Black Sails 1x08 Reaction
Added 2024-01-16 20:40:01 +0000 UTC
Comments
Me too lol. I said it elsewhere, but I waited years for them to react specifically because I knew their discussions on Flint and his arc would be amazing and insightful, and its as good as i though it'd be
DalyDose
2024-01-24 18:09:07 +0000 UTCMax and Flint are also my favorites, so I agree with everything you said here.
cosmotron
2024-01-18 01:20:31 +0000 UTCSo glad you've stuck with the show and are loving it now! S2 is great and I can't wait for everyone new to the show to experience it.
cosmotron
2024-01-18 01:20:12 +0000 UTCTo answer your question, i loved Flint throughout. Favorite character by a mile in this show. Because of everything he does. I like though at how insightful you are...
AlexBoss
2024-01-17 13:36:39 +0000 UTCI wouldn’t feel bad about basically forgetting about Gates as we go in. I remember being completely over it by the time Flint puts his coat on in 2x2 🤣 it just goes to show how well written the other characters are, and the show in general. I have to agree about Vane loving Eleanor, or his version of her, and her not loving him. I don’t think she ever did. I think she felt lust for him, and knew that having a relationship with him would benefit her, which it did.
Wanda Did Nothing Wrong
2024-01-17 11:26:21 +0000 UTCyou two watching this show is as good as i expected. i think season 1 is a very solid season (minus the sexual violence which is i think it's biggest issue) but the following seasons are even better and i cannot wait to hear your feelings about flint especially as it goes along because your discussions on him are already so good and this is barely knowing what he's all about!!! i'll always be bitter that toby stephens didn't get any awards love for this show btw. and love the love for max and her journey as well ((she's my 2nd favourite after flint).
hjg
2024-01-17 11:26:19 +0000 UTCi wasnt really sold on the first few episodes either but im completely bought in by the end of the season. flint is shrouded so much angst and mystery its hard not be to enthralled by him. a man with a haunted past that dooms himself (and those ones around him) to chase a seemingly impossible dream is the kind of tragic character archetype i love. ive just started season 2 so i’m excited to see all those layers unraveled
Sebastian
2024-01-17 08:40:45 +0000 UTCAlso ladies because I just realized that what Vane said about knowing Eleanor since she was 13 sounds off, he was like 16 or 17 around that time so yes he is older but not by much. It's also crazy that by 16 or 17 Vane had already established himself on the island as somebody you should be afraid of. It also is meant to confirm for us Eleanor and Vane's long history together, amongst our group of characters, Vane and Eleanor have known each other the longest I think, besides Mr. Scott and Eleanor of course. It's something to remember going forward.
Nyeisha Melvina Clark
2024-01-17 07:21:50 +0000 UTCRIP Gates, it was a shock to see his death but like you ladies I could really see the absolute desperation of Flint and how he just snapped. It by no means excuses what he did but I couldn't find it in me to hate him. Also just a heads up, they had to switch the actor that plays Dufresne (The Quartermaster with the glasses) because the original actor was sick (I believe he had cancer) and he unfortunately passed away. So when the next season starts it will be a new actor playing him. Season 2 is my personal favorite season with season 3 being my 2nd so I can't wait for you ladies to see how this story unfolds. I loved how this season ended and where all the characters ended up because it makes for great storylines in the future.
Nyeisha Melvina Clark
2024-01-17 07:08:14 +0000 UTCim sooo excited for yall to get to season two, im halfway through season 3 and this is genuinely one of my fav shows now. I agree with basically everything you said in the discussion! I love the direction for max's character arc. I also really love silver and vane so i cant wait for yall to see what season 2 does with their characters!
Amber
2024-01-17 06:26:16 +0000 UTCIs it possible to go one episode for people to not throw out unsolicited recommendations?
Eric
2024-01-17 05:41:12 +0000 UTCThe shipwreck of the Urca de Lima is one of the real-life bits of history woven into the plot: That ship really was part of a Spanish treasure fleet sailing in 1715, and it was shipwrecked on the shores of what is today Florida. In real life there were multiple other ships shipwrecked alongside her, but they were excised for the sake of the story. Some of the pirate characters from this show really did attempt to plunder her. I love the battle against the Spanish man of war, because after all their bravado and boasting, and after a season of Flint's talk and seeing the crew as legitimate badasses, they stand NO CHANCE against an actual ship of the line. It highlight's the disparity of power between these pirates and the national powers that rule the world. I see a lot of people arguing that if they had fired when Flint originally gave the order they would have won, but that's wishful thinking. Sure, it's POSSIBLE that they would have won, but it's also POSSIBLE that I'd beat Mike Tyson in a regulation boxing match. That doesn't mean it's actually going to happen. That ship has more guns than the Walrus and Ranger combined, and is crewed by people trained and expecting combat. The pirates may have had the element of surprise in the sense that they got the first hits in, but they DIDN'T have the element of surprise in the sense of catching them unprepared. They were already in pursuit of a pirate ship, so the guns were loaded and crews ready. We can see that even when using just her stern chasers -- the guns at the rear of the ship that they first fired back at the Walrus before turning to use the broadsides -- she just about equaled the full broadside of the Walrus. So even if the Walrus's first shots took down her mast or destroyed her rudder and left her unable to maneuver, she STILL likely would have triumphed using her chase armament. It's the story of a gang fighting an army. It wasn't going to end any other way.
