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?
Excellent show with a great cast! All
Just about the best show on tv! Why would you cancel it? Say it ain’t so!
Crossbones is a exciting, on the edge of your seat TV series that has I all: suspense, intrigue, drama, romance, and it should continue to delight us viewers. I hope it returns. I love the show!
THIS SHOW IS AMAZING. John plays his character PERFECTLY
John is just so dang bad, he’s good!
This show is great! I just happened to tune into it and now do not want to miss. Malkovich as Blackbeard on TV! Please for once do not cancel something excellent .
Crossbones is one of the best shows ever, please do not cancel it
I really like this show… very different… excellent acting, good writing, well researched and good casting. hope it stays.
Well acted. Great drama. Just the right combination of twists and turns, blodd, violence and yet compassion. Malkovich at his best. keep it going.
Wow! What an awesome new show!!! I have been a fan of the Pirates of The Caribean movies, and this is a great refreshing period adventure/drama and about one of histories most notable pirates. What a great template to create a seasonale series!!! I am very much looking forward to the season finale!!! I hope there is a second season!! Bravo NBC!!!
This series is so very good! It is written well, the characters are interesting, and the plot is outstanding. If this was a book, I would not want it to end. I feel the same way about this series.
There are so many TV series hat “dumb down” the audience; this is not one of them. Crossbones makes the viewer think; it grabs the viewer.
Please don’t cancel this series. Thank you.
LOVE LOVE LOVE-well researched and acting is phenomenal….please season two!!!!
I find this show exciting and it keeps you guessing with the twists and turns it has in it. I started watching it and then got the rest of my family watching it. Please renew this show! It is worth the time.
When this show started I thought “yeah finally
Something new and different” and that has been
Exactly what it’s been. I’m sick of (and don’t watch)
Reality shows and comedy shows that are
More dirty than funny. Please don’t cancel!!!
DO NOT CANCEL! I thoroughly enjoy each character and want to see more of their development! It seems that everytime a really good show comes out, the network does not give it a chance and cancels it tooo soon! Especially, NBC. They have had a few good shows in the last couple of years, but never given the chance of second season. (Crossing Borders was another one).
Keep it! Really enjoyed watching this show. Sooooooooooooo sick of nothing fun to watch anymore. Not everyone is into reality tv crap and talent after talent shows. Except for PBS, Masterpiece Theatre and the BBC, American TV is just about useless. There is a place for quality shows, fun shows and good documentaries . They don’t exist anymore. I know more about England’s history, gardens, buildings and people than my home country America. The networks or whomever decides, don’t want to dish out the dough to good actors and producers for quality tv. As long as we continue to pay… Read more »