If you have ever harboured ambitions of cutting loose from your land-loving life and answering the call of the high seas, Black Sails may be the perfect training manual.
Filmed in Cape Town and set in the Caribbean during the "Golden Age of Piracy", the adventure drama is a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.
Its story revolves around the fates and fortunes of a small band of pirates, their hunt for treasure and the debaucheries endured by those who are piratically inclined.
Despite never really reaching the heights it promises at the outset, watching Black Sails is as much fun as chasing a land- lover down the street with a fake cutlass, yelling "arrrr" at the top of your lungs.
CHARACTERS TO WATCH
Captain Flint (Toby Stephens)
A hard and taciturn man, Flint is willing to sacrifice any and all to get what he wants.
Eleanor Guthrie (Hannah New)
Guthrie rules the pirate stronghold of Nassau, but her pride and her tendency to think with her genitals is often more of a hindrance than a help.
Charles Vane (Zach McGowan)
The most feared pirate on the seven seas, Vane's feelings for Guthrie routinely complicate his life and those of his crew. His impulsiveness is a worry.
- The premiere of "Black Sails" is available on YouTube and Season 1 is available on Apple TV.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
