Black Sails 4x07 Reaction

Silver in season one: "A week's a long time. Maybe we'll be friends by then." Flint to Silver now: "When I was drowning over Miranda, you helped me find my way out. Look at me. I will do the same for you." Their friendship as it develops over the course of the show is so excellent. Like, you only appreciate it more and more with each rewatch. It's so good I'm almost left with nothing to say about it? Like...what more can I add? It's just so gorgeously written.

I already mentioned how much I love Mrs. Guthrie being introduced in the background and how that works so well for her thematically, but I forgot to mention that Max was introduced in the exact same way! I commented on it at the time, but in that first episode she was initially just prostitute #5 in a room. In other shows, that's all she would have continued to be (Idelle as well - she was also there). But that's not the case in Black Sails. Despite being introduced like she was just a background character, or set dressing, Max is one of the most important characters. And Idelle, though a side character, never feels like one of those 'disposable sex worker' tropes. She's a full character on her own, and makes her own choices based on her experiences like everyone else. Black Sails and The Wire aren't very similar, and I noted that in my comments when I was watching The Wire before. But I did keep wishing for The Wire to have its sex worker characters be more like the ones in Black Sails, especially because of how often they were featured or used as part of a storyline.

Oh! It's hilarious that Milena said watching everyone be so cold was hard for her, because in actuality it was very hot! Because even these scenes were shot in Cape Town lmao, so it was still very warm. It seeming so cold is all down to good acting and effects! In one of the interviews on the Fathom's Deep podcast you can hear the actors talk about it, that they had to pretend to be freezing when they were sweating horribly haha.

I love the discussion about how the show utilizes so many different perspectives with its characters. It's something I love about it as well. There is not just one 'slavery' character, where they represent all that that entails. Rather, we see how various different people respond to having been enslaved, or else to be living in its aftermath like Madi. Julius was only introduced this season, but his viewpoint is always presented as incredibly valid and understandable: even if you side with someone else more, you can't argue against his points. This goes for all of the perspectives on the show. The women all lead different lives and experiences, and their actions reflect that, even though they all have some common experiences as women in the ways they've experienced sexism (and of course, the intersection of racism and sexism for some of them). Like, most of our characters are or have been pirates, but none of their perspectives are the same. They all have their own reasons for the choices they make, fueled by their personal experiences, and all of them feel real and lived in and make sense.

"Anne didn't cross her first" I missed this when I first watched, but that's not really true. Anne was the one who got Max kidnapped by Vane's crew back in s1. Granted she made up for that by saving her later, so I can understand maybe viewing it differently. Still, I do think that falls under what Featherstone was talking about in regards to Max.

I posted this in a reply to another comment, but I wanted to post it seperately with some further discussion as well. Anyway, something really interesting is how Billy’s arc is kind of an inverse of Silver’s. Where Silver starts out as a loner who pushes away any idea of being a ‘part’ of something or people trying to get close, Billy is the opposite. Billy starts out in a leadership role, he has his brothers and his place in the crew, and taking care of them is what matters most to him. Over time, Silver starts to open himself up, becomes part of the crew and comes to care and feel responsible for them. This leads to him finding close friendships and love that he didn’t have before. Both men become darker in their actions and what they are willing to do in their leadership roles. And then Billy becomes more like who Silver was in the beginning - someone who rejects caring for others and being a part of a group. While Silver has become someone who needs it, for whom love is now the most important thing. Before s4 aired, the writers did a panel at comic con, and when asked if there was one particular theme to this season, Jon Steinburg said it was "love". The crowd kind of went 'awwww' in response, to which he laughed and said "well you may not feel that way when you see it!" All of which is to say...while love has certainly been a predominant part of the past seasons, and has been a driving force for many characters, this is absolutely the season where love feels like such a central focus. Not just one kind of love, and not from any single character, but many of them. Furthermore, not all of the love is good (look at Eleanor and Rogers) or leads to good results.

probably isnt the place to do it but theres no community tab, so ill settle for here, lo. I hope you guys react to fallout in the near future, id probably sell my soul for it.

Milena is right (always lol) This review style is really enjoyable

Let's talk about Billy boy. Firstly, me watching Billy from now on: https://www.magicalquote.com/moviequotes/look-how-they-massacred-my-boy/ I don't really like the course they take with Billy here. He was the most loyal one. Being loyal to his brothers and the cause was the core of his character. Yeah, he was betrayed, but is that enough to change someone's essence? I could understand him being angry and desolate, but joining the enemy that he hates so much? To me it just doesn't fit in with everything they showed us from the character so far. So, I hereby declare that I am with my boy Billy till the end, and I deliberately choose to ignore the actions he takes from now on.

"In my life, I have been bought and sold. And as I would be no slave again, and nor would I be a master." What a beautiful scene.

Had a really busy Sunday but I’ll be posting more comments tonight and tomorrow! I can’t believe we are so close to the end. I’m excited for Lola and Milena to experience it - and I do think the last two episodes should be watched together - but I’m also so sad to see it end. Ah well, all good things must. And the rewatches of this show are so rewarding.

I love Mrs. Guthrie. In particular I love how she is literally introduced in the background. She is in the room when Jack walks in, and nothing in the scene makes us focus on her. She is literally just part of the set dressing at first. Up until she reveals how much control and power she actually has, you (like Jack) would have walked right by without sparing her a passing glance. To build off of that, one of the most interesting things about the conversation between Max and Mrs. Guthrie, is that Mrs. Guthrie doesn’t identify her own role in the story at all. She doesn’t mention herself. And yet Max identifies her role anyway, and likely what Mrs. Guthrie actually did, without her mentioning herself in the story at all. Because Max knows exactly what it is to exist in the background so that no one notices how much control she exerts. To “quietly wield power” as Jack put it.

Binge from now until the end . Best way to do it 😄

It's been a lot of fun watching this with y'all. I'd honestly love to hear your thoughts on Treasure Island (whether you read a summary or watch an adaptation of it) after you finish the show. Can't wait for these last 3 episodes!

I agree with Milena, Flint being vulnerable enough to vulnerably share his vulnerability with John in a most vulnerably vulnerable way was really nice

9 and 10 should be watched together imo, theyre pretty seamless. i think i finished ep 9 at 3am but theres no way i could’ve stopped there

i started watching fringe a couple days ago and i remembered you talking about this show a bunch of times. enjoying it so far... specially anna torv. will watch your reaction as soon as i finish the episode i'm watching. ps: love max/annne/jack storyline, one of my favourite things from this show actually.