‘Gritty’ historical drama branded ‘underrated gem’ Black Sails is available to stream for free

Looking for a gripping historical drama to binge-watch this week? The epic period drama, Black Sails, has just landed on ITVX and all four seasons are available to stream for free now. 

Created by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine, the series is a prequel to Treasure Island, the famous 1883 novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. Set in the early 18th century, the series follows the life of feared pirate, Captain Flint (Toby Stephens).

The Emmy-winning show boasts an impressive 81 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been hailed by viewers as an “underrated gem”. With high production value, sharp dialogue and a blend of historical figures with fictional characters, Black Sails is a gritty take on the Golden Age of Piracy. 

Intrigued? Here’s all you need to know…

What is Black Sails about?

Black Sails follows Captain Flint and his crew as they fight to protect their debauched paradise, New Providence Island, in the 18th century.

The synopsis for the first episode reads: “In 1715 West Indies, the pirates of New Providence Island threaten maritime trade in the region. The laws of every civilized nation declare them hostis humani generis, enemies of all mankind. In response, the pirates adhere to a doctrine of their own….war against the world.”

Who stars in Black Sails?

Toby Stephens (The Split, Lost in Space) leads the cast as James Flint.

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He’s joined by Hannah New (Bridgerton) as Eleanor Guthrie, Luke Arnold (Scrublands) as “Long” John Silver, Jessica Parker Kennedy (Smallville) as Max and Tom Hopper (Game of Thrones) as Billy Bones.

Other cast members include Zach McGowan, Toby Schmitz, Mark Ryan, Rupert Penry-Jones and Harriet Walter.

What have viewers and critics said about the show? 

The series has been hailed as an “adventurous masterclass in pirate drama” and an “underrated gem” by viewers. 

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One person wrote on X: “This whole show, the story, the character development, the acting, its message, it’s all just magnificent,” while another described the show as a “masterpiece” and the “best pirate TV show ever”. 

Meanwhile, the series received mixed reviews from critics, with The Guardian hailing it as “tremendous high seas yarn,” while Variety said the drama “never quite takes off, developing into a tired treasure hunt with indifferent casting and stock characters”.

Why watch Black Sails? 

If you’re missing Game of Thrones, it’s worth checking out Black Sails. Despite praise from both critics and fans, the historical drama is still considered an underrated gem.

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This is perhaps due to the fact that it originally aired on Starz, a network with a smaller subscriber base compared to other streaming giants like Netflix and HBO. Plus, it was released in 2014, when Game of Thrones was three years into its run, and was perhaps overshadowed by HBO’s hit fantasy series.

Black Sails is available to stream on ITVX now.