Summary

• Black Sails, a prequel to Treasure Island, features engaging characters and intense storylines, making it a favorite among viewers.
• Fans continue to discover and rewatch Black Sails for its complex characters and historical pirate adventures.
• Other shows like Poldark, Rome, and Turn offer similar historical drama experiences for those craving more after Black Sails.

Black Sails 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.

Black Sails is available to stream on Netflix and Hulu.

15 Poldark (2015-2019)

The BBC Drama Based On Winston Graham's Acclaimed Novels

One of the most popular shows like Black Sails comes from the UK, Poldark, and ran from 2015-2019 across five seasons. It is based on the novels of the same name by author Winston Graham, and the second time they were adapted (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.

14 TURN: Washington's Spies (2014-2017)

The Gripping Tale Of The First American Spies

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

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.

13 Rome (2005-2007)

The Epic Historical Drama That Lifts The Lid On The Ancient World

When it comes to shows like Black Sails, the 2005-2007 drama Rome may be set in a completely different time period, but more than matches the levels of intense romance, violence, and twist-filled narratives that always keep viewers on their toes. HBO's Rome is a historical drama about the history of the death of the Roman Republic and the creation of the Roman Empire.

It centers on two soldiers — Lucius, played by Kevin McKidd, and Titus, played by Ray Stevenson — who live through war, assassinations, and dangerous political maneuvers throughout the height of the Roman Empire. Multiple well-known historical figures appear in the show including Mark Antony, Cleopatra, and Julius Caesar. While it may not contain much of the same swashbuckling action or high-seas set pieces of Black Sails, it still hits many of the same notes when it comes to satisfying period dramas — and the attention to detail in Rome is also something to behold.

Rome is available to stream on Max and Hulu.

12 Medici (2016-2019)

The Shockingly Dangerous Life Of The Bankers For The Pope

The Italian-British series Medici series follows the Medici family who rose to prominence in medieval Italy as successful merchants. It's set several centuries before Black Sails, with the story taking place in 1429. The Medici family, known as the House of Medici, were financiers for the Pope in the Florence of the 15th Century. The Church of the 1400s was incredibly different from the Vatican of today, and the Medici family were involved in some activities so criminal and dangerous that even the pirates of Black Sails would have raised an eyebrow.

Medici follows various family members — including Cosimo de' Medici played by Game of Thrones Robb Stark actor Richard Madden — as they try to keep their position of power and relevance in their community, while many people and other families are trying to destroy them to take their power. It's another historical drama that focuses on deep and complex characters and has unique storylines like Black Sails.

11 Penny Dreadful (2014-2016)

The Historical Horror Drama Featuring Many Literary Figures

The 2014-2016 horror-drama Penny Dreadful was a psychologically thrilling series set in Victorian London and had multiple characters inspired by classic literary characters like Dorian Gray and Dr. Frankenstein. It's not based on any one specific book, but instead draws from multiple sources, with the tone directly inspired by the 19th-century "penny dreadfuls", a specific variety of 19th century British literature known for their pulpy sensationalist stories filled with violence and erotic content.

While it's set about a century after the events of Black Sails, Penny Dreadful still manages to capture much of the historical drama that made the pirate show so beloved. The cast is also incredibly noteworthy. Penny Dreadful centered on Sir Malcolm (Timothy Dalton) trying to look for his daughter who was taken by the creatures that lurk around their city. Sir Malcolm works with a clairvoyant (Eva Green) and a hired monster slayer (Josh Hartnett) to try to save her.

Penny Dreadful is available to stream on Hulu.

10 Frontier (2016-2018)

Jason Momoa's Riveting Tale Of The Fur Trade

Jason Momoa stars in this Canadian Netflix Original series Frontier, which is set during the same century as Black Sails and tells a story that's equally grounded in (among other things) survival against the elements. Unfortunately, it was canceled after only three seasons, but it wraps up at an interesting point in season three. While it does leave a cliffhanger, it's not a terrible one. The series mainly revolves around Momoa's character, Declan Harp.

