Black Sails

:

Season 1
  • Network: Starz
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 25, 2014
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 415 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 316 out of 415
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 415
  3. Negative: 73 out of 415
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User Reviews

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  1. TheQuietGamer
    Jan 27, 2015
    6
    Despite a theme that is both promising and compelling the first season of this Starz show is rarely more than a vehicle for f-bombs, nudity, and intense violence. Basically it's mostly just a display of what you can't get outside of premium cable. It's still an entertaining show at times, but given that things only shape up in the plot department right near the end its clear that theDespite a theme that is both promising and compelling the first season of this Starz show is rarely more than a vehicle for f-bombs, nudity, and intense violence. Basically it's mostly just a display of what you can't get outside of premium cable. It's still an entertaining show at times, but given that things only shape up in the plot department right near the end its clear that the second season is the one where things happen.

    When the show isn't over-indulging in sex scenes you're mostly left to deal with rather bland characters. They all mostly seem to be an archetype with no backstories to make us care about them. The plot also plods along at a slow pace. Mostly just hinting at character having ulterior motives and taking too long to explain how the economic part of their world works.

    This all begins to get better as it goes on though. Little revelations help viewers get a grasp on the overall picture and open up parts of character's lives that makes them actually somewhat compelling. Twists, secrets, and backstabbings begin to create enjoyable scenarios and tension that can keep people entertained. However that all happens right near the end of this season so the majority of it is just hollow.

    It's almost fitting that this was executively produced by Michael Bay. Like most things barring his name it's more flash than substance. The way this season concludes points to some bigger and better things with season 2 so there is reason to stick around. However despite how entertaining the graphic sex and nudity can be this season left me wanting more and not in that good way.

    There are elements of the show that do make me want to set sail with these pirates, however they aren't what's so emphasized this season. Hopefully season 2 lives up to the promises this season contained. As it stands this first season can be pretty entertaining. It just needed to focus less on the TNA and more on the plot and characters.

    My total score for this season is a 6.5/10.    … Expand
  2. Bo33y
    Feb 16, 2015
    4
    Thespian pirates use a peg, or hook, but whichever else jolly rogers? Never much of a silver tongue when dialogue used, profanity, on the internal politics of piracy, mostly requiring eye patches from all lack of pirating.

    X marking the spot in rated attempt at viewing pirate booty, although trying too watch anything here would send asleep often dreadfully boring. I wanted to watch    Thespian pirates use a peg, or hook, but whichever else jolly rogers? Never much of a silver tongue when dialogue used, profanity, on the internal politics of piracy, mostly requiring eye patches from all lack of pirating.

    X marking the spot in rated attempt at viewing pirate booty, although trying too watch anything here would send asleep often dreadfully boring.

    I wanted to watch swashbuckling, prating, naval wars, largely not what has been weakly shown tediously.    … Expand
  3. Captiosus
    Mar 16, 2014
    4
    Season 1 of Black Sails is now in the books and all I can say is, "That's it?" Let me give you a very basic synopsis: Episodes 1-7 are exposition while episode 8 is a cliffhanger. It's 7 and a half hours of build up and 30 minutes of minimal action with no payoff at the end.

    This show is more about backstabbing, political power plays, and gratuitous sex than the golden age of piracy.    Season 1 of Black Sails is now in the books and all I can say is, "That's it?" Let me give you a very basic synopsis: Episodes 1-7 are exposition while episode 8 is a cliffhanger. It's 7 and a half hours of build up and 30 minutes of minimal action with no payoff at the end.

    This show is more about backstabbing, political power plays, and gratuitous sex than the golden age of piracy. I'm all for building exposition in a story but this story just droned on and on until the predictable cliffhanger in the final five minutes of episode 8. Black Sails is nowhere near on par with other cable series like Game of Thrones or The Borgias, even when compared directly to their respective first seasons.    … Expand
  4. Nobilis1984
    Feb 15, 2014
    4
    High quality series with substantive weaknesses.

