Black Sails 2x01 Reaction

After this starz classic these ladies need to watch Spartacus. Might not be able to post on YT but they must experience that show. One of the greats

I think the only point in the post-episode discussion I personally don't agree with is some of the Vane and Eleanor bits haha. I don't think he understands her as much as he thinks he does. Is he entirely wrong? No. But he's not nearly as right as he believes either. It's been very consistent that Eleanor wants to build an actual future for Nassau, "not measured in months". So for Vane to claim that isn't what she wants at all just shows one of the ways he fundamentally misunderstands her. On top of that, he projects a lot of himself/what he wants onto her, and refuses to see any evidence that indicates she doesn't fit into his perception. There are some aspects of her he sees completely, but others? Not so much. At least that's always how it has seemed to me.

Flint and John are literally PRICELESS together. The witty banter and chemistry is unmatched. I love how John is literally on the same level as Flint, he matches him, energy for energy, wit for wit, they're different but the same and as much as it irks Flint, you could tell he sees it as well, the more time he spends with Silver. I wasn't particularly a fan of the Anne/Max relationship when I watched this episode because I felt so bad for Jack, he was really going through it because of the choices Anne made and all she could think about was her feelings for Max, it left a bad taste in my mouth but I do think the way it's handled after this episode is done well. What I love about Vane in this point of the story is that he is NOT afraid to call Eleanor on her BS, he tells her like it is, without fear of consequences. I also love his confidence, he knows he's powerful, but he doesn't unnecessarily flaunt it around, he just mainly stays up in his fort and lives his life, lol. The Flashbacks are GOLDEN, in some shows flashbacks can be hard to do because they are either misplaced, or drawn out, but in this show they are perfect.

What to watch? Give Sons of Anarchy a chance. And Jessica Jones is solid and female centered. Jessica Jones is about Jessica Jones and her friend who doesn't have powers and is not about saving the world. And like she says in the show, all that superhero stuff has nothing to do with her.

Dark reactions would've been awesome. But at least we are getting Black Sails. xD

“He looks like a stereotypical Viking” about Tadhg Murphy, who they watched, and really liked, in Vikings lol RIP One Eye. You deserved better than Rollo killing you. Cant even imagine how enjoyable the later reactions/discussions would be if John moved into Lola’s #1 and Flint stayed as Milenas.

I would’ve loved your ozark reactions. Ruth and Marty my favorite characters

Great discussion. Really can't wait for you guys to watch the rest. If we're talking about ones you watch together, I'd recommend trying to do 2x04 and 2x05 together if possible. Lola talking about how attractive Flint is when he's covered in blood is extremely relatable. Everyone on this show is so goddamn pretty, it's a constant bi panic. Amber said it above but you guys being upset you can't just keep watching the rest is exactly how I feel at the end of your reactions. I wanna see how you feel about everything else already! At the same time, I know I'll be really sad when it starts getting close to the end, so it's nice to be able to take more time with it too.

To answer your question about the timeline, the current Nassau timeline is 10 years later, in 1715.

how you guys feel wanting to watch the next one is how bad i want to watch yalls reactions to this season lol

I'm all for a discussionless binge if it means getting all the season 2 reactions at once lol

We see Flint thinking, and the flashback lets us know exactly what/who he is thinking of. Thomas. Who we see giving money to a poor child. Then of course, comes Miranda. Who says that there’s nothing quite like meeting Thomas for the first time, and it’s clear that Flint agrees. “Indescribable is a good word.” LRNU VG ERNYYL JNF. Ur'f fbbbbbb vzzrqvngryl gnxra va ol Gubznf'f tbbqarff. “The game he’s entering into is a truly brutal and unforgiving one.” “Piracy?” “Politics.” Great exchange. I love what Miranda says here too, after Flint says that he doubts the outcome Thomas wants, not Thomas himself or his intentions. “Great men aren’t made great by politics….they’re made great by the relentless pursuit of a better world. The great men don’t give up their pursuit. They don’t know how. And that is what makes them invincible.” Sure seems like Flint - I mean James - took those words to heart. “I think you intend to reclaim your captaincy. I think you intend to take control of this ship. I think you intend to return to that beach armed to the teeth and seize every last ounce of gold off of it. And I think you’re going to need my help to do it. Tell me I’m wrong.” He isn't, of course. And that’s where the episode ends. Whoo! What a start to the season! Really can’t wait to hear what those new to the show think of these flashbacks and everything that happened here.

