American dramatic adventure television series
Black Sails
|
---|
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/de/Teaser_Poster_for_Black_Sails.jpg/220px-Teaser_Poster_for_Black_Sails.jpg) |
Genre
| |
---|
Created by
| |
---|
Starring
| |
---|
Composer
| Bear McCreary
|
---|
Country of origin
| United States
|
---|
Original language
| English
|
---|
No.
of seasons
| 4
|
---|
No.
of episodes
| 38
(
list of episodes
)
|
---|
|
Executive producers
| |
---|
Producers
|
- Nina Heyns
- Jonathan Brytus
- Erik Henry
|
---|
Production locations
| Cape Town
,
South Africa
|
---|
Cinematography
| |
---|
Editors
|
- Joe Hobeck
- Paul Trejo
- John Coniglio
|
---|
Running time
| 49?71 minutes
|
---|
Production companies
| |
---|
|
Network
| Starz
|
---|
Release
| January 25, 2014
(
2014-01-25
)
?
April 2, 2017
(
2017-04-02
)
|
---|
Black Sails
is an American
historical
adventure
television series set on
New Providence
Island and written to be a prequel to
Robert Louis Stevenson's
1883 novel
Treasure Island
.
[1]
The series was created by
Jonathan E. Steinberg
and Robert Levine for
Starz
. It debuted online for free on
YouTube
and other various streaming platform and video-on-demand services on January 18, 2014.
[2]
The debut on cable television followed a week later on January 25, 2014.
[3]
Steinberg is executive producer, alongside
Michael Bay
,
Brad Fuller
and
Andrew Form
, while
Michael Angeli
,
Doris Egan
, and Levine are co-executive producers. The show depicts treasure-seeking pirates in their attempt to establish a
Republic of Pirates
.
On July 26, 2013, Starz renewed the show for a ten-episode second season, which premiered on January 24, 2015. The early renewal, six months before the first season premiered, was based on the positive fan reaction to the show at the
San Diego Comic-Con
.
[4]
The series was renewed for a third season on October 12, 2014, and a fourth season on July 31, 2015, both before the respective previous seasons had premiered.
[5]
[6]
On July 20, 2016, Starz announced that the series' fourth season would be its last; the season premiered on January 29, 2017, and the series concluded on April 2, 2017.
[7]
[8]
Plot
[
edit
]
Black Sails
is set in the early 18th century, roughly two decades before the events of
Treasure Island
,
during the
Golden Age of Piracy
.
[1]
Feared
Captain Flint
brings on a younger crew member as they fight for the survival of
New Providence
island. According to the first episode, "In 1715
West Indies
, the pirates of New Providence Island threaten maritime trade in the region. The laws of every civilized nation declare them
hostis humani generis
, enemies of all mankind. In response, the pirates adhere to a doctrine of their own....war against the world." Real life pirates who are fictionalized in the show include
Anne Bonny
,
Benjamin Hornigold
,
Jack Rackham
,
Charles Vane
,
Ned Low
,
Israel Hands
and
Blackbeard
.
The plot of the first season focuses on the hunt for the
Spanish treasure galleon
Urca de Lima
.
At the beginning of the second season, the treasure from the
Urca de Lima
has been stranded on the shores of Florida with Spanish soldiers guarding it, but by the conclusion of the second season, the treasure has been taken by
Jack Rackham
and his crew and brought to New Providence Island. During the second season, the questions of how and why Flint?a man who was a
Royal Navy
officer and
London
gentleman?turned to piracy are answered. The third and the fourth seasons focus on the war for the control of New Providence between the pirates and
Woodes Rogers
.
Cast
[
edit
]
Production
[
edit
]
The series was filmed at Cape Town Film Studios in
Cape Town
,
South Africa
, with local production company Film Afrika.
[16]
[17]
The opening title sequence was made by Imaginary Forces and directors Michelle Dougherty and Karin Fong with the backing
sea chantey
-inspired theme composed by
Battlestar Galactica
and
The Walking Dead
composer
Bear McCreary
. It accurately features an instrument of the period in the form of the
hurdy-gurdy
.
[18]
For the amount of detail that was added to the vessels, it took over 300 workers to build just one ship.
[19]
In real life, recurring actor
Nick Boraine
is
Louise Barnes
's husband;
Anna-Louise Plowman
and
Chris Larkin
are, respectively,
Toby Stephens
's wife and brother; and Guy Paul is
Harriet Walter
's husband.
Reception
[
edit
]
The first season of
Black Sails
received mixed reviews from critics. On
Rotten Tomatoes
the season holds a rating of 65%, based on 49 reviews, with an average rating of 6.05/10. The site's consensus reads, "
Black Sails
boasts visual appeal, but the show's bland characters aren't strong enough to keep the show from being dragged down into its murky depths of aimless exposition".
