Black Sails: Toby Stephens on the Big Captain Flint Reveal

With the truth now revealed about Flint's past, Toby Stephens discusses how it puts all of his actions in a new perspective.

[@Ghlain]

I don't care what flag he flies, he's one hell of a captain.

[@n3rdbear]

RAINBOW FLAG

[@SystemUnderSiege]

He was when he was fighting for freedom and a place in the world. Now he's just killing people because he misses his lover. What a loser. Lame.

[@Joshua-fr1xp]

@@SystemUnderSiege Please shut up.

[@theredrighthand1258]

For me personally I don't much care if Flint is gay or not. Anyone who is upset or finds it disgusting though, should consider growing up.

[@theredrighthand1258]

Aramis Valdes Just because I'm not personally into something doesn't mean I personally find it objectionable. I know, crazy right? ..

[@theredrighthand1258]

Jedan Tamo The homophobia is strong in this one.

[@maskedtruth]

James/Flint has to be one of the most complex and interesting characters I've seen on television in a long time. The writers of Black Sails did an amazing job building up to the reveal. Bravo. I pity those who are unable to see past their internalised homophobia to truly enjoy the scene, because it really was magnificent. I haven't felt this invested in a character for a long time. :)

[@simdyt2466]

Who cares if Flint is gay or bi or straight or whatever? He's still one of (if not the most) badass, intelligent, and all around interesting people on the show! That's all that really matters in a show about pirates!

[@playman350]

What a twist. Hot damn it just blew my mind. Now everything about how and why Flint got discharged (thought it was a bit excessive for an affair), Thomas sent to a mental institution, how there was barely any feelings of tension between Barlowe and Flint, it all makes sense.

[@AngelusHale]

Strong and ballzy revelation. Respect. I can already imagine the homophobes going nuts. Hilarious :)

[@marieteach2376]

I liked the reveal as well but calling people homophobes for not liking it is disingenuous, there has never been any indication of Flint being gay in the source material which understandably would lead people to ask why they changed it and the obvious answer is political correctness which is nothing but socio political manipulation.

[@AngelusHale]

Eliah Ryan I didn't read any of the comments about this revelation, I only imagine homophobes going nuts because that is just what they do. Based on your reply my assumption was correct. I also never wrote that people who disliked this twist are homophobe so if you feel speaken to that has more to do with you than with me. And the show clearly left some clues about this development, you just failed to notice them because of heteronormative indoctrination. Thank you kind sir for proving my point. I wish you a good day :)

[@mortalwolf3868]

Shield & Arrow LMAO, couldn't agree more. I'm gay so when I watch a show I make everybody bi till proven otherwise. And yeah, I did catch some things about Flint maybe not being that into women but I thought it was just me. Looks like I was right. I can't believe a show had the balls to do this, especially with an american audience who can get very stuck up about those kind of things. In the end it doesn't change anything, It just gave us more knowledge about the character and that is always a bonus for me. Remember, this is from Starz, the same people from Spartacus. I was waiting for something like this to happen.

[@JD-en2ti]

Eliah Ryan Sure, like how Leonardo Davinci was gay and they made him straight just for the TV show. Now that is political manipulation. Do you have any idea the amount of straightwashing hollywood has done over the years? Probably not or else you wouldn't have writte that making someone gay is political correct. Don't talk about things you don't understand boy.

[@AngelusHale]

Lord Petyr Littlefinger Baelish I am straight. So what exactly is your point, sir Baelish?

[@jennyzi2658]

Toby Stephens is a great actor. You rarely see actors that have so much to say about their character! You'd think you hear a doctor the way he talks about both Flint and Miranda's relationship and sexuality.

[@PlngPong]

Mind blowing episode really love this show.

[@meg-ox9mo]

love him. love this show.

