respite in aaquollaa

Creator Spotlight: Samuel R. Delaney 

Samuel Ray Delany, Jr., Chip Delany  to his friends, is one of the most prolific science fiction authors of the 20th century, Delaney’s body of work includes more than twenty novels, several novellas, and countless short stories. 

Publishing his first novel, The Jewels of Aptor, in 1962 at the age of 19, Delaney has since gone on to win countless prestigious awards including the coveted Nebula and Hugo awards.His science fiction novels include Babel-17, The Einstein Intersection, Nova, Dhalgren, and the Return to Neveryon series. After winning four Nebula awards and two Hugo awards over the course of his career, Delany was inducted by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 2002. 

Recurring themes in Delany’s work include mythology, memory, language, sexuality, and perception. Class, position in society, and the ability to move from one social stratum to another are motifs that were touched on in his earlier work and became more significant in his later fiction and non-fiction, both.

From January 2001 until his retirement in May 2015, he was a professor of English and Creative Writing at Temple University in Philadelphia. In 2010 he won the third J. Lloyd Eaton Lifetime Achievement Award in Science Fiction from the academic Eaton Science Fiction Conference at UCR Libraries. The Science Fiction Writers of America named him its 30th SFWA Grand Master in 2013. (Via X, Y)

Trivia: Delany wrote two issues of the comic book Wonder Woman in 1972, during a controversial period in the publication’s history when the lead character abandoned her superpowers and became a secret agent. Delany scripted issues #202 and #203 of the series. Delany was initially supposed to write a six-issue story arc, which would culminate in a battle over an abortion clinic, but the story arc ended up canceled after Gloria Steinem complained that Wonder Woman was no longer wearing her traditional costume, a change predating Delany’s involvement. 

You can find his books here

Read “A Burden Shared”, a new science fiction short story by Jo Walton about the easing of pain.

What I loved was Madi was out of her war clothes.

She was in a lovely skirt outfit. She was wearing the lovely trinket her mother was holding when she thought Madi was dead.

The war with England was over. The war with her man was over.

She came to him. She knew where he was and she chose to come to him.

Want a something to read tonight? Try “Kia and Gio,” a short story by Daniel José Older.

So, in the spirit of honesty, this was a difficult recap to write. I had anticipated it being so because Luke Arnold was so excited for us to see it. He described it as his favorite episode ever and I was positively giddy to view it. After viewing, I get why he loved it. The flashbacks were beautifully shot, the fighting was some of the best I’ve seen in four seasons and that scene between Madi and Woodes Rogers was chilling. Zethu was absolutely brilliant in it, but that one scene summed up pretty much everything I loved and struggled to love regarding this episode.

We start off the episode with a flashback of Silver walking to meet Flint on a hilltop. It’s evident that it’s a flashback scene because Silver still has his metal leg. We find out that Flint has summoned Silver to teach him how to “fight and not die”. The reason that this is so important now is because the invasion of Nassau is a few weeks away. Flint gingerly tells Silver that it would be better if he learned to fight with a crutch and is surprised when Silver doesn’t fight him on this. Clearly, the purpose of the scene is to show the trust that has developed between the two men since the Fireside confession in 3x10.

~ When the fighting truly begins all that matters is what makes for the greatest advantage~ Flint

~ The men, I have to manage how they see me. I understand that’s part of my job, but for pride to be an issue between you and I well, I think we’re plain past that by now. Don’t you? Do you really imagine that a few weeks of this is going to make that much difference? Am I not what I am at this point? ~ Silver

~ It’s better than nothing.~ Flint

~ You’re not concerned about this? ~ Silver

~ Concerned? ~ Flint

~ Well, you say you’ll be teaching me to fight. But if every man fights differently, seems to me what you’ll really be teaching me is how to defeat you.~ Silver

~ I’ll take my chances. Shall we? ~ Flint

When we return to the present, we see Silver traveling on a launch. He is heading to Skeleton Island to  join Hands and the six man crew in their search of Flint. Silver mentions to Hands that the Governor gave him until sunrise to deliver the cache. Silver voices that he has doubts that the Governor will actually keep his word though. He knows that he is up to something. He just isn’t sure what that is.

While Silver and Hands are having this conversation, Rogers is seen asking Billy who he thinks will be the victor between Silver and Flint. Billy states that Silver has the men, motivation, etc… However, Flint is Flint, and he is at his best when backed into a corner. He encourages the Governor not to wait and see this thing done himself. Honestly, I thought at this point, I’d be over being disappointed by Billy. I’m not. Seeing Billy actively plotting and orchestrating the death of his brothers is painful. Little did we know that this was just the tip of the iceberg for him though. There is much more pain to come. Rogers surprises everyone by saying that he would like to speak to Madi and to have her brought to him. Billy, with all his false bravado, tells him that Madi will never accept a compromise. Rogers quickly reminds him that he is a means to an end and that he needs to remain useful or else end up dead. So essentially, play your position.

