War is coming
The pirates and misfits in Black Sails are facing all kinds of new threats in season 3.
Black Sails Season 3 Sundays (from 12 March) History Channel (*186) 21:10
A storm is brewing on Black Sails (2014- current) and we’re not talking about weather from Cape Town, where the show is filmed. Captain James Flint (Toby Stephens) wants revenge after his beloved Miranda Barlow (SA actress Louise Barnes) was killed in season 2 episode 9 (19 June 2016) and he then escaped execution in episode 10. In a fit of rage, he turned to the dark side and destroyed Nassau in a blaze of cannons and fire.
Now three months after Nassau was destroyed, Flint’s demons have taken control “and he’s a bit crazy. He is hellbent on killing every magistrate that ever hanged a pirate,” says series creator Jonathan E Steinberg. “It comes across that Flint doesn’t really care anymore, but he’s a man with a plan. The more magistrates he kills, the more England is going to come and then he can take them on too.”
NEW THREATS
While Flint is off terrorising the world in the name of pirates, legendary sea robber Edward Teach – known better as Blackbeard (Ray Stevenson, Volstagg in the Thor movies, 2011 and 2013) – sails into port in episode 1 to find Charles Vane (Zach McGowan), whom he mentored back in the day. “Teach is looking for an heir and Vane is that man,” says Ray. But that’s not all – Jonathan teases that Blackbeard plans to “settle some unfinished business, which could mean trouble for Flint…”
Adding to Flint’s (and Blackbeard’s) woes is Woodes Rogers (Luke Roberts), the newly appointed royal governor who also arrives in Nassau in episode 1. Teaming up with pirate supporter Eleanor Guthrie (Hannah New), Woodes wants to restore order but his stance on pardoning pirates turns stone cold after he meets Flint – he orders “from now on, pirates will be hunted and hanged!”
DAVY JONES’ LOCKER
As with all pirate stories, death is part and parcel. In episode 9 (7 May), Eleanor, who’s buddy-buddy with Woodes and now supports his views, orders one of the main characters to be hanged, which has serious consequences for Flint, Blackbeard and every other pirate in the port of Nassau.