Black Sails — “XXI” Review. Past is Prologue.

Rackham tries his hand at motivational speaking while the British navy closes in on Nassau

Season 3, Episode 3

Airdate: Saturday, February 6, 2016, 9/8c on Starz

Rating: ★★★★★

Just when I think Black Sails couldn’t get any better, “XXI” comes along to prove me wrong. Once again, I can’t decide what I love most—the dramatic story lines or the performances by the cast—which, in certain moments, took me by complete surprise. Episodic writers Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz create well-balanced action sequences without forgetting the importance of character growth. Although there is no raging storm to be found, and the presence of Edward “Blackbeard” Teach (Ray Stevenson) is limited in “XXI,” the emphasis on plot development results in a string of unexpected twists and turns.

Black Pearls and Pieces of Eight

“XXI” opens with Max (Jessica P Parker) and Anne Bonny (Clara Paget) following through with Jack Rackham’s (Toby Schmitz) orders to convert the Urca de Lima treasure into another form of monetary value. Max makes the smart choice of exchanging the gold for black pearls. It’s a savvy choice, but Rackham’s major problems in season one stemmed from losing black pearls, which set off a chain of major events. I can’t help but wonder if in some small way the pearls serve as a reminder of what happened the last time Rackham did something behind Charles Vane’s (Zach McGowan) back. It’s so risky for Rackham, Anne, and Max to have an alternate plan without Vane’s involvement, especially now that Teach is in Nassau.

Meanwhile, Vane and Teach’s story line continues to fascinate me. I’m still uncertain as to Teach’s ulterior motives for wanting to reunite with Vane. Teach uses some lame excuse about wanting to ensure his legacy since he doesn’t have children of his own. With the threat of the British government heading towards New Providence with Nassau in its crosshairs, Teach makes Vane a proposition in exchange for defending the island. In contrast to Vane and Rackham’s dilemmas are the scenes between Anne and Max, who have come far since their first appearance in Black Sails. Their relationship isn’t written in a heavy-handed way; the love they share is understated yet complex. Max shedding more light on her past to provide Anne the reasons for what motivates her becomes a turning point for them. I just hope this isn’t the last we learn about Max.

Eleanor’s returns to New Providence will be shocking to many!

Game of Piracy

Woodes Rogers (Luke Roberts) and Eleanor continue working together, although begrudgingly. I find it funny how despite her current situation, she continues to voice her opinions when it matters and couldn’t care less how ladylike she is. I love Eleanor’s brass balls attitude towards the people who stand in her way, and hate how she betrays Vane. I have to give her credit, though, for sticking to her game plan, come hell or high water. New and Roberts have great chemistry, and I wonder how Eleanor and Rogers’ relationship will develop over the course of the season, especially when Rogers reveals the stakes of claiming Nassau.

All Men Must Die

Flint and his crew have weathered one of the worst storms in their lives in “XX.” The fight to survive becomes their next challenge as the lines between reality and delusion take over in “XXI.” John Silver (Luke Arnold), Billy (Tom Hopper), and Flint must now devise a way to survive given what happened after the storm. Flint’s story line is, by far, the best part of “XXI,” with scene stealing memorable performances by the cast, as well as unforgettable dialogue.

Billy advises Silver to take control of Flint or face certain doom.

“XXI” becomes an episode that allows Silver the opportunity to make strides in his association with Flint—an important point since Flint makes it clear for a while that he does not respect Silver. Whereas I sensed a dark side to Silver in “XX,” I don’t see that in “XXI.” In fact, it’s the opposite. Silver’s stubbornness comes into play, and his determination to find a way to earn Flint’s favor becomes a big part of his story line. Although Billy doesn’t have as many scenes, he is a big influence on Silver, encouraging him to get Flint under control.

Arnold and Stephens both deliver strong performances that really change the way I see their characters. Stephens, in particular, has a scene that relies on Flint responding to the weight of events in Charleston. It’s a moment where the script, direction, and performance are all pitch perfect. I was surprised not only by Flint’s reaction, but by my own. There are moments I absolutely hate Flint’s decisions, and suddenly in one scene, I feel horrible for him. It’s a testament to the quality of the overall production and attention to detail Black Sails provides, making me wonder how the series has eluded a vast amount of award nominations.

Overall

I could go on for a while about how happy I am with this episode. The female characters in Black Sails are some of the most well scripted characters currently on television. Despite Max’s means of livelihood, she becomes a successful businesswoman in an era where women have little to no independence; Eleanor outsmarts Teach; and Anne holds her own without relying on Rackham to constantly save her. Moreover, I appreciate when a show like Black Sails doesn’t spell everything out for its viewers. Director Stefan Schwartz constructs great scenes where dialogue isn’t as important as what is happening onscreen.

“XXI” revolves around the elements that fully grab my attention: the acting, the intrigue, and plot development. Everyone brings their A game from the production to the performances by the actors. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

What did you think of “XXI?” Post your comments below or on Twitter @conallen.

Tune in to Black Sails Saturdays at 9/8c, only on Starz.

Follow the series on its official site: http://www.starz.com/originals/blacksails/, where you can also watch videos and clips of the episodes.

Follow Black Sails on its official twitter: @BlkSails_Starz, and don’t forget the cast and crew:

@BlkSailsCreatrs (Black Sails Creators), @ScrambledLuke (Luke Arnold/John Silver), @ClaraPaget (Clara Paget/Anne Bonny), @hannahnewuk (Hannah New/Eleanor Guthrie), @JParkerK (Jessica P Kennedy/Max), @Zach_McGowan (Zach McGowan/Captain Vane), @fallofasparrow (Toby Schmitz/Jack Rackham), and @hakeemkaekazim (Hakeem Kae-Kazim/Mr. Scott).

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