Silver and Flint’s attempt to steal the fucking warship started out well, but now they’re both tied to chairs and being threatened with torture. “Well what THE FUCK did you think was gonna happen?” Makes me crackle every time. Back in Nassau again, we have a very interesting scene between Max and Anne. Max talks about the anger Anne feels toward her and how she understands it, but also that there is something else entirely beneath it. “Something hiding in a place not even you can see.” I don’t know, I really like that Max literally disarms Anne with a kiss. I think that small action alone says a lot about how Max handles her problems. More often than not, the choices she makes are to *disarm*, to smooth edges over, to make things calmer. To be a “safe harbor” as she once told Eleanor. And it’s quite an effective strategy. Eleanor is drinking to forget about the fact that both of her exes are giving her headaches in different ways, when she’s approached by Ned Low. We got an idea of what kind of person he is from the opening scene, but this moment here is absolutely chilling. “Every man here has served under a captain who used violence to achieve an end. To terrorize, to advertise. When men see that, they can spot the lie. They know that captain is, in some part of his soul, sickened by his own actions. And that lie infects everyone who sees it. But me? When the men see me slaughter the crew of The Good Fortune, when they see me cut out a man’s tongue for lying, when they see me burn a boy alive in front of his father’s eyes…they know, they can see it in my eyes. There’s no lie there. There’s no secret remorse there. I simply don’t have it in me.” That is a *terrifying* speech. And the problems for Eleanor just continue to pile up.

Back in present day Nassau, poor Jack is really taking a beating. It’s pretty clear Jack isn’t a fighter the way that Anne is, so it’s not surprising he is taking the brunt of all this. I do love Anne just straight up offering to kill those guys though, it’s both very funny and very on brand for her. We also see more of Anne’s hostility toward Max, not even wanting to be near her. It’s almost like…being around Max gives Anne…feelings? That she’s never had before and can’t deal with and is terrified to act on? Hmmmmm. Eh, probably nothing more to it. Flint and Silver sneaking onto the warship is wonderfully tense and then also quite funny. Like I said, the dynamic between these two is very entertaining. And Silver makes it clear that he and Flint are the only allies the other has right now. Hell, if it weren’t for Silver, Flint very well could have drowned. Then on this ship, John’s idea to steal the watchmen’s whistle is a very good one (though it also almost goes badly), and it helps them both out. That small scuffle Flint has on the upper deck where he slooooowly pushes the knife into the other guy’s chest is quite intense for such a small moment. I like how all the fights in this show feel truly desperate. Back in Nassau once again, we have the quartermaster of Ned Low’s crew trying to sell goods that they got off of the boat. Only…the barrels are literally soaked in blood because of their excessive violence when taking the ship. I like how Eleanor handles this: she’s very reasonable in what she is saying but also completely firm no matter how much the guy protests. Then, in the brothel, Eleanor confronts Jack, Anne, and Max about how Low’s crew knew about this ship in the first place, as she had meant for another captain in her consortium to go for it instead. But Max doesn’t hesitate AT ALL to say she did it. She stares right at Eleanor and asks why she would be expected to do anything different. “Stay out of my fucking business. Consider this the only warning you’re ever gonna get.” Well, Eleanor, you kinda missed when Max gave you her own warning last season. She knows very well what game she is choosing to play. Anne…reacts poorly. Outright threatens Max and accuses her of basically tricking her by acting like “a helpless thing” on the beach. Which isn’t true of course, but then, this episode makes it especially clear that the words Anne is saying do not actually convey the feelings that she has.