JBK405
2024-01-17 05:03:41 +0000 UTCGreat answer! I completely agree, as I wrote in my own comment I think how Flint reacts when he does this awful thing says so much about him. I feel like a lot of other shows would have only had him show a minimal amount of emotion, maybe a few tears or trembling hands, not the full on sobbing he does here. Flint is a very ‘masculine’ character but he is also very much defined by his strong emotions, and in my opinion it’s one of the reasons why he is so interesting.
cosmotron
2024-01-17 03:29:23 +0000 UTCI find him genuinely fascinating. I didn't get mad when he killed Gates (even though I really liked him). Like the girls, I saw it coming when they started to share stories over a drink. I just didn't know how it was going to happen. The way they handled his death scene made me more sad than angry, especially with Flint repeatedly saying, "I'm sorry." It seems he doesn't want to do the things he has to do to reach his goal, he gives me an "end justifies the means" kind of vibe. I find characters with questionable morals the most interesting, particularly if that helps them reach a goal that isn't completely selfish in nature. I can't wait to see more of his backstory and what fuels his vendetta against England
HenryM
2024-01-17 02:39:39 +0000 UTCI get the 'he asked for no pickles' vibe from Jack and Anne, it's cute ❤️
TeaDrinker3000
2024-01-17 02:23:52 +0000 UTCI too am that way with Flint. Like, I support his rights and wrongs haha But yeah I love the dynamic of all those characters, it's so good.
cosmotron
2024-01-17 02:18:51 +0000 UTCRight back at you, and i WILL get to all your comments I promise Cosmo, I just ended up being busier than i thought these few days ❤️❤️❤️
TeaDrinker3000
2024-01-17 02:14:20 +0000 UTCflint: murders people and causes everyone and their mothers' daths lm: he asked for no pickles! https://www.pinterest.es/pin/696087686149578154/ hhxhsjjs the way i am the same jack, anne and max and silver and flint are definitely my favourite dynamics of the show.
sand_fl
2024-01-17 02:14:16 +0000 UTCThey did shoot on location by the way, all in Cape Town, so while I'm sure they do plenty of lighting effects in post there is also a lot of natural lighting they take advantage of. I think it's interesting you like Dufresne so much. I remember mostly being frustrated at his choice of timing here lmao. But I agree with what you said about him all the same! Really love reading your thoughts, as always.
cosmotron
2024-01-17 02:12:20 +0000 UTCSince it's your first time, how are you feeling about Flint as a character right now? I know some people get very angry at him for killing Gates, and that's understandable, though it doesn't seem like you feel the same necessarily.
cosmotron
2024-01-17 02:06:55 +0000 UTCI think Flint is *both* sad and angry, and it is that combination of the two that makes his emotions and drive so potent. I agree that Eleanor isn't fearless, but disagree a bit about Vane loving Eleanor while she doesn't love him. I think they both more or less loved each other, but badly, and in ways that relied on them fundamentally not being able to understand certain parts of the other. There are things they have in common that draw them together and an innate attraction. But Vane's perception of Eleanor is very flawed, and a lot of who he thinks she is an image he has projected onto her. Eleanor for her part was attracted to a lot of the qualities that Vane has, such as his fierceness and his loyalty, but is just as equally frustrated/disgusted by a lot of other aspects of him and the choices he makes. Sometimes it's like she can forget about the stuff she doesn't like about him in favor of the things she does, but then he inevitably does something that reminds her of why they never work as a couple. That's just my two cents though.
cosmotron
2024-01-17 02:05:43 +0000 UTCGlad you stuck with it! Though I do think there's an argument to be made on whether or not Flint did one of those killings lmao. But yeah the second season is incredible, and I can't wait for Lola and Milena to start it.
