Raise the BLACK SAILS

Article first published as BLACK SAILS Review on Seat42F.

Starz’s BLACK SAILS, a prequel to Treasure Island, opens exactly how one would expect such a show to begin – with a high-octane battle on the high seas. It’s exciting, with lots of fighting and bloodshed, explosions and combat. Basically, it kicks things off as a pay-cable pirate program should, reeling in the viewers with a flashy sequence that will hook those tuning in for just such a scene.

Because this is Starz, there is gratuitous violence and nudity. However, it’s not so much so that it distracts from the story. Instead, it’s the sort of enhancement subscribers have become accustomed to, and are typically used in the correct manner, not being a hindrance to the writing.

Underneath that, there are real characters and story that unfold over the hour, titled “I.,” perhaps a reference to its literary roots. Captain Flint (Toby Stephens, Vexed) is the leader of this pirate ship. His reign is threatened by a man named Singleton (Anthony Bishop, District 9) when Flint’s power seems to waver, with smaller and small hauls. Flint’s right-hand-man, Gates (Mark Ryan, The Prestige), does his best to sway opinion back the other way, but it may be too late.

This struggle is best illustrated through the part of Billy Bones (Tom Hopper, Merlin), whose loyalty to Flint is wavering, but whom still accompanies him on a mission to see their business partner, Richard Guthrie (Sean Cameron Michael, This Life), offering protection and counsel. Billy wants to keep the faith in his superior, but because he thinks the captain has grown weak, he considers turning away. Yet, he’s noble enough to give Flint the chance to win back his authority.

BLACK SAILS is not a story of noble people, by and large, but there is a certain honor code among a number of the characters. Flint seems intelligent and has a legitimate beef against those who would make the rules. Viewers will root for him to succeed in his quest to become king of the pirates, even as that goes against the law of the land. I supposed any series starring pirates, though, must strive to make them likeable characters.

Somehow, the pirate myths have taken on an air of romanticism over the years. These were hard men, outlaws who would slit the throat of an innocent man to steal his treasure without batting an eye. But there’s also an attractive, rebellious quality, a hint that they might stand for something and are acting out for good reason. Plus, they seem to lead a life of fun, and so we cheer their accomplishments.

The character in BLACK SAILS I found hardest to like is the one with the familiar name recognition, John Silver (Luke Arnold, Winners & Losers). We know he’s a treacherous fellow with a selfish streak, someone who will earn Flint’s trust and fear. This dynamic is set up right away in “I.” for Silver, though Flint is barely aware of the younger man’s existence. It’ll be interesting to see when Silver makes his move and in what way.

The rest of the cast is packed with a variety of interesting parts. Captain Vane (Zach McGowan, Shameless) seems like the villain of the piece, at least in its first season, while the motivations of Rackham (Toby Schmitz, The Cookes), another pirate, are more murky. We have Mr. Scott (Hakeem Kae-Kizim, 24), who seems to act more important than he is, and Eleanor Guthrie (Hannah New, El tiempo entre costuras), who may do the opposite.

Eleanor does feel like a stock character, the strong woman in an era that didn’t have many of those. Yet she also has a role to play that’s more than two dimensional. There are two other girls in the main cast, too, Max (Jessica Parker Kennedy, The Secret Circle) and Anny Bonny (Clara Paget, Fast & Furious 6), prostitutes with business acumen, who can be described the same way. The women in this show are not wasted or subservient when they don’t want to be, and whether they are historically accurate or not, they will be compelling parts.

There is a lack of suspense in the fates of certain characters because the story of Treasure Island takes place about twenty years after this starts, ensuring the survival of John Silver, Captain Flint, and Billy Bones. We also know this crew will eventually amass a large fortune, so their victory is guaranteed. That is, unless BLACK SAILS decides to toss out its source material and go in a completely original direction, which would be a refreshing surprise, sure to be delivered with great effect.

