Network: NBC
Episodes: Nine (hour)
Seasons: One
TV show dates: May 30, 2014 — August 2, 2014
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: John Malkovich, Yasmine Al Massri, Richard Coyle, Claire Foy, David Hoflin, Tracy Ifeachor, and Chris Perfetti.
TV show description:
This action drama is set in the year 1729 and takes place on the secret island of Santa Compana. Barbarous pirate Edward “Blackbeard” Teach (John Malkovich) reigns over a rogue nation of thieves, outlaws and miscreants.
Selima El Sharad (Yasmine Al Massri) is Blackbeard’s love interest and intellectual equal as they rule the island of pirates. Part shantytown, part utopia, and part marauder’s paradise, this is a place like no other.
Blackbeard has designs on the longitude chronometer, an invention that will change the world. During a massive attack on an English vessel, his most trusted pirates attempt to steal the device.
But on board is Tom Lowe (Richard Coyle), an English spy working undercover as ship’s surgeon. Lowe’s mission is to prevent the chronometer from falling into the hands of pirates — and to assassinate Blackbeard, should the opportunity arise.
Taken as prisoner to Santa Compana, Lowe must find a way to reassemble the precious chronometer, all while trying to uncover Blackbeard’s master plan. It’s a plan that includes a greater threat to the English throne than merely pirates.
Other characters include Kate Balfour (Claire Foy), Charlie Rider (David Hoflin), Nenna Ajanlekoko (Tracy Ifeachor), and Tim Fletch (Chris Perfetti).
Episode #9 — Blackbeard
To the shock of the island, Blackbeard returns from the voyage empty handed. Instead of trunks of treasure, his crew talks of injustice, spurned by the loss of Rider. They accuse Blackbeard of murder and demand he pay for the act, but their negotiation ends with a canon blast that rips through the wall – it’s Jagger, firing from offshore!
Fire rains down on Santa Campana as Jagger attacks with his full arsenal and decimates building after building. Despite Jagger’s men outnumbering the pirates by a significant ratio, Blackbeard rallies the island to fight off the invaders. An intense battle follows with high casualties on both sides, signaling to Jagger that he should reveal his secret weapon – Antoinette. While she screams the name of her former husband in an effort to lure him away, the war rages on, and the tide swings in Jagger’s favor. Lowe ends up surrounded by redcoats until an unlikely savior ravages through unannounced – Rider. The wounded warrior slices his way through the British forces, and suddenly Santa Campana has a chance to survive.
Jagger breaks away from the action to track down Blackbeard, and once they spot each other, both fire their weapons – and both bullets connect. While they limp and reload, Jagger mentions he brought Antoinette to the island, and they once again exchange bullets – with Jagger’s attempt ricocheting off Blackbeard’s nickel-sized head cap from his brain surgery. Unfortunately for the Governor of Jamaica, his enemy’s bullet hits its mark right between the eyes.
Meanwhile, Antoinette marches free across the island and locates Selima, who defends herself with a rifle blast that passes right through Antoinette’s shoulder… and merely slows down the ghost-like woman’s pursuit. Selima hides to no avail, and Antoinette disposes of her in short order, moments before the arrival of her true object of desire, Blackbeard. Covered in Selima’s blood, Antoinette walks to her former husband, smiling, transfixed… even as he plunges a sword through her body. She joins his second lover on the floor – both dead, both murdered in revenge.
With Rider’s help and Lowe’s leadership, the islanders defeat the redcoats and agree upon the final step to their own freedom – Blackbeard’s throne. Lowe finds the commodore in that very spot and challenges the weary pirate to defend the actions that slaughtered so many innocents. Blackbeard disagrees with Lowe’s assessment and refuses to relinquish his role, and thus fuels a brutal fight between the two. But Lowe now stands as an equal and outsmarts Blackbeard in the duel, leaving the legend bloodied and conquered.