cosmotron
2024-01-17 01:59:20 +0000 UTCSilver trying to convince Dufresne to go along with the plan Lola: He's a master manipulator Dufresne: https://media.tenor.com/cm-_25BIodUAAAAM/fuck-that-fuck-all-that.gif
HenryM
2024-01-17 01:41:27 +0000 UTCI got full body chills when the man o war aimed all that fire power at the Walrus, what a scene. I agree with some patrons that the timing of that mutiny couldn't have been worse. Gates warned Billy about avoiding that kind of conflict in the middle of a mission when they were fighting on the Andromache, and how that doesn't do anybody any good... well here's the result lol. But I also can't blame Dufresne and Mr. DeGroot, Mr Gates' death must have been the straw that broke the camel's back and probably wanted to avoid any more bloodshed in Flint's name
HenryM
2024-01-17 01:38:34 +0000 UTCIt's hard for me to talk about Flint without going into spoilers, so I'll only say this, I don't think that he is sad, he is just angry and wants war, like Milena or Lola said (I don't remember now). About mr. Gates, it's sad to think how easily I forgot about him in the next seasons, or maybe waiting years between each season helped do the job, I don't know. About Max, as hard as some scenes was to watch, I think that they were necessary, to give us viewers a better perspective, and to her brutal change feel more natural. Here I disagree with Vane. Eleanor is not fearless, I think she's always scared and trying to get approval from everyone, especially her father. Now, I don't know if Vane really believes all of that that he said, or if he's just trying to convince himself that she really is all that. Because at the end of the day, he actually loves her, but she doesn't love him. "Loyalty, Jack, it's supposed to mean something. It does to me anyway." I really like that line from Vane, and as funny as it may sound, Vane is probably the character that's most loyal to his principles and the most truthful. I would much rather have him as a friend than Flint or a few other characters, because good or bad, you know exactly what to expect from him, whereas with Flint you could hardly ever know when he's being truthful to you or just trying to manipulate you. What a nightmare must be living with someone like that. But as a character, Flint is awesome, and Toby, the best actor on this show.
Gustavo
2024-01-17 00:57:48 +0000 UTCI remember really disliking season 1 the first time I watched it but seeing potential in the show which is why I saw season 2 back when it came out (and enjoyed it very much!) This rewatch with you I am so surprised by how good the first season is. Maybe I built up how bad it was in my mind, certainly the visual extremity of the Max storyline didn’t help it, but now I’m literally giddy with excitement to start season 2. I almost wish I waited for your reactions to come out for awhile so I could binge the show with your commentary
My Toasty Toast
2024-01-17 00:54:17 +0000 UTCNow that you mention it I totally agree Eleanor is way more like Walt. Her and her ego.
Melkor
2024-01-17 00:41:24 +0000 UTCI’d say Eleanor is more like Walter than Flint is.
Kaitlyn
2024-01-17 00:34:19 +0000 UTCWanted to hop in the comments and say that I think you guys would really enjoy the anime Banana Fish (2018)—-especially if Vinland is one of your favs. Even though they’re set in completely different eras, a lot of the same concepts like violence and peace and humanity are explored in so many ways, through such great, complex characters. I think y’all would totally bring such a great discussion to the show. Maybe give it a watch when you have an opening!
Mia
2024-01-17 00:13:00 +0000 UTCI finished this season with a sour taste in my mouth, even though I thought Flint was the most interesting character, seeing him kill two of my favorite characters was harsh... but I trusted the fans' opinion and gave it a second chance and I have to say, the second season just gets better and better with each episode
Wallas
2024-01-17 00:11:05 +0000 UTCThey are pirates so it is the crews fault. Remember the first episode before we got to know them and we saw them from a merchants point of view? They're not good people, we just got to know them. Gon has a similar mentality about right and wrong. Kill innocents but be nice to your friends like the bomber and he'll spare you. Kill your best friend and he'll kill you.
Shivering King Banana
2024-01-16 22:21:24 +0000 UTCI am living for all the talk about Flint in this discussion. I cannot fucking wait for you both to get to season two.
cosmotron
2024-01-16 22:06:47 +0000 UTCI don't think he's really all that similar to Walter White. Walt is much more ego driven than Flint (while Flint certainly has an ego of course). They have some similarities in broad strokes but not much beyond that imo.
cosmotron
2024-01-16 22:06:17 +0000 UTCFlint is da GOAT Also I never thought of it that he’s kinda similar to Walter White that you mentioned very good comparison. He has similarities in that they both sacrifice anything for their greater objective and at the same time both are characters we can sympathize with. I’m very biased to Flint but tbh the majority I think like Flint. He’s flawed but his character is just that GOOD.
Melkor
2024-01-16 21:54:15 +0000 UTCI had some anti-Hornigold bias before I even watched the show for the first time thanks to playing Assassin’s Creed
My Toasty Toast
2024-01-16 21:48:23 +0000 UTCI mean FUJ is comedic relief. But the same as every other character, he has depth. Just let Tea get there. He’ll probably be shocked at the actual comedy duo that show up next episode lol
Wanda Did Nothing Wrong
2024-01-16 21:47:48 +0000 UTCMy thing is that the crew is right to be resentful/have problems with Flint. But they’re wrong in their timing. You can complain about the mission before the mission or you can complain about it after the mission. But in the middle of it, during a critical moment, is the worst time. Even if Flint is, in some way, sacrificing some of the crew for an unknown goal, starting a mutiny in the middle of an operation will kill many more men than Flint’s plan would
My Toasty Toast
2024-01-16 21:45:48 +0000 UTCOh definitely how could I forget that.
Melkor
2024-01-16 21:42:26 +0000 UTCSUCH MORONS. Lol I can’t even imagine how different the show would be if Flint had actually managed to do the thing this episode.
