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Thread: Black Sails

  1. #1
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    Default Black Sails

    Has anyone been watching Black Sails? The third season just started and it seems like it is going to be interesting. What do you guys think about it?

  2. #2

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    I don't get Starz but I do have Encore, apparently a sister network. Encore was showing a show every night up to the season ending. It was OK but seemed to drag a bit with more dialog than action.

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    True Bob, season 2 was boring, too much dialogue. I hope S3 will be more interesting, especially for us, Captains
    Last edited by KDz; 02-03-2016 at 01:13.

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    Sounds interesting gentlemen.
    Could you expand on exactly what we are missing here in the U.K. please.
    Rob.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bligh View Post
    Sounds interesting gentlemen.
    Could you expand on exactly what we are missing here in the U.K. please.
    Rob.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sails_(TV_series) - from this it looks like an attempt to do 'Vikings' in the age of Sail, with Pirates!

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    Thanks Richard.
    From the preamble, it looks interesting, but when TV companies get hold of history and bend it to their wiill one never really knows without watching it does one.
    Rob.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bligh View Post
    Thanks Richard.
    From the preamble, it looks interesting, but when TV companies get hold of history and bend it to their wiill one never really knows without watching it does one.
    Rob.
    True! - I would give it a shot! - if any company over here in Blighty dared to show it!

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    Maybe they will bring out a boxed set before too long?
    Rob.

  9. #9
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    My last remark gave me the idea to check on Amazon, and guess what Rich?

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...ls%2Caps%2C470

    So I just bought season one to try it out.

    Rob.
    Last edited by Bligh; 02-03-2016 at 03:09. Reason: additions.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Herkybird View Post
    True! - I would give it a shot! - if any company over here in Blighty dared to show it!
    I think it is on Amazon's online services

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    Ther's bunch of free torrents, like https://kat.cr/usearch/black%20sails/

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    I've not seen this show. How does it compare to Crossbones?
    “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” ― Plato

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    Quote Originally Posted by 7eat51 View Post
    I've not seen this show. How does it compare to Crossbones?
    It's far better. I didn't care for Crossbones at all, but have been enjoying Black Sails since season 1.

    Couchtuner is another good site for online streaming. Make sure you've got an adblocker ;)

    http://www.couchtuner.bz/watch/black-sails/

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bligh View Post
    My last remark gave me the idea to check on Amazon, and guess what Rich?

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_...ls%2Caps%2C470

    So I just bought season one to try it out.

    Rob.
    Hmm, let us know what you think, if its good I may just get the season 1+2 set for my birthday?

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    Quote Originally Posted by surfimp View Post
    It's far better. I didn't care for Crossbones at all, but have been enjoying Black Sails since season 1.
    How would you describe the difference?

    I didn't care for Crossbones. I found it contrived, poorly acted and scripted, basically boring and not engaging. Granted, I only watched a few episodes, but I only watched a few episodes. I gave it a fair try, I believe, but the hook never took.
    “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” ― Plato

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    Quote Originally Posted by 7eat51 View Post
    How would you describe the difference?

    I didn't care for Crossbones. I found it contrived, poorly acted and scripted, basically boring and not engaging. Granted, I only watched a few episodes, but I only watched a few episodes. I gave it a fair try, I believe, but the hook never took.
    Black Sails is intended as the "prequel" to Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, so it tells the story of the rise of Captain Flint and Long John Silver and the vast treasure of Spanish gold at the center of the original book's plot. Central figures from the Golden Age of Piracy are present in abundance to flesh out the world, which revolves around the pirate-controlled port of Nassau. There are power struggles, intrigues, double crosses, the threat (to the pirates) of English and Spanish subjugation, and overall just a very fun and engaging presentation of what being alive in this time might have been like.

    Starz is most definitely not the BBC, and Black Sails is not Masterpiece Theater, but it's truly quite fun to watch. The action takes place largely in and around Nassau, and especially in season two there's something of a dearth of sailing action. I didn't mind too much, as the time was devoted to what I felt was worthwhile character and storyline development, but others have different feelings.

