On August 28th, season four of the acclaimed Black Sails will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray, alongside the complete collection, containing all four seasons, also available in both formats. Since the initial debut of season one back in 2014, Black Sails has attracted a cult following, and has often been described as Game of Thrones with pirates.
Set in the mid-1700s, the TV series presents an original back story to the well-known Treasure Island book written by Robert Lewis Stevenson. Whilst Black Sails shares several characters with the book, its own story has many differences and is more of a homage to Stevenson’s work rather than a direct prequel. Like the book, Black Sails does feature several pirates known to have lived in real life, such as Charles Vane (Jack McGowan), Black Beard (Ray Stevenson), Jack Rackham (Toby Schmitz) and Anne Bonny (Clara Paget), which adds an exciting spin to the narrative that even the likes of Games of Thrones does not have, even though the events and relationships depicted in the series are highly fictionalised. Throughout the four seasons of Black Sails we are shown the rise of Long John Silver (Luke Arnold) from a nobody to the infamous character familiar to us from Treasure Island. Also taking centre stage is Captain Flint (Toby Stephens), a minor character in the book, but a prominent and controversial figure in the TV series.
What of the fourth and final season? Already in seasons 1-3, events have crossed over with the book in several meaningful ways making the series more of a re-imagining rather than a back story; season 4 continues this trend. That being said, these similarities could simply be considered history repeating itself rather than precluding the events of the book. The opening of season 4 picks up exactly where season 3 ended, with our key characters pushing hard to free Nassau from British occupation whilst reeling from, and seeking revenge for, some shocking deaths.
The production design of the show is as impeccable and impressive as always, painting a vibrant and believable world that is as dangerous as it is exciting. Black Sails has been nominated for several Visual Effects Society awards over the years, and has won three; the last award was for outstanding visual effects in a photo-real episode for episode XX (20) in season 3. The award ceremony was held in February 2017, before season 4 was aired, but it would not be at all surprising for Black Sails to win again for an episode in season 4 next year. Motivating use of such impressive visual effects is the compelling narrative following the series-spanning story arch of the fight for Nassau’s independence from British rule, but is ultimately about the lives of the characters that inhabit it. Season 4 continues to drive the gripping story forward and provides satisfying conclusions to the events that unfold, as well as for the individual stories of the characters themselves.
In addition to the story and production, the acting of all the cast is also on point, but standouts as ever are Stephens and Arnold whom are both brilliantly charismatic and believable as Captain Flint and John Silver respectively. In season 4 the pair have come to respect each other greatly which creates a strong and oddly fascinating friendship which has a significant bearing on the remaining story. Just like other big production TV shows, Black Sails has a large cast; some shows of the same ilk consequently fail to give all their characters enough screen time, but Black Sails manages to strike a suitable balance that gives the time that each character needs. This is particularly welcome as the series draws to a close.
Season 4 of Black Sails provides all the action, story and endings that the series deserves. Black Sails is an exciting and gripping drama about pirates and adventure that is not to be missed.
Black Sails season 4 is out to own on Blu-ray and DVD now.
