[SPOILERS] Black Sails - Season 4 on the Horizon.

[Arkash]

So, last topic is locked-up (http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/95639-starz-black-sails-spoilers-off-the-port-bow/page-21) but I figure we definitly need a thread to keep talking about one of the best shows on screen right now !

 

 

 

 

Cant wait to get Vane and Flint reactions to the news of Rackham getting the fucking gold !!!

 

[Jaxom 1974]

I'm actually coming around to the idea that "evil" Flint might not be in the best interest of the show...

[red snow]

So, last topic is locked-up (http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/95639-starz-black-sails-spoilers-off-the-port-bow/page-21) but I figure we definitly need a thread to keep talking about one of the best shows on screen right now !

Cant wait to get Vane and Flint reactions to the news of Rackham getting the fucking gold !!!

I wonder if they'll delay that encounter? Surely Vane will rescue Eleanor (or attempt it). I'm also wondering how happy Flint's crew is about the amnesty towards Vane's crew considering it was less than a day ago that several of their comrades were butchered by them.

I'm actually coming around to the idea that "evil" Flint might not be in the best interest of the show...

I'll see how it goes. He's maybe not as lost as we imagine. While he kept Miranda's promise he may still feel like the ultimate "fuck you" to England is to legitimise the region as semi-independent? In a sense there isn't anyone for him to seek vengeance on anymore, even last season was more about making Hamilton's dream come true.

Even if he does calm down his actions at charlestown are going to have serious consequences.

[-Ghost-]

Can't wait for season 3. I love this show.

[DivisionByZero]

That was a fucking awesome finale. Like people were saying in the last thread, it takes some good storytelling to get you to cheer on the horrific destruction of a town full of innocent people, but I'll be damned if I wasn't cheering on every cannonball. That shot with Flint and Vane rowing away and the ship appearing through the smoke to fire on the dock was a kick ass release from all the tension they built up in the escape from town. Holy crap, that was awesome.

[GallowKnight]

It was a great end to a great season, not quite as good as ep.9 but fairly close. And like all of you already have said the destruction of Charlestown was great and felt justified despite a lot of innocent people probably dying.

I also gotta comment on just how much this show has improved. The first season was pretty good but also very dull during long stretches while this season was pretty much great from start to finish. The acting was better and the characters have all gotten much stronger, first and foremost regarding John Silver, Luke Arnold really stepped his game up and really brought Silver to being one of the highlights of the show, in my opinion. Even Max and Anne, two characters I didn't really care that much for, has improved a lot.

And here's some assorted musings about the season finale.

- Vane's dreadlock commando unit is scarily effective when they want to be.

- However on the same note it was nice to see that some of Vane's crew had gotten kinda tired of his leadership. And fitting since the real life Vane suffered at least one mutiny.

- Toby Stephens acting when the displayed Mirandas corpse was great.

- The shot of the warship coming out through the smoke was fantastic.

- I'm glad the Urca gold was collected, so we dont have that plot-thread dangling through another season.

- Rackham is still my favourite character, even though Silver is getting there.

[Commodore]

I'm confused about why people think shelling Charlestown was even remotely justified?

Because Lord Ash ratted on Hamilton and put an innocent man in the loony bin?

[red snow]

I'm confused about why people think shelling Charlestown was even remotely justified?

Because Lord Ash ratted on Hamilton and put an innocent man in the loony bin?

For me it was Flint's reaction to the way the crowd treated Miranda's corpse. That and the fact their once friend was allowing it to happen. It wasn't so much that I felt the townspeople deserved it and more that I was rooting for the protagonist (Flint irrespective of whether his actions were good) in his fulfilling of Miranda's final wish. A combination of acting and directing to allow me to be swept up in the moment.

Was it justified. Of course not from a civilization POV but from Flint's POV - absolutely.

If the writers are really clever they'll introduce an antagonist who is paying the pirates back for this attack. Maybe someone with a connection to Charles town. It would be interesting if the girl (forgot her name) essentially becomes a miranda-like character seeking vengeance for the destruction of her town (and possible death of her father) with the aid of a righteous admiral. Basically someone who starts picking the pirates off and while we'll hate him for killing off characters but know that in reality he's a good guy.

[Arkash]

One thought upon rewatch of the finale : we have no news of Abigail.

I hope she's safe in her father's mansion and I'm really intrigued to see if we'll ever see her again. Maybe her opinion on pirates changed quite a bit after they killed her father and destroyed her town. ^^

EDIT : ha, Red Snow already mentioned that idea in the previous post !

[Veltigar]

Five minutes after finishing the finale, I feel the distinct need to role up into a little ball and compulsively suck my thumb. Holy fucking shit that was amazingly intense. Best season of television I have seen in a long, long time. This was better than The Knick, Hannibal season two and Vikings season two, my favourites from last year. Fuck, right now I would say it's not even close.

I'll give more detailed comments and perhaps a prediction or two later on, but right now I just need some time to regain my composure.

