<em>Black Sails</em> was an underrated but fantastic series about pirates that aired on Starz for four seasons. It is a prequel series based on author Robert Louis Stevenson’s work before the story of Treasure Island took place. Black Sails followed the adventures of Captain Flint and his various crewmates, and the interesting, complex characters along with the intense and unique storylines made it a favorite among viewers. While the show concluded several years ago, for those looking for a new show to fill the hole Black Sails left behind, there are several options available.
Even though Black Sails has been off the air since 2017, fans continue to discover, watch, and rewatch the series for its engaging and complicated characters and storylines. The series takes place in the 1700s and centered on pirates living a life of debauchery but also well-developed and intriguing characters. There are several other historical drama and action shows that are somewhat similar, and although nothing will exactly be the same there are plenty of shows like Black Sails out there for fans to enjoy. While nothing is exactly like Black Sails, the comparable shows feature some incredible work.
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Poldark (2015-2019)
One of the most popular shows like Black Sails comes from the UK, Poldark, which ran from 2015-2019 across five seasons. It is based on the novels of the same name by author Winston Graham, and is the second adaptation (the first being by the BBC in 1975). Poldark follows Captain Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) as he returns home to Cornwall after the end of the American Revolution to find that things have gotten increasingly worse in his life back home.
Poldark returns to find that his father has died since he’s been away and that the love of his life has married someone else. The British historical drama is filled with romance, action, and drama just like Black Sails. The story of Poldark wraps up nicely by the end of season 5, making it the perfect binge-watch for Black Sails fans hoping for a complete story to sink their teeth into.
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TURN: Washington’s Spies (2014-2017)
Turn is another historical drama that’s set during the American Revolution and tells the untold history of citizens during the war. Much like Black Sails,Turn is full of mystery and intrigue, with a plot that always keeps viewers guessing and contains many real-life figures. While the real characters in Black Sails include pirates like Charles Vane, Turn instead includes many of the founding fathers and is easily one of the most entertaining renditions of the American war for independence.
Turn delves into the stories of spies, double agents, and other covert operations during the war that was the foundation for modern espionage, and how it affected everyone from soldiers to civilians on both the rebellious American side and the British side. It’s based on the 2007 book Washington’s Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring by Alexander Rose.