Frontier has plenty of sex and violence which more than matches the tone of Black Sails.

Harp's a fur trader attempting to stop the nefarious Lord Benton and his Hudson Bay Company from their massive monopoly over the fur trade. While "fur trading" on the surface doesn't sound like the most riveting premise on the surface, Frontier has plenty of sex and violence which more than matches the tone of Black Sails. The fact that Declan Harp is also half-Cree means there's plenty of historical social commentary to digest too.

Frontier is available to stream on Netflix.

9 Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

The Groundbreaking Historical Fantasy

While it's set in the fantasy world of Westeros, viewers who enjoy the period setting of Black Sails — the costumes, violence, and the sex — can find all of those things in Game of Thrones. It's true that Game of Thrones doesn't have any pirates to speak of, there are some ships and even some ship combat and adventures on the sea, with the characters from the Iron Islands representing the real-life medieval pirates who would one day become the cannon-firing buccaneers seen in Black Sails.

Overall, the sprawling fantasy saga is extremely popular for a reason. It follows the age-old battle for the Iron Throne from several different families all vying for power. It features a plot that's just as rich with intrigue as Black Sails, and those who haven't yet caught up with the cultural phenomenon that Game of Thrones was are sure to be satisfied.

Game of Thrones is available to stream on Max.

8 The Tudors (2007-2010)

One Of The Deadliest Periods In British History

Taking place several hundred years before the events of Black Sails is another show that focuses on one of the most dangerous periods in history — 16th century England during the execution-happy reign of King Henry VIII. The Tudors is an epic historical period drama that focuses primarily on King Henry VIII's reign in England. It introduces famed historical figures like Anne of Boleyn and Catherine of Aragon.

Viewers will likely also recognize several familiar faces while watching The Tudors, as it helped launch Natalie Dormer and Henry Cavill's respective careers. Plus, it has lots of fun stuff like nudity and violence that fans have come to expect from period shows at this point. While The Tudors doesn't have any pirates to speak of, it has a similar tone to Black Sails and matches its commitment to turning history into a compelling and gripping drama.

The Tudors is available to stream on Hulu

7 Outlander (2014-)

The Time-Travelling Romantic Drama

Outlander is a Starz series that began in 2014 and is due to air the second half of season 7 in 2024. The show is based on the bestselling book series by Diana Gabaldon. For Black Sails fans who enjoy the romance and time period of the show, and also don't mind some fantasy elements like time travel, Outlander is sure to satisfy. What's more, Outlander is a unique series because it actually takes place in two different time periods.

In Outlander Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe) is magically transported back in time to the 1700s in Scotland, but before that, she lived during the Second World War where she served as a nurse in the army. Claire falls in love with a highlander named James Fraser in the past, and she has to decide if she wants to stay there or return to her husband in the future.

Outlander is available to stream on Hulu and Netflix.

6 Spartacus (2010-2013)

The Historical Epic About Defiance In The Face Of Tyranny

Spartacus is a historical action drama that ran on Starz for three seasons between 2010 and 2013. While it's set in a vastly different time period to Black Sails, Spartacus is widely credited with setting the blueprint for the gritty, edgy tone followed by many modern historical dramas. This means it's sure to hit many of the right notes fans of Black Sails are looking for if it's not the high-seas setting specifically that they're seeking.

Spartacus focuses on the actual historical figure, Spartacus (Andy Whitfield in season 1, Liam McIntyre in season 2-3), who led a major rebellion of slaves against the Roman Republic. Spartacus is another show like Black Sails that provides plenty of violence, nudity, and eroticism. Spartacus also has some LGBTQ+ characters, and was relatively forward-thinking in terms of representation when it debuted in 2010.

Spartacus is available to stream on Hulu.

