Jeremy McLean's Blog, page 5
March 2, 2015
Black Sails Season 2 Episode 6 Review
One step forward, two steps back seems to be the only way Flint's story can function most of the time.
The scene that we left off on last week was not as great to pick back up on this week. Now that we're into the next episode, I'll allow a little bit of spoilers. It ended last episode with a battle between Vane and Flint just starting. Vane sneaks up on Flint and the two start going at it, then it goes to credits. It was a great way to end it.
This episode made that ending very anti-climactic. It opened with a short battle, but it was stopped by Elanor. No one won the fight, no one was seriously injured. I guess the only good thing was that it left me wanting more.
After that, Flint tries to negotiate to get the kidnapped girl Vane has in his possession, but can't convince Vane that it's the right move to make. Flint is trying to play all sides, and says he'll stop the attack on the fort if the girl is released, because the girl is the daughter of an English dignitary who can help give the pirates of Nassau pardons and thus enable them to have real jobs again. Vane, understandably, is unconvinced that Flint can accomplish this, as he doesn't know who Flint really was before becoming a pirate.
Elanor makes a deal with Flint that she will promise the girl to Flint and honour the deal behind Vane's back. This again strikes a parallel between Flint, as she too is trying to play all sides to make sure Nassau profits the most, and also make her into a legitimate businesswoman. This shows her character and desires more than ever before, and it was a nice subtle character development.
Flint, meanwhile, tries to appease Hornigold with the deal by telling him the same idea for the future, but it would mean that Hornigold doesn't get his fort back so Hornigold isn't buying into it. He makes a move to take control of their combined crews by vote, which doesn't take place in the episode yet. While this development was surely going to happen, it's almost unwelcome. I would like to see the spanish gold side of things resolved, though I know that that probably means the end of the series.
To further disrupt Flint's plans (the whole two steps back side of things) Billy returns to the crew. At first it seems that he will help Flint, as he tells the crew that he wasn't pushed off the ship, but he fell off and Flint tried to save him, but then he tells the quartermaster that he was given a pardon for him and nine others to bring Flint in. The only problem is of trust in Flint, the same issue Vane has (again, a parallel) and whether they take that route, or Flint's.
Jack/Anne/Max's story finally is getting some tie in with Flint's side, but not nearly enough, as it's relatively short lived. Jack's first turn as being captain find's him in a predicament with another crew after the same booty. I loved seeing the way that Jack dealt with the issue to ensure that his side got the most, and also made his crew trust him. It felt similar to that of Flint's issues in the first season. Lies and deceit are the way to gain trust in this world it seems.
This was a good episode overall, the series is definitely building to something, I just wish it would build a little faster.
The scene that we left off on last week was not as great to pick back up on this week. Now that we're into the next episode, I'll allow a little bit of spoilers. It ended last episode with a battle between Vane and Flint just starting. Vane sneaks up on Flint and the two start going at it, then it goes to credits. It was a great way to end it.
This episode made that ending very anti-climactic. It opened with a short battle, but it was stopped by Elanor. No one won the fight, no one was seriously injured. I guess the only good thing was that it left me wanting more.
After that, Flint tries to negotiate to get the kidnapped girl Vane has in his possession, but can't convince Vane that it's the right move to make. Flint is trying to play all sides, and says he'll stop the attack on the fort if the girl is released, because the girl is the daughter of an English dignitary who can help give the pirates of Nassau pardons and thus enable them to have real jobs again. Vane, understandably, is unconvinced that Flint can accomplish this, as he doesn't know who Flint really was before becoming a pirate.
Elanor makes a deal with Flint that she will promise the girl to Flint and honour the deal behind Vane's back. This again strikes a parallel between Flint, as she too is trying to play all sides to make sure Nassau profits the most, and also make her into a legitimate businesswoman. This shows her character and desires more than ever before, and it was a nice subtle character development.
Flint, meanwhile, tries to appease Hornigold with the deal by telling him the same idea for the future, but it would mean that Hornigold doesn't get his fort back so Hornigold isn't buying into it. He makes a move to take control of their combined crews by vote, which doesn't take place in the episode yet. While this development was surely going to happen, it's almost unwelcome. I would like to see the spanish gold side of things resolved, though I know that that probably means the end of the series.
To further disrupt Flint's plans (the whole two steps back side of things) Billy returns to the crew. At first it seems that he will help Flint, as he tells the crew that he wasn't pushed off the ship, but he fell off and Flint tried to save him, but then he tells the quartermaster that he was given a pardon for him and nine others to bring Flint in. The only problem is of trust in Flint, the same issue Vane has (again, a parallel) and whether they take that route, or Flint's.
Jack/Anne/Max's story finally is getting some tie in with Flint's side, but not nearly enough, as it's relatively short lived. Jack's first turn as being captain find's him in a predicament with another crew after the same booty. I loved seeing the way that Jack dealt with the issue to ensure that his side got the most, and also made his crew trust him. It felt similar to that of Flint's issues in the first season. Lies and deceit are the way to gain trust in this world it seems.
This was a good episode overall, the series is definitely building to something, I just wish it would build a little faster.
February 23, 2015
Black Sails Season 2 Episode 5 Review
Well, I was sort of right in my guess.
Flint's reason for his obsession is finally revealed in this episode through the flashbacks that started this season, and it brings to light just why he is who he is and why he's doing the things he's doing. I felt this episode was excellent, but for the sake of preserving the narrative I won't delve into the flashbacks and this side of things.
I will say that I loved the flashbacks and I felt that it gave Flint's character a lot more depth. In the first season hes seen as a hard pirate who's gone a little mad. You never quite knew what he was searching for, and whether or not what he was searching for was what he claimed it was. Now, we know why he was secretive, violent, and manipulative, and I enjoy the character that much more for it.
As this portion took up most of the episode, I really don't have much to talk about this time around.
The battle started in earnest this time, and most of the fort was taken down by Flint's cannons from the security of his warship. The men then land on shore to take their fight to the fort itself, seemingly unopposed on shore.
Meanwhile, Silver tries to keep a man who Flint presumably threw overboard, Billy, away from the crew, or at least convince him to keep his mouth shut for the time being so that the gold can be recovered after the fort battle. Silver fails however, and is forced to let Billy go. This will probably come up again in the next episode, but that's all we see for now. Good to see that they're building up more conflict for Flint later on.
Things between Jack and Anne are growing tense when he chooses Max over Anne, even if temporarily, for a certain job. Still have yet to see this affect anything in the main plot, and I'm beginning to care less and less for it. These characters feel like dead weight this season more and more.
The episode's ending was a cliffhanger, and I literally screamed out loud something like "You've got to be kidding me!" I can't wait for the next episode.
Flint's reason for his obsession is finally revealed in this episode through the flashbacks that started this season, and it brings to light just why he is who he is and why he's doing the things he's doing. I felt this episode was excellent, but for the sake of preserving the narrative I won't delve into the flashbacks and this side of things.
I will say that I loved the flashbacks and I felt that it gave Flint's character a lot more depth. In the first season hes seen as a hard pirate who's gone a little mad. You never quite knew what he was searching for, and whether or not what he was searching for was what he claimed it was. Now, we know why he was secretive, violent, and manipulative, and I enjoy the character that much more for it.
As this portion took up most of the episode, I really don't have much to talk about this time around.
The battle started in earnest this time, and most of the fort was taken down by Flint's cannons from the security of his warship. The men then land on shore to take their fight to the fort itself, seemingly unopposed on shore.
Meanwhile, Silver tries to keep a man who Flint presumably threw overboard, Billy, away from the crew, or at least convince him to keep his mouth shut for the time being so that the gold can be recovered after the fort battle. Silver fails however, and is forced to let Billy go. This will probably come up again in the next episode, but that's all we see for now. Good to see that they're building up more conflict for Flint later on.
Things between Jack and Anne are growing tense when he chooses Max over Anne, even if temporarily, for a certain job. Still have yet to see this affect anything in the main plot, and I'm beginning to care less and less for it. These characters feel like dead weight this season more and more.