    A word of caution for those who might want to watch with kids - the first season especially has a fair amount of gratuitous nudity / sexual situations, which they definitely tone down as the seasons progress. The violence isn't too over the top in terms of gore, but there is definitely some. It's definitely something for adults only, IMHO.

    Season 3 is off to a good start with some great sailing action. Really looking forward to this one, I think it's going to be quite good.

    EDIT: Sorry, realize I didn't compare the two. I found Crossbones the same as you, contrived, and in many cases rather blatantly "borrowing" ideas that had already been done - and done much better - by Black Sails. John Malkovich just didn't work for me at all as a pirate, it was entirely too psychological and generally boring. Black Sails is nothing like that - it's a largely fast-paced adventure tale with protagonists pursuing their motives through overt and covert means. The characters are almost all interesting, and believable. It's quite easy to binge watch, so if you're prone to that, plan accordingly :)
    Last edited by surfimp; 02-03-2016 at 07:57.

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    Thanks for the review. I will have to think about this one then!

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    Thanks, Steve.

    I wonder if this will go the way of the Sopranos. With that series, as time progressed, the characters became less romantic, less likable, less glorious, as anyone engaged in such conduct would.
    “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” ― Plato

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    Quote Originally Posted by Herkybird View Post
    Thanks for the review. I will have to think about this one then!
    You can try a few episodes out for free via the links above, I've watched the entire series this way so far.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 7eat51 View Post
    With that series, as time progressed, the characters became less romantic, less likable, less glorious, as anyone engaged in such conduct would.
    Captain Flint's character arc alone is worth your time. It's really quite well done. He starts as the most upstanding of English officers, full of principle and sincere devotion to cause. He ends... well, we don't know yet, but (within the world presented) he becomes one of the most feared pirates of his age, so, you know... :)

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    Pure pirate porn.

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    Watched first two seasons on Amazon , really enjoyed it.

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    It's a fun show but leave everything you know of history, except for names, and age of sails ships behind.

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    I would have no problems, I happily watch 'Vikings'!!!!

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    It's kind of... ok... IF I pretend it's about something else than the history of the Scandinavian people.

  26. #26
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    True, True!

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    And largely British too by the way... There's much viking blood in the British.

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    I thought everyone here hated pirates, real: romantic or otherwise? I'm shocked.

    Glad to hear most are enjoying the show although I've yet to catch any of the episodes.
    "It's not the towering sails, but the unseen wind that moves a ship."
    –English Proverb

  29. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by TexaS View Post
    And largely British too by the way... There's much viking blood in the British.
    Er, actually, there have been several studies on Mitochondrial DNA in the more settled areas of the UK and there is not as much Scandinavian genome present - except in parts of Scotland, the isles, the Isle of Man and North west England, and then not much. (For details see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneti..._British_Isles ) - We seem therefore to have assimilated the Vikings into our population.
    Culturally, though, we have a LOT of Scandinavian influence! - for which I am very happy!

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    Quote Originally Posted by surfimp View Post
    Captain Flint's character arc alone is worth your time. It's really quite well done. He starts as the most upstanding of English officers, full of principle and sincere devotion to cause. He ends... well, we don't know yet, but (within the world presented) he becomes one of the most feared pirates of his age, so, you know... :)
    Intriguing. I enjoy character studies much more than plot lines. Thanks, Steve.
    “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” ― Plato

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    I agree, a nice mix of action and character development floats my boat too!

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    My series one arrived today, so I'll be off line for a few hours this evening.
    Rob.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Nightmoss View Post
    I thought everyone here hated pirates, real: romantic or otherwise? I'm shocked.

    Glad to hear most are enjoying the show although I've yet to catch any of the episodes.
    I would have preferred a navy tv-series but lacking that there's square sails and cannon so I take what I can get.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Herkybird View Post
    Er, actually, there have been several studies on Mitochondrial DNA in the more settled areas of the UK and there is not as much Scandinavian genome present - except in parts of Scotland, the isles, the Isle of Man and North west England, and then not much. (For details see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneti..._British_Isles ) - We seem therefore to have assimilated the Vikings into our population.
    Culturally, though, we have a LOT of Scandinavian influence! - for which I am very happy!
    Not that much of a surprise. You are twice as many as Sweden, Denmark and Norway put together.