Back at present-time Nassau, Eleanor is chewing out Vane for not really being the partner in her business that he said he would be. Once again, it’s pretty clear that they both view things like this very differently. Eleanor has certain expectations of what this job means and what they have to do. Vane…has other ideas. The way he tries to offer Eleanor for them to just split the money themselves further shows that. She isn’t actually tempted by his offer at all, and her expression throughout says that. He wants to take the money and spend it however they want while they drink and fuck and have fun. Eleanor wants to use the money to build stability, and that’s not something Vane understands at all. And it leads to him fundamentally not being able to understand her as well. “Stop telling me what it is you think I think!” Love this line and her little eye roll at him. She says all of this and the way he smiles sure seems to imply that he didn’t listen to a word she actually said. Or at least he didn't’ retain it. When she says “fuck you” to Vane and then “fuck you too” to Idelle when she walks in the room I always laugh. Idelle’s so confused lmao. John’s smile at Flint when the rest of the crew leaves them haha. And then when he realizes that he and Flint were on two entirely different pages…it’s hysterical. Silver thought Flint was planning to escape this way, not to actually “steal the fucking warship”. Flint of course has no such issues. Not even his gunshot wound stops him from JUMPING IN THE SEA (god the salt in that wound must hurt). And we transition into another flashback. Flint is showing Thomas a public execution. But not because of the man getting executed, but rather the crowd watching and cheering along as the criminal dies. “Civilization needs its monsters.” It does indeed. And this banger line follows it up: “A man trying to change the world fails for one simple and unavoidable reason: everyone else.” That it will not be the pirates of Nassau who actually present the biggest problem, but other people who will oppose what Thomas wants to do.

And now…we get our first flashback. Buckle up y’all, because we are FINALLY starting to learn some things. Including, of course, actually seeing Thomas Hamilton for the first time. Somehow he isn’t as shocking to see as Flint is. Flint - excuse me, James McGraw - genuinely feels so much younger here. Their whole conversation is extremely interesting. First Thomas talks about the history of Nassau and how it became a haven for pirates, starting with Henry Avery (who has been mentioned a few times by other characters in the show). Then he says “I suppose that is where you and I enter the story”, and those are both incredibly literal and figurative words. They are entering the story of the pirates of Nassau and this story proper. The way Thomas talks about Nassau…he isn’t interested in profits or his career. He wants to *save* it, genuinely. Flint of the past is skeptical, but Flint of the future is willing to sacrifice anything to achieve the dream of making Nassau a better place. What we learn about Flint is interesting as well. We’ve always known he is a big reader and very smart, but it's clear from this that isn’t because of any formal schooling. Rather, it’s because of his own drive to see it all out.

Silver: "so I actually have to fight him?" Flint: "what the FUCK did you think was gonna happen?!" The way Flint delivered that line had me in stitches lmao, that whole scene was hilarious. I'm gonna love their relationship so much

Jack really got the short end of the stick. Max chose to stay with Vane after Eleanor gave her an out, then Bonny killed their crew to save Max, but now he takes the brunt of everything, physically and in reputation, for both of them. Max now has a great position here, and no one is beating or pissing on Bonny in the streets. He got completely ruined for all of this because of other people's choices, and he's not even angry, even mediates and tries to make them both feel better. The least they can both do is not make things even harder for him, cause Jack Rackham is a treasure.

talking about flint/silver fanfic lmao. you're officially in the fandom

I have such a crush on vane & silver 😂

John Silver has one of the best character arcs in television imo. His transformation throughout the show *chef’s kiss*