Wanda Did Nothing Wrong
2024-01-16 21:42:18 +0000 UTCAnd intelligence. Probably not wisdom lol
Wanda Did Nothing Wrong
2024-01-16 21:40:41 +0000 UTCThis 💯 I know Flint isn’t the best but I’m still a Flint loyalist to the end. Silver and Jack are second and third best. Vane is fourth and should beat Jack but Jack is Jack sadly for Vane on my list. And as you said Flints plan COULD have worked if his crew didn’t act like absolute morons in that moment.
Melkor
2024-01-16 21:33:10 +0000 UTCMilena is absolutely right tho. If Dufresne hadn’t stopped Flint, his plan may well have worked. They would have been closer and able to use chain shot to take down the mast so she’d have been harder to turn broadside and bring ALL her cannons to bear. It would be a much easier fight if the Spanish ship could only use the chasers. Welcome to the Flint ride or die club Milena👏🏼We are a very loyal bunch. I’m very glad you’re here already. It takes pretty much every other reactor until S2 to get here. I love the scene with Eleanor and Max because what they’re talking about could also apply to how the viewers feel about the characters. One episode you don’t particularly like someone, then the next it’s flipped and you’re all in for them. And for anyone watching along with the girls, just to let you all know that the actor who plays Dufresne, Jannes Eiselen, died from cancer, so he is played by someone else going forward.
Wanda Did Nothing Wrong
2024-01-16 21:30:54 +0000 UTCDude I don't want any hints!! 😅 Just let me take things one episode at a time
TeaDrinker3000
2024-01-16 21:10:45 +0000 UTCSadly I can’t say much because of spoilers but I get so insulted by how you just think Jack is comedic relief and nothing more. 😭
Melkor
2024-01-16 21:09:13 +0000 UTCWe cut from the utter chaos of the Walrus, to back on Nassau, and another favorite scene of mine. Eleanor and Max standing together on the bridge connecting their establishments. It’s the first time they’ve faced each other since episode three. Max is the one who makes the first move, in yet another amazing blue dress that I’m sure she chose specifically for this moment. Eleanor tries to apologize but Max stops her. Even though it's clear with every word she says how much hurt she still feels, she says that she understands. That she was “getting in the way between you and your dreams for this place” and that Eleanor has nothing to apologize for. Which then brings up this excellent moment. “I thought you said this place was just sand?” “Sand has its virtues. On sand nothing is fixed. Nothing is permanent. Fates change so quickly. Yesterday Captain Hornigold was immoveable from that fort and Captain Vane was a beggar. Now look at them today. Yesterday I was a whore of little consequences. Easily dismissed. Easily forgotten. Today I am a Madame with an income and allies. And a woman who has learned the most important of lessons. Never let anyone stand in between you and your ambitions. Thank you for teaching it to me.” I love the callback to their conversation in episode 2. “This place is just sand, it cannot love you back!” Now Max talks about how this impermanence of “sand” can be beneficial. I both love and feel sad for her at this moment: it’s awful that she feels the need to have taken this as a lesson from Eleanor, but at the same time I really love her character and what she is choosing to do here. “Today you have everything you have ever wanted. I supposed we can only guess what tomorrow may bring.” I really like how it lingers on Max after she says this. Watching Eleanor walk away, and then turn forward again and take a deep breath. It’s a quiet moment, but I like it. But of course the larger aspect at play is that she gave a warning and a threat to Eleanor with that statement. Maybe today Eleanor has what she wants, but who knows how the wind will change the sand tomorrow? Then we see Flint alive on a beach. Wounded, but not killed by the sea or his men. It’s a slow buildup to why that is, and the reveal gets me excited every time. You don’t think about it when you’re watching for the first time, and neither do the characters. “We failed to take into account the weather.” The Urca was dashed by the storm. It’s right there in front of them, with all of that gold laid out on the beach. Ready for the taking. Aaaaaand that’s where we end the first season! How are we feeling? Conflicted about Flint? Sad about Gates? Hyped for more? Really excited to hear what everyone’s thoughts are about the season, and what they think may happen in the future!
cosmotron
2024-01-16 21:09:10 +0000 UTCAND MY AXE
TeaDrinker3000
2024-01-16 21:08:13 +0000 UTCI just have one thing to say about Silver and that is that when maxing out his skill tree he really went all in on persuasion and manipulation lol. Edit: And intelligence.