    I've seen an idea that English should be considered a Scandinavian language and not just a Germanic language as the word order and grammar is more close to the Scandinavian languages and many basic words are Scandinavian. Usually you adopt new words from other languages.
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...1127094111.htm

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    English is language soup! - we have adopted language from most places on the planet!!!

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    Most languages do. That research from Norway was about the basic building stones of the language and the change from Old English to Middle English.

  37. #37
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    I often think modern English was designed to stop any foreigners learning it easily!

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    It comes easily enough for us Scandinavians. We learn it in third class in school. I'd say most ten years old and up can speak some English and almost all between 18 and 65 in Sweden can speak it well... with a dialect. It seems the politicians representing our country usually are the worst.

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    I, for one, am always impressed how people from other countries learn English so well!
    I think its true that we English are rather bad at learning foreign languages and seem to expect everyone to speak our language!

    Sorry for that! ... and well done to you!

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    I was speaking with Neil earlier today (love Skype). We were talking about Sue's and my upcoming trip to the U.K. and our need to learn the language. I hope, in exchange, that we'll be able to introduce some Chicagoese into the local dialects.
    “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” ― Plato

  41. #41
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    Quote Originally Posted by Herkybird View Post
    I, for one, am always impressed how people from other countries learn English so well!
    I think its true that we English are rather bad at learning foreign languages and seem to expect everyone to speak our language!

    Sorry for that! ... and well done to you!
    You were good at spreading it around so now we have a common language. You have not much of an incentive to learn other languages. I studied French too in school but have forgotten most of it by now. I'm mostly fluent in Java, C, C++, Objective C and other programming languages...

  42. #42
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    Fear not, U.S. TV has being doing that for years! I am sure like myself, everyone here likes meeting holidaying Americans, you are always amusing and polite from my experience, and you are always welcome!
    Its expensive over here for US visitors, for which I apologise! I really hope you have a good stay over here!

  43. #43
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    Quote Originally Posted by TexaS View Post
    You were good at spreading it around so now we have a common language. You have not much of an incentive to learn other languages. I studied French too in school but have forgotten most of it by now. I'm mostly fluent in Java, C, C++, Objective C and other programming languages...
    Impressive! as for French... Les Français ont toujours été nos ennemis préférés! (the French have always been our favourite enemies!)

  44. #44
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    With shots like this, how bad can it be, right??!!

    From Season 3, Episode 3


  45. #45
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    Looks good to me Steve, and I still have not had time to view series one despite my good intentions.
    Rob.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Herkybird View Post
    Er, actually, there have been several studies on Mitochondrial DNA in the more settled areas of the UK and there is not as much Scandinavian genome present - except in parts of Scotland, the isles, the Isle of Man and North west England, and then not much. (For details see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneti..._British_Isles ) - We seem therefore to have assimilated the Vikings into our population.
    Culturally, though, we have a LOT of Scandinavian influence! - for which I am very happy!
    Yes but Mitochondrial DNA is only passed on from the mother to the offspring. The lack of Scandinavian female carried DNA only proves most of the Vikings weren't female. If Viking males came and married local females, all of their offspring would have 50% Scandinavian Chromosomal DNA and 100% local Mitochondrial DNA. So areas with Scandinavian Mitochondrial DNA indicate areas where the Vikings settled long enough and in sufficient numbers that they brought wives to settle the land. That or areas where there were few local women and they had to bring wives.

  47. #47

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    Quote Originally Posted by Herkybird View Post
    ...(the French have always been our favourite enemies!)
    ...easy to beat.

    Not like the Huns.

  48. #48
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    Quote Originally Posted by Comte de Brueys View Post
    ...easy to beat.

    Not like the Huns.
    Huns are family

  49. #49

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    Where are the glorious days of the "King's German Legion" and "Belle-Alliance"?

    (...need to watch Sharpe's Rifles again.)

  50. #50
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    Indeed Sven.
    Not for this forum, but when we meet at Prague ask me to tell you about my theory of when things really went wrong in Europe.
    Rob.

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