Netflix Is Officially Cutting This 4-Part Historical Masterpiece Loose to a Free Streaming Home

The pirate genre is making a comeback, with Prime Video's The Bluff dominating streaming charts and Our Flag Means Death exploding in popularity during its brief run. Yet they both pale in comparison to the cultural impact of Black Sails. First premiering on Starz in 2014, Black Sails is a prequel to the classic novel Treasure Island and chronicles the life of James McGraw (Toby Stephens), the man who would become Captain Flint. Throughout its four-season run, Black Sails managed to mix high-octane action and real-life history into a compelling yarn.

Black Sails would eventually make it to Netflix, though current subscribers have only a month to catch up on the full series. On April 17, Black Sails is leaving Netflix. However, those who were watching it or planning to watch shouldn't worry, as the series will be free to stream on the Roku Channel and Plex. This gives fans of the pirate genre a chance to stream an amazing series without paying a cent, and could serve as someone's next weekend binge-watch.

'Black Sails' Blended Fact & Fiction For an Incredible Narrative

Part of the appeal ofBlack Sails is how creatorsJonathan E. Steinberg andRobert Levine tell a story that touches on real-life history as well as the narrative ofTreasure Island. The series takes place around 1715, better known as the "Golden Age of Piracy," and would include real-life pirates such as Blackbeard, played with the appropriate amount of menace by the late, greatRay Stevenson. The opening themepays homage to a pirate's shanty, courtesy of composerBear McCreary (Battlestar Galactica). Even the ships were hand-built, which lends a perfect amount of tension to the fight scenes — and there's plenty of nautical violence to keep viewers hooked.

Black Sails also boasts one of the best ensemble casts in television history. In addition to Stevenson, future genre icons like Tom Hopper (The Umbrella Academy) and Jessica Parker Kennedy (The Flash) play key roles in the narrative. It's the conflict between Flint and John Silver (Luke Arnold) that drives Black Sails, as both men often take the first chance they get to backstab each other. By the time of the Black Sails finale, Flint has grown to be the leader of a pirate island, while Silver has transformed into the menacing figure from the pages of Treasure Island.

'Black Sails' Grew into a Genuine Phenomenon

While Black Sails may be enjoying new life on Netflix, it took time for the series to reach its cult classic status. Starz went all out to promote the series, making the premiere free on YouTube for a limited time and quickly renewing it for a second season following a surprisingly positive reception at San Diego Comic-Con. Critics were less than kind to the first season, feeling like its mix of sex and bloody violence was trying to ape Game of Thrones or went too far in certain places. Over time, the reviews would grow increasingly positive, with Season 2 earning a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Black Sails is also a rarity: a standalone series that still holds up years after its release. While other shows, including fellow Starz series Spartacus, have multiple spinoffs or revival series, Black Sails told the story it wanted to tell. Jonathan E. Steinberg broke down why it was the perfect time to end Black Sails in a 2016 interview.

“It’s a rare privilege in television to be given the kind of creative freedom we’ve enjoyed on this show over the last four years. While it was a difficult decision for us to make this season our last, we simply couldn’t imagine anything beyond it that would make for a better ending to the story nor a more natural handoff to Treasure Island."

Black Sails is proof that the pirate genre still holds compelling stories and managed to put its own unique spin on a classic piece of literature. Even though it's departing Netflix, the fact that it'll be free to watch means that a whole new audience can discover why it's worth watching.