In the next scene we flashback to Maroon Island and Silver training with Flint. Somewhere in the midst of sweat flying, it dawns on Flint that Silver knows “his story, his past”,  but he doesn’t know Silver’s. Silver repeats the story that he has told many times. He’s from White Chapel. Never knew his mother and grew up in an orphanage. Flint scoffs at that and tells him that he doesn’t believe it’s true and he encourages Silver to tell him the truth. Silver states it’s not important and yet Flint expresses disbelief that Silver refuses to share his past. Silver looks unnerved with the line of questioning and leaves.

Back again in the present, Flint attacks three of the men on his trail and kills them. We then see Jack sailing with his crew to find Skeleton Island.

And then we see the Queen… She’s been brought up to Rogers and she’s looking as defiant as ever. But wait… the two aren’t alone. Ghost Eleanor is sitting in the corner knitting because evidently she has unfinished business here. I’m assuming she’s his conscience now. Too bad it only took hundreds of women, men and children dying, including his own, for him to get one.  Rogers starts off the conversation from a position of power and intimidation standing directly behind Madi. Little does he know, the Queen doesn’t really do scare tactics. I guess he didn’t decipher that from their last interaction.

~ You have no idea the restraint this takes. How urgent the instinct toward violence. How certain the conviction that it would be deserved, given what you and your partners have destroyed, what you’ve taken from me. To me, compromise seems a loathsome, unbearable act. What compromise can there be with the man responsible for the death of my wife? Or with those who follow him? You’re luckier than you know. So much luckier than you know that in this moment I can still hear the faintest of voices in my head arguing against the alternative. If I must compromise to avert a dark end, then so must you. I’ve offered you freedom for your people. I have offered you more than you have any right to expect. And still, you will not say yes. So I come to you one last time to ensure you cannot say no. Accept the treaty….~ Rogers

Madi interrupts him mid sentence. Just cuts him the hell off. Queen was like I’m tired of all this pontificating.

~ I will consider no treaty of yours.~ Madi

~…. and John Silver lives. Refuse and he dies. Along with the rest of the men who followed him here. And from what I understand, he is the one who matters most to you. The one with whom you might lead a life if you can set aside your pride in this moment. Do not make the same mistake I did. Do the deal.~ Rogers

~ The voice you hear in your head. I imagine I know who it sounds like as I know Eleanor wanted those things. But I hear the voices. A chorus of voices. Multitudes. They reach back centuries. Men and women and children who’d lost their lives to men like you. Men and women and children forced to wear your chains. I must answer to them and this war. Their war. Flint’s war. My war. It will not be bargained away to avoid a fight, to save John Silver’s life or his men’s or mine. And you believe what you will, but it was neither I nor Flint nor the Spanish raider who killed your wife. That, you did.~ Madi

I’ve always known Queen Madi Scott was special. Quite honestly, she is probably one of the best characters on television. A lot of that is due to writing, but Zethu is mesmerizing in this role. I watched this scene and wept. I wept for the pure defiance in her eyes. The conviction. The Calling. Yes, I said Calling. Like never before, Madi made me feel that she’s doing God’s work. In this moment, she is fighting to free her people. She’s fighting for the ones who died at the bottom of ships on the passage over. She’s fighting for the ones who made it over and lived in chains. She’s fighting for the ones who are “free” like her, but still aren’t and she fighting so that her children won’t have to. In this scene, Madi spelled out in no uncertain terms that Madi’s war, her Calling, is about freeing her people and making the world a better place for  them.

I wept for another reason though. I wept because of the lip quiver. I wept because of the heaving chest and the quick swallowing. I wept because of the watery eyes. I wept because in one brief moment, we saw Madi Scott, the woman. Not the Queen of the Maroons or a Leader in the Revolution. We saw Madi that young girl who fell in love with a silver tongued, one legged Pirate. I wept because Madi in that moment realized that this war might take her love’s life as payment and she accepted that possibility. Not just that John’s life might be forfeited, but hers and her people’s as well. Again, she didn’t choose this war over Silver’s life. She chose her Calling of freeing her enslaved people over EVERYTHING. Freedom ain’t never been free. People have always had to die for it. That doesn’t mean that she doesn’t love John with everything in her soul. It just means that she has to realize that she was lucky enough to fall in love with a man who supports her Calling. And he does.. He proved that when he punished Billy. He proved that when he broke those chains at Underhill. He proved that with his respect of the Queen Mother and Ruth. Silver is more than ready to accept her Calling and his. Madi just needs to realize it. As a said before, freedom ain’t free, but sometimes there can be another way. Sometimes the entire world and everyone in it doesn’t have to burn. If anyone is smart enough to find a way, it’s Madi and Silver together.

