Crossbones - The Covenant - Review : "The Athenian Model"

    The second episode of Crossbones, “The Covenant,” was written by Blake Masters and directed by Ciaran Donnelly. Donnelly is slated for a total of three episodes and has a long resume of period dramas to draw on, including Vikings, Camelot, The Tudors, and Robin Hood. Masters is best known as the developer of Law & Order: LA. Once again, the best part of this series is getting to watch John Malkovich (Blackbeard/Commodore) every week. The plot is fun, though it doesn’t stand up to a too close scrutiny.

    Everyone on Santa Campana must pull their own weight. Lowe (Richard Coyle) is now the doctor for the residents, and we learn that James Balfour (Peter Stebbings) spends most of his time repairing the clocks that Blackbeard covets. This week, however, he has miraculously resurrected the chronometer. It’s unclear how much time has passed between episodes, but it seems unlikely to have been very long – the fact that the chronometer looked brand new was a bit jarring.

    Blackbeard’s plan is to sell the chronometer to his ally Sam Valentine (Stuart Wilson). Valentine clearly harbours resentment for Blackbeard who has risen from a poor kid to the most infamous pirate on the seas – all in front of Valentine’s eyes. Blackbeard now lives in relative luxury while Valentine still struggles to make a living as a pirate. He represents a clear danger to Blackbeard precisely because he knows him so well and doesn’t buy his Athenian democratic ideal. However, it’s particularly clever on Blackbeard’s part to let Valentine ultimately die at the hands of his democracy. It’s actually a beautiful scene as Malkovich feigns sorrow at having to yield to the will of the people, only to turn, smile, and wink at Valentine as he leaves him to his fate.

    We get to meet a new faction of the city with the introduction of Rose (Natalie Hoflin) and the prostitutes under her care, including Maggie (Isel Rodriguez). Rose is an intriguing and forward thinking business woman. I loved her telling the prostitutes to “limber up” before their customers arrived. Better yet, however, was the forward thinking use of contraceptives. Rose sends Maggie to enlist the help of Fletch (Chris Perfetti) to replenish their sponge supply – sponges they use for “thwarting bastards.”

    It’s while swimming that Fletch encounters the corpse of the man Lowe killed last week. It was interesting that Fletch spent quite a bit of time debating what to do, ultimately deciding to help dispose of the body because if they killed Lowe, it made his own position very precarious. Interestingly, this may not be enough because Eisengrim (Ezra Buzzington) accuses Lowe of the murder and vows revenge on him anyway.

    This episode also saw the development of several relationships. We see that there could be something more between Selima (Yasmine Al Massri) and Blackbeard, but she is keeping him at arm’s length. Is the woman in white (Aimee Mullins) who visits Blackbeard in his visions a lost love that she knows she can’t compete with? Time will tell. For now, she’s content to be his second in command and clearly his closest confidante. I did love her admonishing him for putting himself in harm’s way – though he denies he ever was – another great moment.

    In fact, the fight scene between the two pirates and Blackbeard was a terrific action sequence. It was well choreographed. Blackbeard sewing up his own head was also a terrific effect. I have to admit that it wasn’t until Blackbeard was paying Rose that I actually had all the parts of the plot fall into place for me – so that aspect of the plot was quite satisfying. I also very much liked him telling Rose not to ask questions lest she end up as part of the legend. Once again, as last week, we see the importance of manipulating facts and events to create a legend.

    Lowe’s storyline was the least satisfying of the episode. Kate (Claire Foy) offers to furnish Lowe’s new accommodations if he’ll agree to help James. We learn that James has been horribly tortured for being a Jacobite. Ironically, in consideration of Blackbeard’s commitment to democracy, the Jacobite’s were committed to restoring the Stuarts to power after they had been deposed by Parliament in Britain. Lowe’s prescription for James is for Kate to be a wife to him. We see what appears to be James and Kate going to bed together and sharing at least a passionate kiss.

    Meanwhile, Selima continues to be suspicious of Lowe and has him sentenced to hang alongside Valentine. Here’s where the plot goes off the rails for me. Kate suddenly comes forward to plead for Lowe, saying that he’d been with her the entire day. Just as Nenna (Tracy Ifeachor) is about to hang Lowe, Kate appears and tells her Lowe’d been with her. Without consulting any of the other jurors – was Nenna the Judge? – she simply declares Lowe innocent and lets him go. It seemed a real gap to have nothing of the “trial.”

    After Kate going to Lowe for help with her husband, Lowe telling her to be with her husband, and Kate taking his advice, for her to suddenly show up and start kissing Lowe passionately seemed to come out of left field for me. We do see Lowe has drawn her in his sketch book and has been fairly clearly interested, but it still felt jarringly sudden for them to be in each other’s arms.

    I’m wondering if that submarine in the sketchbook will play a role in an upcoming episode. I’m also curious as to where that suddenly came from. In addition to his powers of observation and drawing talent, we see that Lowe is stealthy enough to spy on Blackbeard and is also a great shot. It was nice to see Lowe live up to his promise to Valentine to give him a quicker death – not as quick as either had wanted but still he does keep his promise.

    While the costumes are generally very rich looking, they still feel off for the period. I can’t help but wonder why, if you’re going to clearly spend a great deal on costuming, you wouldn’t make it more historically accurate. At least Selima and even the prostitutes looked a bit more period-appropriate. My other big quibble has to do with where the series is shot. No doubt it is difficult to find experienced extras on a location shoot, but some of them were waving their swords at exactly the wrong moment. Maybe I’m just paying too close attention...

    In general, I thought this second episode was still a fun romp with enough intrigue to keep me interested in coming back for more. It doesn't completely transport me like some other period pieces, such as Vikings, but Malkovich is always worth watching. What did you think of the episode? Do you think Lowe’s relationship with Kate is going to prove disasterous? Did you buy Blackbeard’s rationale in giving the chronometer back to Jagger (Julian Sands)? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!