Crossbones - why it's terrible as a history lesson but enjoyable as a TV series (i've seen the first 6 episodes upon writing this)
If you are seeking historical accuracy in this pirate series, you need not watch one minute of Crossbones, because you won't find it. This is the type of series that says more about the 21st century, about the way we tell stories nowadays than the period it's supposed to portray. For instance, while I believe that people in a pirate colony might be looser from the conventional discrimination of the age than those in the Olde Country society, and that in such a place there might be more opportunities for enterprising women and freed slaves, it is still unconvincing that they could be pirates on equal footing with their white male counterparts. And there are many examples of dialogue, language and accents, motives, locations, dress sets and outfits where I thought "This will only make sense to a 21st century viewer, and would rankle with weirdness for hypothetical viewers from that era, or laughable datedness for viewers 30 years in the future."
Then there are plenty of other aspects that are improbable or unbelievable. Boats sailing right against the wind. Other violations against the laws of gravity etc. People who are careful to hide their life savings from their rivals just turn their back once a rival is carrying a box full of gold for them. The great navigational device that the plot revolves around: while there is a lot of talk about how it's built, never is it explained how it works - could it really be so self-explanatory to use? Also they don't seem to have much trouble navigating at all, what advantage could the device possibly give? The pirate Blackbeard speaks in poetic Shakespearian wholly unbefitting his reputation, John Malkovich being rather improbable a violent and volatile pirate in any case. All important actors healing miraculously fast from lethal-looking injury while characters unimportant to the story keel over from a scratch. The Antoinette subplot is just like they wanted to incorporate a horror story layer in the series, and it's quite laughable and interferes with the pace of the story. The hundred candles wastefully burning in every room, even the poorer houses, to provide a pretty but once again unbelievable set. There is plenty of violence to illustrate what a tough world it is. As such it works but I don't enjoy watching it. There are several plot holes, and other parts of the story are completely predictable.
So, it's mostly a fantastical tale with a period-dress pirate flavor. If you're willing to accept that, there's nonetheless enough to enjoy. I'm a sucker for just superficially beautiful images and period dress, the series offers just that. It's funny at times and the action scenes are often enjoyable, the characters keep me interested in what will happen to them or curious to what their true motives and backstory are. The actor who plays Lowe, the hero, I didn't know him before but he's really good. The series combines adventure and action, with drama, (b)romance, intrigue and horror elements - basically all over the place but has something for everyone not too critical. There are moral choices, political and semi-historical issues, a bit of philosophy, so it offers some things to think about and other things just to enjoy watching. In short, entertainment in the true sense of the word.
If you are seeking historical accuracy in this pirate series, you need not watch one minute of Crossbones, because you won't find it. This is the type of series that says more about the 21st century, about the way we tell stories nowadays than the period it's supposed to portray. For instance, while I believe that people in a pirate colony might be looser from the conventional discrimination of the age than those in the Olde Country society, and that in such a place there might be more opportunities for enterprising women and freed slaves, it is still unconvincing that they could be pirates on equal footing with their white male counterparts. And there are many examples of dialogue, language and accents, motives, locations, dress sets and outfits where I thought "This will only make sense to a 21st century viewer, and would rankle with weirdness for hypothetical viewers from that era, or laughable datedness for viewers 30 years in the future."
Then there are plenty of other aspects that are improbable or unbelievable. Boats sailing right against the wind. Other violations against the laws of gravity etc. People who are careful to hide their life savings from their rivals just turn their back once a rival is carrying a box full of gold for them. The great navigational device that the plot revolves around: while there is a lot of talk about how it's built, never is it explained how it works - could it really be so self-explanatory to use? Also they don't seem to have much trouble navigating at all, what advantage could the device possibly give? The pirate Blackbeard speaks in poetic Shakespearian wholly unbefitting his reputation, John Malkovich being rather improbable a violent and volatile pirate in any case. All important actors healing miraculously fast from lethal-looking injury while characters unimportant to the story keel over from a scratch. The Antoinette subplot is just like they wanted to incorporate a horror story layer in the series, and it's quite laughable and interferes with the pace of the story. The hundred candles wastefully burning in every room, even the poorer houses, to provide a pretty but once again unbelievable set. There is plenty of violence to illustrate what a tough world it is. As such it works but I don't enjoy watching it. There are several plot holes, and other parts of the story are completely predictable.
So, it's mostly a fantastical tale with a period-dress pirate flavor. If you're willing to accept that, there's nonetheless enough to enjoy. I'm a sucker for just superficially beautiful images and period dress, the series offers just that. It's funny at times and the action scenes are often enjoyable, the characters keep me interested in what will happen to them or curious to what their true motives and backstory are. The actor who plays Lowe, the hero, I didn't know him before but he's really good. The series combines adventure and action, with drama, (b)romance, intrigue and horror elements - basically all over the place but has something for everyone not too critical. There are moral choices, political and semi-historical issues, a bit of philosophy, so it offers some things to think about and other things just to enjoy watching. In short, entertainment in the true sense of the word.