Black Sails: XIII Recap

Synopsis for 2×05: Miranda confronts Flint. Flint’s past relationships come to light. Rackham makes a bold decision concerning Anne.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

After Flint’s crucial decision last week, he begins bombing the fort with his Spanish warship’s mighty guns. Her guns mercilessly lay siege to the fort, destroying large sections of the outer wall and killing and injuring many men within it. Miranda Barlow, knowing she is the only one who can stop Flint and realizing she is the only one who knows why he is doing this, finally leaves her quaint secluded country home en route to Nassau.

In flashbacks, Thomas Hamilton and Peter Ashe remain in debate over how to push the pirate’s pardons, with Thomas insisting that his plans are the only hope for redeeming Nassau. Despite not agreeing, Ashe swears he will keep fighting for Thomas’ goal. On the other hand, Miranda seems on edge and approaches her husband and declares she has made arrangements to leave for a country home, expressing concern over the rumors and scrutiny between Flint and her. She seems more distressed over another certain mysterious relationship other than the one between Flint and her.

Back on the beach in the present, Silver keeps a watchful eye over Billy, while Billy learns what has transpired over the past few weeks. Billy realizes Silver doesn’t want him to challenge Flint, considering his intimate knowledge of Flint and Gate’s history. Billy is adamant though and rises to go see his fellow brothers, but finds himself unfortunately shackled by Silver.

Years before, Flint returns from Nassau after a 3 month absence and learns Thomas’ campaign against his father is not going as planned. Flint then gravely reveals that there is no longer a governor in Nassau and, as a result, no law. Suggesting pardons for the men responsible for disposing of the governor seems like an even more grim possibility. Flint insists the navy hasn’t made a decision on the matter yet and that they may in fact have a chance, as Flint personally knows a navy admiral that he plans to make a case to.

Miranda speaks with Flint in private and asks that Flint stop pursuing Thomas’ goal, as she sees nothing but ruin in all of their futures. Miranda urges Flint to protect Thomas by stopping him. She insists that his father, Alfred Hamilton, will use what has transpired between them against them and that he will find some way to exploit their relationship. Flint though, ignores Miranda’s warnings and having seen Nassau first hand, asserts that Thomas is right and swears Nassau will need their help to rebuild. He then leaves to meet with Admiral Hennessy, a man whom he believes he can sway to join their case.

Back in present day Nassau, having destroyed a large portion of the fort, Flint orders his men to cease-fire and begins the daunting task of moving the men ashore. Vane, meanwhile, has taken refuge within the fort’s tunnels, safe from harms way. Vane elects to leave the tunnels to attack the head of his enemy directly rather than face the body of Flint’s force.

Flint makes landfall on the beach where his men begin arming themselves to breach the fort. Before long though, he is intercepted by Miranda who demands that Flint not move against that fort and instead hears her out first.

In flashbacks, Flint’s talks with Admiral Hennessy go terribly wrong when he finds that Alfred Hamilton has already reached Hennessy first and spread lies of Flint’s mistakes. Flint is humiliatingly discharged from the service when Alfred reveals that he has discovered the rumors of his secret relationship with Thomas.

Flint somberly returns home to find that Thomas has already been taken, apparently admitted to a mental hospital on accounts of grief, or so that is the story they have been told to cover up the rumors of his true relationship with Flint. Miranda has been ordered to vacate their home and both Flint and Miranda are ordered to disappear. Miranda insists that Thomas is truly gone for good and reveals that Thomas’ last wish for them was for both Miranda and Flint to take care of each other. Flint, enraged over the loss of Thomas, insists they go to Nassau instead.

Using the brothel’s gossip channels, Rackham looks into whether Flint has the Urca gold or not. His new second mate approaches him with some concerns that his new crew shares. First, they are uncomfortable about including Max in their share of the profits and second, they are opposed to Anne’s presence on the crew, being less than willing to forgive and forget Anne’s role in prior situations. Rackham, forced to choose which concern to ignore and which to carry out, foolishly chooses to force Anne out of the crew. Looks like Anne is grounded for a few weeks, as Rackham decides to include Max in the profit shares rather than include Anne as part of his crew. While he insists he will win the crew’s trust and the two of them will be sailing together sooner rather than later, she storms away from him in shock.

Silver continues to question Billy about how he wound up in Nassau. Despite Silver’s new position in the crew, there is no doubt the crew still like and respect Billy as a valuable member of the crew. Silver unwillingly releases Billy from his shackles, as he knows he cannot keep him there.

As Eleanor and her father quarrel over how to handle the precarious situation in Nassau, Flint and Miranda visit the two, requesting to speak in her tavern. Miranda finally shares with Flint the identity of Vane’s captive, Lord Ashe’s daughter, Abigail. Miranda insists that Flint must obtain her from Vane and return her to Peter Ashe alive and well, where he will then speak with Peter about their previous goals to restore Nassau. Miranda believes Peter is still capable of giving Nassau and its people the freedom they so desire. Flint can remind him that Flint is still the man who backed Thomas years ago.

Flint is less than responsive to her plans, believing his answer still lies in obtaining the Urca goal. Miranda claims that Flint is not fighting for Thomas anymore but is rather fighting to hide his shame instead. It is then that Flint’s deepest secret is revealed, as Miranda sheds light on Flint and Thomas’ sexual relationship, believing Flint has never accepted what the two men had shared. Flint mournfully reveals he is ashamed that he never did anything to save Thomas when they had the chance. Miranda leaves an unsettled Flint with a copy of Marcus Aurelius that was personally inscribed by Thomas to Flint with “James, my truest love, know no shame.” This complex relationship sheds new light on what drives and motivates Flint as both a captain and a man.

Before Flint can make a decision, Vane coincidently attacks Flint from the shadows, attempting to drive a knife through his neck. The two grapple on the ground before leaving their fate unknown.