Six weeks later, Lowe returns to Jamaica and confronts the new governor, threatening him with certain death unless he leaves Santa Campana alone. He offers a valuable item in exchange – the severed head of Blackbeard and, in turn, the promise of fame as the man who killed him.
Yet, on a deserted beach, a small sack in hand, stands a very alive Blackbeard, the deposed commodore, his eyes focused on a ship in the distance. The Reaver, perhaps? Was another deal struck between him and Lowe, a fake head for a real banishment? In any case, the world again believes the infamous pirate is dead, and so it shall seem forever… Or at least until his legend rises once more. Summary courtesy NBC.
First aired: August 2, 2014.
What do you think? Do you like the Crossbones TV series? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a second season?
Crossbones is a excellent show! Well written & acted. I am curious about all the characters & where the show will take them. J Malkovich is awesomely creepy, scarey & devilishly attractive. He is awesome & perfect for this part. Please give it time to become the great show it looks like it will become. Don’t screw up another good show like you did with awake! Please!
“Crossbones” is a very enjoyable show, with highly literate writing. It’s the kind of show that one rarely gets to see anymore. Great locations, amazing real ships, real water, and topnotch British actors, plus John Malkovich creating an indelible character. I don’t expect that this will stay on, because like “Awake,” it is too literate, too complex and challenging for the average TV watcher. If you love real swashbuckling pirate adventure, this is it, just with less of the usual swagger, but with more of a literary and intelligent feel to it.
I couldn’t agree with you more, William. A rollicking good adventure on the high seas, along with nuance and depth of performances and an intriguing, engrossing storyline.
The dialogue is intelligent, the acting is on the high end and the production values very well done, indeed.
We really like crossbones.. KEEP IT!!!!
I LOVE Crossbones, the people that don’t like , are people that need shiny objects,..Crossbones is a thinking persons Pirate Show, Absolutely Love it, don’t listen to the idiots talking about Revolution…what a joke that show was…
Revolution was the worst show ever. I really wanted to love crossbones (I love pirate lore) and I’ll honestly say I can’t find anything really “wrong” with it per se…it just seems lumbering. Three episodes in and I just can’t give a crap about any of the characters. I will give it five episodes to see if it hits its stride, but so far I feel like I would rather read a book.
Where do they get the ships that are used?
Really enjoyed it! Good to have a new show other than reality tv. Really good story line. We both really liked it.
I watched it live, then watched it again the next night. I love shows like this. I also rematch ed the series black sails. Let’s hope they keep this one around.
Thought it was horrible, I’d rather have Revolution back than watch Crossbones.
I watched it and enjoyed it. I’m also currently enjoying the Revolutionary era series turn on AMC it’s nice to see something other than cop shows lawyer shows and criminal investigation shows on TV for a change! Malkovich does a fine British accent for a Chicagoan 😉 I will keep watching.
Why they would cancel Revolution and try this show, I do not know. Will not be watching since I boycotted NBC.
Seems pretty good. Do not agree with those who bash it from the start before they even really give it a chance. Those can go watch the stupid Honey Poo Poo and leave the better stuff to us!
So you want everyone to give THIS a chance, but you bashed SYTYCD without waiting for more? However, I do agree with you re: Honey Boo Boo.. and a lot of those types of show… Yuk!
Sorry, forgot to mention that this comment was to/for “T.”
cancel it right away
Cancel it ONLY if they take off FNC from the airwaves, print and internet and cancel American Idol, SYTYCD, The Voice, all reality musical and dance garbage!
Watched the premiere last nite. At first I wasn’t sure if it was something I would enjoy watching but it did get better. We’ll see how long NBC sticks with it.
NOT a FAN! Sorry!
me either
so far so good. but i see chinks in the armour. so lowe will have to keep trying to kill black beard but can’t for one reason or another. maybe they can pull away from that some how. i will keep giving it a chance. i like pirate shows and period pieces so it works for me on that end.