Ep 2. The Covenant

In Crossbones season 1 episode 2, titled "The Covenant," viewers are transported back to the 1700s and the Caribbean island of Santa Campana. The show follows the infamous pirate Blackbeard, played by John Malkovich, who is leading a rebellion against the corrupt powers that be and seeking to establish a new republic in its place.

The episode begins with the arrival of woodcarver Tom Lowe, who is tasked with creating a replica of a mysterious artifact known as The Oracle for Blackbeard's crew. Lowe is a British spy, sent to infiltrate Blackbeard's camp and gather information, but he quickly becomes embroiled in the pirate's world and their fight for justice.

Meanwhile, Blackbeard and his crew are facing a threat from the neighboring island of St. Lucia, whose governor has sent a representative to negotiate a truce. The governor's emissary, a former British soldier named James Balfour, has his own agenda and is actually seeking to take Blackbeard down.

As Blackbeard's crew prepare for battle, they are also grappling with their own internal conflicts and the uneasy alliances that have been formed. In particular, one crew member, a former slave named Nenna, is struggling to reconcile her loyalty to Blackbeard with her desire for vengeance against the slave owners who once harmed her and her family.

As the negotiations with St. Lucia fall apart and battle looms, Lowe must navigate the treacherous waters of deception and betrayal to try to protect Blackbeard and his crew. In the end, he must decide where his loyalties lie and whether to continue working as a spy or to join Blackbeard in his fight for a better world.

"The Covenant" is a tense and action-packed episode that showcases the complex characters and richly realized world of Crossbones. Malkovich gives a compelling performance as Blackbeard, displaying both his cunning and his charisma, while the rest of the cast also shines. The episode raises important themes related to power, justice, and freedom, and leaves viewers eager to see how the story will unfold in future episodes.