My thoughts on today (minus the smiling face). What an absolute embarrassment. #iloveEU 🇪🇺

There are only a handful of shows out there that have so clearly demonstrated that they actually watched their previous seasons, and remembered their characters’ motivations.

The representation was incredible. 

Genuinely complex characters who grew and evolved and didn’t seemingly one day fall down, hit their head and then become a totally different character.

Understanding that less is more when it comes to violence and violent imagery. You become numb to so much violence, like in GoT or TWD. Black Sails held back enough that someone’s head being crushed was both impactful and an actual character driven moment.

The SFX and physical effects. It was like watching a 38 hour movie. It was better than a lot of movies. 

Such beautiful cinematography.

Bear McCreary’s music. Just creepy enough to be piratical, and just beautiful enough to make you weep. 

A cohesive narrative that ran throughout seasons, and wasn’t done to death. 

Three seasons without sexual violence against women, and the first season wasn’t as graphic as some shows. It also allowed Max to be a female rape survivor who wasn’t solely defined by her trauma as is the case with most shows, even ones whose entire premise is that very point. 

A dark skinned black woman getting to be the romantic interest and making the white boy lead lose his mind over losing her.

Two threesomes with very different sexual politics at play, and handled in mature and complex ways. 

A mixed race woman becoming queen of Nassau!

So many women who regularly beat the Bechdel test (which low bar but whatevs) but at least one woman who solidly passes the Mako Mori test. 

A lot of Union flags on fire which made me happy because currently the union flag makes me want to vomit as it’s a symbol for racist twats who pushed us off a cliff because seemingly no-one told them you could buy a passport cover! 

A real, non-cartoonish villain who had real skills and was a worthy opponent. 

Stunning battle sequences. 

The baller move of not having your first season really make sense until halfway through your second with a reveal of heartbreaking shock.