The latest episode of Black Sails season 2 on Starz is a complex, surprisingly introspective affair.

Here’s our review…

ThisBlack Sailsreview contains spoilers.

Silver is in conflict because loss of the gold means loss of his ties to Flint.

Vane is forced once and for all to decide between Eleanor and his freedom.

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Its a complex, introspective episode, full of beautiful images of flickering candles.

This is one of the things thatBlack Sailsdoes most realistically.

Ive never seen anyone properly drag out the role of the vote for captaincy.

Votes change because one man trash-talked another mans mother, rather than the merits of the case.

Anne Bonny is adrift.

Max shows her wisdom in dealing with Anne.

Max protects, guiding Anne away from life as a whore.

I also note Max has retained Annes battered old hat.

Well see that hat later, Im sure.

Max brilliantly and sincerely mediates with her girls on Annes behalf.

Its only after Abigail helps with the gate that Vane confronts them.

Vane is finally facing the chasm between himself and Eleanor.

He loves her, pure and simple, and would have defended her to the death.

But Vane is a simple man, honestly pursuing the life he wants for himself.

In many ways, hes the epitome of a pirate.

What he wants is freedom and respect.

He wont play politics.

He has killed, many times, on her behalf.

Vane has already risen from the dead.

But the warning is here.

Even Charlestown is not a civilized place.

Vane knows that you cant trust civilization.

We can expect more betrayals, and not from Vane.

Billy has learned from his run-in with the law.

He uses Dufresne to find the men who are willing to turn Flint in.

Then he makes his case for loyalty with his fists and his feet.

Until we are all safe, there isnt one of us whos safe.

Although Billy still sides with Flint, his sentiments match better with Vane.

And, lastly, Silver.

Silver who wants the gold more than liberty.

How broken, we dont see until the very end, but when it comes, it shifts everything.

And Silver shares it with Max, the only one on the island who has the subtlety he does.

The alliance now stands Max, Silver and Bonny.

They are for the gold, and with Jacks help, they may even get it.

As the book says, the men feared Flint, and Flint feared Silver.

The pirate island lives on.

Chaos and death wait just outside the door.

We only need to wait for morning.

Rating:

5 out of 5