Honestly, I could just stop here, because that scene was hard and I’m tired as fuck. But alas, The King is still searching for Flint and the cache. We next see him and Hands standing over the bodies of the men that Flint has killed. Silver is pissed and cursing Flint. Hands ain’t having it. He reminds John that both he and Billy tried to warn him that Flint ain’t shit and ain’t ever going to be shit. He also  tells him that Flint will show up, spin a damn tale and your loyal ass “will not have learned a got damn thing”. He’s right too. Our blue-eyed Bae is loyal as hell to Captain Ginger and that self serving bastard has never deserved it, but yet here we are. Silver than has a moment of clarity and realizes that he may know where Flint has went.

We then see Flint and Dooley carrying the chest. Dooley is expressing concerns over Silver’s ability to remain a part of the alliance. Flint assures him that once Madi is safe, Silver will be fine, but Dooley disagrees. He believes that Silver may be permanently compromised and when the time comes he will deal with it so that Flint won’t have that burden on his soul. Dooley, sweetheart, Flint killed Gates with his bare hands. That motherfucker doesn’t mind doing the wet work. Just saying.

In the next flashback, the training continues. We see Silver telling Flint a whole lot of nothing about his backstory. Clearly, Silver’s backstory isn't relevant to his present life. And Jesus, wept or at least I did. I waited four years for this and got Zilch, Nada, Nothing.

So, we’ve reached the fucked me up portion of the recap. In the present day, Joji and one of the crew encountered Flint and Dooley. Flint kills the crew member, while Joji fights Dooley. Joji, a real friend to the end, harms Dooley just enough to put him out of commission. He could have killed his brother and chooses not to. Not Flint, though. No sir. He did what he always does. He kills Joji. In what world could Flint beat Joji in a sword fight? R.I.P, Joji, my Silent Bae. I loved you.

As this is happening, we see members of Rogers crew swimming to the Walrus, where they proceed to light it on fire. They also untie all the launches so the men can’t escape. So you see, Madi not trusting Roger’s word was kind of a safe bet. Roger’s word doesn’t men shit. Ask his wife and child. I’ll wait. Mr. De Groot gives the abandon ship command and my heart breaks. This ain’t gon’ end well.

Hands and Silver spot Flint and Hands rushes down to stop him. More fighting ensues and Flint gets the best of Hands and knocks him out. Yeah, you read that right. Hands, the Ginger Savage, was bested by Flint. You really can’t make this shit up. Silver finally makes it and demands that Flint tell him where the treasure is. Flint says the treasure is in the ground and it will remain there until Madi is free and they gather it and return it to the camp.

~ I know you cannot see why this must be. But it must be. And every moment we waste is a moment we could be working to retrieve her.~ Flint

~ That’s all this has ever been, isn’t it? A partnership only insofar as it enables you to do whatever it is that matters to you in any given moment. And right now it matters far less to you whether she lives or dies than it happens your way, on your terms.~ Silver

~ I think you know it’s far more complicated than that. I’m certain she does. Even if you could kill me, even if that somehow helped you see her alive again, how are you going to explain it to her? She believes in this as much as I do. You know this. If it costs the war to save her, you’ll have lost her anyway. Even you cannot construct a story to make her forgive you that. You do this and you’re gonna regret it.~ Flint

Well, clearly those were fighting words, because Silver drew his sword and the fight commenced. But before we proceed, let’s rehash some things. Flint just implied to Silver that he knew Madi better than him. Marinate on that… Flint told Silver that Madi would essentially side with him. She would want this war to go on in spite of everything. But…. Madi is fighting for her people’s freedom. She fighting for the “greater good”. Flint on the other hand, is not. Flint is fighting to destroy England because he loved and lost. THAT.IS.IT. So someone explain to me like I’m a toddler, how are Madi’s Calling and Flint’s Revenge Campaign the same? I’ll wait. So back to the task at hand, Dooley shows up to the fight and attempts to shoot Silver. Flint kills him to prevent it and then an explosion occurs. It’s the Walrus. It’s completely engulfed in flames and the men are being shot dead in the water as they abandon ship. Leading this slaughter is Billy. I don’t have the words. De Groot is shot in the head, but Billy spares Gunn. For, not the last time, I wept. All these dead bodies in the water. Men that I watched and loved for four seasons are now dead. Dead because there can only be one way and that’s Flint way.

