John Silver (Luke Arnold) has a silver tongue. He’s a bit too clever for his own good. How else could he go from being a prisoner to reluctant pirate posing as a cook to quartermaster? One thing he understands all too well is survival; he knows he’s never truly safe and that death could potentially be right around the corner. Somehow, though, Silver manages to become an unexpectedly significant part of Captain Flint’s (Toby Stephens) crew. By committing a treasure map to memory and disposing of it, he turns himself into a necessary nuisance that can no longer be threatened with death. Without him, there’s no treasure. And treasure is the only thing holding Flint and his crew together. At the conclusion of Black Sails’ second season, “Silver’s betrayals and machinations are coming home to roost” (TS Rhodes, DenofGeek.us), as knowledge of his selling the Spanish gold intel to Rackham (Toby Schmitz) and his new crew will surface soon enough. Will this be the final straw that costs Silver his life, and if not, how will he get out of it?
One thing that manages to keep Silver alive is his choice of allies. He usually goes for the least popular person, someone who is a bit of an underdog and even pariah. Captain Flint’s operational methods aren’t too different from Silver’s; he too lies and manipulates, hoping his crew won’t ask questions and will trust in his command. However, when rough battles at sea are lost, gold isn’t delivered, and Gates (Mark Ryan) and Billy Bones (Tom Hopper) are believed to be dead by Flint’s hand, his crew’s loyalty wanes. Seeing that Flint could use a friend, Silver steps in and goes along with all of his plans (even ones that involve stealing Spanish war ships), smartly knowing this will prolong his lifespan. It’s established early on that Silver has a way with words, but he possesses true artistry when speaking with Flint’s crew. His words liven their spirits, encouraging them to believe and have faith in being a pirate again. He’s a bit like a siren, his words acting like an entrancing song they can’t shake or disregard. And most importantly, Flint takes notice of the effect and what Silver can do for him, as he’ll need all the help he can get in winning over his crew again.
Silver’s partnership with Max, while appearing beneficial, can often seem questionable. As the two plot and try to sell the schedule revealing the location of the Spanish gold, they don’t anticipate just how much trouble they’ll get themselves into. Silver knows that by working with Max, who has full access to secrets and valuable information, he has a leg up on his competition and easier access to riches. It’s by working with Max that he’s able to sell the location of the Spanish gold to Rackham, and at least dream of a life in which he’s not masquerading as a pirate. It seems safe to say that without Max, many of Silver’s plans would not amount to much. But both don’t seem to have much protection if anything doesn’t go according to plan.
At the end of the second season of Black Sails, Silver undergoes quite a transformation. During their trip to Charlestown, Flint’s crew is held hostage by Captain Charles Vane’s (Zach McGowan) men, and Silver is tortured when he refuses to give up names of the crew. He ends up losing his leg as a result. Silver’s sacrifice almost seems a bit out of character: Are viewers meant to believe that the greedy, manipulative Silver now respects and cares for his fellow pirates enough to lose a limb for them? It seems more likely that Silver put on this act of bravery, almost accepting the torture to win over the crew. If the crew discovers that Silver is responsible for sabotaging their attempts at retrieving the Spanish gold, he’s going to need them to remember what he did for them.
Maybe Silver is a brave character, brave in how he’s so willing to dive into dangerous situations. He plays with powerful people, undermines rules, and often it looks like there’s potential for things to go his way. But what if they don’t and something goes wrong? It’s probably going to cost him a lot more than a leg. Once Flint discovers Silver’s betrayal, how will he react? Flint may want Silver to finally pay for his many crimes and deceptions with his life, as Flint wanted him dead to begin with. Or Flint may remember how he lost his crew with all his lies and betrayals, and how Silver was able to win them over with his gift of words. How might the crew react to Silver’s double-crossing? Can they forgive a man who gave up a limb so they wouldn’t have to? It may be “that Silver has finally found himself in a place where he can’t talk his way out of a problem” (TS Rhodes, DenofGeek.us).
Danielle Callesen & Dicky Continental 