Melkor
2024-01-16 21:04:29 +0000 UTCI think it’s interesting that Hornigold has been lecturing Eleanor about keeping her emotions in check and focusing on business…but the second it’s *his* emotions and what *he* wants he is prepared to act just as rashly and can’t see her reason. Then there’s Vane talking with Jack in the brothel. Mapleton’s vengeance has come sooner rather than later, as she is behind Vane learning the details of what Jack did in his absence. Or rather, what Anne did and Jack allowed. This really does feel like a reborn and more confident Vane. He doesn’t feel the need to put on a show with Jack, and simply makes it clear that the street knowing what he did is punishment enough. “You’ll never sail beneath the black again.” And from Jack’s face you can see how much that does in fact sting. Back with The Walrus, Flint is using Dufresne’s information to prove that the Urca is near. “If they let us go, he will have managed to both renew the men’s lust for gold and their faith in his judgment.” Well…most of the men anyway. I love how carefully we see Flint preparing the guns and making sure it is all in the right place…and THAT is when Dufresne chooses to act. Holding Flint at gunpoint and revealing the letter of confession that Gates gave to him. It details EVERYTHING, and there’s no going back once Dufresene announces the extent of it. But Flint doesn’t give up. Not even when Dufresene SHOOTS HIM, still he crawls to try and start this fight in the short window of time that they have where it can be won and the Urca found and all of this won’t have been for nothing. Silver being saved by Randall is also a great moment, and builds off of earlier in the episode when Silver was saying Randall hadn’t properly thanked him. Randall still doesn’t thank him, and instead says “You’re welcome”, which always makes me laugh. And Silver makes it so that they have no choice but to fight. Once that shot is fired there is no running away. But Dufresne freezes here: challenging Flint was one thing, but fighting a Man of War is another, and his indecision does cost them, even if he snaps back to it a moment later. And then it comes about, and all those ports with the cannons open, and your stomach just sinks. Perhaps this could have been done before, but they missed that precious time they needed, and everything erupts into chaos. Cannon fire rips the ship and men apart. Everything is a jumbled mess of screams and splintering wood and blood, until eventually even Flint falls into the sea. I love that shot of him sinking slowly into the water, not even trying to swim up to the surface. I have a folder of Black Sails fanart that I’ve gathered and plan to share once we are further into the show, but I do have a link to one of this specific moment that’s safe to view: https://www.deviantart.com/livila/art/Drowning-763191621
cosmotron
2024-01-16 21:01:48 +0000 UTCstill at the restaurant 💀 as soon as i'm home i know what i'm watching while eating dinner
sand_fl
2024-01-16 20:57:07 +0000 UTCFlint walks confidently out onto the deck, and says the least convincing thing he’s ever said: that Gates’s heart just gave out. He doesn’t even say it very convincingly, and no one believes it for a second. Dufresne definitely doesn’t believe it, but Silver is waiting to try and convince him otherwise. He tries to use Dufresne’s role as quartermaster to manipulate him: if there is a fight coming, they need to face it as a crew and not be scattered and already fighting. It seems to work, since Dufresne gives Flint the tip that he does, but then of course Flint takes that information and uses it to prove his own point. Eleanor finds Vane sitting in her chair with his feet on her desk, and if I were in her place I’d be infuriated too. Their conversation says a lot about how Vane views Eleanor I think. He talks about first seeing her when she was thirteen (for those potentially worried, there’s only a few years’ age difference between the characters, so he’s not talking about doing that when he was like 20 or something). How she was so unafraid and just smiled at him. All of this while Eleanor has her back to him and when we see her face it is full of anxieties. And then Vane talks about how well he knows her. How he knows her better than anyone, and that really all it boils down to is her being tired of fathers telling her what to do. To me, this further illustrates how Vane does not truly get Eleanor, no matter how much he says otherwise. There are *some* things about her he knows and understands, but so much else that he fails to grasp. He says in this speech that she doesn’t actually care about the things she’s built here, and that is categorically untrue. She has been fighting for respect and money to build Nassau into something stable. Something that can prove she was capable all along. To think she doesn’t actually care about any of that, and just wants to not have dads telling her what to do anymore…is missing the forest for the trees. Their exchange afterward also highlights more why they didn’t work as a couple. Eleanor is glaring at Vane like she wants nothing more than to put his cigar out on his face, and Vane says “God I missed that look.” I listened to an interview with one of the writers, and he said Vane and Eleanor had what was basically a “bad college relationship”, and I think that sums it up pretty well honestly. What they had was intense and something that lingers, but was also clearly destructive and unhealthy. Eleanor more or less seems to have realized that, or at least come to realize that Vane will never align with what she really wants, but Vane…Vane seems to have doubled down on the opposite. Like he’s convinced they’ll actually work out eventually now.