Silver flashbacks to this beautiful moment of him and Madi. It looks as though, they are eating together back on Maroon Island before all the Death and Destruction happened. Madi looks so young and innocent and Silver is obviously trying to reassure her that Flint means him no ill will…

~ Can’t you see it? It isn’t utility that’s behind his investment in me nor necessity nor dependency. I understand you fear a false motive. But this much is clear to me now.. I have earned his respect. And after all the tragedies that man has suffered….. the loss of Thomas, the events of Charles Town. I have earned his trust. I have his true friendship and so he is going to have mine. And as long as that is true, I cannot imagine what is possible.~ Silver

Deep sigh…. Silver speaks of his friend with such deep respect and admiration. He even seems a little in awe that Captain Flint, chose him of all people to trust with a true friendship. This is why we needed Silver’s backstory. This is why it was so important to know what happened in his past that would make him sacrifice so much for a man that has never done the same for him. That said… the scene once again showed that Silver truly does love Madi above all else. There is nary a secret between them and I would assume that would also include his backstory. It’s so clear why this man will fight the Devil himself to see Madi returned. She is his everything.

You’re 100% right that there is no way that Flint could defeat both Joji and Hand that quickly or, you know, at all. SMH.  It’s funny, because your reaction to Flint’s conversation with Silver was my reaction to Billy: as in, I KNOW you’re not acting as if you have any inkling of Madi’s thoughts or intentions. Billy ended up where he is because he discounted her as an equal in the alliance and paid for it. He’s pretty much the worst. 

And then you have Flint yet again trying to play Silver. He’s both right and wrong. Madi does believe in their shared cause to wage war on England, although their motivations and scope are very different—as you point out, Flint is about revenge on England while Madi’s is much more noble and discrete. I loved how she didn’t refer to it as “our” war to Rogers. It’s hers and Flint’s and her people’s, all different grievances. And Silver does know this—he admitted that Madi’s “death” needed to mean something because she believed in this war. As much as I love Silver’s devotion, I appreciate that Flint made him face that he is deciding this for Madi when he’s well aware she likely wouldn’t agree–it’s irked me that we haven’t seen Silver acknowledge this.

It reminds me that Madi is the tether in a different way than imagined—reigning in Flint from running amuck and motivating Silver to think bigger than his immediate interests.

But Flint’s talking nonsense and trying to get into Silver’s head saying Madi wouldn’t forgive him for it. Maybe it’s resonant feelings about Thomas or hubris or head games, but I think it’s a basic lack of understanding about how aligned Silver and Madi are. When Flint’s trifling ass bargained the cache the first time, she accepted what he’d done and moved on—and she barely likes him even if she does respect him on some level. It was Silver who balked at Flint’s actions. Yet her arguments became his and vice versa when the tables turned. And given she must know of Silver’s willingness to bargain her life for the cache, even if she has made a different choice, I cannot see her begrudging Silver knowing and loving him as well as she does.

Billy paid the price for asking Silver to choose between him and Flint (and for discounting Madi too, I imagine). But Madi asked Silver to choose too, and he forgave her that because he understood it and he loves her. I can see Madi similarly being disappointed at Silver’s choice to trade the cache for her, but I also see her understanding it and forgiving. I like that parallel here.

As much as I enjoy Flint and think him a strategic badass, when Silver asked if he thought the war was more important than Madi’s life, that fool should have just said no, and accused Rogers of trying to divide them like Billy. Then he could emphasize working together to best Rogers instead of them wasting time with their shenanigans.

Flint all of a sudden becoming the greatest fighter alive is laughable. No one ever beats Joji or Hands and yet Flint managed to take down both. The show seems determined to let Flint be front and center to the end. Also, it’s clear they want his end to be heroic like Eleanor’s. That’s such a cop out and it’s not organic just like Eleanor’s wasn’t.

ITA with you about Madi. Of all people, Hands is the only one that saw her. He got that she was the most important thing in Silver’s life and he has never said one thing against her. Billy and Flint didn’t see it. Flint saw that reunion and still didn’t see it. It was not until Silver verbally expressed his feelings and he said “I see”. Honestly, maybe it’s rooted in the history, that Silver has never loved anyone before. So, it was almost impossible for them to accept that he does.

Madi loves Silver. It’s not puppy love either. She saw that man at his absolute worst with his leg seeping, in pain, crying and tortured and loved him. She say the aftermath of him stomping in a man’s head and loved him. She also knows that he sacrificed his brother to do right by her and her people. That’s not just romantic, the sex is good love. That’s the against all odds kind. She is not leaving him because a war ends to die unhappy and alone. It never amazes me how some watch and can’t hear the verbal nuggets being dropped.