[20]
On
Metacritic
season one has a score of 58 of 100, based on 27 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
[21]
Tim Goodman of
The Hollywood Reporter
said, "This ambitious pirate story is helped immensely by going beyond the pay cable freedoms that often bog down lesser shows in boobs, blood and sex.
Black Sails
steers itself out of that realm after a few episodes and makes a play for bigger, more complicated stories".
[22]
Robert Lloyd of the
Los Angeles Times
said, "
Black Sails
is a pirate treasure. The Starz series vividly depicts the daily life of pirates."
[23]
Jeff Jensen of
Entertainment Weekly
said, "Not even a guilty pleasure,
Black Sails
is arrrrrr-estingly good".
[24]
Tom Long of the
Detroit News
commented "Alliances are made and broken, power shifts go this way and that, blood is spilled, and wenches keep wenching. It's oddly addictive, and the cast?made up mostly of British, Australian, and Canadian actors?is as sharp as you'd expect from pay cable".
[25]
Conversely, Brian Lowry of
Variety
said, "
Black Sails
never quite takes off, developing into a tired treasure hunt with indifferent casting and stock characters. Counting Michael Bay among its producers, this South Africa?lensed production might tempt adventure-seeking viewers to plunge into its crystal-blue waters, but despite some handsome aspects, the show ultimately proves as hollow as its CGI-rendered ships".
[26]
Emily St. James of
The A.V. Club
said, "
Black Sails
is a handsome illusion at times, but it rarely finds its way beyond that."
[27]
The second season holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 8 reviews, with an average rating of 8.7/10.
[28]
Neil Genzlinger
of
The New York Times
said, "Starz knows the formula for these costume-heavy action dramas from experience with shows like
Spartacus
and
Camelot
. And that formula is executed with particular skill in
Black Sails
, thanks to some strong performances and an exploration of the consequences of greed that could have come out of modern-day Wall Street".
[29]
Season four holds an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "
Black Sails
marks 'X' and hits the spot during a swashbuckling final season that maintains the series' penchant for rum-soaked spectacle while gracefully delivering these roguish characters to their destinies."
[30]
Accolades
[
edit
]
Year
|
Award
|
Category
|
Recipient
|
Result
|
Ref.
|
2014
|
66th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards
|
Outstanding Main Title Design
|
Karen Fong, Michelle Dougherty, Alan Williams, Kris Kuksi, Brian Butcher
|
Nominated
|
[31]
|
Outstanding Main Title Theme Music
|
Bear McCreary
|
Nominated
|
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
|
Benjamin L. Cook, Iain Eyre, Susan Cahill, Jeffrey A. Pitts, Tim Tuchrello, Brett Voss, Michael Baber, Jeffrey Wilhoit, James Moriana for "I."
|
Won
|
Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role
|
Erik Henry, Paul Graff, George Murphy, Annemarie Griggs, Mitch Claspy, Jeremy Hattingh, Doug Hardy, Nick Hsieh, Steven Messing for "I."
|
Won
|
2015
|
67th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards
|
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
|
Benjamin L. Cook, Stefan Henrix, Susan Cahill, Jeffrey A. Pitts, Brett Voss, Michael Baber, Jeffrey Wilhoit, Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit for "XVIII."
|
Nominated
|
[32]
|
Outstanding Special Visual Effects
|
Erik Henry, Kevin Rafferty, Paul Stephenson, Annemarie Griggs, Mitch Claspy, Ken Mitchel Jones, Lari Karam, Whitman Lindstrom, Charles Baden for "XVIII."
|
Nominated
|
13th Annual Visual Effects Society Awards
|
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Broadcast Program
|
Erik Henry, Annemarie Griggs, Paul Graff, George Murphy for "I."
|
Nominated
|
[33]
|
2016
|
14th Annual Visual Effects Society Awards
|
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode
|
Erik Henry, Annemarie Griggs, Kevin Rafferty, Aladino Debert, Paul Stephenson for "XVIII"
|
Nominated
|
[34]
|
Outstanding Created Environment in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project
|
Aladino Debert, Matt Dougan, Greg Teegarden, Ken Jones for Charles Town Harbor
|
Nominated
|
68th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards
|
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
|
Benjamin L. Cook, Susan Cahill, Stefan Henrix, Jeffrey A. Pitts, Tim Tuchrello, Brett Voss, Michael Baber, Jeffrey Wilhoit, Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit for "XX."
|
Won
|
[35]
|
Outstanding Special Visual Effects
|
Erik Henry, Terron Pratt, Ashley J. Ward, Jeremy Hattingh, Paul Stephenson, Aladino Debert, Greg Teegarden, Olaf Wendt, Yafei Wu for "XX."
|
Nominated
|
2017
|
15th Annual Visual Effects Society Awards
|
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode
|
Erik Henry, Terron Pratt, Aladino Debert, Yafei Wu, Paul Stephenson for "XX."
