STACK NZ Aug #76

FEATURE DVD & BD

PIRATES BAHAMAS OF THE

Starz’ pirate series Black Sails , a prelude to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island , continues on its course to greater success with a knockout third season.

Black Sails' creators claim the show is "set in and around a historically accurate time and place." But does it debunk myths surrounding piracy, or create new ones? • Actor Robert Newton invented the piratical growl of "Arrrrr!" in his role as Long John Silver in the 1950 film Treasure Island – a bad attempt at a West County accent. Black Sails ' John Silver (Luke Arnold) is a more articulate chap. Moreover, the series avoids other stereotypes like a peg leg, parrot on the shoulder, and eye-patches. • Nassau's brothel workers are far too healthy looking. Personal hygiene wasn't a big concern for seafarers either: the pirates of Black Sails boast dental work that's a bit too perfect. A PIRATE'S LIFE? • Charles Vane, Jack Rackham (aka Calico Jack), Blackbeard and Woodes Rogers are all real-life historical figures.

Xxxxxx the island is Woodes Rogers (Luke Roberts), the face of civilisation in the West Indies, who intends to put an end to piracy for good. “Woodes Rogers is an adventurer. A privateer. A man who has circled the world conquering different areas, winning gold, fighting,” says executive producer Dan Shotz. “But now he wants to conquer the thing that is unconquerable. He wants to conquer Nassau. He wants to be the guy that everybody remembers that has come to Nassau and has neutered the pirates, put them down, and reclaimed Nassau for England.” The interaction between the characters has always been a key element in Black Sails ’ appeal, but so too the cinema-quality production values and complex FX shots, with season three delivering several standout set pieces including Flint steering his ship into the eye of a hurricane. “We were drenched and had water firing at us horizontally for two weeks, which was testing at times,” recalls Toby Stephens. “But we knew that in the end it would be something never seen before on television -- not at this scale. For me that is really exciting. I can’t wait for the audience to see it.” “When Blackbeard returns to Nassau, he finds that through the decadence of success, the men have gone soft,” says Stevenson. “They’re not worthy to serve on ships. The pirates are not worthy to call themselves pirates. The captains don’t deserve to be called captains. They’re not the men he left behind. And this bites hard on him.” The other new antagonist on

C reated by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine, Black Sails was a success before the first season had even been broadcast, thanks to ecstatic reaction at San Diego Comic- Con in 2013, which led to the show being renewed for a second season of ten episodes, six months prior to its premiere. Now in its third season and with a fourth to follow in 2017, Black Sails blends historical drama and Stevenson’s fictional characters into an exhilarating mix of high seas adventure and the politics of piracy. Set during the Golden Era of Piracy, circa 1715, the ongoing struggle between the pirates and the British for control of New Providence Island (Nassau) becomes paramount in the third season, particularly for Captain Flint (Toby Stephens), who is now a feared figure following the burning of Charles Town. “The struggle for Nassau’s survival drives the story in season three,” explains Stephens. “For Flint, Nassau represents everything that he is. He would be lost without it and he will do anything to get it back, including taking on the British. The stakes are enormous for him and this develops throughout the season.” Flint is a haunted man following the loss of Miranda Barlow, making questionable decisions that endanger his crew. The third season builds on his relationship with John Silver (Luke Arnold), who having recently lost a leg is gradually discovering that his role in Flint's crew might be more important than self-interest. As the regular characters

DVD & BD

The struggle for Nassau's survival drives the story in season three

continue to discover their place in the chain of events that will eventually lead to Stevenson’s classic tale, a couple of new

additions threaten the status quo on Nassau – most notably the arrival of the notorious Captain Edward Teach (Ray Stevenson), aka Blackbeard.

• Maritime combat is accurately depicted in Black Sails , including fighting from strong points at each end of the ship as opposed to the main deck.

• Black Sails: Season 3 is out on August 11

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