Black Sails Preview: 5 Mapholders To Be Following In “XXXI”

Any pirate worth his gold knows the value of having a good map to follow. Maps guide, they support, and they provide proof that the holder is heading in the right direction. Without them, there would be a lot more ships lost at sea. The factions fighting for Nassau may not have the most detailed maps, but here are five people who definitely seem to know where they’re going.

Mapholder #1: Captain Flint. Flint and Madi ended up on the same side after Billy’s attempted mutiny last episode. As Billy controls the loyalty of most of the men, it’s unclear just where this leaves Flint and Madi in terms of manpower. They do both know where the Urca gold is located, which gives them a decided financial advantage over Billy, but money can’t buy everything. They’ll need more than coins to win the war.

Mapholder #2: Max. In four seasons, there has yet to be a time when Max didn’t have at least two backup plans in her pocket. However, her success has always been dependent on having Eleanor around to protect her when things go wrong. Now that Eleanor is off the island, there’s no one to step in if Max runs afoul of the law. It’s Barringer who is running the show, and he made it very clear to Max last episode that he’ll be watching her closely. Can Max stay on the legal course long enough for Eleanor to return?

Mapholder #3: Captain Teach. Leading the only pirate crew actually at sea, Captain Teach is in pursuit of Governor Woodes Rogers’s ship. The Governor refused to hand over Eleanor to Teach, and is now trying to draw him off of Eleanor’s ship. His plan is working, but perhaps a little too well. Teach and his crew are gaining, and it won’t be long before both ships reach their final destination.

Mapholder #4: Eleanor Rogers. She’s on her way to Pittsburgh to plead her husband’s case to her rich grandfather. It’s a last-ditch effort to help shore up the British’s financial position, but it comes with substantial risk. At some point, Governor Rogers is going to have to face his creditors. The question is, will he be able to do it with his wife’s money in hand?

Mapholder #5: Israel Hand. John Silver’s mysterious captor is still just that. The plan to ransom John to the highest bidder suffered a minor setback in the last episode, but it hasn’t been abandoned. The legend of Long John Silver is growing by the day and the bounty for his capture is growing along with it. John Silver may be in it for more than just gold, but Israel has yet to tip his hand. Just what motive does the former pirate have for helping build a legend in a world that he’s been hiding from for years?

Episode 403, “XXXI,” premieres Sunday February 12th at 9 pm eastern/ 8 pm central on Starz. Subscribers can also watch full episodes online or on the Starz mobile app. Check back to FanFest.com for episode previews, sneak peeks, and recaps.