[@SquirrelHops]

Loved the twist; definitely didn't see it coming haha Pretty ballsy though cuz i guarantee the shows gonna lose a lot of viewers because of this. and the Homophobes will just say "The pacing of season 2 was just too slow for me." as an excuse

[@izzys89]

I'd happily lose a homophobe as a viewer, this will filter the shits out

[@SquirrelHops]

True true, but having less viewers is never a good thing with television. Cant wait for nexts episode though! :D

[@izzys89]

Ryan.Hops will probably gain lots of open minded nice viewers!

[@EvoOfBigAks]

Lol was in the library at school and one kid was talking about the show and the other said "yea it's a good twist but the show is Moving to slow ima stop watching" lol ur comment was on point dude

[@aramisvaldes9772]

The pacing of them homosexuals was to much for me

[@macylea13]

Great show and a great twist!

[@BlackMasamuneX]

The creators of this show have big balls.

[@OdraMH]

Of course they'd have to hold it back, had they gone with it from day one there was a risk the show would collapse. Same as with all other media, build an audience then reveal something that might be risky/polarizing. Very few have the guts to reveal such things from the get go.

[@blakej1892]

Because bigotry is irrational, and people would write the series off before watching it, just because a main character is not straight.

[@aramisvaldes9772]

Captain flint wasn't gay in the books...

[@sweetsummerchild8156]

@@aramisvaldes9772 Captain Flint certainly wasn't straight in "the books", which is one short book Captain Flint isn't even in. Unless you are referring to Silver's pet parrot Captain Flint, who is a female of undisclosed sexuality.

[@ussocom3644]

@@blakej1892 No, because people want a historically accurate show.

[@customhookah7489]

My fav show

[@SuperGreatSphinx]

Captain J. Flint is a fictional 18th-century pirate captain who features in a number of novels, television series, and films. The original character was created by the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894). Flint first appears in the classic adventure yarn Treasure Island, which was first serialised in a children's magazine in 1881, and later published as a novel in 1883.

[@carlosalbertobertone1185]

extraordinario Blak Sails

[@chizrocker88]

For people who watch this show...how is it? Have the pilot downloaded but haven't started it yet.

[@markorollo.]

Been re watching black flag, I wish they did more, even just one series.

[@zaidmousa9867]

Is this a good show? I'm reading Treasure Island atm and I thought I might watch it when I'm done with the book.

[@Bhutchin09]

Yeah, its a lot of fun with an intriguing story and great characters. I thought about reading treasure island, how is it?

[@zaidmousa9867]

Bhutchin09 I'm only on page 50 so I can't tell you that much about the story. However, the way it's written is, although kinda difficult to read at some points, unique and very good. Here is an example: "Will any kind friend inform a poor blind man, who has lost the precious sight of his eyes in the gracious defence of his native country, England, and God bless King George! - where or in what part of this country he may now be?" Also, it's old and thus very cheap x).

[@yashavantnpadhiyar3175]

I will Respect them

[@actionvids35]

i hope this gets season 3

[@Mattattack999]

for a minute there, I thought it was a show about the Borderlands 2 character. lol

[@oliviern9846]

I can't wait to play the out of Oder : $18.86 on my no game-station 4 this weekend

[@DeafForever666]

Them making him bi was a huge shock to me. Huge twist, made an already interesting show even more interesting. So wht if he was on both sides of the fence? He's still a brutal S.O.B. nd he wuld totally kick yr fucking ass

[@iKavix]

He's still Gustav Graves to me dammit

[@Ichsukatanuka]

Flint is a badass

[@starkid77]

This sounds way different and now infinitely more interesting to me than any pirate show I've ever heard of. However I don't have Starz, but if I did I would watch this. But did it take 2 seasons for any of the characters to 'come out?' If so, that's way too slow. I guess I'll give it a shot when I can...this almost makes up for the craptastic David Goyer helmed Da Vinci.

[@xXMCRpwnsXx]

The bisexuality of three female characters is explored almost immediately from the start of S1. The bisexuality/homosexuality of Captain Flint is 'revealed' and explored halfway through Season 2 :) only the female/female scenes are graphic. Gee @ that double standard. Hope this helped you :)

[@starkid77]

GreerGreer That helps a lot. I will move on to another show worthy of my time, thank you. However, I must ask, do you watch it, and if so, do you enjoy the show? I like to hear from someone 'gets it.' I think you do GreerGreer;)

[@xXMCRpwnsXx]

starkid77 I'll check out the Outlander TV show :) Heard it's a lot better than the shitty book with the exception of Jack's characterisation.

[@starkid77]

Starz is also in for free on Verizon for certain packages of cable until August 31, I think. I'm already watching Power as well, and they have up to date Disney movies, no question who owns them.

[@aisha06]

this fool done cut his hair? that is more upsetting to me than people flipping out over his gay plot line :,( wahhh

[@GwendolineSutcliff]

agreed :'''(

[@4EverDubin]

He didn't enjoy the sex with Mrs. Barlowe in the first season, that makes a lot of sense. I thought he was just doing it for his friend while he's dead.

[@tingchan4770]

Time to dig in to that Silver!

[@Phoenix-Wright]

WII U WON

[@MrKrumpetz]

Remember Scrooged? Maybe we should put antlers on mice because statistically cats and dogs are starting to watch TV!

[@meta9t2000]

the flint i like so far is the one on slivers shoulder in the original stories

[@AngelusHale]

The cast reacts to the big reveal: www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/black-sails/news/1932811/the_cast_of_black_sails_reacts_to_this_weeks_big_twist/

[@deemoyo864]

Poseidon

[@m.i.a3532]

Captain Flint should meet Captain Jack Sparrow.lol

[@mauroxd4017]

welcome to the club of the more 301 reproductions!

[@Kingsbeneathus]

Captain Boomerang anyone?

[@legacyofdre]

Damn it Flint is a bad ass gay pirate now?! Might as well give him a pink flag lol. Talk about a plot twist lol

[@4EverDubin]

Jack Rackin'em! ;D

[@ricardojromell]

More than the reveal bringing this show down. The pacing is terrible !!! The last 3 episodes apart from backstory nothing really seems to have moved. Ep 4 was basically a whole rigmarole to give a single-worded command. !!!!

[@alejandrogarza4626]

First to say firs

[@madmikkee9817]

So is he gay or bi?

[@mapleleafsnipergames]

First

[@tiagocarneiro338]

first to say potatos

[@yld629]

Ha a gay seaman! How did I not see that a mile away?

[@Awesome_1789]

i finish the season and im done with a show ....

[@ohhvita3686]

Derp

[@Jungle_Noodle]

So, the whole story is based on a gay guy who lost the love of his live and know fights for what his love stood for. That sounds like a bad lovestory...

[@aramisvaldes9772]

Exactly lol

[@DCFHazardRebornChannel]

Jon Snow you know nothing Jon Snow.... The story is actually about someone who wasn't gay, who was inspired by the vision of this man/friend/colleague, began to truly believe in it and envision a different world himself, then to his surprise found that his affection of the mind had gone beyond that and his love was not friendly alone anymore, and thus he felt something which obviously he had never felt before and this pretty much changed his vision and view and what not for a multitude of reasons. Hence why he seems to hide it as well, or why Ms Barlow (however it is written) thinks he is ashamed of it. Because he wasn't actually gay. And surprise surprise his love was that which actually made him not ashamed either anymore. His embarked on this vision not because his lover wanted it so or whatever other bs is claimed, he did it because he himself believed in it. Hardly a love-story at all actually. Its a more ethical story on so many levels, with conflict, and love as well obviously, etc.

[@DCFHazardRebornChannel]

Also, dont forget he was banging the Barlow woman too mind you and had affections for her. The whole Thomas affair came to him as a surprise.

[@CN-bj4cd]

Best shoe ever

[@Lofi_xhe]

Flint is one of the most deepest main characters ever made, and i didn't speak of his anus.

[@eversforgeworks]

Sigh......... got to have one on every show now.

[@matsta177]

shut up

[@eversforgeworks]

Nope.

