Black Sails 2.02
Feb. 5th, 2015 07:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakBeing back in Munich and reunited with my computer, even if the poor beast still gets coughed at, makes for more reviews.
In which Flint uses reverse psychology on poor Dufresne in order to create a situation where he gets back command of his ship. It was still a big gamble - Dufresne could have listened to Flint's (sensible) advice, even if it came from Flint, and/or he could have handled his first ship taking better - but it paid off, and instead of the "Flint takes back his command via a cunning plan" plot being stretched out for the remainder of the season, we're done with it by ep 2 without it feeling like a reset button. Dufresne wasn't experienced enough, not stupid, and he did see through Flint's plan eventually, just, alas, too late. (Dufresne being neither historical nor Treasure Island derived, I'm always extra worried about him.) Also, this interlude created the highly entertaining Flint and Silver double act which continues here, and may I say, Silver's solution to his own problem with the crew being not finding a magical way of making them like him in two days (which would have been unrealistic) but to use all the resentments within the crew against each other (because there always are) was a very future Treasure Island John Silver thing to hit upon. (Whereas his willingness to get beaten up in the process until the method succeeds reminded me of Ben Linus, who perfected this into an art form over at Lost.) Was also amused by his point to Flint that there isn't much difference between adult sailors and boys in the orphanage because yes.
Meanwhile, in flashback country: Future!Flint aka McGraw, despite priding himself on his realism and supposedly there to keep an eye on young Lord Hamilton, still comes across as more and more genuinely drawn in by "Thomas", and no wonder, because Rupert Penry-Jones plays him very endearingly idealistic without being obnoxious indeed. And since we know he's dead in the present, doooooomed. The fact that this is the relationship we see build, with no scenes between Future Mrs. Barlow and McGraw-Flint, continues to further my "Flint/Hamilton were an item in a three way arrangement until Hamilton tragically died" theory. Also, is McGraw's superior officer Richard Guthrie with an actual shave, as in Eleanor's unmissed father?
Speaking of Eleanor, on the one hand, it makes me frown a bit that the plot necessessitates she needs to seek out Vane for support, otoh, I can't see a plausible alternative because Lowe is such a psycho. If a man is willing to behead people right in front of you and makes mince meat of the guy willing to support you, you do need more muscle to protect yourself. Eleanor isn't an invulnerable superheroine, she has a life to loose in addition to a business. If Flint were around, she could also count on his backup since they're the closest thing they have on truly reliable business partners, but he's definitely not coming back before finally getting that Spanish gold in his hands, so it has to be Vane.
Anne-Max-Jack Rackham triangle: surprisingly doesn't go for the jealous Jack route but lets him figure out a way to use it to plan on getting a ship and a command back after all. Anne and Jack being historical characters and not famous for staying on land, he has a shot there.
In which Flint uses reverse psychology on poor Dufresne in order to create a situation where he gets back command of his ship. It was still a big gamble - Dufresne could have listened to Flint's (sensible) advice, even if it came from Flint, and/or he could have handled his first ship taking better - but it paid off, and instead of the "Flint takes back his command via a cunning plan" plot being stretched out for the remainder of the season, we're done with it by ep 2 without it feeling like a reset button. Dufresne wasn't experienced enough, not stupid, and he did see through Flint's plan eventually, just, alas, too late. (Dufresne being neither historical nor Treasure Island derived, I'm always extra worried about him.) Also, this interlude created the highly entertaining Flint and Silver double act which continues here, and may I say, Silver's solution to his own problem with the crew being not finding a magical way of making them like him in two days (which would have been unrealistic) but to use all the resentments within the crew against each other (because there always are) was a very future Treasure Island John Silver thing to hit upon. (Whereas his willingness to get beaten up in the process until the method succeeds reminded me of Ben Linus, who perfected this into an art form over at Lost.) Was also amused by his point to Flint that there isn't much difference between adult sailors and boys in the orphanage because yes.
Meanwhile, in flashback country: Future!Flint aka McGraw, despite priding himself on his realism and supposedly there to keep an eye on young Lord Hamilton, still comes across as more and more genuinely drawn in by "Thomas", and no wonder, because Rupert Penry-Jones plays him very endearingly idealistic without being obnoxious indeed. And since we know he's dead in the present, doooooomed. The fact that this is the relationship we see build, with no scenes between Future Mrs. Barlow and McGraw-Flint, continues to further my "Flint/Hamilton were an item in a three way arrangement until Hamilton tragically died" theory. Also, is McGraw's superior officer Richard Guthrie with an actual shave, as in Eleanor's unmissed father?
Speaking of Eleanor, on the one hand, it makes me frown a bit that the plot necessessitates she needs to seek out Vane for support, otoh, I can't see a plausible alternative because Lowe is such a psycho. If a man is willing to behead people right in front of you and makes mince meat of the guy willing to support you, you do need more muscle to protect yourself. Eleanor isn't an invulnerable superheroine, she has a life to loose in addition to a business. If Flint were around, she could also count on his backup since they're the closest thing they have on truly reliable business partners, but he's definitely not coming back before finally getting that Spanish gold in his hands, so it has to be Vane.
Anne-Max-Jack Rackham triangle: surprisingly doesn't go for the jealous Jack route but lets him figure out a way to use it to plan on getting a ship and a command back after all. Anne and Jack being historical characters and not famous for staying on land, he has a shot there.