The episode's ending was a cliffhanger, and I literally screamed out loud something like "You've got to be kidding me!" I can't wait for the next episode.
February 16, 2015
Black Sails Season 2 Episode 4 Review
Politics takes centre stage in this episode, and you know what, it was pretty nice.
The fun thing about taking a break from tension and action is that you can give more time for characters to shine, and also provide some nice twists that were building for a while.
Unfortunately, I don't really have much to say in this episode. It was great, and it does a good job in building up the battle that is soon to come between Flint and Vane. It was nice to see some of the different ways that the crews go about securing their position and allies. There's also a few hitches in the plans that we'll no doubt see payoff for later on, but I won't spoil those.
First off, my gripe with the episode is the Jack/Bonney/Max triangle going on. I'm rather tired of it now. It doesn't seem to have any relevance with the other story lines going on, and it means so far the characters have no bearing on events going on. I thought earlier in the season that Max would continue to conspire against Elanor, but that seems to have fallen by the wayside.
It's especially frustrating when this seemed like a prime opportunity to bring that conflict back into the forefront. I felt that Max, having knowledge of what was going on because of the girls of the brothel lending her their ear, would have set to task in weakening Vane's position for the coming battle because Elanor has taken Vane's side. Instead, she seems to have moved on and found a pet in Anne, and conspires against Jack for Anne's affection.
Earlier in the season, she did mention to Vane that she was able to forget about Elanor, but it seemed like talk. This doesn't feel like she's growing as a character, just replacing one person with another. Missed opportunity.
Another missed opportunity I felt happened with Vane and the kidnapped woman he stole after he killed Lowe and his crew. The woman turns out to be the daughter of a prominent man in England who is against pirates with a passion. Lowe was going to use her as ransom, and Vane decides to do the same even though he knows about the woman's father.
Vane tells the woman his name and tells her to write a letter to her father for the ransom making sure to note that they won't hesitate to kill her if need be. This is all in the middle of preparations for the battle between Flint and Vane, and Vane wants the letter out before the battle commences. If Vane was thinking, he could have used this as a backup plan instead, and told the girl that he was Flint, and had the ransom letter say as such. Then, when the father comes, if he brings a force with him, Vane could point him in Flints direction, or if Vane loses, Flint would be weak enough that the father could get revenge. Otherwise, if the father brings the ransom, he could pretend he's Flint temporarily to get the money.
It may just be the writers felt Vane's character wasn't shrewd enough, or they didn't even think of this twist, but it would have been a great way for this thread to proceed.
I enjoy seeing Flint before he was a pirate, as it gives great insight into his character. The only thing I'm not seeing is just how he turns to piracy. I have a wild theory, which if it come true would be awesome.
In Flint's past, he was tasked to help a royal in England remove pirates from Nassau and turn it into a hub of trade and a prosperous colony instead of a thorn in England's side. My theory is that Flint's antagonizing the Spanish and English is all part of the plan to wipe out the pirates in Nassau.
My reasoning is because another character mentions to Flint that if they attack the fort Vane is holed up in, it will leave Nassau virtually defenseless, as the cannons in the fort protect the bay. Flint ignores the warning and potential threat to Nassau(but not really potential as it's guaranteed that some Naval force is going to come to Nassau) and continues with his plan to attack Vane in the fort.
Well, I guess I had more to talk about then I thought. Once again, this was an interesting episode and It'll be fun to see how this all plays out. The next one is pretty much guaranteed to be a bloodbath. See you next week.
The fun thing about taking a break from tension and action is that you can give more time for characters to shine, and also provide some nice twists that were building for a while.
Unfortunately, I don't really have much to say in this episode. It was great, and it does a good job in building up the battle that is soon to come between Flint and Vane. It was nice to see some of the different ways that the crews go about securing their position and allies. There's also a few hitches in the plans that we'll no doubt see payoff for later on, but I won't spoil those.
First off, my gripe with the episode is the Jack/Bonney/Max triangle going on. I'm rather tired of it now. It doesn't seem to have any relevance with the other story lines going on, and it means so far the characters have no bearing on events going on. I thought earlier in the season that Max would continue to conspire against Elanor, but that seems to have fallen by the wayside.
It's especially frustrating when this seemed like a prime opportunity to bring that conflict back into the forefront. I felt that Max, having knowledge of what was going on because of the girls of the brothel lending her their ear, would have set to task in weakening Vane's position for the coming battle because Elanor has taken Vane's side. Instead, she seems to have moved on and found a pet in Anne, and conspires against Jack for Anne's affection.
Earlier in the season, she did mention to Vane that she was able to forget about Elanor, but it seemed like talk. This doesn't feel like she's growing as a character, just replacing one person with another. Missed opportunity.
Another missed opportunity I felt happened with Vane and the kidnapped woman he stole after he killed Lowe and his crew. The woman turns out to be the daughter of a prominent man in England who is against pirates with a passion. Lowe was going to use her as ransom, and Vane decides to do the same even though he knows about the woman's father.
Vane tells the woman his name and tells her to write a letter to her father for the ransom making sure to note that they won't hesitate to kill her if need be. This is all in the middle of preparations for the battle between Flint and Vane, and Vane wants the letter out before the battle commences. If Vane was thinking, he could have used this as a backup plan instead, and told the girl that he was Flint, and had the ransom letter say as such. Then, when the father comes, if he brings a force with him, Vane could point him in Flints direction, or if Vane loses, Flint would be weak enough that the father could get revenge. Otherwise, if the father brings the ransom, he could pretend he's Flint temporarily to get the money.
It may just be the writers felt Vane's character wasn't shrewd enough, or they didn't even think of this twist, but it would have been a great way for this thread to proceed.
I enjoy seeing Flint before he was a pirate, as it gives great insight into his character. The only thing I'm not seeing is just how he turns to piracy. I have a wild theory, which if it come true would be awesome.
In Flint's past, he was tasked to help a royal in England remove pirates from Nassau and turn it into a hub of trade and a prosperous colony instead of a thorn in England's side. My theory is that Flint's antagonizing the Spanish and English is all part of the plan to wipe out the pirates in Nassau.
My reasoning is because another character mentions to Flint that if they attack the fort Vane is holed up in, it will leave Nassau virtually defenseless, as the cannons in the fort protect the bay. Flint ignores the warning and potential threat to Nassau(but not really potential as it's guaranteed that some Naval force is going to come to Nassau) and continues with his plan to attack Vane in the fort.
Well, I guess I had more to talk about then I thought. Once again, this was an interesting episode and It'll be fun to see how this all plays out. The next one is pretty much guaranteed to be a bloodbath. See you next week.
February 10, 2015
Black Sails Season 2 Episode 3 Review
Inevitably, these posts will have spoilers for parts of the episode itself. I try to put as little as possible of the actual details so that some can remain a surprise, but in this one there is no way to avoid what I consider a major spoiler for the episode as it must be talked about.
You have been warned.
This episode brings back Charles Vane as the central player that he once was. In season 1 he was a force to be reckoned with, seemingly the main antagonist and a corrupting force for certain characters. By the end of the first season, and the first two episodes of this season, he felt dulled down. He had a nice "comeback" at the end of season 1 where he took over Nassau's fort, but then in this season he seemed content to sit on his laurels, half because he wanted to, and half because his crew had no interest in anything that didn't involve a profit.
That changed in this episode. We finally get to see Vane take charge again, and return to being a formidable nemesis to Captain Flint.
The reason for his return (which is the spoilers I mentioned above) is an excellent ultimatum he gave to Lowe on Lowe's own ship, and then the subsequent taking of Lowe's ship and life. He shows that he is the most badass pirate in Nassau and that no one should cross him if they want to live. It's nice to see Vane back in the spotlight again.
Of course, Vane has ulterior motives for taking Lowe's life. As mentioned in my previous reviews for the past episodes, Lowe looked to be keen on taking Elanor's life. Vane is in love with Elanor and doesn't want to see that happen, but in order to convince his crew of the venture he needed to find proper motivation for them as well.
