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?
Please renew!!!!! Great show , love the location story & fab cast.
One of the best shows ever! We’ll be nedin’ another season if you please!
I love love Crossbones. It’s so nice to have the adventure So tired of cop shows. The scenery puts me in a good place also. Enjoy show very much, look forward to Friday night.
My husband and I enjoyed watching this show every week. The actors were perfect for this- all of them were excellent. I hope this show has another season. Maybe one of the other networks will pick it up. One of the few series I’ve been interested in…
Great show! Don’t cancel!!!!!
please don’t cancel this show—its the best on television
PLEASE don’t cancel one of the better shows on TV!! It’s got an incredible cast of actors and storyline keeps me going back each week. Would hate to see it go!!!
one of the better shows. hope they wll renew it. it is one of the fw i watch and tape.
I watched every episode. Loved it. Looked forward to every Friday for another episode. Hope there is another season. This one is a keeper. I agree, let the characters develop!
There are only 2 things I watch on tv. . . . Rays baseball and Crossbones. . . please continue it!!
Dear NBC, I actually watched one of your shows, every episode. Do you have any idea how rare that is? Now pull your heads out, fire the dialog writer, and put some frigging pirating in your friggin pirate show. You have great locations and an excellent set. Skip the Love Triangles, Abortion drama, cuckolding, black sassy lesbians, innocent and cowardly young men falling for prostitutes who didn’t know they were pregnant, are you desperate for the mythical 12 year-old girl “Pirate fetish” demographic? My wife, who is old, bitter and fat actually watches a show I can tolerate. Don’t cancel… Read more »
Networks prefer making big $ instantly from worthless programs like reality shows and talent contests. They do not care what the viewers want or need. I bet they decided to can this one immediately when the $ was not rolling in from the 1st episode. They are known for doing that. I’ve seen many great programs killed that I enjoyed and replaced with moronic reality or talent garbage or even worst, paid advertising! Can’t rely on them to use their brains, they think from the other end.
Please, another season, let the characters develop. Really enjoyed it.
please don’t cancl great show
This is the best new show NBC has released in several years. It has so many under lying sub plots each episode leaves craving the next episode.
Ed