by Mary Anne Butler, Editor/Reporter/Photographer

So it’s Black Sails day!  Sure, the pilot has been available for a few days now, but IT’S PREMIERE DAY!  It’s a thing.  I was lucky and got to see the first episode and hear some of the music (live, music too) while at #SDCC last year.  To put it simply, I was pleasantly surprised.

Unfortunately, so often now when we hear ‘pirates’  we immediately go to the Keith Richards inspired Jerry Bruckheimer Disney flicks, right?  I went into the special viewing of the show without any expectations, only because I would possibly enjoy it better that way.  The executive producer Michael Bay might also cause a knee jerk reaction after what happened at CES, but think of his involvement as an investor, and you’ll enjoy it.  I talk a little about the Thursday night experience here, but I’ll also borrow some of my previous thoughts to round out this post.

There were pirates roaming the crowd gathered on the sidewalk waiting for the house to open (also, one side of the theater was closed off for a red carpet event featuring Sylvester Stallone and former CA Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger with their upcoming film Escape Plan, which made things interesting), piratical bandannas and buttons being handed out as….sorry I can’t help myself….BOOTY.   For those lucky enough to make it into the showing of Black Sails, a four song concert featuring series composer Emmy winner Bear McCreary and a fantastic live band made up of studio musicians and the amazing Raya Yarbrough.  I had the pleasure of sitting in front of Captain Vain (played by Zach McGowan from Shameless) and Mr. Scott (played by Hakeem Kae-Kazim) during the SDCC event, they were gentlemen and hilarious all night.  If you look at the picture, you can also see Edward James Olmos above them.  Ronald D. Moore attended the event as well, and I had to do a double take because in profile he and the composer looked strikingly similar.  The official title sequence complete with hurdy gurdy heavy theme song can be found on Entertainment Weekly.

But lets get into the meat and pota- I mean the grog and gruel of the show.  The official description of the show is “during the “Golden Age of Piracy”, the feared Captain Flint brings on a younger crew member as they fight for the survival of New Providence Island.”  Does that name sound familiar to you?  Captain Flint?  It should if you know your Treasure Island lore.  You’ll catch many familiar names during the run of the show.

The basic gist of the first episode (simply titled I.) is understanding how precarious Flint’s situation is with his crew aboard the Walrus.  Times have been hard, treasures and tempers are thin, leading up to a challenge for the position of Captain at the end of the episode.  This is the primary reason the ship and crew are first seen attacking an English ship in the hopes of plunder.  There are explosions a plenty, black powder and cannon smoke, scary war chants and a demon snaggle toothed swashbuckler all before the credits start.

I will skip ahead a bit to talk about the Island.  No, not the Dharma place, not Dr. Moreau, not even Gilligan’s Island.  I’m talking about Nassau Island.  A settlement built by the privateers to trade, sell, build, and carry on their lives when not on the seas.  It has everything a man (or woman) could want; inns, taverns, whores, and Blackbeard.   It also seems the show wants to fill their quota of boobs and uses of the word fuck within a five minute period while introducing the character of Eleanor Guthrie, and her no nonsense running of her father’s business.  (I liked it).

And boy do I feel bad for Billy “Who’s Billy?” Bones  and his baby sitting Flint experience.  He really does try to do his best, making sure all hell doesn’t break loose while meeting with Mr. Guthrie….and how bout Guthrie!!  Holding it together like a proper Englishman.  “No, I am fine, I haven’t been stabbed, I’m not sitting here bleeding all over my beautiful rug.”  Also, Captain Vain, Rackham, and Anne Bonny running around causing mischief.  (I’m almost wondering if Mary Reed will also make an appearance in the show’s run, and how cool is it that my name is two of the most notorious women pirates put together?)  Make sure you watch entire pilot, it really sets the tone for the second episode.

Not since Pirates of Darkwater has there been a pirate-centric show that’s captured my attention with this nautically nuanced adventure, so drink up me hearties and set your heading to Starz Network tonight at 9pm est for Black Sails.

(And I’m totally waiting for Outlander so the pirates on Black Sails can capture Jamie and Claire Fraser)