Most of the first part of the episode consisted of Vane working to find out what it was that Lowe had captured in the first episode of this season. He works with Max (the madame of the whorehouse which Jack owns) to gather information in exchange for clearing the names of Anne Bonney and Jack Rackham. This allows Jack and Anne to seek out a crew to help in their own ventures, which will in turn help Max.
I won't reveal the nature of what Lowe's prize was, and why it was such a prize, but it's nice to finally have some more knowledge about it since it's been two episodes with basically no information.
I am disappointed that Lowe is no longer in the picture though. I expected more of him, and expected more of an upset to Elanor's operation, which would in turn hurt Flint's operation. Not much that can be done about it now though.
Flint returned to Nassau this episode in the hopes to get Benjamin Hornigold's help with capturing the gold we've been talking about for two seasons. The only issue is that Hornigold was the previous occupant of the Nassau fort, and Vane kicked him out.
Flint felt that Vane could be a problem in the fort, as it overlooks Nassau's bay and has cannons that could sink any ship it wants. Flint teams up with Hornigold and riles his newly re-gained crew into a frenzy to take down Vane.
It's all foreshadowing in this episode, and it looks like in the next one we'll finally see the Flint-Vane conflict that we've been wanting for so long.
Overall this was a great episode with only one disappointment. I like how things are building, as each episode seems to be getting better than the last. Hopefully we'll see a cool battle in the next episode and maybe a fight between Vane and Flint.
You have been warned.
This episode brings back Charles Vane as the central player that he once was. In season 1 he was a force to be reckoned with, seemingly the main antagonist and a corrupting force for certain characters. By the end of the first season, and the first two episodes of this season, he felt dulled down. He had a nice "comeback" at the end of season 1 where he took over Nassau's fort, but then in this season he seemed content to sit on his laurels, half because he wanted to, and half because his crew had no interest in anything that didn't involve a profit.
That changed in this episode. We finally get to see Vane take charge again, and return to being a formidable nemesis to Captain Flint.
The reason for his return (which is the spoilers I mentioned above) is an excellent ultimatum he gave to Lowe on Lowe's own ship, and then the subsequent taking of Lowe's ship and life. He shows that he is the most badass pirate in Nassau and that no one should cross him if they want to live. It's nice to see Vane back in the spotlight again.
Of course, Vane has ulterior motives for taking Lowe's life. As mentioned in my previous reviews for the past episodes, Lowe looked to be keen on taking Elanor's life. Vane is in love with Elanor and doesn't want to see that happen, but in order to convince his crew of the venture he needed to find proper motivation for them as well.
Most of the first part of the episode consisted of Vane working to find out what it was that Lowe had captured in the first episode of this season. He works with Max (the madame of the whorehouse which Jack owns) to gather information in exchange for clearing the names of Anne Bonney and Jack Rackham. This allows Jack and Anne to seek out a crew to help in their own ventures, which will in turn help Max.
I won't reveal the nature of what Lowe's prize was, and why it was such a prize, but it's nice to finally have some more knowledge about it since it's been two episodes with basically no information.
I am disappointed that Lowe is no longer in the picture though. I expected more of him, and expected more of an upset to Elanor's operation, which would in turn hurt Flint's operation. Not much that can be done about it now though.
Flint returned to Nassau this episode in the hopes to get Benjamin Hornigold's help with capturing the gold we've been talking about for two seasons. The only issue is that Hornigold was the previous occupant of the Nassau fort, and Vane kicked him out.
Flint felt that Vane could be a problem in the fort, as it overlooks Nassau's bay and has cannons that could sink any ship it wants. Flint teams up with Hornigold and riles his newly re-gained crew into a frenzy to take down Vane.
It's all foreshadowing in this episode, and it looks like in the next one we'll finally see the Flint-Vane conflict that we've been wanting for so long.
Overall this was a great episode with only one disappointment. I like how things are building, as each episode seems to be getting better than the last. Hopefully we'll see a cool battle in the next episode and maybe a fight between Vane and Flint.
February 3, 2015
Black Sails Season 2 Episode 2 Review
Well then, that escalated quickly.
Once again, Black Sails delivers on it's promise of interesting, varied characters, bloodthirsty pirates, and interesting schemes. There was also a hearty laugh to be had, although it was at the expense of a poor goat (don't ask).
First, I'll get the lesser of the story threads out of the way. Flint and Silver are both attempting to bring themselves back into the fold of the ship, but by very different means. Flint goes about scheming, using his superior wit, while Silver uses his experience.
The conversation that Silver has with Flint before they go about their tasks is both interesting and also very on the nose. We (seemingly) see his character laid bare for his motives in aligning himself with Flint. It seemed genuine, but I'm always the skeptic I guess.
On land, some other side characters, Jack Rackham tries to maintain control of his brothel he procured, which he wants to leverage to rise again to greater heights. His wife, Anne Bonney, has an interesting turn with an affair which helps build both their characters. The scene near the end when Jack walks in on Anne in the middle of the affair, fully aware of what was happening, and tells her that she just wants her to be happy and he'll wait for her to come back to bed was touching in a disturbing sort of way.
What I didn't quite gather was what Jack's plan was all about. It seemed very convoluted, but maybe it was just because of the overly verbose way that Jack speaks which made it confusing.
Also on land was the best part of the episode. Ned Lowe is becoming more bold, and because of his presumed enjoyment of malice, he's pushing Elanor even further. Unfortunately, Elanor isn't able to push back.
Ned's quartermaster tries to conspire with Elanor, then gets his head cut off in Elanor's bar. Afterwards, one of Elanor's helpers tries to forcibly remove Ned, but fails and dies right in front of her eyes. The actress for Elanor, Hannah New, was really great in this episode, showing true fear in the face of the evil of Lowe.
Elanor finally turns to the aide of Charles Vane, the one person she really doesn't want help from, and you can see the desperation in her eyes. Can't wait to see more from her.
Flint's role during the episode was moreso as an observer. He made his gambit to return to being a captain by using reverse psychology on the temporary captain. While I always enjoy a good scheme go well, as this one did, I felt that this was the weakest part of the episode. It was too easy. Everything fell into place just perfectly for Flint to step in and depose the inexperienced Captain. There was a brief moment of pause when things seemed to be going against Flint, but then it swiftly turned back around.
The problem that I had with these kinds of moments are that they rely on factors that are so far outside of the person's control that there's almost no way that it can actually work. It's not really due to Flint's intelligence that he was able to win his ship back, it was luck.
Aside from that, it was a good episode. Hopefully the next one will have Flint going back to recover the gold now that he's captain again. Or they might drag it out and have Flint return to Nassau first and by the end of the season he has the gold. We'll see what happens I guess.
Once again, Black Sails delivers on it's promise of interesting, varied characters, bloodthirsty pirates, and interesting schemes. There was also a hearty laugh to be had, although it was at the expense of a poor goat (don't ask).
First, I'll get the lesser of the story threads out of the way. Flint and Silver are both attempting to bring themselves back into the fold of the ship, but by very different means. Flint goes about scheming, using his superior wit, while Silver uses his experience.
The conversation that Silver has with Flint before they go about their tasks is both interesting and also very on the nose. We (seemingly) see his character laid bare for his motives in aligning himself with Flint. It seemed genuine, but I'm always the skeptic I guess.
On land, some other side characters, Jack Rackham tries to maintain control of his brothel he procured, which he wants to leverage to rise again to greater heights. His wife, Anne Bonney, has an interesting turn with an affair which helps build both their characters. The scene near the end when Jack walks in on Anne in the middle of the affair, fully aware of what was happening, and tells her that she just wants her to be happy and he'll wait for her to come back to bed was touching in a disturbing sort of way.
What I didn't quite gather was what Jack's plan was all about. It seemed very convoluted, but maybe it was just because of the overly verbose way that Jack speaks which made it confusing.
Also on land was the best part of the episode. Ned Lowe is becoming more bold, and because of his presumed enjoyment of malice, he's pushing Elanor even further. Unfortunately, Elanor isn't able to push back.
Ned's quartermaster tries to conspire with Elanor, then gets his head cut off in Elanor's bar. Afterwards, one of Elanor's helpers tries to forcibly remove Ned, but fails and dies right in front of her eyes. The actress for Elanor, Hannah New, was really great in this episode, showing true fear in the face of the evil of Lowe.
