How to watch
Black Sails Watch Order in the correct order
How to watch Black Sails and where it fits with Treasure Island
Last updated: July 20 2026
Written by: ChronoChris
Black Sails is the swashbuckling Starz pirate drama that serves as both a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island and a thrilling standalone adventure set in the golden age of piracy. Four seasons of high-seas action, political intrigue, and complex characters await.
Black Sails premiered on Starz in 2014 and ran for four seasons, concluding in 2017. Created by Robert Levine and Jonathan E. Steinberg, the show is set in the 1710s on the pirate haven of Nassau in the Bahamas. It follows Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) — the legendary pirate who will eventually bury the treasure in Treasure Island — alongside fictional characters like John Silver. The show is remarkable for its commitment to historical authenticity, complex character arcs, and willingness to depict the political dimensions of piracy.
🕐 Release Order
Black Sails is a complete four-season series. Watch from the beginning — the show builds its characters and mythology across all four seasons.
- Black Sails — Season 1 (2014)
- Black Sails — Season 2 (2015)
- Black Sails — Season 3 (2016)
- Black Sails — Season 4 (2017)
Black Sails was planned from the beginning as a story that would lead into the events of Treasure Island, giving the series a satisfying narrative arc across all four seasons.
📖 Story Chronology
Black Sails is a prequel to Treasure Island, so in story terms it comes before Stevenson's novel. If you want the complete chronological experience:
- Black Sails — Seasons 1–4 (events before Treasure Island)
- Treasure Island (Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel — the story Flint's treasure leads to)
Which Order Should You Choose?
Watch Black Sails in release order — Season 1 through Season 4. The show does an excellent job of introducing characters and their histories without requiring prior knowledge of Treasure Island. However, a passing familiarity with the novel (or any of its film adaptations) will enrich your appreciation of where Flint, Silver, and the Walrus crew are headed. Season 1 starts slowly but picks up significantly by the back half; commit to the first season and you'll find one of the most rewarding pirate stories ever told on screen.
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