    A very high quality produced series. But what will not let me fall into jumping for joy is the boring content.
    The dialogues are bored and if not even fought bob the episodes ahead. A shame about the wasted money.
  5. LinttaFlamingo
    Mar 12, 2019
    5
    The first season of Black Sails is an interesting one, since the show probably has the most noticeable change in quality just randomly in the middle of a season I've seen so far in any TV-show. I basically considered quitting and just deleting all the notes I took after episodes 1-4 because this show was SO. F*CKING, EXCRUCIATINGLY. BORING. And I actually did quit for a few months becauseThe first season of Black Sails is an interesting one, since the show probably has the most noticeable change in quality just randomly in the middle of a season I've seen so far in any TV-show. I basically considered quitting and just deleting all the notes I took after episodes 1-4 because this show was SO. F*CKING, EXCRUCIATINGLY. BORING. And I actually did quit for a few months because I just couldn't take it. The reason I suffered through those first four episodes was because I just wanted a good pirate show so bad. I'd been longing for an awesome gripping brutal pirate adventure, and a friend of mine strongly recommended this.

    But the first four episodes are so badly paced that they basically have a billion events in them and absolutely nothing at the same time. You watch these characters talk, and talk more, and they're so serious about all of it and try to convince that there's an absolute ton at stake here. But it just felt like nothing. I understand that a "realistic" pirate life isn't just yelling and singing on a ship and talking like YARRR SET THEM SAILS YE HORSES*ITS BEFORE I PISS MESELF. But they basically do nothing creative in this otherwise gorgeous and colorful island. The only thing I felt slightly invested in was the brothel storyline since it had some actual interesting events and disturbing drama. Everything else just felt like a ton of political stuff crammed together and new relationships happening that I just didn't care about.

    So after those four episodes I stopped for a few months and decided to come back a few days ago. I don't think it was just the break that did it, but in the fifth episode the crew finally gets on the pirate ship and things start picking up so much!!! I was finally watching an awesome pirate adventure. For the four remaining episodes of the season we got a pirate fight like every episode, some actual tension and drama and I started caring about the characters a lot more. Toby Stephens and Mark Ryan were absolutely fantastic in their roles, they were just a joy to watch. The remaining four episodes are proof of the obvious that there should always be more visual storytelling. The drama and dialogue stay consistent, there are unpredictable deaths that made me feel like there's actually something at stake and the soundtrack is awesome! Just a huge albeit almost confusing boost in quality. Definitely got my interest, I will watch more of the show now, and I've heard that the later seasons just get better and better!    … Expand
  6. cterryr2
    Apr 14, 2017
    6
    Was hoping this would be more like Vikings. It's not. It's silly. A boob flash cant make up for the lack of ship battles, sword fights and seriousness. Some decent characters. The writing is thin. Not historically accurate by any account. This should be on the WB network for kiddies. Too bad as I was hoping for a serious show about pirates but this isn't it.
  7. RubyTV
    Feb 14, 2019
    6
    It's really messy and the stories don't have any focus but at some points it's entertaining and fun to watch. 63/100

Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
2
#2 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 27
  3. Negative: 2 out of 27
  1. The Lincoln Journal Star
    Reviewed by: Jeff Korbelik
    Mar 27, 2014
    50
    The drama is nothing more than a video game, with a story secondary to the blood and sex.
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  2. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Vicki Hyman
    Feb 13, 2014
    67
    The era is a rich vein to mine, and to their credit, the creators are light on pirate cliches--I do not believe one "aargh!" is uttered--but at the same time, there's a little too much emphasis on pirate economics and labor disputes than is necessary, and the sprawling cast and hierarchy a little hard to keep straight.
    Read full review
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    Jan 27, 2014
    70
    While the series, which opens with a ship being boarded and taken, does have its moments of big, noisy action (see: Michael Bay, above), it spends a lot of time on land, as well, with the main characters taking care of business, making plans, laying traps and working on their surprisingly complicated personal relationships. There is also, tedious to relate, an abundance of female nudity.... Other than that, Black Sails' depiction of daily life among the pirates is plausibly authentic and workaday, and the Nassau through which they roam feels real and well-peopled.
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