Elanor finally turns to the aide of Charles Vane, the one person she really doesn't want help from, and you can see the desperation in her eyes. Can't wait to see more from her.
Flint's role during the episode was moreso as an observer. He made his gambit to return to being a captain by using reverse psychology on the temporary captain. While I always enjoy a good scheme go well, as this one did, I felt that this was the weakest part of the episode. It was too easy. Everything fell into place just perfectly for Flint to step in and depose the inexperienced Captain. There was a brief moment of pause when things seemed to be going against Flint, but then it swiftly turned back around.
The problem that I had with these kinds of moments are that they rely on factors that are so far outside of the person's control that there's almost no way that it can actually work. It's not really due to Flint's intelligence that he was able to win his ship back, it was luck.
Aside from that, it was a good episode. Hopefully the next one will have Flint going back to recover the gold now that he's captain again. Or they might drag it out and have Flint return to Nassau first and by the end of the season he has the gold. We'll see what happens I guess.
January 25, 2015
Black Sails Season 2 Episode 1 Review
So, as I did with Crossbones, I'm going to do a full review of this season of Black Sails, one episode at a time. If you haven't watched Black Sails, it comes highly recommended and you should go watch the first season right now. It's not just a great pirate show, it's a great show in general.
Be wary that there will be spoilers in the review, which is inevitable since it is a review and it is the second season. Best to catch up before reading the full review. In summary, however, it was a great episode that sets up the rest of the season.
This was a great start to the new season, with a good amount of time spent with both sides of the story (the port side on the island of Nassau with Elanor Guthrie, and the sea side with Captain Flint)
With Captain Flint, the first season left off with him almost killed by his crew, and desperate for his gambit to pay off so he could be redeemed. The scene was left with the crew finding the treasure ship they were after washed up on the beach, damaged by weather, and it's crew on the beach along with the treasure.
Captain Flint makes a desperate plan to gain back the respect of his crew by attempting to take over a warship with only one other crewmate for help in a guerrilla-style siege.
The sneaky taking of the ship is both tense and exhilarating, with some good suspense and excellent cinematography. We see some close calls and tension between Flint and his helper, John Silver, whose loyalty is often in question.
Scenes of close quarters stabbing to silence opponents before they alert the rest of the crew are reminiscent of The Walking Dead to me. Brutal and intimate at the same time, you can see the character of Flint in each strike as he tries desperately to cling to whatever hope he has of claiming treasure, safety, and his captaincy back.
Silver was my favorite character this episode, as he had a few great one liners, being the wittiest of the cast, and quite possibly the smartest. When he took the deal to save himself I laughed out loud as I thought it was something he would do, and seeing him turn around and save Flint's life instead of saving himself elevated his character. He seems to be the only one loyal to Flint, but at the same time there's always the question of if he will turn traitor.
On shore, we see a great parallel to Flint as Elanor Guthrie tries to maintain her hold on the island of Nassau.
In the last season, Charles Vane took over the fort previously maintained by Benjamin Hornigold. The fort has a strategic position in Nassau with cannons pointed at the bay, and Vane seems content with simply holding them for his own gain, rather than protecting Nassau like Hornigold did. There wasn't much from Vane in this episode though, so I hope that there is more of him this season. I'm not sure where they can take his character this season, but Vane hinted at further confrontation with Flint, so there's that possibility.
We also have a new set of problems for Elanor in her former flame seeking to make trouble for Elanor at every turn, and a new pirate that seems to be a sociopath.
There wasn't much that really happened with each of these threads, but I'm glad to see that they are setting things up for Flint's eventual return, and the fact that things can exist beyond Flint and his treasure ship. The fact that the other characters on the show have these things happening, and have it be just as interesting, means that they really aren't side characters and have credence to being called main characters alongside Flint. The story of Nassau almost could have been a show in and of itself.
I also enjoy the similarities between Elanor and Flint's issues which I mentioned before. They are both plagued by their decisions and the people who disagree with them, and their authority is always in question. It'll be interesting to see if the similarities become more pronounced or if they diverge this season.
Overall it was a great first episode with action, tension, and some laughs as well. Off to an excellent start, and I can't wait for the next one.
Be wary that there will be spoilers in the review, which is inevitable since it is a review and it is the second season. Best to catch up before reading the full review. In summary, however, it was a great episode that sets up the rest of the season.
This was a great start to the new season, with a good amount of time spent with both sides of the story (the port side on the island of Nassau with Elanor Guthrie, and the sea side with Captain Flint)
With Captain Flint, the first season left off with him almost killed by his crew, and desperate for his gambit to pay off so he could be redeemed. The scene was left with the crew finding the treasure ship they were after washed up on the beach, damaged by weather, and it's crew on the beach along with the treasure.
Captain Flint makes a desperate plan to gain back the respect of his crew by attempting to take over a warship with only one other crewmate for help in a guerrilla-style siege.
The sneaky taking of the ship is both tense and exhilarating, with some good suspense and excellent cinematography. We see some close calls and tension between Flint and his helper, John Silver, whose loyalty is often in question.
Scenes of close quarters stabbing to silence opponents before they alert the rest of the crew are reminiscent of The Walking Dead to me. Brutal and intimate at the same time, you can see the character of Flint in each strike as he tries desperately to cling to whatever hope he has of claiming treasure, safety, and his captaincy back.
Silver was my favorite character this episode, as he had a few great one liners, being the wittiest of the cast, and quite possibly the smartest. When he took the deal to save himself I laughed out loud as I thought it was something he would do, and seeing him turn around and save Flint's life instead of saving himself elevated his character. He seems to be the only one loyal to Flint, but at the same time there's always the question of if he will turn traitor.
On shore, we see a great parallel to Flint as Elanor Guthrie tries to maintain her hold on the island of Nassau.
In the last season, Charles Vane took over the fort previously maintained by Benjamin Hornigold. The fort has a strategic position in Nassau with cannons pointed at the bay, and Vane seems content with simply holding them for his own gain, rather than protecting Nassau like Hornigold did. There wasn't much from Vane in this episode though, so I hope that there is more of him this season. I'm not sure where they can take his character this season, but Vane hinted at further confrontation with Flint, so there's that possibility.
We also have a new set of problems for Elanor in her former flame seeking to make trouble for Elanor at every turn, and a new pirate that seems to be a sociopath.
There wasn't much that really happened with each of these threads, but I'm glad to see that they are setting things up for Flint's eventual return, and the fact that things can exist beyond Flint and his treasure ship. The fact that the other characters on the show have these things happening, and have it be just as interesting, means that they really aren't side characters and have credence to being called main characters alongside Flint. The story of Nassau almost could have been a show in and of itself.
I also enjoy the similarities between Elanor and Flint's issues which I mentioned before. They are both plagued by their decisions and the people who disagree with them, and their authority is always in question. It'll be interesting to see if the similarities become more pronounced or if they diverge this season.
Overall it was a great first episode with action, tension, and some laughs as well. Off to an excellent start, and I can't wait for the next one.
January 21, 2015
Write what you (don't) know.
Alright, first off I will start by saying that I know the true meaning behind the saying "Write what you know." I understand that it means emotions, not experiences. I understand that it's about building emotions you are familiar with to make your characters more real.
But that's not what people think the phrase means.
Many people take the phrase literally in that you should write about things that you have experienced, just changing things around a bit. Unfortunately this doesn't make much sense when it comes to fiction, especially fiction on the broad sense, like fantasy and etc. How can you write what you know, when you're trying to write about fighting dragons and magic? Thus why many people do not understand the true meaning of the phrase.
Even taking the advice with it's true meaning, I don't feel that it's good advice. Writing what you know when it comes to emotional experience is still limiting. What if you haven't experienced a tragic loss, or the joy of child birth, or the pangs of addiction? How could you write about a character going through these experiences with the right depth and deference that such subjects require?