Rogers told her not to make the mistakes he did. Don’t sacrifice the love for pride. NUGGETS

Ruth told her to build a wall and save who you can save. NUGGETS

Eleanor asked her if being in isolation with someone you love who loves you back can be enough. NUGGETS

It’s funny that you mention this because I ran across a reviewer earlier this week that I found so annoying on this front -- I’m talking bending over backwards to deny a narrative between Silver and Madi that I found just totally disingenuous. I had all kinds of reactions to it that I want to write about, still might after tomorrow’s episode. But it was a really good example of bad criticism, not in its analysis but in being so dishonest about how much the writers shipper tendencies colored their narrative to the point of actually ignoring plot points and things that happen to defend that blind spot. I love when people bring their their whippiness into their musings, but that level of intellectual dishonesty was so disappointing. I like the reviews at Fandomentals, though.

And I think you have a good point about Flint really not getting how important Madi is to Silver until he spelled it out for him. Flint must of known of Silver’s growing fondness for her, and maybe he thought it was just a dalliance. But that moment before the siege, he realized Silver was for real, for real. It makes me wonder how much that played into Flint deciding to accept Eleanor’s bargain without consulting Silver. He’s testing what kind of devotion their relationship is really made of and whether Silver’s love for Madi compromises the investment or trust or friendship or whatever he feels he’s forged with Silver. And I love that Silver’s response is kind of a subconscious warning that Flint best not make him choose either: "like I’m Team Flint over Team Billy, but take heed that I sent my girl for you so ultimately, Team Madi.’ 

But if anything, this season has evolved my perspective of those two men. My friend who introduced me to the show is a huge fan of (non-romantic) Flint and Silver (more so the former). Before last season, I appreciated Flint and found him interesting and could take or leave Silver. I wouldn’t say I particularly liked either, although I liked them as characters. Bringing colonial Britain into the overall conflict of the characters has given me a much stronger appreciation for both of them. My friend and I are currently fussing about the choice not to reveal Silver’s backstory, which i’m cool with. I’ll keep my head canon where he actually comes from a privileged background, rebelled and skipped town, and found this richer life among the pirates.  

So, in the spirit of honesty, this was a difficult recap to write. I had anticipated it being so because Luke Arnold was so excited for us to see it. He described it as his favorite episode ever and I was positively giddy to view it. After viewing, I get why he loved it. The flashbacks were beautifully shot, the fighting was some of the best I’ve seen in four seasons and that scene between Madi and Woodes Rogers was chilling. Zethu was absolutely brilliant in it, but that one scene summed up pretty much everything I loved and struggled to love regarding this episode.

We start off the episode with a flashback of Silver walking to meet Flint on a hilltop. It’s evident that it’s a flashback scene because Silver still has his metal leg. We find out that Flint has summoned Silver to teach him how to “fight and not die”. The reason that this is so important now is because the invasion of Nassau is a few weeks away. Flint gingerly tells Silver that it would be better if he learned to fight with a crutch and is surprised when Silver doesn’t fight him on this. Clearly, the purpose of the scene is to show the trust that has developed between the two men since the Fireside confession in 3x10.

~ When the fighting truly begins all that matters is what makes for the greatest advantage~ Flint

~ The men, I have to manage how they see me. I understand that’s part of my job, but for pride to be an issue between you and I well, I think we’re plain past that by now. Don’t you? Do you really imagine that a few weeks of this is going to make that much difference? Am I not what I am at this point? ~ Silver

~ It’s better than nothing.~ Flint

~ You’re not concerned about this? ~ Silver

~ Concerned? ~ Flint

~ Well, you say you’ll be teaching me to fight. But if every man fights differently, seems to me what you’ll really be teaching me is how to defeat you.~ Silver

~ I’ll take my chances. Shall we? ~ Flint

When we return to the present, we see Silver traveling on a launch. He is heading to Skeleton Island to  join Hands and the six man crew in their search of Flint. Silver mentions to Hands that the Governor gave him until sunrise to deliver the cache. Silver voices that he has doubts that the Governor will actually keep his word though. He knows that he is up to something. He just isn’t sure what that is.

While Silver and Hands are having this conversation, Rogers is seen asking Billy who he thinks will be the victor between Silver and Flint. Billy states that Silver has the men, motivation, etc… However, Flint is Flint, and he is at his best when backed into a corner. He encourages the Governor not to wait and see this thing done himself. Honestly, I thought at this point, I’d be over being disappointed by Billy. I’m not. Seeing Billy actively plotting and orchestrating the death of his brothers is painful. Little did we know that this was just the tip of the iceberg for him though. There is much more pain to come. Rogers surprises everyone by saying that he would like to speak to Madi and to have her brought to him. Billy, with all his false bravado, tells him that Madi will never accept a compromise. Rogers quickly reminds him that he is a means to an end and that he needs to remain useful or else end up dead. So essentially, play your position.

