History Series / BlackSails

* LipstickLesbian: Max and Eleanor. Although it should be noted that according to Hannah New (Eleanor) both characters are sexually fluid, and more likely bisexual than strictly into women. Eleanor seems to have been in a relationship with [[spoiler: Vane]] at one point, and Max certainly doesn't seem to mind having sex with men (for money).

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Charles Vane, "Calico" Jack Rackham, and Anne Bonny.

BlackSails is a [[CostumeDrama historical drama]] airing on Starz, produced by MichaelBay (but don't let that deter you) and created by Jon Steinberg and Robert Levine. A prequel to TreasureIsland, the series focuses on Captain Flint, his allies, and his rivals during the Golden Age of piracy. It's meant to be a good deal DarkerAndEdgier than PiratesOfTheCaribbean and its like, and take up the mantle of Starz's signature show after [[SpartacusBloodAndSand Spartacus]] reached its end.

* DirtyCoward: The cook on the merchant ship in the beginning episode obviously thinks of John Silver like this, although Silver sees himself as an opportunist.

* DoomedByCanon: The fates of HistoricalDomainCharacter Charles Vane, "Calico" Jack Rackham, and Anne Bonny. [[note]] Vane will arrested in 1720, and then executed in 1721. Rackham and Bonny will captured in 1720, Rackham will be executed, but Bonny will live to die of old age in 1782. If Mary Read appears, she will die during childbirth in 1720[[/note]]

* LesYay: Eleanor and Max's relationship was a heavy marketing point; though they do seem to have a genuine relationship so far, not simply made for FanService.

* PinkBoyBlueGirl: Flamboyant thinker Rackham and gruff fighter Anne.

* BatmanGambit: At the end of the pilot, Flint devises such a plan to stop Singleton's attempt to seize captaincy. [[spoiler: He notices that someone was in his quarters and must have fiddled with Vazquez's log, so he presents Singleton as the culprit before his crew. After he kills him, he slips himself a note and handles it to Billy Bones. At this moment, he has no guarantee that will support him - Bones, over the course of a night, has pulled a gun on him, called him out on his crap and openly wondered if Singleton shouldn't be captain. Flint relies solely on Billy's trust in the coming end of Nassau and piracy - and wins.]]

* EndOfAnEra: The time for the pirates of New Providence Island is running out. A British warship has arrived in the Caribbean [[spoiler: with an arrest warrant for Robert Guthrie]]. Without a safe haven on the island and the ability to sell their loot through the Guthries, the pirates will not be able to maintain their ships or pay the crews. Flint has predicted this long ago and is pursuing the treasure galleon as a way to raise enough funds to avert or at least manage the coming disaster. Gates supports the plan as a OneLastJob before he has to give up piracy. Elisabeth is about to lose her freedom and independence so she does not hesitate to throw her support behind them.

* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: There is no doubt that the real Anne Bonny was a badass. A taciturn DualWielding killing machine, though? Not so much.

* BigBad: Captain Bane appears to be shaping up to be this

* LipstickLesbian: Max and Eleanor

* ActionGirl: Anne Bonney and Eleanor Guthrie
* AmbiguouslyBrown: Max, who appears to be multiracial and speaks with a vaguely French accent. Her actress is a Canadian of African, Russian, and Italian descent
* BaldBlackLeaderGuy: Mosiah, who seems to speak for a sizable number of the black members of Flint's crew [[spoiler: until Captain Bane murders him]]

* {{Bowdlerize}}: the preview version has all of the swearing muted and all of the nudity and blood blurred out

* DirtyCoward: The cook on the merchant ship in the beginning episode obiviously thinks of John Silver like this, although Silver himself to mostly be seizing opportunities
* FriendInTheBlackMarket: The Guthrie family are this, although they're buying stolen goods from pirates rather than selling them

* ForegoneConclusion: the plot of the first season of BlackSails revolves around the crew of the ''Walrus'' trying to track down and capture an extremely rich Spanish treasure vessel. This is the same treasure that TreasureIsland revolves around.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: Mosiah's black crewmates all seem to have extensive ritual scarring, and support Flint (at least after being bribed by Gates). Singleton challenges Flint's authority and wants to be voted in as captain, and is also has many terrible scars across his face. Of course, since they're all pirates (and supporting or opposing Flint doesn't necessarily make one good or evil) this is all rather ambiguous

* OnlySaneMan: Billy Bones and Gates support Flint but think his plan is somewhat crazy. Mr. Scott fills a similar role for Eleanor, trying to discourage her from loaning money to Gates because pirates are a poor investment

* ShoutOut /CallForward: as a prequel to TreasureIsland, it has several to the book--notably that John Silver's job on the ship is as ship's cook, much like his position in the novel

* ShoutOut: as a prequel to TreasureIsland, it has several to the book--notably that John Silver's job on the ship is as ship's cook, much like his position in the novel

* BigBad: Captain Bane

* DarkerandEdgier: Than more recent pirate fare.

BlackSails is a [[CostumeDrama historical drama]] airing on Starz, produced by MichaelBay (but don't let that deter you) and created by Jon Steinberg and Robert Levine. A prequel to TreasureIsland, the series focuses on Captain Flint, his allies, and his rivals during the Golden Age of piracy. It's meant to be a good deal DarkerandEdgier than PiratesoftheCaribbean and its like, and take up the mantle of Starz's signature show after [[SpartacusBloodAndSand Spartacus]] reached its end.