Black Sails

:

Season 3
  • Network: Starz
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 25, 2014
Season #: 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 144 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 84 out of 144
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 144
  3. Negative: 51 out of 144
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  1. xenowars
    Apr 17, 2016
    0
    I almost couldn't tolerate this show after its slow start. I understand you're only a low budget TV show but geez give me some energy. It comes off as a soft-core porn period drama. I'm one season in and I just cannot see the purpose of this show. So far they have used sex to shock and that is pretty much it.

    There's too much realness to this show. It's exactly what I imagine living in    I almost couldn't tolerate this show after its slow start. I understand you're only a low budget TV show but geez give me some energy. It comes off as a soft-core porn period drama. I'm one season in and I just cannot see the purpose of this show. So far they have used sex to shock and that is pretty much it.

    There's too much realness to this show. It's exactly what I imagine living in that time would be like...boring. There's no real action or drama and it's lacking a smart interesting script. Their concept just doesn't seem to work for a television show and it takes itself too seriously. If it doesn't get interesting soon then I'm done.    … Expand
  2. cynicalmace
    Mar 10, 2016
    2
    Things that make this season feel DULL:

    1. Big buildup and ultimate letdown with Blackbeard 2. Unfocused story arc for flint. (He's supposed to be like Odysseus on some kind of Odyssey or something, according to the producers) 3. Uninteresting romance for Eleanor. An excuse to keep her, literally, in the background. 4. Woodes Rogers being the nicest antagonist ever. (So far, at    Things that make this season feel DULL:

    1. Big buildup and ultimate letdown with Blackbeard

    2. Unfocused story arc for flint. (He's supposed to be like Odysseus on some kind of Odyssey or something, according to the producers)

    3. Uninteresting romance for Eleanor. An excuse to keep her, literally, in the background.

    4. Woodes Rogers being the nicest antagonist ever. (So far, at least).

    Things that make this season EXCITING:

    1. Any fight scene with Vane

    2. Silver's descent

    3. ...?    … Expand
  3. CriticOfNow2
    Mar 9, 2016
    3
    All they do is talk, and talk, and talk. Lot's of plotting, or scheming, or maneuvering and very little action. What kind of a pirate show is this? Where's the plundering and attacking and stealing? Where are the cannons and the sea battles? Where are the fights and the gratuitous, merkined sex scenes?

    This show has become incredibly watered down so far this season. All the male    All they do is talk, and talk, and talk. Lot's of plotting, or scheming, or maneuvering and very little action. What kind of a pirate show is this? Where's the plundering and attacking and stealing? Where are the cannons and the sea battles? Where are the fights and the gratuitous, merkined sex scenes?

    This show has become incredibly watered down so far this season. All the male characters are tucking tail and running, or constantly second guessing themselves, leaving the females as the only ones with any balls, so to speak. Even previous bad asses like Vane have been neutered this season. And Blackbeard has been a total disappointment. If there's any pirate who you'd expect would be all about the brutal force and action, it's that guy. They did a fine job of introducing him, but then later he became just as pensive and chatty as the rest of them.

    I'm getting to the point where I'm not even watching it now until I hear a gun shot or something other than endless conversation threatening to put me to sleep.    … Expand
  4. JSmithQuinn
    Dec 8, 2016
    0
    Season 1 & 2 were awesome. There was a battle every episode and no drama. Season 3 is more like a soap than the show I started watching. 99% of the scenes in season 3 are people talking. the show has turned into desperate housewives not Black sails. You can't even tell who the bad guys are anymore, they keep changing back and forth like every other show now on TV. That doesn't make a goodSeason 1 & 2 were awesome. There was a battle every episode and no drama. Season 3 is more like a soap than the show I started watching. 99% of the scenes in season 3 are people talking. the show has turned into desperate housewives not Black sails. You can't even tell who the bad guys are anymore, they keep changing back and forth like every other show now on TV. That doesn't make a good show it's just lazy writing.

    I can't even bring myself to finish this show. I'm changing the channel.