|
Won
|
[36]
|
Outstanding Created Environment in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project
|
Thomas Montminy-Brodeur, Deak Ferrand, Pierre Rousseau, Mathieu Lapierre for "XXVIII." (Maroon Island)
|
Nominated
|
Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal Episode
|
Michael Melchiorre, Kevin Bouchez, Heather Hoyland, John Brennick for "XX." (Sailing Ships)
|
Nominated
|
69th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards
|
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series
|
Benjamin Cook, Stefan Henrix, Mike Szakmeister, Shaughnessy Hare, Tim Tuchrello, Brett Voss, Michael Baber, Jeffrey Wilhoit, Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit for "XXXVII."
|
Nominated
|
[37]
|
Outstanding Special Visual Effects
|
Erik Henry, Terron Pratt, Ashley J. Ward, Kevin Rafferty, Paul Dimmer, Yafei Wu, Martin Lipmann, Nicklas Andersson, David Wahlberg for "XXIX."
|
Nominated
|
2018
|
16th Visual Effects Society Awards
|
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode
|
Erik Henry, Terron Pratt, Yafei Wu, David Wahlberg, Paul Dimmer for "XXIX"
|
Won
|
[38]
|
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
Schwartz, Terri (January 10, 2014).
"
'Black Sails': 'Treasure Island' will hopefully connect, Season 2 being filmed - Zap2it - News & Features"
.
Zap2it
. Archived from
the original
on February 26, 2015
. Retrieved
August 9,
2014
.
- ^
Todd Spangler:
Starz to Release Michael Bay's 'Black Sails' Premiere Episode for Free on YouTube, iTunes, Amazon and More
Archived
November 15, 2020, at the
Wayback Machine
. Variety.com, January 13, 2014
- ^
"
Black Sails
: Starz Series Starts January 25th"
.
TV Series Finale
. November 20, 2013.
Archived
from the original on November 21, 2013
. Retrieved
November 21,
2013
.
- ^
Bibel, Sara (July 26, 2013).
"
'Black Sails' Renewed for Ten Episode Second Season by Starz Months Before Its Premiere ? Updated"
.
TV by the Numbers
. Archived from
the original
on July 28, 2013
. Retrieved
July 26,
2013
.
- ^
"Black Sails Renewed For Season 3 By Starz!"
. Seriable. Archived from
the original
on August 10, 2015
. Retrieved
October 12,
2014
.
- ^
Rawden, Jessica (July 31, 2015).
"Black Sails Has Been Renewed For Season 4 By Starz"
.
CinemaBlend
. Gateway Media.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
January 12,
2017
.
- ^
Mitovich, Matt Webb (July 20, 2016).
"Black Sails to End With Season 4"
.
TVLine
.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
July 20,
2016
.
- ^
"Black Sails Season 4 Trailer from the New York Comic Con"
.
ComingSoon
. October 7, 2016.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
October 8,
2016
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
Anderson, D.M. (December 30, 2014).
"BLACK SAILS Ain't Your Daddy's Pirate Tale"
.
Movie Pilot
. Archived from
the original
on August 31, 2016
. Retrieved
November 8,
2015
.
- ^
Jeffrey, Morgan (August 6, 2015).
"Rupert Penry-Jones says Flint's gay romance on Black Sails was cut back"
.
Digital Spy
.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
November 8,
2015
.
- ^
Ferris, Amanda (October 30, 2015).
"
'Black Sails' Season 3 spoilers: Luke Roberts Cast In Reoccurring Role"
.
Fashion & Style
.
IBT Media Inc.
Archived from
the original
on August 10, 2016
. Retrieved
October 30,
2015
.
Roberts is going to play Woodes Rogers, an ex-governor of New Providence Island who uses Eleanor as a way to destroy the pirates and restore commerce to Nassau
- ^
TV News Desk (November 4, 2015).
"Starz to Premiere Season 3 of BLACK SAILS, 1/23"
.
Broadway World
.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
November 8,
2015
.
- ^
Friedlander, Whitney.
"
'Divergent's' Ray Stevenson Joins Starz's 'Black Sails' as Blackbeard"
. Variety. Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
March 24,
2015
.
- ^
Petski, Denise (January 27, 2016).
"
'Black Sails' Casts David Wilmot; Jocelin Donahue Joins Crackle's 'Start Up'
"
.
Deadline Hollywood
.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
December 23,
2016
.
- ^
Iacopelli, Jennifer (March 11, 2017).
"EXCLUSIVE: Black Sails Character Reveal!"
. Fangirlish.com. Archived from
the original
on June 4, 2017
. Retrieved
March 17,
2017
.
- ^
Starz (July 26, 2013).