[gribbles]

If the writers are really clever they'll introduce an antagonist who is paying the pirates back for this attack. Maybe someone with a connection to Charles town. It would be interesting if the girl (forgot her name) essentially becomes a miranda-like character seeking vengeance for the destruction of her town (and possible death of her father) with the aid of a righteous admiral. Basically someone who starts picking the pirates off and while we'll hate him for killing off characters but know that in reality he's a good guy.

Woodes Rogers!!!! supported by his flunky Hornigold of course

[The Mother of The Others]

Holy fucking shit . This was better than The Knick, Hannibal season two and Vikings season two,

I agree and I don't even know what The Knick is! (How many episodes does it take before you get the knack of the Knick?) Hannibal is tough to beat, but this had knee hammering and is a period piece which feels just as real so it's a virtual tie at least. After watching Game of Thrones, Vikings sounded like a show about just the Ironborn, similar to if they'd advertised a show about just Face from the A-Team, so I didn't really give that a try. (I'll be watching the Olympus, Salem, and Beiber Roast premieres, though.)

I felt like the excellent violence in Django Unchained wasn't really meant for me to enjoy, so I sort of enjoyed that movie secretly, on the down-low. But this white on white violence in Black Sails was something I could cheer for openly! Yes! Blow up those conservatively dressed townfolk who support justice! Screw them for believing what the CNBC of their day tells them without verifying The Man's journalistic ethics! F yeah. Enjoy that cannon shot to the kidney, Jeremy! Take that, Mrs. Esterhouse! There go your extremities! It was great. Town full of people tired of getting their shipments stolen, and I really enjoyed watching them explode. Good times.

But they have created a problem by making Vane too awesome and now also turning him into a protagonist: Vane is my favorite captain now. I don't want to see him be 2nd fiddle to the beard guy anymore.

The blonde is probably going to make it to the English naval base and that'll become a set where she gets it on with (or at least has dialogue with) guys in classy blue and red coats, before that set is ultimately demolished by more of what Lord Ash Town got. I'm going to call it right now though---that gold is gonna be trouble.

[red snow]

Woodes Rogers!!!! supported by his flunky Hornigold of course

Sweet. That would fit the bill perfectly. I just have to try and get the image of Timothy Olyphant wearing a admiral's hat out of my head!

(I'll be watching the Olympus, Salem, and Beiber Roast premieres, though.)

I wasn't aware of Olympus, after seeing the trailer I almost feel like I'd have preferred to have been in the dark, Maybe the writing will overcome the budget appearance and acting? I think syfy often put bad trailers together for their shows - the expanse relies heavily on having read the books in order to think it might be awesome.

Salem was a bubble show for me last year (the fact the thread for it died suggests most of us felt the same). Let me know if we're lucky enough for it to hit hit its stride Black Sails style and I'll be back.

But they have created a problem by making Vane too awesome and now also turning him into a protagonist: Vane is my favorite captain now. I don't want to see him be 2nd fiddle to the beard guy anymore.

I think standing in a square and having cannon fire ordered upon him will have won him respect/fear. He really needs to ditch the old crew though and stick with his red-neck (child-loving?) A-team. The old crew ditched him when Eleanor sacked him and they spend most of their time trying to betray him (although it's often deserved).

I think Vane needs to worry about another beard guy next season - given that character is an "A-list" pirate :)

[Veltigar]

I agree and I don't even know what The Knick is! (How many episodes does it take before you get the knack of the Knick?)

It's ten episodes a season (only one season out so far), completely directed by Soderbergh :) I'd say give it an episode or four to see how you like it, but know that the second half of the season is even better. Episodes like Get the Rope, The Golden Lotus and Crutchfield were just great :)

After watching Game of Thrones, Vikings sounded like a show about just the Ironborn, similar to if they'd advertised a show about just Face from the A-Team, so I didn't really give that a try. (I'll be watching the Olympus, Salem, and Beiber Roast premieres, though.)

Vikings is a lot better than GoT imo. It's a bit slow to start, because the antagonist isn't that great, but by the end of the season you'll be hooked. And season two of Vikings was great.

The blonde is probably going to make it to the English naval base and that'll become a set where she gets it on with (or at least has dialogue with) guys in classy blue and red coats, before that set is ultimately demolished by more of what Lord Ash Town got. I'm going to call it right now though---that gold is gonna be trouble.

You knew it was trouble when it walked in? :p

[Veltigar]

On the bombing of the town, I'll take a somewhat controversial stance here. I'm not going to go as far as say that they all deserved what was coming to them, but I do feel there were mitigating circumstances if you look at it from a pirates perspective. There was the desecration of Miranda's corpse, which was just poor form (undoubtedly period-appropriate though), the townspeople were also slavers and completely in thrall off Lord Ash and his cronies (providing town militia and the like).

