Black Sails Season One Review

There are no spoilers in this article.

Every child at some point in their life has had the fantasy of wanting to be a pirate during the Golden Age of piracy (1700s) and dreamt of walking the plank, sword fighting and sailing the seven seas. Admit it, you were one of them. But now that you’ve “grown up” it’s not really socially acceptable to lose yourself into a fantasy like this anymore and, not to mention, your tastes have matured. Yet at times, you still want to connect to your inner child with a more developed outlook of the world. In the world of media, there have been few chances for you to lose yourself into a fantasy like this with the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise and the latest ‘Assassin’s Creed’ game being a few of the exceptions. 

And then ‘Black Sails’ came along. Aired on the American network Starz, the detailed and somewhat grounded pirate series presents an opportunity for the viewer to immerse themselves into the West Indies of the 1700s and connect with the characters. Written as a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous novel ‘Treasure Island’ and produced by the experienced Michael Bay (producer of big-budget Hollywood blockbusters such as the ‘Transformers’ franchise, ‘Pearl Harbour’ and the upcoming ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’), the show takes the characters as well as fictionalized versions of real life pirates – including Charles Vane, Anne Bonny, Jack Rackham, Benjamin Hornigold and the infamous Blackbeard – and places them into a raunchy version of New Providence, vividly showcasing the daily life of pirates. ‘Black Sails’ first season follows the story of the fearless (and fearful!) Captain Flint and his crew’s hunt of the Spanish treasure galleon, the Urca de Lima. A classic pirate storyline. So what makes this show so special?

Wrapping up its first season just a few weeks ago, what ‘Black Sails’ achieves by being able to break beyond the realms of getting dragged down into prime time television censorship, is a show with mature and intricate plotlines that’s accompanied by ambitious visual effects, lavish set pieces with the addition of blood and gore… Not to mention the occasional sex scene. The programme opens with this quote:

“In 1715, West Indies, the pirates of New Providence Island threaten maritime trade in the region. The laws of every civilized nation declare them hostis humani generis; enemies of all mankind. In response, the pirates adhere to a doctrine of their own...war against the world.”

From the very opening shot of this quote till the explosive season finale, the show really helps to highlight the ruthless reality of a pirate’s life in the 1700s. To help support a generic story ideal of pirates hunting for booty, the series adds tales of murder, betrayal and deception to help encapsulate the viewer into this much grounded fictional world. As well as this, through the use of morally sketchy characters – all who have their own diverging motivations – the season creates a satisfying clash between the horrors of greed gone awry and the sanctity of the chain of command by concealing their true ideas and motivations behind smoke and mirrors. This is helped by strong performances from the likes of Toby Stephens (‘Die Another Day’) and Mark Ryan (‘The Prestige’) as Captain Flint and his Quartermaster Mr Gates respectively, all the more noticeable as the season progresses. Not to mention a captivating performance from the new star Luke Arnold as the sleazy, scheming John Silver who only keeps you guessing all season long, adding to the dynamic of the cast.

The pirate-based action-adventure series also has an accomplished musician in Bear McCreary who composes the score of the show. McCreary’s other work in composing television music stretches from ‘The Walking Dead’ to ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ along with many other primetime shows. Having a skilled composer behind the wheel also helps in setting the tone of the show, to build suspense and to heighten the action.

As it is easier to pinpoint the positives of a show after a season has finished, it’s also as easy to highlight the negatives. The main drawback from the debut season of ‘Black Sails’ would have to be the number of episodes; there is not enough. With only eight episodes, the season lacked in not being able to expand as much as it could have and resulted in certain characters not getting enough screen time towards the end of the season. As well as this, it almost seemed certain that the show – from the opening two episodes – that it might become dragged down by its own amount of detail. Fortunately, this was not the case as you learn from the progression of the season as it had to only set up the multiple overlaying story arcs that amount to an epic finale.

The good news is, the show was renewed for a second season six months before the first season had even aired due to positive fan reaction, and only adds to my point that ‘Black Sails’ really is a hidden gem of a show with few drawbacks. If you like good plotlines, exciting characters, impressive special effects and yes, pirates, then this is the show for you.

The Original release poster of Season One, Starz new hit show

Bad Neighbours Movie Review

Movie poster for the International release

Seth Rogen has had a few hits (The 40 Year-Old Virgin) and misses (The Green Hornet) accredited to his name and Bad Neighbours definitely feels like a hit. Rogen and comedy are really a match made in heaven and once again this film emphasises that. The raunchy and outrageous comedy about a young couple coping with their new found parenthood and suburban lifestyle are unexpectedly thrown into a hazing war against their new neighbours Delta Psi, who happen to be a fraternity, known for their excessive partying.

