Captain Flint, a gay character
The Cast of Black Sails Responds to This Week's Significant Revelation
In Saturday evening's episode of Black Sails, "XIII" (episode two hundred and five), the underlying reasons underpinning Captain Flint (Toby Stephens)'s character are at last understood.
From the onset of the inaugural season, this officer of the Royal Navy, turned pirate captain, has been an enigma—and also, a mystery when it comes to his connection to Miranda Barlow (Louise Barnes). With the disclosure of Flint's homosexuality, it becomes abundantly clear why he was compelled to leave London (he and his paramour were caught), why he was so enraged (the love of his existence was consigned to an institution because of their affair), why Mrs. Barlow is so involved in the future of Nassau (it was Thomas's cause), and what the significance of the book was (it was bestowed by Thomas to Flint as a symbol of their affection).
Given these fresh understandings, Rotten Tomatoes conferred with the Black Sails cast regarding their reactions to the major plot twist.
ZACH MCGOWAN (CAPTAIN CHARLES VANE): 'I THINK THAT THE FANS ARE GOING TO ADORE IT.'
"I reckon the fans will love it, in as much as it further validates [Flint's persona]... I mean, there will be individuals who are annoyed, like, 'F— that. You can't do that to pirates,' you comprehend? I'm truly thrilled for that discourse to transpire because it's likely a rare occurrence... To go back and depict his history and a homosexual relationship that is effectively what has steered him to become a pirate is, in my estimation, magnificent."
"I recall when we read [episode] five last year... we were all texting, like, 'Oh my God.' Then, we're on set like, 'Did you read that? Holy s—' he was basically persecuted by the populace who were supposed to be his community, along with the government. Therefore, I deem it will be, fundamentally, the bedrock for the remainder of the show, and I think that—you see? Those who do not favor it will be compelled to examine their motivations regarding why they dislike it."
Sean Cameron Michael (Richard Guthrie): 'How courageous is Starz to venture there with that?'
"I was clueless they would venture in that direction, and upon receiving the script, it said, 'Flint turns to Thomas and they kiss.' I was like, 'What? Seriously? F—. Whoa. Okay.' And I was like, 'Reread it. Where are my spectacles? Allow me to reread this. Seriously?' I was genuinely, genuinely shocked, and I was like, 'F—. How brave. How valiant are the writers. How courageous is Starz to delve in that direction'...I opine it's beautiful that Black Sails can explore this, that the story is capable of traveling there. And I believe what then materializes with all the flashbacks in season two, which are beautiful and astonishing, one virtually desires to immediately rewind the tape, swiftly revert to season one and reflect, 'Were there any hints there?' But I think it's excellent, and I believe it's remarkably, remarkably valiant that Starz is exploring it."
Jessica Parker Kennedy (Max): 'It's an astounding twist.'
"When I uncovered the news, I was shocked beyond shocked that the writers intended to steer the show in that way. I deem it a very captivating decision, you know? I assume in many ways, he truly needed a secret, and it's an enthralling one for them to opt to have him be.... However, having said that... homosexuality is simply something that has endured forever. It's not something novel. It's so interesting because we have the show with all these bisexual characters... It's an amazing twist. It's a tremendous twist because it comes out of nowhere, and it's not what you're envisioning."
Louise Barnes (Miranda Barlow): 'It felt so contemporary and so open minded.'
"They're not individuals who live with ease within the constraints of normal society at that time, but that she cherished her spouse, and he cherished her, and the relationship that Flint and Thomas shared by no means lessened the relationship she possessed with Thomas; it felt so modern and so open-minded... There were no compromises. It wasn't as if she felt deceived.
'There's that stunning scene where she's endeavoring to encourage him... she's articulating, 'This is your opportunity to rectify this,' and the scene demonstrates that their relationship is exceedingly complex and anchored in respect and deep admiration and fondness for each other... There are very few people with whom you have a relationship where you can call them on their s—, you understand? And she does. She says, 'No, that's not why you're here,' and she is the only one who can do that to him."
HANNAH NEW (ELEANOR GUTHRIE): 'We believe in the story lines.'
"I perceive women could evade those sorts of societal limitations, seeing that the idea of a romantic friendship between women was something that was sort of acknowledged in a way, and very prevalent in literature. I consider that for male bonds, it was never truly investigated at all openly. I was truly relieved that this was an aspect of history that was finally going to be witnessed on television because you have simply never observed that in a context of Naval men, who are purported to be symbols of masculinity, yet in actuality, have fostered this amazing friendship that has blossomed into something very wonderful.
Therefore, I was genuinely thrilled that the show possessed the temerity to take that on... We have faith in the storylines, and we believe that the individuals will be invested enough in these characters to grasp that it's a very significant facet of the narrative we are trying to impart. I believe, personally, that the audiences we're attempting to attract are going to be exceedingly content that there's some manner of portrayal, and so, for me, I'm merely thrilled to witness individuals at last, finally, exclaim, 'At last, at last!'"
Toby Schmitz (Jack Rackham): 'They've been setting it up from the outset.'
"God, it's good. You know what I relished about it? The kiss is insignificant when considering the grand revelation. It merely triggers a sequence. It was this substantial chain of events, and in the middle of it, there's a kiss. Before I observed it, I momentarily supposed, 'Oh, that'll be the grand 'Wow' moment,' but it's all the stuff that unfolds subsequently. Considering, right up to the kiss, I believe you're thinking, 'Oh my God, this is a three-way salon concept,' and then the emotional ramifications of how profoundly he loved him and how much he experienced shame constitutes the true power of the successive six or seven minutes following the kiss. That is knockout television, I conjectured. It's the series of events after the kiss. I supposed, 'Well, I haven't witnessed that on the telly and decidedly not on a pirate genre-mash show.' I surmised it was exceptional, and they have been establishing it since the beginning, that this is a sexually fluid realm. There are different rules here."
"I repeatedly consider Berlin, nineteen twenty-two, or San Francisco, nineteen sixty-seven, once the gloves are off concerning partner swapping, about following your actual instinct and discovering who you are sexually, and then the emotional aftereffects of that."
Clara Paget (Anne Bonny): 'I was very proud of them for incorporating that.'
"I cherished it because, naturally, going along with my storyline too, it's merely exploring these relationships during this period where gay and lesbian—it was not defined. It still isn't. For some reason, we'd prefer to define it and confine it to boxes nowadays. Therefore, I loved that narrative arc and having a male execute it for once. We've observed the girl-on-girl content, and it was time to showcase that. And, you know, they're at sea. It's comparable to being in the armed forces or in the navy. Of course, you're going to form these bonds. It's generally a male society, so it makes total sense. I think it's wonderful, and it's brave that they touched upon that... because they're these macho guys. To present that side on television with pirates is brave. I was very proud of them for incorporating that."
Black Sails broadcasts Saturdays on Starz at 9 pm. Season two is presently Fresh at one hundred percent. Review the reviews here.