After a shaky start, Crossbones finds its sea legs a little in episode number two.

Here’s our review.

Crossbonescomes on strong with its second episode.

Its a little more pirate-like (still not enough.)

But seeing the reason behind some of these goings-on gives me a much better handle on the shows characters.

We open with a short summary, followed by a brief flash of hooded men on a ship.

Cut to Blackbeard and Selima.

She gives him advice.

If the chronometer was a little unbelievable before, though, we now have a submarine.

A submarine with a blindfolded Spanish passenger.

This Spaniard showed up last time to give Lowe an excuse to save Blackbeards life.

Now it seems that this mysterious figure will be a season-long mystery.

Im willing to accept this, but like lay off the submarine.

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The fellow in the hood is Sam Valentine, another pirate captain.

But its not logical.

If Valentine was Eddies old friend, he turns on him far to fast.

These two ought to be plotting together, discussing, talking of old times, and drinking much rum.

Instead we get a simple statement of Blackbeards plan (Not too stupid.

Now, its clear that there is a little envy here.

Valentine says of Blackbeards kingdom I thought it would be bigger.

The story hes improvising from has been written so often that people watching may already know it.

In short, Valentines rage that his old friend has made himself a king is palpable.

Once again, though, its done without any warmth.

If these two were such good friends once, why did Valentine change?

So whats the big deal all of a sudden?

Plotline two involves Lowe and the former Jacobite James Balfour (Peter Stebbings).

And it makes sense that his wife Kate (Claire Foy) would do anything to get him out…

But Kate, you didnt Give up everything, even (your) country for your husband.

He pretty much took care of that himself when he backed the wrong side in the fight between kings.

Thats unlikely to happen (though this is fiction, and I wouldnt rule it out.)

I like the fight between Blackbeard and his three would-be assassins.

I also liked the small bit of throwing the bones, as the only things available.

If only this had been a movie, or Malkovich was a better combat actor.

In spite of the emphatic sound effects, some of the punches were too obviously pulled.

With more filming time, they might have gotten it better.

Still, I understand it.

If they had only put Valentine on the scaffold, the audience wouldnt have been nearly so emotionally involved.

Robbery, murder, torture, killing an old friend, its all just part of the days work.

This is in the best fictional tradition of Blackbeard.

Not true, of course, but in the tradition, which I respect.

So Im enjoying this a little more, and looking forward to the next one.

Bonus Feature:

This is really historically accurate, right?

Well, a little.

Obviously, by 1729 Blackbeard was long dead.

And people were a long, long way from inventing the submarine.

But some other things have been nagging me, and Id like to share.

Bellamy died in 1717, but that never stopped a writer yet.

I wonder if the writers originally wanted it to be Bellamy, and changed their minds.

Black Sam was a real fanatic on the subject of democracy.

But such a historical figure would have to put up more of a fight than our man Valentine.

Next: If you dont break your neck when youre hanged, it does not take days to strangle.

Twenty minutes is about average.

I hope they make something out of it.

Some excuse is given for why the chronometer will end piracy, and thats a good thing.

But trade routes werent only used because navigation was so far from exact.

We still have trade routes today, for the same reason.

So thats for the effort, but no, thats not true.

And lastly Commodore is a ridiculous title for Blackbeard to have chosen for himself.

A commodore is the man in charge of a flotilla of ships.

But its a temporary rank, and its no big deal.

Prince commander, even president would have been more sensible.

Wonder what they paid Disney for that?

Or did they just pirate it?

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Rating:

3 out of 5