In the next scene we flashback to Maroon Island and Silver training with Flint. Somewhere in the midst of sweat flying, it dawns on Flint that Silver knows “his story, his past”,  but he doesn’t know Silver’s. Silver repeats the story that he has told many times. He’s from White Chapel. Never knew his mother and grew up in an orphanage. Flint scoffs at that and tells him that he doesn’t believe it’s true and he encourages Silver to tell him the truth. Silver states it’s not important and yet Flint expresses disbelief that Silver refuses to share his past. Silver looks unnerved with the line of questioning and leaves.

Back again in the present, Flint attacks three of the men on his trail and kills them. We then see Jack sailing with his crew to find Skeleton Island.

And then we see the Queen… She’s been brought up to Rogers and she’s looking as defiant as ever. But wait… the two aren’t alone. Ghost Eleanor is sitting in the corner knitting because evidently she has unfinished business here. I’m assuming she’s his conscience now. Too bad it only took hundreds of women, men and children dying, including his own, for him to get one.  Rogers starts off the conversation from a position of power and intimidation standing directly behind Madi. Little does he know, the Queen doesn’t really do scare tactics. I guess he didn’t decipher that from their last interaction.

~ You have no idea the restraint this takes. How urgent the instinct toward violence. How certain the conviction that it would be deserved, given what you and your partners have destroyed, what you’ve taken from me. To me, compromise seems a loathsome, unbearable act. What compromise can there be with the man responsible for the death of my wife? Or with those who follow him? You’re luckier than you know. So much luckier than you know that in this moment I can still hear the faintest of voices in my head arguing against the alternative. If I must compromise to avert a dark end, then so must you. I’ve offered you freedom for your people. I have offered you more than you have any right to expect. And still, you will not say yes. So I come to you one last time to ensure you cannot say no. Accept the treaty….~ Rogers

Madi interrupts him mid sentence. Just cuts him the hell off. Queen was like I’m tired of all this pontificating.

~ I will consider no treaty of yours.~ Madi

~…. and John Silver lives. Refuse and he dies. Along with the rest of the men who followed him here. And from what I understand, he is the one who matters most to you. The one with whom you might lead a life if you can set aside your pride in this moment. Do not make the same mistake I did. Do the deal.~ Rogers

~ The voice you hear in your head. I imagine I know who it sounds like as I know Eleanor wanted those things. But I hear the voices. A chorus of voices. Multitudes. They reach back centuries. Men and women and children who’d lost their lives to men like you. Men and women and children forced to wear your chains. I must answer to them and this war. Their war. Flint’s war. My war. It will not be bargained away to avoid a fight, to save John Silver’s life or his men’s or mine. And you believe what you will, but it was neither I nor Flint nor the Spanish raider who killed your wife. That, you did.~ Madi

I’ve always known Queen Madi Scott was special. Quite honestly, she is probably one of the best characters on television. A lot of that is due to writing, but Zethu is mesmerizing in this role. I watched this scene and wept. I wept for the pure defiance in her eyes. The conviction. The Calling. Yes, I said Calling. Like never before, Madi made me feel that she’s doing God’s work. In this moment, she is fighting to free her people. She’s fighting for the ones who died at the bottom of ships on the passage over. She’s fighting for the ones who made it over and lived in chains. She’s fighting for the ones who are “free” like her, but still aren’t and she fighting so that her children won’t have to. In this scene, Madi spelled out in no uncertain terms that Madi’s war, her Calling, is about freeing her people and making the world a better place for  them.

I wept for another reason though. I wept because of the lip quiver. I wept because of the heaving chest and the quick swallowing. I wept because of the watery eyes. I wept because in one brief moment, we saw Madi Scott, the woman. Not the Queen of the Maroons or a Leader in the Revolution. We saw Madi that young girl who fell in love with a silver tongued, one legged Pirate. I wept because Madi in that moment realized that this war might take her love’s life as payment and she accepted that possibility. Not just that John’s life might be forfeited, but hers and her people’s as well. Again, she didn’t choose this war over Silver’s life. She chose her Calling of freeing her enslaved people over EVERYTHING. Freedom ain’t never been free. People have always had to die for it. That doesn’t mean that she doesn’t love John with everything in her soul. It just means that she has to realize that she was lucky enough to fall in love with a man who supports her Calling. And he does.. He proved that when he punished Billy. He proved that when he broke those chains at Underhill. He proved that with his respect of the Queen Mother and Ruth. Silver is more than ready to accept her Calling and his. Madi just needs to realize it. As a said before, freedom ain’t free, but sometimes there can be another way. Sometimes the entire world and everyone in it doesn’t have to burn. If anyone is smart enough to find a way, it’s Madi and Silver together.