I say: Write what you don't know. Write about things that you don't understand, write about emotions that you've never had and maybe never will. Research about the subject, read about people in similar situations and interviews they have had, talk with them if possible. Challenge yourself to think outside the box that is your life and write about characters and situations that you yourself could never relate to. Challenge yourself to be a better writer by living in someone else's experiences.
The only thing required is empathy. Without that, it would be an uphill battle, and maybe you should only write about what you know. But if you can empathize with those whose experiences you've read, and do your homework, your characters will be all the better for it.
So, write what you don't know. You just might surprise yourself.
November 15, 2014
#GamerGate - A New Kickstarter For a Novel
Hello,
I started a new Kickstarter, this time something a little more tangible (and less facetious) than the last one. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1808564844/gamergate-how-hate-tarnished-a-movement-and-gamer
The Kickstarter is for a non-fiction novel based on an online movement known as GamerGate. The supporters of GamerGate are fighting for ethics in gaming journalism, but, due to an outspoken minority which hijacked the message, many believe that it is simply gamers lashing out against women in the gaming industry.
Due to the threats and harassment some women have received due to this, the story was picked up by mainstream news outlets. These news outlets took the story of GamerGate, and focused mainly on the harassment, and assumed that was all it was about. They also attacked gamers and gamer image due to these harassers, and stereotyping gamers once again as white males living in their parents basement.
This is not the case with the movement, and it is not the case for gamers. Many in GamerGate are not harassing women, many who support it are women and speak out against those spreading hate. As for gamers, gamers are a diverse group of people from all ages, races, and walks of life who simply enjoy a similar hobby. Gamers cannot be defined as one particular race or gender, and studies have supported this believe.
The hope of the novel is to delve more deeply into what GamerGate really is, and clear up the confusion surrounding it; tell the stories of those women in the gaming industry who have been harassed because of this; examine how this affected gamer image, and theorize on how those who support GamerGate can move forward past the people tarnishing their movement.
The rest is explained in the Kickstater itself, and there is a link on the right side of the blog for now until it is finished which you can click on to bring you directly to the project page. Thank you for your donation.
I started a new Kickstarter, this time something a little more tangible (and less facetious) than the last one. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1808564844/gamergate-how-hate-tarnished-a-movement-and-gamer
The Kickstarter is for a non-fiction novel based on an online movement known as GamerGate. The supporters of GamerGate are fighting for ethics in gaming journalism, but, due to an outspoken minority which hijacked the message, many believe that it is simply gamers lashing out against women in the gaming industry.
Due to the threats and harassment some women have received due to this, the story was picked up by mainstream news outlets. These news outlets took the story of GamerGate, and focused mainly on the harassment, and assumed that was all it was about. They also attacked gamers and gamer image due to these harassers, and stereotyping gamers once again as white males living in their parents basement.
This is not the case with the movement, and it is not the case for gamers. Many in GamerGate are not harassing women, many who support it are women and speak out against those spreading hate. As for gamers, gamers are a diverse group of people from all ages, races, and walks of life who simply enjoy a similar hobby. Gamers cannot be defined as one particular race or gender, and studies have supported this believe.
The hope of the novel is to delve more deeply into what GamerGate really is, and clear up the confusion surrounding it; tell the stories of those women in the gaming industry who have been harassed because of this; examine how this affected gamer image, and theorize on how those who support GamerGate can move forward past the people tarnishing their movement.
The rest is explained in the Kickstater itself, and there is a link on the right side of the blog for now until it is finished which you can click on to bring you directly to the project page. Thank you for your donation.
November 1, 2014
Teaser Chapter For Blackbeard's Revenge - Book 2 of The Voyages of Queen Anne's Revenge
It's been a long time coming, but I am getting closer to releasing the next novel in my pirate fantasy adventure series, The Voyages of Queen Anne's Revenge. The name of the next novel is Blackbeard's Revenge. Earlier I had posted a teaser chapter for it, and I decided to do so once again.
I will preface this teaser chapter with a warning. If you haven't read the first novel, stop now. There are spoilers for a lot of things from the first book in this teaser. It is the first chapter and directly relates to the ending of the first book. (Consequently, if you haven't read the first novel, what are you doing? Go get it right now: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094QU1U0)
Without further ado, please enjoy:
1. CATCH TWO & TWENTY
The guard kicked a large plate of food, or something akin to food, into the prison cell. The plate clanged as it skid through a slot at the bottom of steel grates and across the dingy stone floor.
The guards lamp illuminated the food and the men in the cell. The prisoners, gruff, filthy men, closest to the grates shielded their eyes from the faint light. Satisfied, the guard moved on, leaving the lamp in the corner opposite the cell, illuminating just enough to eat by.
The prisoners' bodies were caked with dirt, bones exposed due to lack of muscle and fat, and their beards and hair unshaven. Bruises covered their bodies from beatings, white and red disfigurement peppered their flesh from the hot iron, and long bloody messes covered equally long scars on their backs from the lash. Craven sinners rotting in desolation in their so-called hell.
Despite their ravenous hunger, none dared to move. He hadn't taken his share yet.
A man of above average stature and build slowly rose. His once tanned skin was now lightened by lack of exposure, his strong arms were thinner from poor food and exercise, and his wavy black hair and long black beard matted with grease. Though his form was diminished, his spirit was not. His eyes carried the same strength as a year ago, and kept the devils of the prison at bay.
Edward Thatch sauntered to the plate of food and took his share, along with some for two others. Edward took what he needed then sat back down in the dark of the cell. After he was seated the frenzy began, the strongest and fiercest fought for their pathetic morsel.
Edward handed a share to an old man, and another to a young boy. Together the three ate in reflective silence after the fighting in the cell stopped.
The prison was made of hard grey stone hastily assembled with no regard for comfort. The stones were misshapen and set haphazardly, making sitting and sleeping a chore. Water leaked in, from god knows where, causing an incessant drip, drip, sound every few seconds which lent to the dank atmosphere and stagnant smell. No fresh air could creep its way down to the basement and through the sweat and odour from thousands of days of compounded sweat and feces.
"Can you tell me another story, Edward? Please?" The boy asked as he had almost every day before.
The child's small frame belied his imaginative and intelligent mind. He was not yet aged enough to grow facial hair, but the blonde hair on his head was long and shaggy from the years he spent in the dungeon. He was born in this hell and protected by his mother until she died. He heard stories about the sun and sea and the outside world, but never saw them firsthand.
"Perhaps later, Edmond. A year has passed since I last laid eyes on the sun and my beloved. I feel I need time to reflect." Edward slowly ate the mouldy bread and gruel.
"Now, are you referring to the vast and untameable ocean, or your beloved Anne?" The old man on the other side of Edward spoke up.
The grey haired gentlemen possessed a beard longer than Edwards, a sharp nose, and keen eyes not yet dulled by his old age. When Edward arrived, the elder was nearing deaths door, not having the strength to fight for his portion of food and relying on leftover scraps. Edward fought for the old man, and now he had a little skin on his bones and more strength to lend to his wisdom.
Edward chuckled at the old man's penetrating question. Maybe both, Charles he thought. Edwards mind drifted to Anne, his love. The last time Edward saw Anne was after he was captured and forced into the brig of a battleship. A fleet of warships from the British Navy descended on Edward and his group of pirates aboard his ship the Freedom. The fleet was there to 'save' Anne, the daughter of the Queen of England.
Anne's father was gracious enough to take Edward but freed his crew as a last request. And, by Edward's estimation, due to Anne's pleading to her mother, he was imprisoned instead of being executed.
During his prison term, Edward had a hard time deciding which would have been a worse fate.
Another man, large in stature but too thinned by malnutrition, also laughed, but haughtily. "That's all ye have left, stories. No use thinkin' bout them no more, we ain't leavin' here, least of all a little shit as you." Even through the long hair and beard the man showed his yellow and grungy teeth in a self-satisfying smile. His face and body were square in appearance, and in his prime he would almost take the appearance of a wall when standing. He sat with his hands draped over his knees as he gestured to their surroundings. "This is the hell of hells. No one sent here will ever be let free because of our 'crimes against the state.' Any who think we's gonna be leavin' here is a sorry sod indeed."
