Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery they say. That this series leans heavily on the concepts found in "Game of Thrones" or the early "Pirates of the Caribbean" films would be allowable if it were just not so poorly written and planned. The English upper class accents and attitudes amongst the "pirates" are laughable, as are the insertion of modern phrases, curse words and behaviour into a historic setting.
It is not de rigeur to entertain and grip the viewer's attention by inserting random and unnecessarily graphic sex scenes using a variety of gender combinations. This is a mistake that "Game of Thrones" made in moving from book to screen, but "Black Sails" handles them so badly the frequent panting and sweating becomes gross. Less is more as they say.
It is the 21st century and the role of women has changed substantially in society in comparison to 1715. Yet this is not well addressed by the writers who demonstrate their view of equality to modern audiences by portraying most main female characters as hard cursing, harder than nails leaders or schemers - definitely harridans not to be trifled with - then a scene later they become uncertain, emotional, whimsical beings. This inconstancy eventually irritates and whilst the two writers are perfectly entitled to ask us to suspend disbelief, women as ninjas is more to do with 21st century sensibilities than credibility of characterisation.
In summary, the plot moves slowly, the effects are too obvious (CGI boats), the characters are not engaging, the endless sex scenes are contrived, constant interruptions and the attempts at comedy are not comic (see the early POTC films as to how to do it well).
All in all, a waste of time.
Oh and having a pirate band softly playing the "Skye Boat Song" as background music one evening would have been so much more effective in 1715 if it didn't refer to events that took place in 1745, thirty years later. Whatever next? Galleons with Gatling guns?
It is not de rigeur to entertain and grip the viewer's attention by inserting random and unnecessarily graphic sex scenes using a variety of gender combinations. This is a mistake that "Game of Thrones" made in moving from book to screen, but "Black Sails" handles them so badly the frequent panting and sweating becomes gross. Less is more as they say.
It is the 21st century and the role of women has changed substantially in society in comparison to 1715. Yet this is not well addressed by the writers who demonstrate their view of equality to modern audiences by portraying most main female characters as hard cursing, harder than nails leaders or schemers - definitely harridans not to be trifled with - then a scene later they become uncertain, emotional, whimsical beings. This inconstancy eventually irritates and whilst the two writers are perfectly entitled to ask us to suspend disbelief, women as ninjas is more to do with 21st century sensibilities than credibility of characterisation.
In summary, the plot moves slowly, the effects are too obvious (CGI boats), the characters are not engaging, the endless sex scenes are contrived, constant interruptions and the attempts at comedy are not comic (see the early POTC films as to how to do it well).
All in all, a waste of time.
Oh and having a pirate band softly playing the "Skye Boat Song" as background music one evening would have been so much more effective in 1715 if it didn't refer to events that took place in 1745, thirty years later. Whatever next? Galleons with Gatling guns?