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Season 1 – Black Sails

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Black Sails Jan 2014 Adventure History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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65% Tomatometer 49 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A prequel to the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novel "Treasure Island," "Black Sails" is a pirate adventure that centers on the tales of Captain Flint, who has a reputation throughout the West Indies as being the most brilliant, most feared of all the Golden Age pirates. 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.
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Black Sails — Season 1

Black Sails — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Black Sails boasts visual appeal, but the show's bland characters aren't strong enough to keep the show from being dragged down into its murky depths of aimless exposition.

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Critics Reviews

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Brad Newsome Sydney Morning Herald Jan 30, 2019
The characters are big, the stakes and the production values are high, and the killing is intimate and ugly. Go to Full Review Mekeisha Madden Toby TheWrap Dec 30, 2014
Anyone expecting a rip-roaring, swashbuckling good time from Starz's new pirate series Black Sails, will have to be patient. Go to Full Review Nancy DeWolf Smith Wall Street Journal Dec 30, 2014
Black Sails may succeed or fail on the strength of its appeal as a treasure tale with soft-porn slasher features. But the show is not without some memorable lines, though some of the best ones are unprintable. Go to Full Review Sachin Trivedi International Business Times May 2, 2019
Black Sails promises a lot of action and intrigue to its fans. Go to Full Review Tim Surette TV.com Jan 30, 2019
When Black Sails did take to the seas, it was staggering. Go to Full Review Chris Gardner The Post NZ Jan 29, 2019
Black Sails has enough sex, violence and filthy language to make even the most ardent [Game of Thrones] fan sit up and take notice. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Michael T. @TurnerMichael86 Feb 26, 2026 One of the greatest shows of all time. Perfect dialogue, character development, storytelling, pacing, cinematography, crisp graphics, proper practical effects, immaculate set designs, costuming, casts...literally everything is perfect See more Nigel S @Funkleberry Feb 22, 2026 The most disappointing of the four series, after which, the story takes off! See more Mizzo R @RT97001248 Mar 24, 2025 Pirates of the caribbean for adults. Love it. See more Cameron L @RT86048336 Jan 19, 2025 This is one of the best pirate shows out there. Mixing real people with Treasure Island characters is the best. But way to kill the end of the season. That's twice there's been a grappled neck break and it's bs and everyone knew it even in 2014. Like if we lived in a world where a strong guy could just go around breaking necks..... so sick of creators thinking they know better. Medical realism trumps whatever Hollywood bs rationale you have. Especially when so many people work in health care. It's so disrespectful. See more Felix T @RT65172655 Oct 29, 2024 How did this get 4 seasons. It is just a weak imitation of Game of Thrones on the seas. It is stuffed with violence that doesn't forward the plot, sex that is just gratuitous and weak characters name-dropping famous names instead of making a name for themselves. Read a book and skip this series. See more Greg M @SolisisQ Oct 17, 2024 I'm going with middle ground for this whole show. It never really grabbed me. Tons of talk, little pirate movement. It comes together well, and has some excellent moments, but all together is not all that captivating. I'm actually a little surprised I got through all 4 seasons. I just wanted it to be better somehow. See more Read all reviews
Black Sails — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Levine

Creator

Jonathan E. Steinberg

Creator

Toby Stephens

Captain Flint

Hannah New

Eleanor Guthrie

Luke Arnold

John Silver

Jessica Parker Kennedy

Max

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 25, 2014 I. Pirate Capt. Flint faces a mutiny from his own crew; John Silver hides something of great value; Eleanor keeps order on New Providence as the Royal Navy grows stronger. Details Episode 2 Aired Feb 1, 2014 II. Flint reveals a thief on his crew; Silver and Max hide in a brothel; Eleanor faces a difficult choice. Details Episode 3 Aired Feb 8, 2014 III. Flint and Gates seek additional help in their search for the Urca d'Lima; Silver and Billy tackle a morale problem; Eleanor is impressed by Vane; Gates is promoted. Details Episode 4 Aired Feb 15, 2014 IV The Walrus crew suffers a disastrous undertaking; Flint receives a warning about Billy; Eleanor turns to her father for help; Vane is visited by a figure from his past. Details Episode 5 Aired Feb 22, 2014 V. Flint and the Walrus crew play a chess match; Richard forces Eleanor's hand; Rackham makes a career change; Bonny confesses. Details Episode 6 Aired Mar 1, 2014 VI. Chasing the Andromache is a pricey endeavor; Eleanor needs help from Silver; Billy believes Gates should confront Flint; Bonny takes a stand. Details Episode 7 Aired Mar 8, 2014 VII. Flint comes clean with Gates; Randall's actions cause problems for Silver; Eleanor suffers a loss; Max helps Rackham; Vane faces his biggest challenge. Details Episode 8 Aired Mar 15, 2014 VIII. The hunt for the Urca begins; things change for Eleanor; Bonny and Rackham are haunted by their past sins. Details

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Black Sails — Season 1

Black Sails Black Sails View more photos

Season Info

Director
T.J. Scott, Marc Munden, Sam Miller, Neil Marshall
Creator
Robert Levine, Jonathan E. Steinberg
Executive Producer
Jonathan E. Steinberg, Robert Levine, Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, Andrew Form, Chris Symes, Brad Kane, Dan Shotz
Screenwriter
Jonathan E. Steinberg, Michael Angeli, Heather Bellson, Brad Kane, Doris Egan, Robert Levine
Network
STARZ
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Adventure, History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jan 25, 2014
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