5 Crossbones (2014)

A Riveting Pirate-Themed Historical Drama

Few of the shows like Black Sails are actually about pirates, since they're far less well represented on the small screen than they are in cinema. However, 2014's Crossbones is one show that Black Sails fans will definitely want to check out if swashbuckling drama on the high seas is what they're looking for. Crossbones is a short watch, as the series was unfortunately canceled after only one season, but it's still an interesting series.

Crossbones tells the story of the infamous pirate known as Blackbeard, played by John Malkovich. It aired on NBC, and doesn't feature quite as much adult content as Black Sails. However, what it lacks in this area it makes up for with its setting, characters, and engaging storylines. It's based on the novel The Republic of Pirates by Colin Woodard, and mixes real history with fictional events.

4 Vikings (2013-2020)

Violent Adventures On Historical High Seas

As the name suggests, Vikings is about the Vikings, who are perhaps the most well-known historical figures to master the high seas besides the pirates that Black Sails focuses on. Specifically, Vikings is about Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons, figures who may-or-may-not have been real but were the subject of many Viking sagas and stories. The show follows Ragnar as he strives to find a way to the Western world while also taking care of his family.

Black Sails fans who also enjoy Nordic folklore and stories about gods like Thor and Odin are sure to be satisfied by Vikings. Plus, even though they're not pirates, the show deals with lots of stories revolving around ships and ship life. The Vikings often traveled by sea and had a great many rituals pertaining to traversing the ocean, so it has many surprising similarities to Black Sails despite being set centuries earlier.

Vikings is available to stream on Netflix.

3 The Last Kingdom (2015-2022)

The Violent Life Of Uhtred In Saxon Britain

The Last Kingdom is a British television series that streams on Netflix as a Netflix Original. Like some of the other shows like Black Sails, it is based on a popular book series — Bernard Cornwell's The Saxon Stories novels. It's set in a completely different time period to Black Sails, and has been compared to series like Game of Thrones and Outlander in the past, but this only speaks both for its quality and for how riveting it can be.

The story of The Last Kingdom revolves around a man named Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) who witnesses his father's brutal execution. Years later, he vows revenge on those who killed him. But this is far from a simple revenge story. The story takes place in 800AD, centuries before Black Sails, but the world Uhtred and the rest of The Last Kingdom characters reside in is just as brutal, making for a surprisingly similar viewing experience.

The Last Kingdom is available to stream on Netflix.

2 Reign (2013-2017)

A Lighthearted Historical Drama

Reign is different from the other shows like Black Sails in that it is aimed at a younger demographic, making it perfect for introducing younger viewers to period dramas and historical fiction. It aired on The CW for four seasons before eventually coming to an ending. Reign wasn't canceled though, so the story reaches a satisfying conclusion that neatly wraps up all its plotlines.

The story of Reign is all about Mary Queen of Scots (Adelaide Kane) and her complicated relationship with Queen Elizabeth (Rachel Skarsten). Reign also deals with the intrigue and drama that came with Mary's attempts to rise up the ladders of the French court. It is The CW though, so expect dramatic liberties to be taken with historical accuracy. For Black Sails fans in the mood for a viewing experience that's less serious and has a more lighthearted take on a historical period, then Reign is the perfect choice.

Reign is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

1 The Borgias (2011-2013)

One Family Stops At Nothing To Claim The Papalcy

2011's The Borgias is arguably the best show like Black Sails for fans who want equal levels of drama, intrigue, violence, and risqué content. It's set in Italy during the Renaissance era and focuses on the Borgia family. The titular Borgias committed almost every possible crime imaginable at the time to rise to the top of Italian society and claim the papalcy, with Rodrigo Borgia (played by the inimitable Jeremy Irons) taking the title of Pope Alexander VI.

The Borgias is fraught with moments of betrayal, murder, and blackmail that will be sure to satisfy any Black Sails fan. The cast is incredibly well chosen too, with even minor roles feeling so well selected that The Borgias provides an incredible level of immersion. While it takes place many centuries before Black Sails, The Borgias proves that the specific time period is secondary to the level of enjoyment both shows provide.

The Borgias is available to stream on Hulu.