One of the raunchiest and bloodiest shows in recent years has set sail up the streaming charts. Spartacus has garnered a reputation for being one of the lewdest and most violent shows ever made. But what if we told you there’s an even better alternative, and it’s also a great historical series filled with action and great character writing? While many people are tuning in to the new Spartacus: House of Ashur sequel series, folks on digital streaming are finally paying attention to Black Sails.
Black Sails is currently available to purchase on the Apple digital store (formerly iTunes), as well as on various other digital streaming platforms. But it’s on the former that fans cannot get enough of the show. Black Sails is currently the second most popular TV series on the Apple Store charts, behind Cowboy Bebop in first place. The series first aired in 2014 on the Starz Network and ran for four seasons. Loosely inspired by real history, the show follows Captain Flint, who fights to defend New Providence Island after the pirates in the West Indies are declared global enemies of humanity by the British Navy. If the name Captain Flint rings a bell, it’s because Black Sails is a prequel to Robert Louise Stevenson’s classic novel, Treasure Island. The official synopsis reads:
“It’s 1715, and as Flint fights for the survival of New Providence Island — a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers — in the wake of threats from British and Spanish forces, he aligns himself with Eleanor Guthrie, daughter of the local kingpin, to hunt the ultimate prize and ensure his people’s survival. But standing in the way are rival captains, Eleanor’s intrusive father, and perhaps the bigger obstacle of all: John Silver, a young, fast-talking, authority-flouting sailor recently added to Flint’s crew.”
Black Sails was created by Robert Levine and Jonathan E. Steinberg. Toby Stephens starred as Captain Flint, with a supporting cast that included Hannan New, Luke Arnold, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Toby Schmitz, Clara Paget, Winston Chong, Tom Hopper, Zach McGowan, and Andre Jacobs.
‘Black Sails’ Is Perfect for Any ‘Spartacus’ Fan
It might not have the sword and sandals fight scenes that people enjoy from Spartacus, but it feels like both shows share the same DNA. Black Sails combines a love for history with a gripping, drama-filled plot as the pirates fight for survival and control every single day.
Black Sails was also a great critical success when it was released in 2014. The show holds an overall Rotten Tomatoes score of 81%, with a stronger user rating of 84%. As entertaining as Season 1 was, the show definitely found its footing in the second season, which earned a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. One RT user couldn’t say enough good things about the series, writing:
“I’m surprised, this season is better than the first !!! This series is getting better since battle scenes, violent scenes, more betrayals among other things … in conclusion it is like Game of Thrones but with pirates and I liked it.”
- Release Date
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2014 – 2017
- Network
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Starz
- Showrunner
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Jonathan E. Steinberg
- Directors
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Alik Sakharov, Steve Boyum, Lukas Ettlin, Stefan Schwartz, Clark Johnson, Marc Munden, Neil Marshall, Sam Miller, T.J. Scott, Michael Nankin, Rob Bailey, Roel Reiné, Uta Briesewitz
- Writers
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Dan Shotz, Lisa Schultz Boyd, Heather Bellson, Doris Egan, Michael Angeli, Michael S. Chernuchin, Peter Ocko, Josh Rothenberger