Now that we have entered Vane mode of piracy, it isn't about the money anymore. The Pirates are fighting to make a place of their own in a world that just whiches to ensnare and enslave them. Since the Pirate model of society includes paying pensions to wounded veterans, same-sex marriages, checks and balances on a captain's absolute authority, increased female agency (good luck finding an equivalent to Anne Bonney or Eleanor Guthrie in the civilized world), a higher amount of meritocratic movement (how else does a man like Vane become Captain) and what seems to be a general disdain of slavery, I'm firmly on board of their ship.

Casualties are to be expected in a war like this, but I'd rather see them inflicted on the other side. To show the world that the Pirates mean business, that town just had to go. As a warning, that they are no longer content with being petty thugs, waiting to be hunted.

[Jaxom 1974]

Woodes Rogers!!!! supported by his flunky Hornigold of course

I'd missed this entry while reading up on pirates in general. This is tailor made for the show and wouldn't need a lot of adjustment to the plot at all. We know Blackbeard is coming, could this be part of it too?

[Jack Bauer 24]

Going to miss this show.

[Veltigar]

Going to miss this show.

Yeah, you and me both. I think I'm going to rewatch the last couple of episodes during my break next week. I still have to give some of my more detailed thoughts on the finale :) I sure hope Black Sails' third season will be able to live up to this one. That's some pretty big shoes to fill :)

[Castel]

On the bombing of the town, I'll take a somewhat controversial stance here. I'm not going to go as far as say that they all deserved what was coming to them, but I do feel there were mitigating circumstances if you look at it from a pirates perspective. There was the desecration of Miranda's corpse, which was just poor form (undoubtedly period-appropriate though), the townspeople were also slavers and completely in thrall off Lord Ash and his cronies (providing town militia and the like).

Now that we have entered Vane mode of piracy, it isn't about the money anymore. The Pirates are fighting to make a place of their own in a world that just whiches to ensnare and enslave them. Since the Pirate model of society includes paying pensions to wounded veterans, same-sex marriages, checks and balances on a captain's absolute authority, increased female agency (good luck finding an equivalent to Anne Bonney or Eleanor Guthrie in the civilized world), a higher amount of meritocratic movement (how else does a man like Vane become Captain) and what seems to be a general disdain of slavery, I'm firmly on board of their ship.

Casualties are to be expected in a war like this, but I'd rather see them inflicted on the other side. To show the world that the Pirates mean business, that town just had to go. As a warning, that they are no longer content with being petty thugs, waiting to be hunted.

These are all horrible reasons considering why civilization wants to reign in the pirates.

All this is happening because the pirates are savages that murdered the Governor of the colony and essentially went out of their way to crush the attempt to offer them a helping hand. Not to mention the constant raiding of the ships of innocent merchants.

Not to mention that they don't even own Nassau. There are people like the Pastor living on it as well. What better claim do they have? Because they murdered the Governor it's theirs?

And there is 0 disdain of slavery, at least on this show. They need men, so they take some slaves. But Scott outright told the slaves that the pirates would just re-enslave and resell them anyway and the only reason this didn't happen is that he was an influential man himself. And still,most of the men were sent to do labour.

The townspeople were obeying their rightful governor. That governor did absolutely nothing to them to warrant them wanting him gone or being responsible for his actions. He hung merchants who took pirate gold. Harsh, but not really crazy. When he had a chance to subvert the law and the testimony of his daughter he did the opposite. Flint hates him but he did nothing to the townspeople to make them complicit because they refused to remove him,

They exist because they are parasites. I love everyone on this show but it can't be overstated. For all the "sins" of society, they use it all to their benefit.

[Lord Freddy Blackfyre]

I agree and I don't even know what The Knick is! (How many episodes does it take before you get the knack of the Knick?) Hannibal is tough to beat, but this had knee hammering and is a period piece which feels just as real so it's a virtual tie at least. After watching Game of Thrones, Vikings sounded like a show about just the Ironborn, similar to if they'd advertised a show about just Face from the A-Team, so I didn't really give that a try. (I'll be watching the Olympus, Salem, and Beiber Roast premieres, though.)

I felt like the excellent violence in Django Unchained wasn't really meant for me to enjoy, so I sort of enjoyed that movie secretly, on the down-low. But this white on white violence in Black Sails was something I could cheer for openly! Yes! Blow up those conservatively dressed townfolk who support justice! Screw them for believing what the CNBC of their day tells them without verifying The Man's journalistic ethics! F yeah. Enjoy that cannon shot to the kidney, Jeremy! Take that, Mrs. Esterhouse! There go your extremities! It was great. Town full of people tired of getting their shipments stolen, and I really enjoyed watching them explode. Good times.

But they have created a problem by making Vane too awesome and now also turning him into a protagonist: Vane is my favorite captain now. I don't want to see him be 2nd fiddle to the beard guy anymore.

The blonde is probably going to make it to the English naval base and that'll become a set where she gets it on with (or at least has dialogue with) guys in classy blue and red coats, before that set is ultimately demolished by more of what Lord Ash Town got. I'm going to call it right now though---that gold is gonna be trouble.

A communist and invert racist. OMG you're a democrat. :fencing: