More Pirates on the Horizon

If you were not thrilled with Starz's Black Sails, and I was not, then you may be reluctant to commit to another pirate series.  But then I saw the new NBC series Crossbones, starting May 30th, stars John Malkovich, and that makes all the difference.

Here is the basic story (and the trailer shows even more of the story):  

It's 1729. On the secret island of Santa Compana, Edward Teach, better known as the barbarous pirate Blackbeard (Emmy winner John Malkovich, "Death of a Salesman," "Red"), reigns over a rogue nation of thieves, outlaws and miscreants. Part shantytown, part utopia, 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, "Covert Affairs"), 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 - a plan that includes a greater threat to the English throne than merely pirates...

So far, the story looks a little too familiar to Black Sails.  In Black Sails you had a pretend cook stealing a secret map and then memorizing the details to save his life.  In Crossbones you have a pretend cook stealing secrets related to a chronometer and then memorizing the details to save his life.  Black Sails became tiresome with the battle over the map and the rest of the story seemed to disappear into nothingness.  Maybe NBC can do better.  One thing NBC cannot do is turn the show into soft porn since it is a major network, which may work to its advantage since they will have to do some work to keep viewers interested. 

Ten episodes were ordered and it should be a fun show for the summer.  Buried treasure?  We shall see.