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 bring this show back!!
Bring it back
Bring it back! I can think of a few other shows that should have been put on the chopping block before this one. I was so looking forward to it coming back.
I thought it was most brilliantly written and acted!
Malkovich – wow…who’da thunk it! Also brilliant!
THE SHOW SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO CONTINUE ANOTHER COUPLE OF SEASONS, AT LEAST.
I am sad ! This was a very good series! My husband are in our 60s and very much loved watching it! Sorry it will no longer be on tv 🙁
I absolutely loved the series. So sorry to learn it’s cancelled. Bummer. 🙁 >
Our whole family, three grown sons and their family’s
Really enjoyed the show and well as all our friends!
Please bring it back!!!!
I am very sad to hear that this show was cancelled
My husband and I really enjoyed this fast paced
Show . This is to be expected good shows get
Cancelled and bad shows go on forever it seems.
Big mistake I think.
I really got hooked on this show. I think Malkovich was outstanding (playing himself) and the intrigue was compelling. Plus, coming from North Carolina, the history of Teach was intriguing. Did I say history? This was just good fiction. Sorry to see it go.
Great show action drama, great cast and story line, and it’s cancelled???? Why why why???
My wife and I are sad to hear the show is canceled. we both enjoyed the show and looked forward to seeing it.
I loved this show and many family in friends hoped for more john malkovich is fabulous please bring him back we all love his work
I am so sorry to hear it is gone. I loved that show and awaited its return. So low!
This is typical, if you really like a show, you need to let the network know while it is still on TV. Once they decide to cancel it, the decision it made for better or worse! After the show is canceled, you have a better chance of winning the lottery then getting the network executives to reverse themselves. All we can do is look for the great actors in this one when they are involved in future projects!
One of the most well written and visually compelling shows. Keep filming (and dump brain numbing waste products like The Millers!).
it appears to have been cancelled