Here we are. Season two. What I consider to be Black Sails proper. The first season is excellent, but very much the prologue. We are getting to the meat of the story now, everyone. And it only gets better. This opener is a great demonstration of that. We start with a ship being boarded, much like the start of the first season. We have been on both sides of it now, and we have learned a lot about what it's like. The captain of this ship isn’t wrong at all in his assessment of what pirates do, and that surrendering to them is the best and most logical choice to make. We saw how much the “story” of these crews and captains carries them, and how different that story can be to reality. We hear another example of that in this opener, though not with the pirates. When talking with the pirates, the man who let his ship be boarded asks if it’s true that Nassau is run by “a teenage girl”. Eleanor of course isn’t a teenager any longer, but was when she took over the island. So the ‘story’ of her being a teenager has stayed the same, regardless of the truth of it changing. Normally, the captain would have made the right choice here. He says “these are men, not monsters”, a point which was driven to us all last season, and yet…this opener reminds us that there are still monstrous men among them. Though even Captain Low here admits that normally he would have let them all live, if not for the “prize” in their hold. And that prize of course turns out to be a young girl. Who is she? Why did her presence make the pirate change their mind to leave no witnesses? We have no idea now, but it’s clear this is something we are meant to wonder. Then, after the opening, we are back on the beach with Flint and the remains of The Walrus and its crew. While tempers are flaring all around and Flint was reluctant to even help after everything that happened, the reality is there aren’t a lot of choices to be had here. And despite everything, Flint isn’t ready to give up yet. I like the repetition in his speech with “the fucking warship”, starting with it as a problem and ending with them “stealing the fucking warship”. Great speech, as usual. Because they won’t get the gold right now, but the warship may just get them off the beach alive AND give them the chance to return later. As well as Flint’s only chance to not be killed by his own crew, and just maybe win them back over somehow. Lmao Flint’s face when John volunteers. He literally wanted ANYONE else but Silver to come with him. Their interactions in this episode are all amazing. I feel like you could cut a bunch of clips out of context and make Black Sails seem like a workplace comedy lol.