"No one asked you Simon." Edward, sitting cross-legged, turned his scornful gaze to the middle aged man. Most would flinch and think twice about what they said after Edward's stare, but not Simon.
"Yea, well I's tired of hearing talk about the outside. Talk of the like is no use to us here. Jus' brings back bad memories."
"There's no harm in allowing the boy to dream."
"There's always harm in dreamin'. See where dreamin' got you. We all heard the story: You wanted freedom, so ye fought against the marines and ye ended up here. Nothing good never came from dreamin'."
"You're wrong Simon, the realization of the dream was the cause of our downfall. If I hadn't tried to achieve my dreams then I wouldn't have ended up here, but because I did this is the inevitable cause. And if you only dreamed of your revolution, instead of being a fool and lighting a bomb, you wouldn't be here."
Simon rose from his seated position, and Edward followed suit, meeting in the middle of the small cage. "Who're you callin' a fool you dunderwhelp!"
At Edward's six foot four height, the top of Simon's head barely reached Edward's chin. "Careful what you say, Simon. I might break your other arm this time. Remember how long the first one took to heal?"
Prisoners in other cages whispered amongst each other at the beginnings of the fight. Several in Edward's cage also goaded the two on. The guard heard the commotion and smacked his club against the bars.
"What did I tell you twos about fightin'? Stop this nonsense or the both of ya get ten lashes."
Edward and Simon didn't turn their attention to the guard, but both knew he would follow through on his threat if they didn't sit back down.
"You heard the man Simon, sit down before you're hurt." Edward said with a smile.
Simon spit on the ground before turning back and sitting back against the wall. Edward nodded to the guard and he too sat down again.
Before the guard moved on, a noise was heard down the dark hallway near the stairs. The guard ran to investigate, his keys and weapons clinking and clanging as he moved. When the guard reached the foot of the stairs, he was struck and fell back with a crack against the stone, knocked unconscious, or dead.
A dark figure jumped on top of the body rummaging around for something followed by another taller figure. Every prisoner with enough strength pressed their faces against the iron bars to catch a glimpse at what was happening.
"Hurry up, Princess." The taller one scolded. "We need to be outta here before they're done pissin'."
The first one grabbed the keys off the belt of the unconscious guard and turned to the taller one. "You think I am not aware, Sam? Who do you think was the one who created this plan? Now we need to find Edward's cell, help me search."
Until now, Edward had a passing interest in the event. One or two ill-formed attempts at escape happened during his year of imprisonment, and both failed. But, the keywords Princess, Sam, and, of course, Edward, piqued his interest with more than passing fancy. He also felt sure he heard those voices before.
Edward ran to the cell bars. "Anne?!"
At the calling of the name, the two people instantly looked where the sound originated and ran over. The small one passed the keys to the tall one and grabbed Edward's outstretched hands.
Edward could see the face of the one he loved in the faint light. Anne's curly red hair glistening from under her hood, and her ocean green eyes glittered from newly forming tears. Anne kissed Edward's palms and held them close to her face as if she were trying to impart, or take, every bit of warmth she could.
Despite Edward's dark reverie, he could not help but be brought out of his gloom and into Anne's light. Anne was as the form of an angel in the hell Edward's body and mind occupied as of late. Every second felt like eternity as if to accentuate the horribly long time Edward and Anne were torn apart, and yet eternity was not enough.
"What are you two doing here?" Edward finally asked, pulling himself back to earth.
Sam, working the keys one by one, spoke first. His straight black hair, and smooth, pretty face did not change in the year since parting. "We're here to save ya mate! This be a prison break." Nor did his confidence bordering on arrogance change either, apparently.
"Oh, is that why you stole the keys? I assumed you would become a guard for a moment," Edward's comment was full of sarcasm. Sam stared at Edward with eyes as cold as stone at midnight before continuing with the multitude of keys. "I mean why. Why are you both here?"
"Is not the action and reason the same? We wish to see you free, my dear, sweet Edward."
Edward pulled away from Anne's soft cheeks and sat back down against the back of the cell. "You had better leave before someone catches you then. I'm not leaving."
"What d'ya mean yer not goin'?" Sam said, losing his place with the keys out of shock.
"I think the words are fairly clear, are they not? I do not wish to join you, so please leave, unless you want to become a cell mate."
Sam turned to Anne and threw his hands up in the air, exasperated. "What now, princess?"
"Work the keys, I will handle this." Anne demanded with gritted teeth. "Edward, as much as you acclimatised yourself with your new surroundings, your family and I went through much trouble to be here, so, please, forestall any objections and join us."
"Why bother when the end result will bring me back here sooner or later?"
"So you think what we are doing is futile? You think freedom is futile?"
"I've enjoyed a lot of time to think here, Anne, and despite my bitterness over what has happened, I see no future for me on the sea. If I escape here, I will be hunted down and imprisoned again, or, worse, killed. If I am captured at present, then what else can be done to me?"
"You think there is no future for you, for us?" Anne held fast to Edward's piercing and resolute eyes, but Edward turned away. "No, I do not," he replied. "At least, not one ending without pain."
Anne's face fell to the stone floor. The sound of hasted footsteps at the stairs caught Anne's attention, so she ran to the edge of the stair opening with a knife drawn. When a large, well built man emerged Anne threatened him with the knife, but then lowered the weapon and began speaking with the man in hushed tones. Edward was not able to make out who the man was because of the little light, but judging from the closeness Anne shared, and his build, Edward had an idea.
The man walked over, with Anne at his side, and when he reached the cell he lifted his hood so Edward could see his face. "Now what is this I hear about not wanting to leave?" In front of the cell a man of Edward's age, twenty or one and twenty years, stood tall and large. He was shorter than Edward, but more toughly built, especially being well fed. His straight brown hair was tied back, and his strong jaw, like his crossed arms, were set as stone.
"Henry! You, as well?" Henry, Edward's childhood friend, joined Edward on his first flight of freedom as whalers before they were accidentally branded pirates.
"Yes, I am here, as are two others of the crew. And John is waiting for us with horse and carriage as well. Will you stop being foolish and join us now that you are fully aware of the gravity of the situation?"
Edward crossed his arms in mirror to Henry, in direct defiance. "No, as I told Anne, I do not see the point in being captured again. I'm choosing to end the cycle here. Leave me be before you are forced to join me in this hell."
Henry considered Edward's words for a quick moment before laughing almost too loudly. Anne, Sam, and Edward all considered Henry mad.
"Apologies, Henry, but I do not see the humour in this situation." Anne said.
Henry looked at Anne, but pointed to Edward. "He's lying." Henry proclaimed. "You would have noticed if you've known him as long as I. He's still acting chivalrous for our fact. He's been so long here he doesn't think anyone can escape, and wants us to leave before anything happens."
"I'm not lying Henry, you don't know me as well as you think. Run while you still can."
Anne nodded, the three ignoring Edward's pleas, weighing the argument and agreeing with Henry's assessment. "So what do you propose we do?" Anne questioned with one hand in the air, palm up.
"We force his hand." Henry sat down on the stone, folding his legs to get comfortable.
Anne smiled and joined Henry, and Sam shrugged his shoulders and made a sarcastic comment before sitting as well. The three faced the cell, watching Edward with nonchalance bordering on indifference.
"What are you doing?! You must make haste before the guards find you."
The trio didn't move an inch, becoming as the stone in the prison itself, and their faces did not portray the inner shouts each held within.
Edward stood up. "I don't want to go with you, don't you see? We are no longer friends, comrades, or family."
None responded despite the biting remarks Edward made. All three knew he spoke out of desperation.
The noise of several footsteps sounded against the hard stone stairs, signalling guards on the way.
Edward jumped to the bars, gripping them hard until his knuckles turned white. "You must flee, now!"
The three did not react, and simply gazed at Edward, calling for action with their eyes. Sweat trickled down Edward's face as the situation worsened when two armed guards descended from above.
The guards, their rifles pointed at the three, shouted orders to clasp their hands behind their heads. Henry, Anne, and Sam all relented to the orders, and then rose at another command. One guard guided them away in front, with the second forcing them forward with his rifle.
