Here’s her review…
ThisBlack Sailsreview contains spoilers.
And the theme of this weeks episode isleadership.
Theres nothing more important to pirates than leadership.
The question is, is the leader strong enough?
Its one of the things we always need to know inBlackSails.
And Flints got Silver on his side.
Not because Silver likes him, or even likes being a pirate.
Its because Sliver sees opportunity in Flint.
Real pirate leadership provides its own opportunity.
Of course, we have the opening bit, too.
Thats just Billy Bones coming back from the dead to be set upon some mysterious mission.
To those of us whove readTreasure Island, this is no surprise.
(Everybody ought to readTreasure Island.)
But were with Flint and Silver in 1715, and Flints about to be thrown off his ship.
Or he would be, if he was a lesser man.
Of course, Flint knows that his advice wont be taken.
Dufresne sets out to do the exact opposite, to win his first prize as a pirate captain.
Cut to Eleanor Guthrie back on Nassau.
Shes been a leader, and shes good at bullying.
Love the scar and the dead eye, Ned.
Low pushes back when Eleanor cut his money short.
BlackSailstakes a pass at strong female characters, but they dont do it well.
Eleanor wasnt then, and when Lowe starts cutting throats this season, she isnt ready for that either.
Sure, shes got a couple of strong boys ready to play bouncer in the bar.
But what about a pistol?
But no, all shes got for us is a pained look.
And maybe a deal with Vane.
Poor Charles, hung up on a hussy like this.
He knows how to be a leader; he needs to provide for his men.
Too bad hell probably be sucked into bailing Eleanor out.
Maybe hell teach her a little leadership along the way.
Then theres Max, flourishing in her role as Madame at Rackhams whorehouse.
Her outfits get more and more prosperous looking every week, and I like that.
I also like how shes always looking out for the main chance.
I wouldnt mind seeing Max in charge of business on the whole island.
Ive thought that Anne has wanted to help Max out in the past because of there-but-for-the-grace-of-god-go-I.
But the writers want us to think its been lust.
Id think Anne would have figured that out, one way or the other, by now.
But what the hey.
Jacks reaction to all this is much better than I had anticipated, and plays into the theme perfectly.
Then he says the sweetest thing, worthy of the historical (and much tougher) Jack Rackham.
Anne, I have wanted only and always for you to be happy.
Its enough to inspire a lot of loyalty.
Flint, of course, if tougher than any of this, and a more pervasive schemer to boot.
And Flints own plan?
Its still Flints version of theBlackFlag, you see.
And Dufresne doesnt live up to that rep, and isnt vicious enough to begin crafting his own.
Weve always known that Flint was born to lead pirates.
TS Rhodes is the author ofThe Pirate Empireseries.
She blogs about pirates atthepirateempire.blogspot.com
Rating:
5 out of 5