Bad Neighbours boasts an impressive cast with Seth Rogen and Rose Byne starring as the young couple, contrasted well against the tumultuous fraternity leaders of Dave Franco and the impressively jacked-up Delta Psi president Zac Efron; the latter who really entwines the film together, breaking out of his “Disney” mould and unlocking a new side of his acting potential that he fits into nicely. Other standout members of the cast adding their own personal touches to their characters include Chirstopher Mintz-Plasse, Hannibal Buress, Lisa Kudrow as well as brief cameo appearances from Andy Samberg and the cast of Comedy Central’s hit show Workaholics.

With a solid overall storyline based around the themes of growing up, trust and accepting who you are, the film also allows time for character development for each of its main cast members with ample screen time… which is not wasted!

A comedy that will have you laughing and creasing from start to finish with countless jokes and well executed graphic humour, all constructed in good taste and, this film definitely stands out among the summer hits of huge, dark Hollywood blockbusters. The whole premise of the film feels like a mixture of National Lampoon’s Animal House and American Pie with a sprinkle of Seth Rogen-ness, who only enhances the comedic action. Not only that, Zac Efron and Dave Franco’s pairing is an impressive and organic comedic match, much like Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum’ pairing in 21 Jump Street. With the ending left open with the possibility of a sequel, this would be one sequel that I would happily welcome.

4/5 stars.

Original TV Programming Vs Spinoff Shows - You Spin My Head Right Round!

No one really likes change. And that’s why everyone loves television spinoff shows, right? It encapsulates what made that original television programme you’ve come to know and love while carrying on the legacy of that show in to a new setting and postponing the TV show’s equivalent of a judgement day; cancellation.

But when does that really happen successfully? Since the turn of the century, the creators of such great shows along the likes of ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ ‘Family Guy’ or even ‘Supernatural’ have had the trouble of letting them run their course and consequently, helped to create and overstretch a plethora of episodic mayhem that differs from what made the original seasons (or episodes) stand out in the first place, just to keep making money and to satisfy the fat cats at the top!

The cast of Torchwood

Their answer: to make spinoff shows. In some cases however, spinoff shows can prove to be beneficial to a brand and expand a particular universe in a strong and independent way without taking anything away from the original. Take ‘Torchwood’ for example; the spinoff from the world famous ‘Dr Who’ series that took the quirky and loveable John Barrowman and co on a four series adventure which proved to be a hit among critics and fans alike. In its short history, Torchwood covered fragments of a huge universe already established by ‘Dr Who’ in a much more mature light with compelling and more coarse storylines (as it was aimed at an older audience), building upon its predecessor and helping to distinguish itself from its parent programme yet remaining within the same universe.

And what about ‘Ashes to Ashes’? If you don’t know about this show, it was another series that came from the depths of the BBC’s creative department and, was arguably more successful than its parent programme ‘Life on Mars’ as it spanned two seasons more. The police procedural sci-fi drama television series set in the 1980’s and Philip Glenister proves just how successful a spinoff can be and – like ‘Torchwood’ – are easily accessible to a viewer who might not have watched the parent programmes.

Yet in my opinion, these are just a few of the gems in the spinoff game that have worked well and were really justifiable in their attempts to expand a certain televisual universe. There’s always a sense of trepidation for a fan when the creators try to take a programme that doesn’t really need a spinoff and then almost jeopardise the entire franchise they’ve built. Without going in to too much detail, one of the most unnecessary, misguided and a poor excuse of a spinoff show of the last decade would be ‘Joey,’ the spinoff from the much loved ‘Friends.’ It’s understandable why NBC wanted to continue ‘Friends’ in some shape or form after it had run its course, but Joey’s lovable, womanizing and dim-witted ways only worked on ‘Friends’ because he was able to play off the rest of the gang. Not to mention, he only came in small doses making his character on ‘Friends’ that all more successful. Take them away and you’re left with a show that was cancelled halfway into its second season with its last eight episodes never being aired.

Dial back the clock a few years before this to ‘Saved by the Bell.’ If you ever had the chance to watch this show (or if you HAVE the time to watch it, then I highly recommend you do) then you would know that this show arguably planted the seeds for today’s sitcoms that are centred on a group of friends, getting into hijinks and shenanigans week after week as well as highlighting a number of social aspects. However, there was not just one, but two spinoffs that were ridiculously ill-conceived and unnecessary. ‘Saved by the Bell: The College Years’ and ‘The New Class’ struggled to adapt its parent series’ enduring corny humour to the serious social issues that it created throughout the series, which resulted in it being shunned by fans and tainted the original.

