Black Sails — “XXVII” Recap. Neither Sheep Nor Shepherd.

Eleanor’s point of no return will have devastating consequences

Season 3, Episode 9

Airdate: Saturday, March 19, 2016, 9/8c on Starz

Rating: ★★★★★

I am going to choose my words carefully with my review of “XXVII” because Black Sails shows a dark side that serves as a sobering reminder—no one is safe on the show, and I don’t know how I feel about that. The subject of war has been at the forefront since the start of the season, but with all the trials and tribulations the main characters have endured to capture the Urca de Lima treasure, it’s easy to forget there are real consequences in securing power in all its forms.

As the penultimate episode to the season finale, “XXVII” falls in line with the pattern of previous seasons. In “VII,” from season one, Captain Charles Vane (Zach McGowan) cheated death in a shocking way; season two’s “XVII” dealt with the murder of Richard Guthrie (Sean Cameron Michael); and now in “XXVII,” viewers say goodbye to even more people as sacrifices are made for the greater good, the extent of which will have a damaging impact for everyone in Nassau.

Sympathy for the Devil

Vane’s last stand

Denial is a strong emotion; it can blind a person from seeing clearly, as we learn in “XXVII.” There have been signs from the beginning of the season that a major character wouldn’t make it. As much as I love Black Sails, I just didn’t want to see it, not really. It would be impossible, however, to explain the importance of this episode without addressing Vane’s fate and legacy.

Vane is one of the three most influential characters in Black Sails — the other two being Captain James Flint (Toby Stephens) and Eleanor Guthrie (Hannah New). For the majority of the season, Vane has seemed a bit unlike himself; maybe that’s because an air of danger and violence has surrounded him from the moment he was first introduced to the viewers. Vane’s journey has come full circle in a sad sort of way; although there are many hazards throughout “XXVII” — from Flint’s ploy to thwart Captain Hornigold’s (Patrick Lyster) attack to Silver’s change in character — they pale in comparison to what Vane undergoes in this episode. In a season where death hovered closely around Flint, it did not call for him, but Vane instead. I didn’t think the show would

go there but there are several things about choosing this route for this character that make sense. First, it allows the character to end on a high note. Vane, always exciting to watch onscreen, is a man of action and a true pirate. In a world where the British Empire is set on eliminating pirates, I cannot imagine Vane ever going legit. Yes, death is inevitable, but it’s more a matter of how not when. Second, Vane becomes the symbol Captain Jack Rackham (Toby Schmitz) aspired to be for the people of Nassau. Vane sacrificing himself in order to incite resistance among the people toward Governor Woodes Rogers’ (Luke Roberts) occupation is effective. Finally, if Vane is going to die by anyone’s hands, it should be Eleanor. Eleanor and Vane’s dysfunctional and chaotic relationship has been one of utter love or sheer hatred. It’s easy to see what wins out in the end. That said, I don’t see this being an easy task for Eleanor despite her actions. Her worst enemy is herself and her inability to handle her emotions. In their very last scene together, Eleanor’s dynamic with Vane is thick with tension and as volatile as one could imagine. Vane is Eleanor’s weakness, and he knows how to hurt her the most. This becomes evident when Vane tells Eleanor her father is the reason she was imprisoned in England. If Vane were intent on destroying the last good memory Eleanor had of her father, his declaration definitely hits a nerve. What I love about their dynamic is their unabashed honesty and ability to cut through the bullshit. I honestly believed Eleanor would die before Vane, what with Vane having more lives than a cat. Also, I got the strong impression that beneath all his bitterness towards Eleanor, Vane means for his cruel words to be a twisted sort of kindness. There’s a tiny moment where Vane’s explanation of his actions to Eleanor is a futile attempt to snap her out of the daze she’s in with Woodes. She wants to reform but she remains cutthroat ‘til the end; she just has a better wardrobe.

I understand why writers Brad Caleb Kane and Tyler Van Patten take this route with Vane; if anyone is symbolic of Nassau, it’s him. And like the shot heard around the world prior to the American Revolutionary War, Vane’s death is that very explosion.

Silver and Flint find more common ground, and that might not be a good thing

Darkness Inside You

With one man down, there are a few characters whose growth has been steadily climbing with each episode. John Silver (Luke Arnold), current quartermaster for Flint, is one of those characters. The actions Silver directs his crew to take in order to deal with Mr. Dobbs’ (Richard Lothian) misconduct come back to haunt, and Flint offers Silver some sage advice. Flint directly mentions the “darkness” that consumes a man in power. This topic comes up several times throughout “XXVII.” The exchange of power, and who will yield it, also centers on Mr. Scott, who, much to my utter disappointment, loses his life after the injuries he sustains from being shot.

Overall

This episode is depressing, yet poignant and surprising. “XXVII” takes an emotional toll on viewers that is almost on par with the infamous Red Wedding scene from Game of Thrones. Did I enjoy the episode? No. Was it worthwhile? Yes. The acting is top notch! McGowan and Kae-Kazim are brilliant actors who connect with their characters in a way that makes them memorable. The writing contains some beautiful dialogue, and the direction from Steve Boyum is wonderful. Overall, “XXVII” does a great job of delivering the important story lines. Killing off major characters is not done for shock value; it’s done with purpose for the overall story. At least Vane and Mr. Scott die for a cause while being true to themselves. And as much as I love Eleanor, I don’t agree with how she goes about sending Vane to his death. Yet, if there is any silver lining to be found, it’s that Edward Teach (Ray Stevenson) may rear his head again in Nassau, and it won’t be good.

What did you think of “XXVII?” 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), @hakeemkaekazim (Hakeem Kae-Kazim/Mr. Scott), and @luke_j_roberts (Luke Roberts/Woodes Rogers).