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Black Sails

Last night’s episode of Black Sails gave audiences a dramatic twist that had nothing to do with a grisly death scene or pirate politics. It had to do with love, lust, and homosexuality in the 18th century.

It’s long been suggested, and in fact, it has been revealed, that Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) and Miranda Barlow (Louise Barnes) were once lovers. However, it seems that their relationship was a bit more complicated than that. As it turns out, Flint was in love and having an affair with Miranda’s husband, Thomas Hamilton. When Hamilton’s powerful father finds out, he gets discharged from the Royal Navy, thus putting him on the path to become the Captain Flint we know today. Miranda is sent away to “disappear,” and Thomas is committed for “his grief.”

While Flint’s sexuality might be a surprise to some audience members, it was never a shocking twist for actor Toby Stephens. We told us that he knew that Flint was gay since the very first episode of Black Sails. In fact, the writers had this planned since the series’ inception. Only two actors knew before filming this episode: Stephens and Barnes. The secret was kept amongst the cast and crew because it was felt that the other actors might play their characters differently if they subconsciously knew they were acting opposite a gay character

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“What’s really cool is that Flint’s still Flint…but he doesn’t become defined by [his sexuality] and neither should he, and neither should anybody,” said Stephens. [Where to Stream Black Sails]

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