Honestly, I could just stop here, because that scene was hard and I’m tired as fuck. But alas, The King is still searching for Flint and the cache. We next see him and Hands standing over the bodies of the men that Flint has killed. Silver is pissed and cursing Flint. Hands ain’t having it. He reminds John that both he and Billy tried to warn him that Flint ain’t shit and ain’t ever going to be shit. He also  tells him that Flint will show up, spin a damn tale and your loyal ass “will not have learned a got damn thing”. He’s right too. Our blue-eyed Bae is loyal as hell to Captain Ginger and that self serving bastard has never deserved it, but yet here we are. Silver than has a moment of clarity and realizes that he may know where Flint has went.

We then see Flint and Dooley carrying the chest. Dooley is expressing concerns over Silver’s ability to remain a part of the alliance. Flint assures him that once Madi is safe, Silver will be fine, but Dooley disagrees. He believes that Silver may be permanently compromised and when the time comes he will deal with it so that Flint won’t have that burden on his soul. Dooley, sweetheart, Flint killed Gates with his bare hands. That motherfucker doesn’t mind doing the wet work. Just saying.

In the next flashback, the training continues. We see Silver telling Flint a whole lot of nothing about his backstory. Clearly, Silver’s backstory isn't relevant to his present life. And Jesus, wept or at least I did. I waited four years for this and got Zilch, Nada, Nothing.

So, we’ve reached the fucked me up portion of the recap. In the present day, Joji and one of the crew encountered Flint and Dooley. Flint kills the crew member, while Joji fights Dooley. Joji, a real friend to the end, harms Dooley just enough to put him out of commission. He could have killed his brother and chooses not to. Not Flint, though. No sir. He did what he always does. He kills Joji. In what world could Flint beat Joji in a sword fight? R.I.P, Joji, my Silent Bae. I loved you.

As this is happening, we see members of Rogers crew swimming to the Walrus, where they proceed to light it on fire. They also untie all the launches so the men can’t escape. So you see, Madi not trusting Roger’s word was kind of a safe bet. Roger’s word doesn’t men shit. Ask his wife and child. I’ll wait. Mr. De Groot gives the abandon ship command and my heart breaks. This ain’t gon’ end well.

Hands and Silver spot Flint and Hands rushes down to stop him. More fighting ensues and Flint gets the best of Hands and knocks him out. Yeah, you read that right. Hands, the Ginger Savage, was bested by Flint. You really can’t make this shit up. Silver finally makes it and demands that Flint tell him where the treasure is. Flint says the treasure is in the ground and it will remain there until Madi is free and they gather it and return it to the camp.

~ I know you cannot see why this must be. But it must be. And every moment we waste is a moment we could be working to retrieve her.~ Flint

~ That’s all this has ever been, isn’t it? A partnership only insofar as it enables you to do whatever it is that matters to you in any given moment. And right now it matters far less to you whether she lives or dies than it happens your way, on your terms.~ Silver

~ I think you know it’s far more complicated than that. I’m certain she does. Even if you could kill me, even if that somehow helped you see her alive again, how are you going to explain it to her? She believes in this as much as I do. You know this. If it costs the war to save her, you’ll have lost her anyway. Even you cannot construct a story to make her forgive you that. You do this and you’re gonna regret it.~ Flint

Well, clearly those were fighting words, because Silver drew his sword and the fight commenced. But before we proceed, let’s rehash some things. Flint just implied to Silver that he knew Madi better than him. Marinate on that… Flint told Silver that Madi would essentially side with him. She would want this war to go on in spite of everything. But…. Madi is fighting for her people’s freedom. She fighting for the “greater good”. Flint on the other hand, is not. Flint is fighting to destroy England because he loved and lost. THAT.IS.IT. So someone explain to me like I’m a toddler, how are Madi’s Calling and Flint’s Revenge Campaign the same? I’ll wait. So back to the task at hand, Dooley shows up to the fight and attempts to shoot Silver. Flint kills him to prevent it and then an explosion occurs. It’s the Walrus. It’s completely engulfed in flames and the men are being shot dead in the water as they abandon ship. Leading this slaughter is Billy. I don’t have the words. De Groot is shot in the head, but Billy spares Gunn. For, not the last time, I wept. All these dead bodies in the water. Men that I watched and loved for four seasons are now dead. Dead because there can only be one way and that’s Flint way.