[@CiNeMaN512]

I know right...and the main character on a pirate show really. I can understand secondary but the protagonist i cannot accept. I liked flint and this show too which really sucks. If hes not killed off by vane in this fight or by someone else soon i can't keep watching this. Well, let me be open minded, i guess i could as long as flint only bangs chicks from now on. But if he starts eyeing another dude im done

[@pvtjoshuahsu]

CiNeMaN512 Well, Lil Wayne was pretty much forgiven by his fans when he kissed Birdman, selling it off as some "mafia" shit. Meh, and maybe guys were just affectionate like that back then, this isn't the first time I've seen dudes on screen kissing before one dies or is never seen again. Drama and shit.

[@CiNeMaN512]

I guess you're right i just hope this show doesn't turn into brokeback ocean

[@FanFanBessie2]

No. Just no.

[@satanamogila9251]

Based

[@Lenin636]

This is the most damaging people pleasing ever in tv...had he been straight I'm sure no other character on Earth would compete with the mountainous cpt. Flint

[@Asadullah21]

I cant respect Flint anymore after that little stunt, I cant believe they thought it was a good idea to make a tough pirate captain gay! I've been waiting three fucking episodes to see Flint take the fort, and they swapped it for a gay scene.

[@aramisvaldes9772]

He wasn't even gay in the book lmao

[@landlord15]

Man I love this show but God damn why does flint need to be gay..... It's like every tv show now...

[@soulfulfool]

world is a wierd place right now, tv shows must have gay, lesbians (where both got same sense) black and white even latino people and all that is for pure money and full tolerance (to let everybody buy it no metter what you are there is a part that suits certain unit)

[@JerardHooks]

I hope I live to see the day where we elect out first straight president.

[@CrucialConflict.]

I said the same thing, game of thrones, sons of anarchy, the walking dead, black sails.... Hollywood wants you to accept it.

[@MrKrumpetz]

landlord landlord Exactly...it is starting to get ridiculous.

[@zykamilyah5845]

+Krump I hope I live to see the day whe people think about people as HUMAN BEINGS before talking about their sexual preferences. I really, really hope so.

[@UnrealxSwag]

I'm not really homophobic but I don't really want to see two guys going at it together

[@efeceoarata]

+drakebakincake that's the definition of homophobia

[@zykamilyah5845]

+drakebakincake Don't worry, they will take care to not hurt your heterosexual eyes, believe me: They already did it.

[@iheartbritboys]

+drakebakincake yeah, that's homophobic lol

[@Mara36832]

@@efeceoarata Homophobia is an abused word in a world based on relativism, that loves playing with words, thus revealing its weakness. It comes from Greek and it has a different meaning. Let's study before using such words!

[@jakskelington666]

WTH MAN! He's bisexual!!! I'm not down with that crap, but it's an Amazing reveal and twist. I'll keep watching, let's see where the show goes.

[@davidswitch226]

Look i know it's all been build up for Silver in the long run we all know that his going to become the great Long John Silver & the real star of the show but by making Flint gay really do not fit his character in the show & on top of that his only got 2 episodes left before he dies this just feels like a cheap down play on his character because he is really liked for being a badass manly man. This is more to do with not losing so many viewers when he dies & with all respect to guy people the show makers are biased against gay men they think we make him gay then he will not be so much liked anymore so now they can get rid of him & get on with the long term story without to many people getting upset about it

[@davidswitch226]

Gay or not character wise they could have still got 2 more season out of Toby Stephens because he is the best actor on the show i just can't see Luke Arnold step up & be the lead actor on the show yet his character has not had the right build up for that so far to be the badass Long John Silver

[@JohnTheYetiBeast]

character = ruined

[@korennai]

coward

[@JohnTheYetiBeast]

@@korennai I just want to say. I am almost finished watching the whole series of this, and it has all gone in an awful direction. If you want to defend the poor taste and decision making of these writers, I pity you.

[@americanalpha7606]

He goes both ways. He really wanted the booty. Never come between a pirate and his booty. Lol I still like him regardless! He's one of my favorite characters on the show.

