This 81% RT Historical Series Racked Up 13.9M Hours — and It’s Still Criminally Underrated

At a time when the world was swept up in Game of Thrones fever, some premium cable networks were looking to compete. In 2014, Starz premiered the first season of Black Sails, a series that toed the line of what was considered fantastical. Like the HBO fantasy series, Black Sails had a relationship with a well-regarded book.

Set in the early 1700s, the series combined the iconic characters of Treasure Island with real-life stakes and historical figures. Famous characters like John Silver, Captain Flint, and even Blackbeard were up for grabs in an underrated series that has only recently gotten the appreciation it deserves. Black Sails has had a comfortable life on Netflix, where fans have been able to rediscover an underrated adventure series.

‘Black Sails’ Was an Inventive Series For Starz

Black Sails follows a colorful cast of characters, led by the famous Captain Flint (Toby Stephens), a hallmark of the Treasure Island book. The series showcases the captain before his adventures in the book, starting with his troubles on his pirate ship, the Walrus. When the series starts, it is a time of upheaval.

Flint has failed to earn his pirates a decent living as they scavenge ships without huge hauls. Flint ultimately reveals this is because he is searching for the biggest prize of all – the Spanish galleon, Urca de Lima. At this time, Flint’s future rival, John Silver (Luke Arnold), joins the crew with information vital to the captain’s cause.

The series also introduces Captain Vane (Zach McGowan), a ruthless pirate from history who adds a level of menace to the series. He is accompanied by other historical figures such as Calico Jack (Toby Schmitz) and Anne Bonny (Clara Paget), ruthless pirates who serve on his ship. All the pirates are united when they come to Nassau, run by Eleanor Guthrie (Hannah New) and her father, who sells the pirates’ stolen wares. This combination of real-life figures and famous literary characters wasn’t necessarily a phenomenon when it first aired, but it has had a second life on streaming platforms. With almost 14 million streaming hours, Black Sails has demonstrated what an adventure show can do.

‘Black Sails’ Is Just What a Pirate Show Should Be

There have been only a few examples of pirate stories actually making it big in pop culture. The 1995 film Cutthroat Island famously bankrupted its production company, making it clear to Hollywood that pirate movies weren’t in vogue. Pirates of the Caribbean was the rare exception, elevated by the humor and star power of Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, and Orlando Bloom.

Black Sails didn’t exactly capture the attention of the nation, but it was still inventive enough to have longevity. The series didn’t take itself too seriously, and that is exactly what a pirate series should be. Other historical dramas like Poldark are rooted in realism, which is what makes them so interesting to watch. Adventure stories always have a level of heightened reality, and that is what made Black Sails such a fun watch. Captain Flint and John Silver weren’t present in history, so the Starz series could do whatever it liked with them. Female characters were allowed more agency at a time when women were regarded as no better than property.

This made it even more enjoyable when famous pirates such as Blackbeard and Vane showed up. Black Sails proved that pirates deserve a comeback, and fans have come to realize that over a decade after its premiere. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 81%, the series is worth the time of any viewer who likes visiting the world of storybooks where anything can happen.

Release Date 2014 - 2017

Showrunner Jonathan E. Steinberg

Directors Alik Sakharov, Steve Boyum, Lukas Ettlin, Stefan Schwartz, Clark Johnson, Marc Munden, Neil Marshall, Sam Miller, T.J. Scott, Michael Nankin, Rob Bailey, Roel Reiné, Uta Briesewitz

Writers Dan Shotz, Lisa Schultz Boyd, Heather Bellson, Doris Egan, Michael Angeli, Michael S. Chernuchin, Peter Ocko, Josh Rothenberger