cosmotron
2024-01-16 20:55:11 +0000 UTCWe got a brief scene showing the men Vane acquired getting out of a boat, but it isn’t until Eleanor is on the beach with Scott and Captain Hornigold that we start to put the pieces together. Someone has taken over the fort and literally fired a cannon into Eleanor’s consortium. And both Anne and Jack seem to also have a feeling that they know who is behind it. Back on The Walrus, things are not looking good for Flint. Gates is barely able to convince Dufresne not to tell the whole crew the truth now, and gives him some kind of letter to prove that he is willing to have Flint pay for what he’s done. But before they can discuss that further, there’s a Man of War (this means it’s armed with cannons and a lot of them) on the horizon with Spanish banners. Which of course brings us to the confrontation between Gates and Flint in his quarters. Flint believes it is an escort for the Urca, and that means the Urca is close by. But the Urca wasn’t supposed to have an escort, and that was a big part of their plan to begin with. And Gates can’t take it anymore. “You think I’m inciting a mutiny? I’m MANAGING ONE!” Flint is so utterly surprised. He never expected Gates to do this, and you can see the genuine hurt he feels. Even though Gates explains he wasn’t going to let the crew kill him, and was going to get him and Miranda away so they could accept the pardons…we know Flint can’t accept that. He even begs Gates to not do this. But Gates is resolute. And Flint can’t let him walk out that door. It’s almost as if the moment he realizes this, and thinks of what he would have to do to stop Gates, that he just starts moving automatically. And then he has Gates and arms are around his neck and Flint’s saying he didn’t want this and he’s sorry - and he snaps Gates’s neck. There’s no ambiguity here. Flint kills Gates. And the reality of that sinks in and leaves him apologizing over and over, cradling Gates’s body, outright sobbing and quite unable to deal with what he has done. I think other shows would have chosen for him to react more coldly in this scenario. Perhaps a little tears, some trembling hands, before he managed to pull himself together. But no. Flint is heartbroken by what he just did, to the point of not functioning. If literally anyone but Silver had walked through that door, Flint would have been done. And he wouldn’t have tried to stop it either. He had given up in the wake of this act, so horrified by what he had done. He doesn’t want Silver touching Gates, is so strangely protective of his body considering he’s the one who killed him. But this contradiction is part of what makes Flint so interesting. Of course, Silver’s choice to try and spin this situation ALSO says a lot about him. Despite all of this, he’s still willing to go after the gold and is determined to get it. And that means siding with Flint and supporting him how he can. Anyway, rest in peace Mr. Gates! You were a real one, and will be missed.
cosmotron
2024-01-16 20:51:24 +0000 UTCI was just thinking about you guys 🥺 such a great finale. Im so hyped for season 2!!!
MOB12
2024-01-16 20:51:17 +0000 UTCThen there’s the scene with Anne and Jack in the brothel, where she is furious over what has happened with Mapleton. At first she claims it’s because Mapleton could tell everyone what happened to the previous owner, but it becomes pretty clear it’s actually about Max. Why is she angry about Max being involved? Or jumping to the notion that she and Jack had sex? Jack is pretty baffled, and understandably so, but there’s more going on here than he knows about. The unison “fuck you Jack” always makes me cackle haha. Buuut right after we see something that telegraphs pretty clearly what is on Anne’s mind. Or more precisely, WHO. And while it doesn’t explain everything, it does explain a good bit of her hostility if you think about it. If Anne is realizing that she is attracted to Max, and has feelings for Max that are different than what she thinks she is supposed to want…of course she would lash out. Be in complete denial about it, and project them somewhere else. She *can’t* have those feelings. Not only is there the homophobia (internalized and otherwise) of the time period, but she is in a relationship with Jack. She can’t have feelings for Max. But Max reads people very very well. And I think she has been noticing reactions from Anne for a while now, and all that scene in front of her mirror does is confirm it. That’s why Max is so deliberate with dropping her robe, and for a moment it’s like Anne is hypnotized…before she forces herself to run away. She clearly can’t accept it yet. Flint gives a great speech to hype up his men. It’s very much like when they were chasing the Andromache. You can’t help but be caught up in the moment with them…and then they round the corner and there is nothing to be seen. The Urca D’lima is not there. Everything they were chasing, were supposed to find there, the thing that would make all of this worth it…is nowhere to be seen. It’s surprising. Devastating. And leaves you with no clue what will happen next.
cosmotron
2024-01-16 20:50:08 +0000 UTCGod being on this ship during the storm just looks utterly miserable. And Gates rows out in the middle of it to meet Flint on his ship? And Silver immediately recognizes the importance of what would drive Gates to do that, and doesn’t even need to be told to meet in Flint’s quarters as well. “Now that I’ve fulfilled my end of the bargain, I’m just wondering where you and I stand.” “Keep wondering.” Great exchange. Gates was going to go back to The Ranger, but Flint convinced him to stay for a drink. It’s something Gates probably would have agreed to without hesitation before, but now…you can feel more hanging over it. “By tomorrow we will either be right enough to afford more of it…” “Or we’ll be too dead to care.” Really is all down to that, isn’t it? Eleanor and Scott have another interesting conversation too. Eleanor clearly has a difficult time believing that people love her. Considering the relationship she’s always had with her dad I’m not surprised. She has grown up feeling that she needs to prove her value, and that the value she proves will never be enough. It’s something that was hinted at back in episode 2 when Max talked about how much Eleanor fears the people she loves leaving her. Deep down, I think she’s