The challenges BLACK SAILS faces are the same as any prequel, admittedly, but the argument about being disappointed because the lack of stakes figures more prominently here than in other stories because it is such a dangerous tale. There is inherent risk to the pirate life, and we see people killed in the first hour alone. By removing any real threat to the lives of multiple main players, it waters down their story, as well as makes the other main characters more disposable, perhaps leading viewers to be less invested in those who aren’t around for Treasure Island.

Apart from these things, though, BLACK SAILS is an enjoyable and well-made show that I look forward to watching. Its characters and story are better developed than other recent Starz efforts, and the production looks terrific, using physical sets more than CGI (though there’s some of that, too), and building on a grand scale.

BLACK SAILS airs Saturdays at 9 p.m. ET on Starz.

The Secret Circle - "Pilot"

     The CW presents The Secret Circle, a new drama about witches from some of the same creative force behind hit The Vampire Diaries. The story follows Cassie Blake (Britt Robertson, Swingtown), who is forced to move in with her grandmother, Jane (Ashley Crow, Heroes, who doesn't really look old enough to play a grandma) after the untimely death of her mother (Emily Holmes). Almost as soon as Cassie gets to town, she is inundated with strange happenings. Five other local teenagers tell Cassie she is a watch, and together, they can form a circle. Just like their parents did so many years ago. But unlike their parents, whom one of each died during a magical accident years ago, these kids are sure they have a handle on things. Cassie isn't so certain. It is clear, though, that Cassie's presence makes each kid far more powerful than they were before.

     Life Unexpected, The Secret Circle is not. They both air(ed) on the CW, and both star Britt Robertson, but the similarities end there. This new series is about magic and murder, not finding family happiness. Cassie settles right on in with her grandmother, so they must be close before the series begins. But the past is buried deep for the Blake, and other families in the area. The secrets Cassie will be digging up will not be about her biological life-givers, but rather, what those people did when they were foolish young adults.

     Because The Secret Circle is on the CW, the obligatory teenage angst is present in full force. Cassie quickly falls for kind Adam (Thomas Dekker, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles). Sadly, Adam is already involved with someone, friendly Diana (Shelley Hennig, Days of Our Lives). Adam and Cassie are supposedly "written in the stars," so we'll see how that works it. It didn't for their parents.

     Rounding our the circle are bitchy Faye (Phoebe Tonkin, H2O: Just Add Water), Faye's sidekick Melissa (Jessica Parker Kennedy, Valemont), and the boy living next door to Cassie, Nick (Louis Hunter, Out of the Blue). Faye most wants to use the powers they all possess, calling a major storm to the town that Cassie must stop when Faye loses control. Nick also shows a wicked streak when he opens Cassie's bedroom curtains when she isn't decent. Is he playing a game, or is he malicious? Melissa really does nothing noteworthy in the "Pilot," so she remains a question mark.

     Despite Faye's bad deeds, Cassie's biggest threats will probably come from outside the group. The previous circle, or what's left of it, have their own dark secrets, and may not like the youngsters following in their footsteps. Diana's father, Charles (Gale Harold, Queer as Folk, Hellcats) is the one that actually murders Cassie's mother, tricking the girl into coming to town for unknown reasons, though Cassie doesn't know that. He is friendly with Faye's mother, Dawn (Natasha Henstridge, Eli Stone), though it is unclear, but likely, if Dawn knows Charles's methods. The third member of their former group in "Pilot" is Adam's father, Ethan (Adam Harrington, Dexter). Ethan is a drunk, but seemingly a nice guy. When Ethan tries to tell Cassie about her mother, Charles almost drowns him.

     There are enough unanswered questions and interesting possibilities to keep viewers intrigued for some time. If it unfolds as tantalizingly as The Vampire Diaries, it will have a lively, popular run. While the teen actors are mostly not ones I'm familiar with, Robertson handles herself well, and Dekker shows some real departure from his previous role. Plus, the adults cast are all wonderful, so the series should be able to grow some legs in short order.

     The Secret Circle airs Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET on the CW.

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