[@nnnmmmable]

The problem I had with the reveal is that it practically made the story less interesting. Now it's a homosexual love story, I thought I was watching a pirate series. But I'm watching a guy motivated by his homosexual feelings for a man.

[@nnnmmmable]

Graphic Jack No you don't understand my issue. I have an issue with the fact that Flint is motivated by his homosexual love for a man it just doesn't justify his actions for me. I mean the things he is doing is so drastic and all this for some guy that made him discover that he's a homosexual. It humanizes flint but kind of deprecates his character. Now all I can see flint as is a enraged homosexual calling for justice and revenge instead of as a ruthless pirate in all truth who seeks to create peace and prosperity for the people of Nassau. His lover is dead so why do the things he is doing now, why not just move on and live in peace? The answer is simple, he's an enraged angry homosexual who wants revenge for being made an outcast due to being an homosexual.

[@graphiquejack]

+The Story Teller but that's a plausible reason for him to be angry at an unjust society, much like the motivations of most of the characters who felt like outcasts for similar reasons. He is angry at the death of Thomas, the death of Miranda, the betrayal of Ashe, the slave market and everything else that makes him see how morally bankrupt England was at that time. Thomas' imprisonment in a mental institution may have been the catalyst, but it's not the only reason he's rebelling.

[@stynershiner1854]

@@nnnmmmable Your interpretation is of the lowest degree. Flint is still trying to accomplish Thomas' goals. It seems to be that you are just enraged by his sexuality.

[@nnnmmmable]

@@stynershiner1854 You're responding to something typed four years ago.

[@legatuslanius680]

I am not angry that he did it. I am angry that he didn't initiate it. He was the lesser in the relationship. The anger and power we see in the first season were not his own they were products of a broken relationship. I wanted a dominant son of Mars. It now seems the only one to fit this role is Captain Vane. It may be that he purges Flint of his weaknesses. Vane should lock him away with his thoughts maybe torture him anything to make him see violence is the only way to push through the opposing forces. Not this weakness trying to be locked away with a facade of anger at those who oppose him. That anger should be derived from his hatred of those oppose him that back should be a ship leader who turn insane due to the pressure put upon him. Vale

[@RicanHavoc787]

Definitely done with Black Sails now. Ridiculous.

[@antony1893]

this is a huge fucking mistake

[@aramisvaldes9772]

Shows gone down in ratings franticly.. So yeah it was plus flint wasn't gay in the book so... Wtf

[@uloot]

gay gay gay...not watching black sails any more... and that's not the only reason, season 2 overall is a disappoint, its just boring, dull and just nothing like season 1...

[@mathiserickson532]

If not liking seeing two dudes kissing makes me homophobic then fine by me. I'm all set with that. Why does every show have to have a "gay storyline". I get it there were and are gay/bi/trans people. The thing that irks me the most with this show is it's not even believable. Sorry, but that's not original, it's not inventive, and it's definitely not brave. It's fucking lazy writing to pander to the masses of people that want some gayness going on in a show.

[@19buseye71]

The idea of two men making out is pretty much disgusting,I mean it really lowers the bar from what a man is in my opinion and the idea of two women making out can make a man feel cheated. I can not speak for anyone else but myself when I say that although I may have to get use to the idea and I may have to accept homosexuality in our open society and so forth but that doesn't mean that I have to like it and I don't.

[@glenndoss2222]

The thing that bothers me so much about the whole gay issue is not Flint being gay, it's that now his motivations seem completely uninteresting and anti-climatic. You mean to tell me he does the things he does because he's frustrated about his sexuality? I guess that's a good reason to murder your best friend and anyone else that crosses you. (sarcasm) With this revelation it feels like the show is starting to come off the rails a bit.

[@stynershiner1854]

I think you completely missed the point the show was trying to make.

[@vickdisco]

Absolutely ruined this show for a large majority of viewers.....can't see it lasting after Season 3......thanks Starz for pushing that gay agenda down the 97% of your fanbase......bravo!