scared that everyone who has ever claimed to love her will one day drop her as easily as her father did. And even when characters have proved otherwise - like Max and Scott - she just can’t believe that it’s true. That’s my read on it, anyway. She clearly has regrets about the choices she’s made, even if she stands by them. We continually see both her and Flint present certainty to most around them, and then privately wonder if it will all be for nothing, and if they’ve made a mistake. Here, Scott says that the troubles with her relationships may very well have happened anyway, and that’s likely true. The goals she had were probably always going to conflict in those ways. “Tomorrow a thing you conceived out of thin air becomes real. A thing that will give this place a chance to find some small measure of peace. That is not nothing.” You can see in Eleanor’s eyes how much those words mean to her. The conversation between Gates and Flint during the storm is so well written. There’s so much clear history between them, and I really like how we start with them reminiscing. The story about Cregg drinking piss that makes them both laugh is very genuine, and you can tell this isn’t the first time they’ve shared a laugh and a drink in this room together. “Oh, Cregg.” But of course there’s a lot more unspoken between them. We know Gates is planning to betray Flint, while Flint simply thinks his relationship with Gates is going to come to an end soon. Gates’s words about the sea are so haunting, and have always stuck with me. “There are no legacies in this life, are there? No monuments. No history. Just the water. It pays us, and then it claims us. Swallows us whole. As if we’d never been here at all.” What great writing. I’m glad that he got some really great moments in these last few episodes before…well…
cosmotron
2024-01-16 20:48:18 +0000 UTCHere we are at the end of season one! I’m very curious to hear what everyone is thinking at this point in this show. Especially about the characters, since there’s a whole lot that happens with them in this episode. Somehow this feels like the true ‘start’ of the story, the end of the prologue. Jack happily walking through the brothel is a different way to start, but it really highlights how much it has changed already. I love love love this scene with Jack, Mapleton, and Max. The way Jack’s actor Toby Schmitz enunciates certain lines deserves an award on its own. “You’re dismissed. Thank you for your service,” is the funniest thing coming out of his mouth. Then Max enters the scene looking AMAZING and she’s so completely confident and in control of the situation. You can see just how big a difference her influence has made too. Jack literally had no idea how to run the place, but now that Max is involved? They’re having themed nights (“Nights in Paris”) and the most important businessmen on the island are there enjoying themselves, guaranteeing their favor over anything Mapleton might say or do in protest. And that clues in you in on the fact that Max planned this deliberately, made sure that these powerful people would be regulars here by the time this conversation happened. You can tell that these two working together will be quite the combination, and I love the little toast they do with each other as well. Oh, and while it goes without saying, time for my required statement: I LOVE MAX.
cosmotron
2024-01-16 20:47:42 +0000 UTCReally can't wait to listen to the discussion on this one. Very curious what you both - and anyone who is watching for the first time - think.
cosmotron
2024-01-16 20:43:07 +0000 UTCMe as well :)
cosmotron
2024-01-16 20:42:10 +0000 UTC1x08 First Impressions - Someone said before that once we move past season 1, the show will become noticeably less reminiscent of Game Of Thrones. I guess that opening shot is us having our last hurrah, is it? :') - Brothel scene; It's great to see the glow up of Max. Though it would be naive to say that this is likely to last for too much longer, it's nice to see it for however long it lasts. Jack on the otherhand is definitely a character who's going to keep getting hit and dusting himself off. I could be wrong but I doubt that he's a character whom will be killed off eventually. I posit that he's more likely to remain the voice of audience/comic relief character for the series until the end, or his character is written off, but I doubt that he'll be killed off, personally. - Silvy and randall on the ship; I don't know how long they'll play out the 'Randall has his eye on Silvy' storyline, it doesn't bother me that much really. I don't think it's necessarily telling us anything new at this point. Just another beat to show us how at risk Silvy is of being killed if he's not too careful. - Silvy writes down the plan; Assuming either of them live long enough for it, it would be nice to see them become friends like Silvy said they might. Especially with Flint's chuckle after Silvy has left. As for Gates' pessimism, for me it's hard to tell at this juncture if he truly believes the plan itself is doomed, or if he is just exasperated at the dynamic between himself and Flint. - Silvy handing De Groot the paper; Also interesting to see how the crewmen themselves are operating under a high level of suspicion too. - Scott and El; Scott is very sweet to her. I'm unsure as to what exactly to make of their relationship at this point, I'm sure that El see's her as some sort of paternal figure, and of course Scott does love her like a daughter/younger sister of sorts. I think it's an interesting character to have, as trying to have Richard's character fill the shoes of both these character types would have possibly resulted in a shallower character for El. - Gates and Flint; the "lying sack of shit" from Gates whilst the camera holds on Flint was a great touch. "As if we'd never been here at all" is beautiful foreshadowing of what's to happen to Gates later in the episode. The way himself and Flint just go through the motions of conversation is not disimilar to the way Flint and Miranda make love, just this whole process with a thick layer of subtext beneath. - Jack and Anne; I guess we'll see more as time goes on but is Anne really that jealous of Jack? Or is she immaturely lashing out because of how he is when he makes what she sees to be poor decisions? In any case I think Jack can do better, but then again he's