    This show started out as a 10 and has fallen to a 1 star so quick...    … Expand
  5. Superposition
    Nov 26, 2016
    3
    I feel like this show is trying to be Game of Thrones with pirates. But it moves sooo slowly! Also, everything is a twist. It's always like this so we just learn to expect that the 'plans' that have been laid out in the dialog won't happen as discussed. Also, every main character is similar in the way that they strive towards grand ambitions. Where are the characters that don't give aI feel like this show is trying to be Game of Thrones with pirates. But it moves sooo slowly! Also, everything is a twist. It's always like this so we just learn to expect that the 'plans' that have been laid out in the dialog won't happen as discussed. Also, every main character is similar in the way that they strive towards grand ambitions. Where are the characters that don't give a **** The ones with plans beyond grand schemes? Everything is a slow and tedious grand scheme with a 'surprise' twist. There really isn't much character to the characters. It seems like the TV producer's goal was to just stretch out each season and the show for as long as possible and to achieve this we are given a snails pace where little happens each episode and where schemes and plot twists take precedence over genuine characters.… Expand
  6. argorius
    Jan 26, 2016
    10
    Season 3 starts on fire with a new action oriented approach. While Season 1 left you wondering where are the exciting ship battles, Season 3 makes up for it by solidifying 3 characters as fierce Pirate Captains and throwing someone else in the mix that blew my mind and has me looking forward to a fun new season of Black Sails.
  7. Kimharvest
    Jan 31, 2016
    10
    Black Sails has been  a joy for me to watch. Season 3 is proving to be a continuation of surprises and excitement. Just when the power mongers juxapositioning seems dead-on full, a trump card is introduced in the presence of Blackbeard! Edward Teach will school all! The first and second episode is foreboding and includes a ship to ship race into a raging storm with great spellbindingBlack Sails has been  a joy for me to watch. Season 3 is proving to be a continuation of surprises and excitement. Just when the power mongers juxapositioning seems dead-on full, a trump card is introduced in the presence of Blackbeard! Edward Teach will school all! The first and second episode is foreboding and includes a ship to ship race into a raging storm with great spellbinding shots! People, let go of your petty criticisms and sit back and enjoy. No distant past can be recreated exactly. Rid the world of professional critics! Is there no sense of wonder left in your souls? Your opinions are frankly moot to the rest of us humans. A few years ago, I caught a pirate exhibition at the Denver Museum and this show exemplifies the attainment towards democracy and equality between races that in reality was true.  Black Sails is an interesting study of powerful wills, desires and dreams with flaws on every side. Then again, were the pirates any worse than the powerful heads of State? A good lesson to observe during an election year in the US.  Beware of agendas! Beware of power! Beware and learn from the past. Great excuse to look up some history and learn. I wonder; who are the pirates of today?… Expand
  8. weirdcryo
    Mar 26, 2016
    10
    Episode 10 it's the best thing I've ever seen in my whole life. I always say that one good episode doesn't compensate for lot of bad ones and you can say what ever you want about black sails but what this episode managed it's worth any flaw you can find in this show and more.
  9. Subxaero
    Mar 30, 2016
    10
    Season 3 is a Masterpiece.

    One of the ebst seasons i've watched ina show.Acting -Costumes-DIalogues

    Balance between drama and warfare is apsolutely on spot.What a fantastic series.
  10. ambientalist
    Dec 4, 2016
    10
    After watching again the 3 Seasons of this show, almost in less than a week, what I see is a story where the original's novel is recreated. L. Stevenson, if you read it, is detailed, slow, not all is about battle, it's about the story of it's pirates, the pirates that he made a legend. Ambience is well created, music, is quite original and good, it keeps the pirate spirit quite true, andAfter watching again the 3 Seasons of this show, almost in less than a week, what I see is a story where the original's novel is recreated. L. Stevenson, if you read it, is detailed, slow, not all is about battle, it's about the story of it's pirates, the pirates that he made a legend. Ambience is well created, music, is quite original and good, it keeps the pirate spirit quite true, and the characters are mostly well played. But best of all, is the mood of the show, it's indeed recreating a movie mood, not a tv quick show. I really like it. May be it could show more of their real life as buccaneers, the best chapter in this season was the last one,but everything is slowly leading there.… Expand
  11. lager96
    Nov 20, 2017
    9
    The writers have outdone themselves with the character arcs this season. The journeys that the characters go through are top notch and show that this show is better than most shows on these days. The superb acting makes these amazing arcs even more satisfying. The battle sequences were elevated this season just like they were in seasons past. This season was filled with rescue missions,The writers have outdone themselves with the character arcs this season. The journeys that the characters go through are top notch and show that this show is better than most shows on these days. The superb acting makes these amazing arcs even more satisfying. The battle sequences were elevated this season just like they were in seasons past. This season was filled with rescue missions, hangings, fantastic speeches, and surprising twists which makes Black Sails a must see show.… Expand
  12. ahnehnois
    Mar 21, 2017
    8
    Anyone claiming this show doesn't have enough action clearly did not stick around for the end. This season starts off slow, but ends triumphantly, with several brilliant and impactful action set pieces, and a strong course set for next season.

    The season struggles to involve all its characters, and the writing is particularly bad for the show's female characters; Eleanor is awkwardly    Anyone claiming this show doesn't have enough action clearly did not stick around for the end. This season starts off slow, but ends triumphantly, with several brilliant and impactful action set pieces, and a strong course set for next season.

    The season struggles to involve all its characters, and the writing is particularly bad for the show's female characters; Eleanor is awkwardly thrust into a new role dripping in dramatic conceit, while Max has gone from a fairly interesting prostitute to a dull politician spouting fake wisdom that was never earned. Blackbeard is not terrible, but not a classic character either, and his beard isn't even that black. Rackham and Vane phase in and out of the show.

    But these losses are not for naught, as new elements are introduced, including a British occupation, and a group of escaped slaves. Finally, the show puts some focus on its African side, though Hakeem Kae-Kazim remains sadly underused. The Maroons, though intriguing, are not fully developed, and really deserve their own show as interesting figures in history (and if Starz ever gets it in their head to make that show, I'll watch it).

    All this being said, the show's heart is the relationship between John Silver and Captain Flint, and that remains solidly in focus from the beginning of the season to the end. After all, we all know Treasure Island is where this is ultimately going, and the show, despite its occasional flaws, captures the mix of history and fiction that made the novel a classic, and is setting up a fantastic line into that story. The Silver-Flint relationship produces the show's best dialogue and its best acting (previously unknown Luke Arnold surely will have no trouble finding work once Black Sails is done).

    Combine it all together and you've got a show with an enticing mix of politics, action, and pulp. The occasional misstep in writing keeps it from being truly great, but it is a really good TV show about pirates. How long has the world waited for that?    … Expand