Tears formed in the corners of Edward's eyes as his family were taken away. The three were about to be resigned to a fate Edward would not wish upon any. Their freedom stripped, and their spirits ripped from pain and anguish.
Deep down, in his heart of hearts, no matter what Edward said, he wanted to be free as well. The majority of his life, Edward suffered an oppressive, unloving step-family, so even when he was branded a pirate and chased across the Caribbean, even when the world was its bleakest, he was still free on that ship with those he cared about. Because of the consequences of his decision, his heart and mind struggled for and against the freedom he desired.
But today, today, the heart won.
"Take me with you! I want to be free with you, my family!" Edward cried, his words resounding across the floor and then some.
Anne, Henry, and Sam smiled. The guards, distracted by Edward's outcry, were quickly dispatched by the trio. They ran back to the cell together, Anne and Henry grabbing each of Edward's arms in a desperate embrace, tears in all their eyes.
Henry smiled to Edward, his best friend in all the world. "Let's set you free, brother."
I will preface this teaser chapter with a warning. If you haven't read the first novel, stop now. There are spoilers for a lot of things from the first book in this teaser. It is the first chapter and directly relates to the ending of the first book. (Consequently, if you haven't read the first novel, what are you doing? Go get it right now: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094QU1U0)
Without further ado, please enjoy:
1. CATCH TWO & TWENTY
The guard kicked a large plate of food, or something akin to food, into the prison cell. The plate clanged as it skid through a slot at the bottom of steel grates and across the dingy stone floor.
The guards lamp illuminated the food and the men in the cell. The prisoners, gruff, filthy men, closest to the grates shielded their eyes from the faint light. Satisfied, the guard moved on, leaving the lamp in the corner opposite the cell, illuminating just enough to eat by.
The prisoners' bodies were caked with dirt, bones exposed due to lack of muscle and fat, and their beards and hair unshaven. Bruises covered their bodies from beatings, white and red disfigurement peppered their flesh from the hot iron, and long bloody messes covered equally long scars on their backs from the lash. Craven sinners rotting in desolation in their so-called hell.
Despite their ravenous hunger, none dared to move. He hadn't taken his share yet.
A man of above average stature and build slowly rose. His once tanned skin was now lightened by lack of exposure, his strong arms were thinner from poor food and exercise, and his wavy black hair and long black beard matted with grease. Though his form was diminished, his spirit was not. His eyes carried the same strength as a year ago, and kept the devils of the prison at bay.
Edward Thatch sauntered to the plate of food and took his share, along with some for two others. Edward took what he needed then sat back down in the dark of the cell. After he was seated the frenzy began, the strongest and fiercest fought for their pathetic morsel.
Edward handed a share to an old man, and another to a young boy. Together the three ate in reflective silence after the fighting in the cell stopped.
The prison was made of hard grey stone hastily assembled with no regard for comfort. The stones were misshapen and set haphazardly, making sitting and sleeping a chore. Water leaked in, from god knows where, causing an incessant drip, drip, sound every few seconds which lent to the dank atmosphere and stagnant smell. No fresh air could creep its way down to the basement and through the sweat and odour from thousands of days of compounded sweat and feces.
"Can you tell me another story, Edward? Please?" The boy asked as he had almost every day before.
The child's small frame belied his imaginative and intelligent mind. He was not yet aged enough to grow facial hair, but the blonde hair on his head was long and shaggy from the years he spent in the dungeon. He was born in this hell and protected by his mother until she died. He heard stories about the sun and sea and the outside world, but never saw them firsthand.
"Perhaps later, Edmond. A year has passed since I last laid eyes on the sun and my beloved. I feel I need time to reflect." Edward slowly ate the mouldy bread and gruel.
"Now, are you referring to the vast and untameable ocean, or your beloved Anne?" The old man on the other side of Edward spoke up.
The grey haired gentlemen possessed a beard longer than Edwards, a sharp nose, and keen eyes not yet dulled by his old age. When Edward arrived, the elder was nearing deaths door, not having the strength to fight for his portion of food and relying on leftover scraps. Edward fought for the old man, and now he had a little skin on his bones and more strength to lend to his wisdom.
Edward chuckled at the old man's penetrating question. Maybe both, Charles he thought. Edwards mind drifted to Anne, his love. The last time Edward saw Anne was after he was captured and forced into the brig of a battleship. A fleet of warships from the British Navy descended on Edward and his group of pirates aboard his ship the Freedom. The fleet was there to 'save' Anne, the daughter of the Queen of England.
Anne's father was gracious enough to take Edward but freed his crew as a last request. And, by Edward's estimation, due to Anne's pleading to her mother, he was imprisoned instead of being executed.
During his prison term, Edward had a hard time deciding which would have been a worse fate.
Another man, large in stature but too thinned by malnutrition, also laughed, but haughtily. "That's all ye have left, stories. No use thinkin' bout them no more, we ain't leavin' here, least of all a little shit as you." Even through the long hair and beard the man showed his yellow and grungy teeth in a self-satisfying smile. His face and body were square in appearance, and in his prime he would almost take the appearance of a wall when standing. He sat with his hands draped over his knees as he gestured to their surroundings. "This is the hell of hells. No one sent here will ever be let free because of our 'crimes against the state.' Any who think we's gonna be leavin' here is a sorry sod indeed."
"No one asked you Simon." Edward, sitting cross-legged, turned his scornful gaze to the middle aged man. Most would flinch and think twice about what they said after Edward's stare, but not Simon.
"Yea, well I's tired of hearing talk about the outside. Talk of the like is no use to us here. Jus' brings back bad memories."
"There's no harm in allowing the boy to dream."
"There's always harm in dreamin'. See where dreamin' got you. We all heard the story: You wanted freedom, so ye fought against the marines and ye ended up here. Nothing good never came from dreamin'."
"You're wrong Simon, the realization of the dream was the cause of our downfall. If I hadn't tried to achieve my dreams then I wouldn't have ended up here, but because I did this is the inevitable cause. And if you only dreamed of your revolution, instead of being a fool and lighting a bomb, you wouldn't be here."
Simon rose from his seated position, and Edward followed suit, meeting in the middle of the small cage. "Who're you callin' a fool you dunderwhelp!"
At Edward's six foot four height, the top of Simon's head barely reached Edward's chin. "Careful what you say, Simon. I might break your other arm this time. Remember how long the first one took to heal?"
Prisoners in other cages whispered amongst each other at the beginnings of the fight. Several in Edward's cage also goaded the two on. The guard heard the commotion and smacked his club against the bars.
"What did I tell you twos about fightin'? Stop this nonsense or the both of ya get ten lashes."
Edward and Simon didn't turn their attention to the guard, but both knew he would follow through on his threat if they didn't sit back down.
"You heard the man Simon, sit down before you're hurt." Edward said with a smile.
Simon spit on the ground before turning back and sitting back against the wall. Edward nodded to the guard and he too sat down again.
Before the guard moved on, a noise was heard down the dark hallway near the stairs. The guard ran to investigate, his keys and weapons clinking and clanging as he moved. When the guard reached the foot of the stairs, he was struck and fell back with a crack against the stone, knocked unconscious, or dead.
A dark figure jumped on top of the body rummaging around for something followed by another taller figure. Every prisoner with enough strength pressed their faces against the iron bars to catch a glimpse at what was happening.
"Hurry up, Princess." The taller one scolded. "We need to be outta here before they're done pissin'."
The first one grabbed the keys off the belt of the unconscious guard and turned to the taller one. "You think I am not aware, Sam? Who do you think was the one who created this plan? Now we need to find Edward's cell, help me search."
Until now, Edward had a passing interest in the event. One or two ill-formed attempts at escape happened during his year of imprisonment, and both failed. But, the keywords Princess, Sam, and, of course, Edward, piqued his interest with more than passing fancy. He also felt sure he heard those voices before.
Edward ran to the cell bars. "Anne?!"
At the calling of the name, the two people instantly looked where the sound originated and ran over. The small one passed the keys to the tall one and grabbed Edward's outstretched hands.
