Ranking of "BLACK SAILS" Season One (2014) Episodes
Below is my ranking of the Season One episodes of the STARZ series, "BLACK SAILS", a television prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 novel, "Treasure Island". Created by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine, the series starred Toby Stephens, Hannah New and Luke Arnold:
RAKING OF "BLACK SAILS" SEASON ONE (2014) EPISODES
1. (1.08) "VIII" - In the season finale, John Silver gives Captain Flint the last details of the schedule with the location of the Spanish treasure ship, the Urca de Lima. The situation for Nassau’s new black marketeer Eleanor Guthrie changes when the supply ships get sunk in the bay by estranged pirate Charles Vane. Meanwhile, with mutiny rising up aboard the Walrus, former quartermaster Hal Gates makes a vital decision.
2. (1.06) "VI" - The costs of chasing the Andromache and its guns continue to mount for Flint and his crew. Back in Nassau, pirate Anne Bonny takes a stand regarding Vane’s remaining crew and local prostitute Max. Eleanor turns to Silver for help regarding Max.
3. (1.01) "I" - In the series premiere, Flint and the Walrus crew intercept a merchant ship, where the page of the Urca de Lima’s schedule is located. Silver manages to get his hands on the page first and joins the Walrus crew as a cook in order to save his life. Meanwhile, Flint faces a potential mutiny led by a crewman named Singleton.
4. (1.05) "V" - The Walrus crew plays a deadly game of naval warfare when they engage Captain Bryson and the Andromache on the open sea to gain the latter’s guns. Meanwhile, Eleanor’s father, Richard Guthrie, forces her hand about his black marketing business when he makes an announcement to the locals about his assets being liquidated.
5. (1.04) "IV" - The Walrus crew suffers a disastrous undertaking when they engage in careening the ship’s hull . Silver warns Flint about first mate Billy Bones conspiring with potential mutineers. Vane’s former quartermaster Jack Rackham and Bonny try to regain their livelihood after Eleanor bans their captain from further business.
6. (1.02) "II" - Flint unmasks a thief within his crew. Rackham becomes involved in Silver and Max’s plans to profit from the Urca de Lima’s schedule over Vane’s objection. Max gives Silver sanctuary inside the town’s brothel. Eleanor faces a choice between her lover Max and her ambitions regarding the gold.
7. (1.07) "VII" - Flint tells Gates the truth about his plans for the Urca de Lima’s gold. Handicapped boatswain Randall puts Silver in a bind with new quartermaster Dufresne. Former house slave Mr. Scott ends his association with Eleanor as her right-hand man, due to her partnership with Flint. Max comes to Rackham’s aid regarding the new brothel he and Anne had acquired. In need of a new crew, Vane makes a deal with a man from his past to borrow his men, but ends up fighting a battle to the death.
8. (1.03) "III" - Flint and Gates seek help from Vane and Captain Benjamin Hornigold to hunt the Urca d'Lima. Silver helps Billy with a morale problem among the Walrus crew. Vane impresses Eleanor by being reasonable.