2x01 First Impressions - Very strong start with the cold open. I love how much suspense they built with the shots of the crewmen awaiting the boarding. As soon as we have the captain tell his crewmate that "there's nothing to worry about", we know that there's plenty to worry about. I really love the way Black Sails uses familar writing cues. Low comes across as quite scary here, the physical appearance helps of course. Naturally I'm quite curious to see who the woman in the hammock is, a great way to start the season with a mystery, especially one that goes unanswered by the episode's end. - Love how we're starting things off immediately where they were left. Very sad to hear about the original actor for Dufresne no longer being able to take part due to illness (and subsequent passing in 2016), but I think his stand-in does an excellent job. - What I really love about this show is that it so deliberately sets up plot points that the audience will see coming, that's very much the point of it, and it isn't any less compelling. As soon as we see Flint talking to these men, it becomes apparent that he's going to be their captain (or at least *a* captain) very soon). Now, I haven't seen past this episode, but I'd be very surprised if it doesn't happen at least to some capacity. The episode also pulls it's 'full circle' trick, with Flint telling the men what they must do to be 'invincible', mirroring what Miranda says towards the episode's end. And then there's Silvy, oh Silvy... - My jaw dropped seeing Flint without the beard, even though he doesn't look that different necessarily. Although this backstory was established in season 1, it's such a thrill to have a character who began as a promising Admiral whose goal was to put an end to the piracy of Nassau, and ended up as, well, Flint. The reference to Nassau followed by the cut to the next scene was so well done too. - Trying to 'like' Vane as a character is a complicated affair, in that his treatment of Max in 1x03 is completely unforgiveable. However, given that the fandom (and presumbably the production itself) views that particular storyline as a regretable low-point of the series, and more importanly how it truly had little to do with Vane's characterisation in the long run, I'm going to overlook it from here on in in assessing his character. I really like Vane, I think he's deeply flawed and trouble, but to say the he's simply 'playing' El is insulting to both parties. I think it's a lot more than that. They both know what the other is about, and Vane certainly has the upper hand here, there's no denying that. The relationship is an abusive one with Vane holding the reigns. But realistically, there truly are few places Vane could go without El. It's a bit like two playing cards lying against each other, either would fall without the other's support. Still, I don't necessarily forsee Flint's involvement as being a reason why the two would be at odds with each other, I feel as though other factors will do that for them long before Flint and the boys reach the Uncle Dua Lipa. - Silvy and Flint on the beach; Silvy thinking Flint was lying genuinely made me laugh, I did not see that coming at all. It's a great set-up for Silvy's co-operation with Flint, especially given the dialogues the two of them have as the episode continues. - The flashback of Hamilton and Flint; again, the dialogue here connecting to the larger picture. Flint saying that a man trying to rule the world is thwarted by those surounding him not only illustrates his character's future, of course, but again ties in with Miranda's conversation at the episode's end. So interesting how we've already gotten two direct references to the Miranda dialogue already at this point. - Jack. I love Jack so much. He's like a mix between Jack Sparrow and David Mitchell from Peep Show. "I will fucking kill you" got such a good laugh out of me. A great set-up to what will undoubtedly be an outward redemption arc for him this season. - Jack in the bar; I swear to God he might actually be the best actor on the show, alongside Flint. Now, I love everyone thus far, Max and El are terrific as well, but jesus every minutae of expression from Jack is just so utterly believable. I think genres like this are a real test to an actors committment; emulating realism is one thing but to play such an archtypical/flamboyant character such as Jack Rackham and have it come across as so human is just an insanely high bar to even attempt, let alone reach. Kudos! - Boarding the ship; good lord the knife into the throat was intense wasn't it? I really hope I don't wake up to that someday :( Silvy bringing up the excellent point of why it's unreasonable for Flint not to trust him immediately being interrupted by action was just great. - "Quatermaster of the Fancy" is how I intend to introduce myself to strangers from now on. Completely unprompted, of course. - Max and the lead; Perhaps it's early days, but I wasn't overly affectionate towards this storyline, assuming it's going to be elaborated on. Max literally says "let me explain" to Anne before being cut off, so we don't learn *why* she did it, particularly to El whom she ended the previous episode on a good note with. Again, if it *does* get revealed in later episodes, I'd love that, but as it stands it just sort of plays as a way to push El and Anne's plot-points forward. - Flint and Silvy; genuinely thought that Silvy was truly betraying Flint and that their talk in the previous scene had been a set-up to make the betrayal sting that much more. And then as soon as the gun was being pointed at Flint I felt like a fool, but at the same time at least it made me understand how Flint must have felt in that moment. Also, it wasn't until the re-watch that I realised Flint and Silvy *were* able to raise the signal to the rest of the crew before they were captured. I missed that the first time around. Seeing the black sail (wuh-hey!) go up on their ship as they sail off victorious was a great feeling. - Anne and Max; I got to say I was not a big fan of this upon my first watch, in 1x08 I was really hoping that her looking at Max naked was not implying an actual attraction as well. My initial disdain was that I just found the 'saved by a beautiful woman's love' angle to be a little cheap for a show that already has so much depth. However, the re-watch has me thinking that if they were to spread this arc out over the entirety of the season, slowly chipping away at the mask Anne holds up whilst maintaining her integrity, I could get on board. On board of the (relation)ship, if you will. Like a pirate. It's half past midnight and I had a can of monster just 20 minutes ago. This is my life. Seriously though I'm both excited and very apprehensive to see what happens next. - For Low, I'm not sure how I feel about him just yet. His character is written to be just about as 'evil' as a person can get. In a show like this, it may very well come across as a bit much. A bit blunt in comparison to the other characters. It may very well have to do with the actor being a little stiff that's thrown me off. I dunno, the dialogue in and of itself does basically all the heavy lifting for the characterisation that I feel as though the performance itself could have been a bit more relaxed. If it had 10% more of a Lalo from Better Call Saul vibe, it would have been perfect, but again I'm making a big assumption after literally just two scenes of the man. - The Miranda and Flint scene, it truly speaks for itself. There's nothing I can add to the discourse, frankly. Very much reminds me of the 'a man provides' scene between Gus and Walt from Breaking Bad, in that it can be used as a reference point to underline the central motivations for the protagonist. What I will say is that the fact that we're potentially going to get even more elaboration on Flint's backstory is so exciting, but I do wish we keep seeing how things are with Miranda in the present. I find her too interesting of a character to have her relegated to 'just' flashbacks, though I daresay the flashbacks we 'will' get of her are going to be fucking brilliant. Particularly off of the heels of 1x07, I'm so excited to Miranda and Flint lives ruined in front of us :) - Aaaaaand there it is, Silvy speaking for us in saying that he believes that Flint will no doubt end up as captain again. He doesn't say those exact words, but obviously we can infer it from Silvy being by his side.

Yay! Don’t have time to watch right now unfortunately but I’ll be here when I can with all my comments haha