definitely a character that needs to be told that their shit stinks when it does, so they make a good couple in that regard, as I'm sure that Jack is well able to call her out too, all things considered. - Anne looking at Max; again, going off of the scene between herself and Jack, I'm inclined to believe that she isn't actually jealous of Max and Jack possibly being a thing, that she was just lashing out at Jack out of her anger for his decision making. Still, the look she gave Max, perhaps it's guilt for not being able to help her more, or help her earlier? I definitely think that that beat may have been there to indicate that Anne has some sort of feelings towards Max, even if they're just platonic. Perhaps she admires Max's resolve? I'm looking quite deeply into such a brief moment but with everything that has happened in 1x06, I think a little truly says a lot here. Also, another improvement over Game Of Thrones, isn't it nice to have a show where the nudity actually makes sense for the female characters? The last time we saw Max naked it was to show the aftermath of being brutalised, here they deliberately have her framed alongside a mirror and flattering lighting to show the character progression, a 'reclamation' of sorts. It feels so much more organic in comparison to how GOT often had such imagery. - Flint and the crew; I'm not gonna lie, I did not see that plot point of the Uncle Dua Lipa not being there coming at all, it genuinely took me by surprise. I don't know if others saw it coming. In hindisight, you could see the scene with Silvy detailing the schedule as a deliberate red herring, but that might be a stretch. It could have gone either way, and we had good reason to believe we were on the right track. - El on the beach; El having her Walter White moment of jumping at the chance of more power lmao. Seriously though I'm still a big fan of El. It will be introducing to see how she's going to try to handle things when Vane comes back into the picture. - Dufresne and Gates; great scene which acknowledges why, even at this juncture, neither men think it wise to just flat out hold Flint at gunpoint. At this point, I'm really starting to like Dufresne as a character. He very much feels like the glue holding the crew together even if he's not getting the spotlight. I very much doubt it'd be is perogative to seek it, all the same. Flint himself is such a fascinating character as in just 8 episodes we've seen such a tragic downfall of a character. Even though he hasn't quite 'met his maker' just yet, scenes like this are great to see how he's truly grasping at straws. Very shakespearean. - Gates and Flint; welp, Milena called it very early on. Gates was not a character destined to live. Scenes like this illustrate why I really love Black Sails, it strikes a really nice balance between realism and impressionism. There's the inherently melodrama/fantastical elements that are traditional to this sort of genre, but then moments that hold very serious dramatic weight. Big fan. Surprised at how relatively cool is Silvy is about the whole thing. For me it's still a bit too early to decide if Silvy is a little under-written, or the showrunners are just keeping is real nature up their sleeves. I guess we'll see. His optimism at the scene end is very exciting, however. -At 27:00, that's either very deliberate lighting design, or they really were shooting on location. Either way, very cool. - Silvy and Dufresne; again, very interesting to see Silvy acting as the voice of reason. Though at this point is his objective purely just self-preservation, or something more? I can't quite figure that out. - Flint and Dufrense; Flint most likely assuming Dufrense is on his side, for now. De Groot seems none too pleased for the time being as well. - El and Vane; Oh God, El's very much following the same direction as Flint here. Vane has her wrapped around her finger here, truly. Though I suspect that season 2 will bring with it far more maturity. I mean, it has to, otherwise she'll get herself killed. It's going to get so much worse before it gets better... - Jack and Vane; What I love about this scene is that regardless of how guilty Jack is or isn't of what Vane is chastising him for, it doesn't quite matter. Jack is Jack, and it would have been totally in his nature to fuck Vane over one way or another. Vane is no dummy, in this regard. Better to deal with the 'Jack' problem now rather than later. Still, I highly doubt that this is the end of their working relationship, despite what Vane says. - Flint and our boys; glad to see Dufresne really step up to the plate in this way. I'm glad that Silvy's part in all this is finally coming to a head in a satisfying manner, even if Randall is there to save him all the same. My first time around this was an incredibly tense scene to watch, Flint watching everything he's been working towards getting figuratively and literally blown to pieces. All the same, I feel it would have been a bit of a let down had they decided to kill of Flint in this scene. Were he a character with less lore (such as Gates, for example), then it would have been a brilliant season long arc, but there's so much build up for him as a character that having us see what's in store for him in the second season was definitely a good call. Not much else to say on this scene and indeed the overall storyline other than Dufresne just happily climbed into my top 5 characters for the series so far. - Max and El; "There was a time were stopping halfway across this bridge would have been unthinkable to you". I love the dialogue in this show. At the beginning it felt a little heavyhanded, but it's so consistent that I totally dig it. It's really a terrifically written show. Again, everything Max says is evidence of this notion. She's going to be a great season 2 character, I can't imagine them not keeping her. - Vane with the cigar in his mouth reminds me of The A Team. If you know you know... - Our last scene of the season, fairly self-evident. I'm very interested to see if the following episode will take place immediately after this event or not. In either case, it's a hell of a cliffhanger that I'm really hoping will deliver.
TeaDrinker3000
2024-01-16 20:42:09 +0000 UTCSame :)
Isaac
2024-01-16 20:41:33 +0000 UTCFINALLYYYY. These uploads always make my day better. :)
Melkor
2024-01-16 20:41:10 +0000 UTC