Edward could see the face of the one he loved in the faint light. Anne's curly red hair glistening from under her hood, and her ocean green eyes glittered from newly forming tears. Anne kissed Edward's palms and held them close to her face as if she were trying to impart, or take, every bit of warmth she could.
Despite Edward's dark reverie, he could not help but be brought out of his gloom and into Anne's light. Anne was as the form of an angel in the hell Edward's body and mind occupied as of late. Every second felt like eternity as if to accentuate the horribly long time Edward and Anne were torn apart, and yet eternity was not enough.
"What are you two doing here?" Edward finally asked, pulling himself back to earth.
Sam, working the keys one by one, spoke first. His straight black hair, and smooth, pretty face did not change in the year since parting. "We're here to save ya mate! This be a prison break." Nor did his confidence bordering on arrogance change either, apparently.
"Oh, is that why you stole the keys? I assumed you would become a guard for a moment," Edward's comment was full of sarcasm. Sam stared at Edward with eyes as cold as stone at midnight before continuing with the multitude of keys. "I mean why. Why are you both here?"
"Is not the action and reason the same? We wish to see you free, my dear, sweet Edward."
Edward pulled away from Anne's soft cheeks and sat back down against the back of the cell. "You had better leave before someone catches you then. I'm not leaving."
"What d'ya mean yer not goin'?" Sam said, losing his place with the keys out of shock.
"I think the words are fairly clear, are they not? I do not wish to join you, so please leave, unless you want to become a cell mate."
Sam turned to Anne and threw his hands up in the air, exasperated. "What now, princess?"
"Work the keys, I will handle this." Anne demanded with gritted teeth. "Edward, as much as you acclimatised yourself with your new surroundings, your family and I went through much trouble to be here, so, please, forestall any objections and join us."
"Why bother when the end result will bring me back here sooner or later?"
"So you think what we are doing is futile? You think freedom is futile?"
"I've enjoyed a lot of time to think here, Anne, and despite my bitterness over what has happened, I see no future for me on the sea. If I escape here, I will be hunted down and imprisoned again, or, worse, killed. If I am captured at present, then what else can be done to me?"
"You think there is no future for you, for us?" Anne held fast to Edward's piercing and resolute eyes, but Edward turned away. "No, I do not," he replied. "At least, not one ending without pain."
Anne's face fell to the stone floor. The sound of hasted footsteps at the stairs caught Anne's attention, so she ran to the edge of the stair opening with a knife drawn. When a large, well built man emerged Anne threatened him with the knife, but then lowered the weapon and began speaking with the man in hushed tones. Edward was not able to make out who the man was because of the little light, but judging from the closeness Anne shared, and his build, Edward had an idea.
The man walked over, with Anne at his side, and when he reached the cell he lifted his hood so Edward could see his face. "Now what is this I hear about not wanting to leave?" In front of the cell a man of Edward's age, twenty or one and twenty years, stood tall and large. He was shorter than Edward, but more toughly built, especially being well fed. His straight brown hair was tied back, and his strong jaw, like his crossed arms, were set as stone.
"Henry! You, as well?" Henry, Edward's childhood friend, joined Edward on his first flight of freedom as whalers before they were accidentally branded pirates.
"Yes, I am here, as are two others of the crew. And John is waiting for us with horse and carriage as well. Will you stop being foolish and join us now that you are fully aware of the gravity of the situation?"
Edward crossed his arms in mirror to Henry, in direct defiance. "No, as I told Anne, I do not see the point in being captured again. I'm choosing to end the cycle here. Leave me be before you are forced to join me in this hell."
Henry considered Edward's words for a quick moment before laughing almost too loudly. Anne, Sam, and Edward all considered Henry mad.
"Apologies, Henry, but I do not see the humour in this situation." Anne said.
Henry looked at Anne, but pointed to Edward. "He's lying." Henry proclaimed. "You would have noticed if you've known him as long as I. He's still acting chivalrous for our fact. He's been so long here he doesn't think anyone can escape, and wants us to leave before anything happens."
"I'm not lying Henry, you don't know me as well as you think. Run while you still can."
Anne nodded, the three ignoring Edward's pleas, weighing the argument and agreeing with Henry's assessment. "So what do you propose we do?" Anne questioned with one hand in the air, palm up.
"We force his hand." Henry sat down on the stone, folding his legs to get comfortable.
Anne smiled and joined Henry, and Sam shrugged his shoulders and made a sarcastic comment before sitting as well. The three faced the cell, watching Edward with nonchalance bordering on indifference.
"What are you doing?! You must make haste before the guards find you."
The trio didn't move an inch, becoming as the stone in the prison itself, and their faces did not portray the inner shouts each held within.
Edward stood up. "I don't want to go with you, don't you see? We are no longer friends, comrades, or family."
None responded despite the biting remarks Edward made. All three knew he spoke out of desperation.
The noise of several footsteps sounded against the hard stone stairs, signalling guards on the way.
Edward jumped to the bars, gripping them hard until his knuckles turned white. "You must flee, now!"
The three did not react, and simply gazed at Edward, calling for action with their eyes. Sweat trickled down Edward's face as the situation worsened when two armed guards descended from above.
The guards, their rifles pointed at the three, shouted orders to clasp their hands behind their heads. Henry, Anne, and Sam all relented to the orders, and then rose at another command. One guard guided them away in front, with the second forcing them forward with his rifle.
Tears formed in the corners of Edward's eyes as his family were taken away. The three were about to be resigned to a fate Edward would not wish upon any. Their freedom stripped, and their spirits ripped from pain and anguish.
Deep down, in his heart of hearts, no matter what Edward said, he wanted to be free as well. The majority of his life, Edward suffered an oppressive, unloving step-family, so even when he was branded a pirate and chased across the Caribbean, even when the world was its bleakest, he was still free on that ship with those he cared about. Because of the consequences of his decision, his heart and mind struggled for and against the freedom he desired.
But today, today, the heart won.
"Take me with you! I want to be free with you, my family!" Edward cried, his words resounding across the floor and then some.
Anne, Henry, and Sam smiled. The guards, distracted by Edward's outcry, were quickly dispatched by the trio. They ran back to the cell together, Anne and Henry grabbing each of Edward's arms in a desperate embrace, tears in all their eyes.
Henry smiled to Edward, his best friend in all the world. "Let's set you free, brother."
September 1, 2014
New KickStarter/Blog
Hello,
I've started a Kickstarter! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1808564844/gods-new-universe
And a new Blog: http://godsnewuniverse.blogspot.ca/
What are they about you may be asking? Well, essentially I am trying to create a collaboration of sorts for a new fictional universe, wrapped in a funny shell for Kickstarter.
The joke is based on the question: "What if God created our universe through a crowdfunding platform, and what if it failed to get enough funding?" The Kickstarter is essentially for his new universe, and is allowing humans to take part in creating it by sending art for new planets, species, etc.
This is also another way to market myself and help others increase awareness to their brand. When I update the blog with a new species or planet, etc, I'll be crediting the artist who made it and link to their website or email so that anyone who likes their work can see more.
Eventually, if I receive enough financially and creatively, I can write stories based in the new universe.
Hopefully, this can go viral and grow to the point that the experiment actually works. Please share this with your friends and especially those who are artistic people. Thank you for the support!
I've started a Kickstarter! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1808564844/gods-new-universe
And a new Blog: http://godsnewuniverse.blogspot.ca/
What are they about you may be asking? Well, essentially I am trying to create a collaboration of sorts for a new fictional universe, wrapped in a funny shell for Kickstarter.
The joke is based on the question: "What if God created our universe through a crowdfunding platform, and what if it failed to get enough funding?" The Kickstarter is essentially for his new universe, and is allowing humans to take part in creating it by sending art for new planets, species, etc.
This is also another way to market myself and help others increase awareness to their brand. When I update the blog with a new species or planet, etc, I'll be crediting the artist who made it and link to their website or email so that anyone who likes their work can see more.
Eventually, if I receive enough financially and creatively, I can write stories based in the new universe.
Hopefully, this can go viral and grow to the point that the experiment actually works. Please share this with your friends and especially those who are artistic people. Thank you for the support!