"Starz Embarks on an Early Renewal for Second Season Order of the Original Series "Black Sails"
"
(Press release). Futon Critic
. Retrieved
December 14,
2013
.
- ^
Goundry, Nick (October 15, 2012).
"South Africa's Cape Town Studios prepares for pirate miniseries Black Sails"
.
TheLocationGuide.com
. Archived from
the original
on March 6, 2015
. Retrieved
January 8,
2016
.
- ^
Hibberd, James (December 30, 2013).
"
'Black Sails': See the awesome opening credits with theme from 'Walking Dead' composer ? EXCLUSIVE"
. Entertainment Weekly.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
January 18,
2014
.
- ^
Starz.
"Black Sails: Building the Behemoth"
.
YouTube
.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
January 20,
2014
.
- ^
"Black Sails: Season 1"
.
rottentomatoes.com
. January 24, 2015.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
January 26,
2015
.
- ^
"Black Sails"
.
Metacritic
.
Archived
from the original on December 24, 2017
. Retrieved
April 17,
2020
.
- ^
Goodman, Tim (January 21, 2014).
"Black Sails: TV Review"
.
The Hollywood Reporter
.
Archived
from the original on July 6, 2018
. Retrieved
January 23,
2014
.
- ^
Lloyd, Robert (January 25, 2014).
"Review: 'Black Sails' is a pirate treasure"
.
Los Angeles Times
.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
February 24,
2014
.
- ^
"Black Sails TV Review | TV Reviews and News"
. EW.com. February 19, 2014.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
February 24,
2014
.
- ^
"Critic Reviews for Black Sails Season 1"
.
Metacritic
.
Archived
from the original on July 12, 2017
. Retrieved
April 17,
2020
.
- ^
Lowry, Brian (January 23, 2014).
"TV Review: 'Black Sails'
"
.
Variety
.
Archived
from the original on July 5, 2018
. Retrieved
January 23,
2014
.
- ^
St. James, Emily (January 23, 2014).
"Black Sails is a tale of a bloodthirsty pirate bureaucracy"
.
The A.V. Club
.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
January 23,
2014
.
- ^
"Black Sails: Season 2"
.
rottentomatoes.com
. January 24, 2015.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
April 17,
2020
.
- ^
Genzlinger, Neil (January 23, 2015).
"In 'Black Sails' From Starz, Pirate's Booty Is at Stake"
.
The New York Times
.
ISSN
0362-4331
.
Archived
from the original on July 6, 2018
. Retrieved
August 18,
2015
.
- ^
"Black Sails: Season 4"
.
Rotten Tomatoes
. June 21, 2019.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
June 21,
2019
.
- ^
Wallenstein, Andrew (August 13, 2014).
"TV Academy Awards Six Interactive Media Emmys"
.
Variety
.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
August 16,
2014
.
- ^
"Creative Arts Emmy Awards Winners"
(PDF)
.
Television Academy
.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
September 12,
2015
.
- ^
Tapley, Kristopher (February 5, 2014).
"
'Apes,' 'Big Hero 6' win big at 2015 Visual Effects Society Awards"
.
Hitfix
.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
February 5,
2014
.
- ^
"
'Star Wars,' 'Game of Thrones,' 'The Peanuts Movie' Lead Visual Effects Society Nominations"
. January 12, 2016.
Archived
from the original on August 15, 2018
. Retrieved
December 7,
2017
.
- ^
"68th Emmy® Awards Nominations"
(PDF)
.
Television Academy
. July 14, 2016.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on November 15, 2020
. Retrieved
July 14,
2016
.
- ^
Giardina, Carolyn (January 10, 2016).
"
'Rogue One' Leads Visual Effects Society Feature Competition With 7 Nominations As 'Doctor Strange,' 'Jungle Book' Grab 6 Each"
.
Hollywood Reporter
.
Archived
from the original on July 10, 2019
. Retrieved
January 10,
2016
.
- ^
"69th Emmy® Awards Nominations"
(PDF)
.
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
. July 13, 2017.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on August 17, 2017
. Retrieved
July 13,
2017
.
- ^
Giardina, Carolyn (January 16, 2018).
"Visual Effects Society Awards: 'Apes,' 'Blade Runner 2049' Lead Feature Nominees"
.
Hollywood Reporter
.
Archived
from the original on January 16, 2018
. Retrieved
January 16,
2018
.
External links
[
edit
]
|
---|
Characters
| |
---|
Films
| |
---|
Television
| |
---|
Video games
| |
---|
Other adaptations and sequels
| |
---|
Related
| |
---|
|
---|
Films
| |
---|
TV series
| |
---|
Founders
| |
---|
Related
| |
---|
|
---|
Current
| |
---|
Former
| 2000s debuts
| |
---|
2010s debuts
| |
---|
2020s debuts
| |
---|
|
---|
Upcoming
| |
---|