Black Sails 4x01 Reaction

Rogers is a complicated character. At this moment in the story, he really has not done anything that can justify watching him as a bad guy or a villain really (when you compare him with all the other characters that we like). A very telling scene that many gloss over because this is just a show and not real life, is the scene where Rogers says that the 121 prisoners they got, means for them that there are now 121 mouths to feed and 121 people to "care" for. In contrast we later see the victorious Blackbeard and our crew, shooting in cold blood all the British prisoners that they got. So normally that would have to point us that Rogers is the "good" guy and the pirates are the bad guys. (shocking i know, pirates being bad). But because this is a show about pirates, we have more sympathy to their cause, than we probably should as "civilized" people. Now there is the colonizing aspect also in the middle, so it is more complicated than what i described above, but i believe you get the point.

Silver: *Underwater* Lola: "Catch your breath"

Lol doing the scottish accent was adorable! *-* Fun fact: Captain Berringer, the one you hate, is Toby Stephens' brother. He goes with the last name Larkin because he didn't want to get preferential treatment due to his family name.

are we getting invincible today?

just finished season 4 over the weekend and wow these next few weeks are gonna be a rollercoaster for them! as for what could come after, maybe a short show could fill the month and a half wait for the boys and HoTD. knowing how much support andor had in the last poll maybe that could be an option

I don't like Woodes Rogers at all, I've made that clear at this point. But during the scene where he's watching Berringer cut off DeGroot's ear, my interpretation is something more in line with another scene and character. After Silver stomped in Dufresne's head, and he talked with Flint about it afterward. And he's both disturbed and acknowledges "how good it feels" to embrace that kind of darkness. I think Rogers is having a somewhat similar conflict. He sees how disturbing these acts are, but embracing this darkness also feels good. Powerful. And like Flint said when he talked about how darkness would cloak itself in reason, Rogers justifies his increasingly brutal tactics and black and white worldview every time he does it. He's a layered character, like everyone, even if I don't like him at all.

The way Rogers talks to Eleanor (and Max to a lesser extent) this episode I think says a lot about how he views her. For all of his promises that she is his partner and that he sees her as such...he doesn't treat her that way, at least not completely. He seems to think he is, but the way he tried to hide this information from her, plus how he lashed out at Max (for really no reason) because of the stress it was causing him, both point to how he views them and the supposed partnership they have. Eleanor has to push him to reveal the truth, a truth he has been concealing for at least a little while. And, frankly, it comes off as very dismissive. Like in a "don't worry your pretty little head about it " sort of way. Because Rogers should know by now who Eleanor is, the things she has done and is capable of. She's supposed to be his partner and someone from whom he seeks advice. But now that she's his wife his behavior toward her has shifted, in a way that he doesn't even seem to realize, but that Eleanor has certainly noticed (as has Max I think, though she of course is not privy to the more private moments).

Hey guys are you going to watch Andor after black sails

Fun fact: the actor for Captain Berringer is Toby Stephen's (Flint) brother.

Your bad vibes about Rogers are exactly how I felt watching this for the first time haha. Naq gubfr ivorf jrer evtug! V frafrq uvf erq synt naq unir bayl pbzr gb qrfcvfr uvz zber.

"I aint need to prove anything! I don't need to figure out who I am!" What a great moment from Anne. Again, comparing her here to where she was in s1 is such a difference. Back then she hid behind her hat and her scowl, and was left "adrift" while struggling to figure herself out. But she isn't questioning those things anymore. She isn't needing to find herself, or prove who she is: it's something she knows and is sure of. Her words also call back to s3 when they nearly left Nassau with their own shares of the Urca gold. Unlike Jack - who could not bear to leave his name behind - she was perfectly okay with starting over, and going off just the two of them. Her sense of self is not so literally tied to her legacy or anything else: it is hers alone.

I really love the conversation with Flint and Silver at the start. "If it helps, I haven't thought of killing you in months." And of course, how easily they call themselves friends now. Back in s1 Silver suggesting as much was a laughable idea, and look where they are now. In turn, the conversation with Madi and Flint later on (when they think Silver is dead) is also excellent. There's something noticeably...softer, almost, about Flint ever since he has found this new purpose and friendship. And you can feel how genuine he is being with Madi - and she can tell the same as well. Obligatory 'I love Madi' statement! Her conversation with Silver in the little flashback is also great, both in terms of characterization and to show their relationship. I appreciate how, even though we don't actually see them get together, their relationship feels very real and natural.

Oh, and the broken teacup Flint holds is not only a reminder of Miranda (anytime we go to her house it's like her ghost is there all over again), but also a visual callback to a moment in s3. When Vane and Flint were having a conversation in this house about comfort and domesticity. Vane was holding a teacup - maybe even that teacup - in his hands like he'd never seen anything like it and didn't know how to hold it. Minor detail, but as always with this show those small details are excellent.

I think it's very interesting that Eleanor's role as advisor to the governor (who also happens to be sleeping with him) was clearly quite a different experience to actually being Mrs. Rogers, wife of a governor. The conversation she has with Max is one I'll come back to in another episode, but I quite like it. Both because of the conversation itself, and Max's observations. As well as the visual details: Eleanor accidentally stabbing herself with the needle and cursing, and the fact that Max isn't embroidering.

That tactic of putting sunken ships in the harbor was a real naval tactic as well! Very interesting to see it in action, and that whole sequence is so well done.

I’m surprised you say they act just like colonizers (England in this scene with Rogers but I assume you mean both spain and England) when that is literally their goal why they did colonial expansion. There were 4 main reasons for colonialism in the early modern era which this is in and those without going into detail (I can if you want) are: 1. Economic reasons: The rise of Muslim empires after the Roman empires fall in 1453 made Europe have to find another trade route to China for spices etc so they started doing maritime voyages which led to establishing colonial trade outposts to find new trade routes for economic prosperity after the fall of Rome. (because after Rome fell the Muslims took over and started demanding tolls through their land which was unprofitable for the Europeans) 2. Religious reasons: Convert non believers to Christianity to save peoples souls and show them the way. A great way for them to morally justify their conquest I gotta say. Very smart 3. Renaissance thinking: Wanting to explore and find new land which was a big thing during these times. 4. Prestige and competition between European monarchs. Fun fact since I’m Scandinavian technically the first people to find America were the Vikings who got there first and established a small outpost long before. Sadly it didn’t last because having paganism grow in America would be such a cool alternative History. Also Portugal started the Atlantic slave trade and technically the African rulers/elite were the ones at the start who was selling their own people into slavery because it was so extremely profitable. Tho slavery as a trade has gone on for much longer wayyy before the Roman Empire even. Sorry for the rant you seemed surprised that the colonizers were doing colonialism so I felt the need to put my history knowledge to the table.

Look at this scene of John going under, so beautifully made. The production value of Black Sails was just on another level.

That discussion at the beginning lmao, maybe this show should've been the swan song of your channel for when you decided to retire 😄

The beginning of the end 💔

Season four!!!! I'm so sad you are almost done yet so excited for you both to experience the incredible ride of this season.

Howdy y'all, here's my reaction to 4x01! :) https://youtu.be/v8cepvnmCL8

This was a good episode , but I admit I'm more excited for episode 2 reaction . That one will be interesting 😃