Black Sails is half-way through their second season, and some motivations are only now becoming clear.
Mr. Guthrie’s deal
After weeks of wondering what exactly, if anything, Mr. Guthrie was going to do, we now know. For Mr. Guthrie’s part it came down to not much, other than to broker a deal of legitimate trade. You can’t help but wonder if he has more of a vested stake with the inland merchants where he was hiding out for the past several episodes. He seems to be trying, and woefully failing, to placate a bitter Eleanor who doesn’t trust him in the least.
Billy Bones plays his hand
Billy Bones now realizes that not only has Captain Flint killed Mr. Gates, but he has also retained the captaincy. John Silver realizes that the only man who could possibly unite the remaining crew, gain their votes, and overthrow Flint is Billy Bones, and he therefore, has him shacked away from prying eyes. Billy, for his part is smart, he realizes that Silver is nothing if not a survivor.
Billy is able to point out that long-term, Flint can’t succeed, and that he is quite popular with the men. It doesn’t matter if Flint wins round one, eventually Billy will be free, and Silver doesn’t want him as an enemy. As Randall also points out to Sliver, the crew may like Silver, but they like Billy a whole lot better. The ultimate backstabber and survivor, Sliver sees the light, and lets Billy go.
Rackham’s betrayal
Once Rackham realizes that none of Flint’s men have visited the brothel, he rapidly puts together the fact that the Urca D’Lima gold is still out there. If Flint had it in his possession, he wouldn’t be firing on the fort, and his men would be free to gossip and give trade in town. Rackham strikes a deal to unite his men to win some minor prizes while Flint and Vane are shooting at each other, and thereby distracted.
Hopefully, he can then rally them to go after the missing gold. There is one catch: the men don’t like Anne and Max. Rackham has to cut one of them out, and his choice is Anne. Cue an angry and betrayed Anne Bonny, who interestingly didn’t go after Rackham. Max’s days, if not minutes are likely numbered.
Flint’s real agenda
So, as it turns out, Flint isn’t just after a united New Providence. It goes far deeper than that. He’s after revenge for what the British government did to his friend (and, we now know, lover) Thomas Hamilton: throwing him into Bedlam asylum on trumped up charges. Mrs. Barlow, tries to stop the wanton destruction that he is reigning down by pointing out that Abigail Ash is within their grasp. Perhaps, if they guarantee her safe return, their current lives on the run can be undone, and a pardon for all can be arranged.
Cliffhanger
We’ve been waiting two seasons to see what would happen if Vane and Flint met nose-to-nose in combat. We’ll have to wait until next week to see who survives. Unless someone steps in and knocks them both out, this one is going to be a fight to the death. Nothing is going to stop them.