a real pirate. Flint has really changed over the time that Miranda was murdered till now. James Flint has turned into a dark character and is becoming the pirate that history knew him for. His darkness however is causing tension between him and Silver, and the result is driving Flint into a mad man.
Jack Rackham is in over his head trying to get the fort repaired. Seriously who would have thought the getting pirates to actually do physical labor would work? In the meanwhile, he sends Vane on a lead for materials for the fort and surprisingly it’s not what the audience or Vane and his crew was expecting. Eleanor is nearly absent until the end of the episode, but when she shows up she is put into a position after her trial that presents one of this seasons big challenges for the residents of Nassau.
This episode starts very strong, with the introduction of Black Beard and a start to the season that kicks off with a bang. The second act of the episode lulls with the politics of piracy. Who thought that could be a thing? On top of that there are multiple cuts back and forth between the large cast of characters. Sadly, it brings down the pacing, but it does pick up in the end with a shocking surprise that introduces 2 more big problems for the crews of the Walrus and the Ranger. Without revealing much traitors are in the midst and the show’s writers are paying very close to history.
Flint steals the show this episode and with a strong and mysterious introduction to Black Beard it will be interesting where this season is going. With dangerous challenges being presented this season is going to be more than just finding gold and taking a fort or ship. The pirates home of Nassau and livelihood are at stake and far more then they realize.