Silver flashbacks to this beautiful moment of him and Madi. It looks as though, they are eating together back on Maroon Island before all the Death and Destruction happened. Madi looks so young and innocent and Silver is obviously trying to reassure her that Flint means him no ill will…

~ Can’t you see it? It isn’t utility that’s behind his investment in me nor necessity nor dependency. I understand you fear a false motive. But this much is clear to me now.. I have earned his respect. And after all the tragedies that man has suffered….. the loss of Thomas, the events of Charles Town. I have earned his trust. I have his true friendship and so he is going to have mine. And as long as that is true, I cannot imagine what is possible.~ Silver

Deep sigh…. Silver speaks of his friend with such deep respect and admiration. He even seems a little in awe that Captain Flint, chose him of all people to trust with a true friendship. This is why we needed Silver’s backstory. This is why it was so important to know what happened in his past that would make him sacrifice so much for a man that has never done the same for him. That said… the scene once again showed that Silver truly does love Madi above all else. There is nary a secret between them and I would assume that would also include his backstory. It’s so clear why this man will fight the Devil himself to see Madi returned. She is his everything.

You’re 100% right that there is no way that Flint could defeat both Joji and Hand that quickly or, you know, at all. SMH.  It’s funny, because your reaction to Flint’s conversation with Silver was my reaction to Billy: as in, I KNOW you’re not acting as if you have any inkling of Madi’s thoughts or intentions. Billy ended up where he is because he discounted her as an equal in the alliance and paid for it. He’s pretty much the worst. 

And then you have Flint yet again trying to play Silver. He’s both right and wrong. Madi does believe in their shared cause to wage war on England, although their motivations and scope are very different—as you point out, Flint is about revenge on England while Madi’s is much more noble and discrete. I loved how she didn’t refer to it as “our” war to Rogers. It’s hers and Flint’s and her people’s, all different grievances. And Silver does know this—he admitted that Madi’s “death” needed to mean something because she believed in this war. As much as I love Silver’s devotion, I appreciate that Flint made him face that he is deciding this for Madi when he’s well aware she likely wouldn’t agree--it’s irked me that we haven’t seen Silver acknowledge this.

It reminds me that Madi is the tether in a different way than imagined—reigning in Flint from running amuck and motivating Silver to think bigger than his immediate interests.

But Flint’s talking nonsense and trying to get into Silver’s head saying Madi wouldn’t forgive him for it. Maybe it’s resonant feelings about Thomas or hubris or head games, but I think it’s a basic lack of understanding about how aligned Silver and Madi are. When Flint’s trifling ass bargained the cache the first time, she accepted what he’d done and moved on—and she barely likes him even if she does respect him on some level. It was Silver who balked at Flint’s actions. Yet her arguments became his and vice versa when the tables turned. And given she must know of Silver’s willingness to bargain her life for the cache, even if she has made a different choice, I cannot see her begrudging Silver knowing and loving him as well as she does.

Billy paid the price for asking Silver to choose between him and Flint (and for discounting Madi too, I imagine). But Madi asked Silver to choose too, and he forgave her that because he understood it and he loves her. I can see Madi similarly being disappointed at Silver’s choice to trade the cache for her, but I also see her understanding it and forgiving. I like that parallel here.

As much as I enjoy Flint and think him a strategic badass, when Silver asked if he thought the war was more important than Madi’s life, that fool should have just said no, and accused Rogers of trying to divide them like Billy. Then he could emphasize working together to best Rogers instead of them wasting time with their shenanigans.

“Unfurled” 

Julie Dillon

www.juliedillonart.com

For Month of Love’s Week 4 challenge, “Metamorphoses”

“Can’t you see where memories are kept bright? Tripping on the water like a laughing girl Time in her eyes is spawning past life One with the ocean and the woman unfurled Holding all the love that waits for you here”

Read “The City Born Great,” an urban fantasy story by N.K. Jemisin about the birth of New York City

Ode To The Street Cat: ‘Kedi’ Follows Istanbul’s Famous Felines

In the new Turkish documentary Kedi, which is rolling out around the country, filmmaker Ceyda Torun offers a new look at the city of Istanbul by focusing on its vast number of street cats. Critic John Powers says:

“Kedi’s stars, of course, are cats, and the film glides around Istanbul’s back alleys, boho enclaves and rat-infested piers to show us the range of these characters.

These include Sari, a yellow-and-white tabby who’s all about food — stealing it from shops, begging for it at restaurants, carrying it back to her kittens. There’s Gamsiz, a carefree black-and-white shorthair who climbs trees and awnings so that he can demand admission into second-story apartment windows. And there’s the mask-faced little demon fondly known as the Neighborhood Psychopath who controls her turf with the prickly explosiveness of a feline Tony Soprano.

I do get the complexities at play here. Billy had just lost men in that battle and it went hand in hand with Flint triggering old wounds. But he would have served his men better by looking out for their long term interests instead of throwing a tantrum. I agree he’s incredibly devoted to his brothers, in ways that are to be commended. Yet if he thinks he can liberate them without fulfilling his obligations to those that have helped create his leverage then he’s digging his own grave. And it was a tinge of uncharacteristically sloppy writing to have a character with as much integrity as Billy give into such pettiness. Then again, that’s the pressure of leadership rearing its head.