Black Sails — “XXIV” Review. Call of Duty.

Here comes trouble! Flint and his men arrive on Teach’s island

Season 3, Episode 6

Airdate: Saturday, February 26, 2016, 9/8c on Starz

Rating: ★★★★★

I’ve run out of superlatives in describing how gripping each episode of Black Sails has been this season. It’s amazing how much can transpire over the course of a few episodes yet somehow, all the story lines are full of great depth without missing a beat in their continuity. “XXIV” is no exception as the threat of war grows stronger, and battle lines are drawn, from Captain Woodes Rogers’ (Luke Roberts) dilemma with retrieving Spain’s lost treasure from the Urca de Lima to Captain Flint’s (Toby Stephens) pursuit of Charles Vane (Zach McGowan) in order to take over Nassau. The action sequences are constant from start to finish; however, they are written at an even pace so the ulterior motives of all the core characters are transparent.

No Man is an Island

Picking up from where “XXIII” left off, Flint prepares to set sail with his crew to find Vane with the hope of gaining his support. With Vane at Flint’s side, there may be a chance to break down the strong hold Woodes and the British government have on Nassau. Meanwhile, John Silver (Luke Arnold) remains on the uncharted island with the Queen (Moshidi Motshegwa) as somewhat of an ambassador. Silver’s decision to remain on the island may be for political reasons, but when the Queen’s daughter, Madi (Zethu Dlomo), questions his true motives, we finally get a breakthrough moment for Silver—a moment I have been waiting for since the start. A self-loathing Silver is not as much fun as the one who is constantly dodging bullets, so to speak. Also, the more I see of Madi, I can’t help but wonder if she is Silver’s wife referenced in Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island.” My bet is still on Max (Jessica Parker Kennedy) because not only does the rapport she established with him in season one suit the context of Stevenson’s novel, but as much as I find Madi to be a strong character, I can’t imagine her doing well with running a successful tavern. Then again, who says Silver only marries once between now and the events in “Treasure Island?”

Dueling Swords

The reunion between Flint and Vane is as awesome as I imagined it. Having learned that Vane joined Edward “Blackbeard” Teach (Ray Stevenson), Flint locates them on Teach’s island. What I love about this particular story line is the dynamic of seeing three very strong characters face off. Although I have no problems with Stevenson’s portrayal of Teach, I’m still anticipating the moment he’s called “Blackbeard.” I understand using his infamous name may take away from the story, but wouldn’t it be satisfying just to hear Vane’s gravelly voice mutter it? Mixing the legend of Blackbeard with the man we have come to see as an unexpected—albeit unwanted—father figure for Vane humanizes Teach in a way seldom seen by the public. Revealing to viewers that Teach is Blackbeard would be more powerful.

Apart from Teach, Flint continues to surprise me with his barebones approach to any obstacle in his way. When Flint makes his intentions known to take back Nassau, Teach appears unimpressed until the subject of Vane arises and the captains find themselves at odds. This is when situations turn bad quickly, and ends with pistols firing and swashbuckling scenes that remind me why I love watching pirate fights—think Errol Flynn but without jumping from atop the topsail of a ship. Flint doesn’t care about Teach’s reputation or the fact he’s disrespecting Teach on his own island; Flint does what Flint wants and if it doesn’t kill him, he’ll end up destroying everyone in his path; just look at what happened to his best friend Gates (Mark Ryan).

The major theme of “XXIV” is deeply rooted in the idea of destiny. When Flint asks Vane the question, “Who are you?” it becomes emblematic of what each character is undergoing in trying to meet their goals. The moment Vane boards Teach’s ship and lands on his island, Vane looks restless. At first I thought it was regret and doubt concerning Eleanor (Hannah New), but Vane is a man fueled by danger and dysfunction—his former relationship with Eleanor is proof enough.

Rackham gets more than he bargains for in Nassau

Seize and Conqueror

As tensions rise back in New Providence with the recent discovery of a spy in their midst, Woodes finds himself almost backed into a corner. Then in perfect timing, Captain Jack Rackham (Toby Schmitz) returns to the main port of Nassau. I did not expect the dynamic between Rackham and Woodes to be loaded with so much intrigue. What I have always found appealing about Rackham is his determination. He isn’t brawny like Vane, but there is something to be said about the way Rackham manipulates and misleads people for his personal gain; it’s genius. So imagine my surprise when he shares a room with Woodes, who, until now, has been somewhat enigmatic. I don’t believe Woodes is as genteel as he appears on the surface. Something about the way Roberts conveys Woodes’ thoughts by a single glare and the cold inflection in his tone reminds me of serial killers when they’ve fixed their eyes on their prey. It makes me worry for Eleanor because something tells me she’d be quickly tossed aside without much thought if she compromises his plans.

Overall

Make no mistake about it; by the end of the episode, there is no uncertainty as to the motivation of each character’s life choices. The violence and bloodshed are not for cheap thrills but instead serve a purpose. Director Lukas Ettlin does a marvelous job of keeping viewers on edge, making the most of some impressive choreographed fight sequences and selecting the right camera angles. That said, watching “XXIV” after viewing the preview trailer, I expected “XXIV” be somewhat heavy-handed with the action, and less meticulous with some of the character development, but I was wrong. I thought there might be a slight reprieve with some of the grim circumstances going on regarding Mr. Scott’s (Hakeem Kae-Kazim) health, and Flint’s current mental crisis—which does happen but only to a small degree. What I like the most with the way all the story lines work in “XXIV” lies in Shotz’s script, which is very even-keeled in maintaining the continuity of the various complex story lines alongside some nerve-wracking fight scenes. As a production, the stage is set for one helluva season finale, with “XXIV” being the launching point.

What did you think of “XXIV?” Post your comment 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), @TobyStephensInV (Toby Stephens / Captain James Flint) @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) @luke_j_roberts (Luke Roberts/Woodes Rogers).

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