While spinoffs continue to be a touchy subject within the world of television, there are just some shows that do not require one and should just stay as a standalone brand. However, some networks, especially in today’s market do not see it like that; they see another potential revenue stream. They know that fans of the original shows would still tune in to give their verdict as well as it acting as another opportunity to draw in new viewers.

The title of the forthcoming 'Breaking Bad' spinoff

One network that seems to be taking this approach is AMC; by giving the green-light to spinoffs of ‘Breaking Bad’ with ‘Better Call Saul’ and an untitled ‘The Walking Dead’ spinoff respectively. The reason that ‘The Walking Dead’ is such an engaging show is because it tells a psychologically compelling story that is unique in the current TV landscape. Trying to duplicate that formula will just dilute the brand’s impact and could perhaps overkill it (excuse the pun). And while everyone loves Bob Odenkirk’s sleazy lawyer in ‘Breaking Bad,’ it’s personally hard to get excited for this prequel series. Saul worked best as a much-needed comic relief in the show’s tensest moments and, without knowing exactly what the show will offer yet, it’s hard to imagine shifting him into the protagonist role and building the same kind of drama. But most of all, I fear that this show will become an ugly footnote forever attached to an otherwise great and original series.

Speaking of original programming, it’s clear to see why they always do so well… Because they’re ORIGINAL! The most successful and original shows start from the ground up, perhaps borrowing a format from another show, like ‘Community’, or from another source entirely, like the Starz network’s ‘Black Sails’ but they ultimately distinguish themselves with unique attributes within an era of countless games and competition shows and reality TV tripe. 

‘Community’ is an American sitcom that follows a group of mature students at a community college in the fictional and dysfunctional locale of Greendale. The difference between this sitcom that follows a group of friends over others is that the series heavily uses meta-humour and popular culture references, often parodying other films and television clichés and tropes as well as creating outrageously ridiculous storylines like a school-wide game of paintball. Perhaps an acquired taste of humour, this show does however break the barriers of other sitcoms with at times, breaking the fourth wall, an almost fully animated episode, another where they are portrayed as puppets, a stop-motion Christmas special and many other aspects that have kept the show fresh and up-to-date after five seasons (expecting to be renewed for a sixth… and a movie #SixSeasonsAndAMovie – only fans of the show will get that, so let’s move on…). 

Taking your basis of a show from a book, done so well in ‘Game of Thrones’ can be seen as successful and perhaps even original – it’s not really – another show, in the form of ‘Black Sails’ does it better. The detailed and somewhat grounded pirate series presents an opportunity for the viewer to immerse themselves into the West Indies of the 1700s and connect with the characters. Written as a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous novel ‘Treasure Island’ and produced by the experienced Michael Bay (producer of big-budget Hollywood blockbusters such as the ‘Transformers’ franchise, ‘Pearl Harbour’ and the upcoming ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’), the show takes the characters as well as fictionalized versions of real life pirates – including Charles Vane, Anne Bonny, Jack Rackham, Benjamin Hornigold and the infamous Blackbeard – and places them into a raunchy version of New Providence, vividly showcasing the daily life of pirates as well as constructing a new and darker interpretation of the characters. ‘Black Sails’ first season follows the story of the fearless (and fearful!) Captain Flint and his crew’s hunt of the Spanish treasure galleon, the Urca de Lima. This form of original programming proves that these shows are slicker, different and in particular for ‘Black Sails’, provide a different take on familiar characters established in another medium and not a spinoff!

Yes, some shows can habit an acceptable spinoff if executed correctly and fight this concept of change and being buried into the depths of television archives, but 99% of the time they are unnecessary, poorly created and lack the soul of what made their parent show so likeable and successful.

'HIMYM' made it to an impressive nine seasons

And let’s not forget the planned spinoff for the sitcom ‘How I Met Your Mother’ with ‘How I Met Your Dad.’ After its much debated ninth season and series finale back in April (no spoilers here, don’t worry), the show had progressively gone downhill after season seven and had been painstakingly dragged out for a couple more seasons to a dried up season nine. As a major fan of this show since the beginning, it pained me to see the decline in quality… Although I was pleased (yet shocked) with the series finale however, which the showrunners had in place from season one, if you were interested! This was also a show that no one was really asking for a direct spinoff for in the first place. The planned spinoff is set to centre on a new group of friends with a lead female character, searching for her future husband. Personally, this is lazy as well as insulting to HIMYM’s once imaginative concept. Not to mention, unlike HIMYM’s cliché-subverting lead in Ted (Josh Radnor), a girl looking for love is as rom-com trite as they come. 

In the words of Barney Stinson… Wait for it? No thanks.