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Trailer

Black Sails

2014 – 2017Show4 seasons38 episodesTV-MA

Action & AdventureDrama
75
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb8.2Metacritic597.8Rotten Tomatoes81%84%

A nerve-racking, brutally violent drama series about history and crime, with standout characters and direction.

Good for friends night · binge-friendly · thought-provoking

Skip it if you want to half-watch while scrolling · graphic violence bothers you · you're watching with family

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, laughs or comfort.

Shows with

Episodes

4 seasons · 38 episodes · best: S2E10 "XVIII." 9.6

Episodes

7.9
8.6
8.7
8.6

Story

Take what's yours.

The pirate adventures of Captain Flint and his men twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic “Treasure Island.” Flint, the most brilliant and most feared pirate captain of his day, takes on a fast-talking young addition to his crew who goes by the name John Silver. Threatened with extinction on all sides, they fight for the survival of New Providence Island, the most notorious criminal haven of its day – a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers, a place defined by both its enlightened ideals and its stunning brutality.

Feels like

  • Gritty Historical Drama
  • Political Piracy
  • Complex Character Study
  • Visually Stunning Sea Battles
  • Mature & Violent
  • Intellectual Dialogue
  • Deconstruction of Myth
  • High-Stakes Intrigue
  • Period Authenticity

Cast

24 of 76 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Neil Marshall, Alik Sakharov, Steve Boyum
Written by
Jonathan E. Steinberg, Robert Levine, Brad Caleb Kane
Produced by
Brad Caleb Kane, Nina Heyns
Music by
Bear McCreary

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

January 25, 2014 · April 2, 2017 · Ended

First aired
January 25, 2014
Last aired
April 2, 2017
Status
Ended
Length
4 seasons · 38 episodes
Age rating
TV-MA
Content
Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Drug Use
Genres
Drama, Action & Adventure
Original language
English
Also spoken
Spanish
Made in
South Africa, United States
Available in
42 countries

Tropes

Birds of a Feather, Godzilla Threshold, Rape as Drama +9

  • Birds of a Feather
  • Godzilla Threshold
  • Rape as Drama
  • Prequel
  • Historical Domain Character
  • Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other
  • Doomed by Canon
  • Anyone Can Die
  • Grey-and-Gray Morality
  • Curb-Stomp Battle
  • Yank the Dog's Chain
  • Democracy Is Flawed

12 of 93 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Black Sails?"

Questions about Black Sails

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Black Sails?

PrimePhiloThe RokuStarzSpectrum On DemandPlex

In the United States, Black Sails streams on Philo, Starz, and Spectrum On Demand, and it is free with ads on Prime, The Roku, and Plex. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 40 other countries.

Is Black Sails worth watching?

75
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 75 (IMDb 8.2, Rotten Tomatoes 81%, and Metacritic 59). Audiences rate it higher (81 out of 100) than critics (70).

Does Black Sails get better after season 1?

Yes: season 1 has an IMDb average of 7.9, and season 3 peaks at 8.7. The highest-rated episode is XVIII. (season 2, episode 10) at 9.6, and the lowest is III. (season 1, episode 3) at 7.5.

How long does it take to watch Black Sails?

38 h

About 38 hours: 38 episodes in 4 seasons of about 60 minutes each, aired from 2014 to 2017.

Is Black Sails good for date night?

Partner WatchAdultsFriends NightSolo Watch

It suits a quiet night in as a couple: romance is 6 of 10, but the viewing guide doesn't list it for date night.

What tropes does Black Sails use?

Birds of a FeatherGodzilla ThresholdRape as DramaPrequelHistorical Domain CharacterAw, Look! They Really Do Love Each OtherDoomed by CanonAnyone Can DieGrey-and-Gray MoralityCurb-Stomp BattleYank the Dog's ChainDemocracy Is Flawedand 81 more

TV Tropes lists 93 tropes for it, including Birds of a Feather, Godzilla Threshold, and Rape as Drama.