You’re scrolling through Netflix or Hulu, and you see that gritty, salt-stained thumbnail of a pirate ship. You’ve heard the whispers—that this isn't just another "yo-ho-ho" adventure. It’s better. But before you commit your precious weekend to the high seas, you need to know exactly what you're getting into. Specifically, how many seasons of Black Sails are there to get through, and did the show actually get to finish its story?
There is nothing worse than falling in love with a show only to realize it was axed on a cliffhanger. We've all been burned by "canceled too soon" syndrome.
The short answer: 4 seasons of absolute chaos
Basically, Black Sails ran for exactly four seasons. The show premiered on Starz back in 2014 and wrapped up its run in 2017. Over those four years, it aired a total of 38 episodes. While some fans might’ve wished for a decade of pirate politics, the four-season structure was actually a deliberate choice by the creators, Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine.
They didn't get "the boot." They chose to dock the ship.
A breakdown of the episode count
If you’re planning a binge, here is how the numbers shake out:
- Season 1: 8 episodes (The setup, the gold, and the mud)
- Season 2: 10 episodes (Arguably one of the best seasons of television ever made)
- Season 3: 10 episodes (Enter the legend of Blackbeard)
- Season 4: 10 episodes (The war for the world)
Honestly, it’s a refreshing pace. Most modern shows bloated with "filler" episodes could learn a thing or two from how this series kept its foot on the gas.
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Why did Black Sails end after season 4?
It’s a fair question. Usually, when a show is as critically acclaimed as this one, networks try to milk it until the wheels fall off. But Black Sails is a prequel. It was designed from day one to lead directly into the events of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel, Treasure Island.
By the time the credits roll on the Season 4 finale, the pieces are on the board.
You see how "Long" John Silver becomes the man we meet in the book. You understand why Captain Flint is a ghost over the story. The creators felt that pushing for a Season 5 would have just been treading water. They wanted a "natural handoff" to the literature, and they nailed it.
The story is complete. There are no loose threads that will leave you screaming at your television.
What most people get wrong about the seasons
A lot of people think the show was canceled because the ratings weren't "Game of Thrones" level. Sure, Starz isn't HBO, but the ratings were actually quite solid for a premium cable drama. The decision to end was creative, not financial.
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In fact, the show actually got better as it went on.
The evolution of the seasons
Season 1 is often the hardest for people to get through. It feels a bit like a standard "sex-and-violence" cable show at first. But if you stick with it into Season 2, the writing transforms. It becomes a deeply psychological look at trauma, civilization, and the power of stories.
By Season 3 and 4, the scale is massive. We’re talking full-scale naval warfare and a surprisingly moving exploration of queer identity and rebellion. It’s sort of a miracle that a show about pirates ended up being one of the most intellectually honest dramas of the 2010s.
Is there any hope for a Season 5 or a reboot?
Look, never say never in Hollywood. But for now? No.
There have been rumors for years about a potential Treasure Island sequel series—basically an adaptation of the book but with the Black Sails cast (at least the ones who survived). Toby Stephens, who plays Captain Flint, and Luke Arnold, who plays Silver, have both expressed interest in various interviews over the years.
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But as of 2026, nothing is officially in development. The show exists as a perfect, 38-episode closed loop.
What to do after you finish the 4 seasons
Once you hit that final episode—which, without spoilers, is a total masterpiece of ambiguity—you’re going to have a pirate-shaped hole in your heart.
- Read Treasure Island: It sounds obvious, but reading the book after watching the show is a wild experience. You’ll see the characters in a completely different light.
- Look up the real history: The show mixes fictional characters (Flint, Silver) with real-life pirates. Figures like Charles Vane, Anne Bonny, and Jack Rackham were very real people. Their actual history is often just as crazy as the show.
- Check out the soundtrack: Bear McCreary (the guy who did The Last of Us and God of War) did the music. The hurdy-gurdy theme song is an all-timer.
The reality is that how many seasons of Black Sails you watch doesn't matter as much as the fact that you watch it to the end. It’s one of the few shows that actually sticks the landing.
If you're looking for your next obsession, head over to Netflix or whatever streaming service currently holds the rights in your region and start with Season 1, Episode 1. Just give it until the end of Season 2 before you make up your mind. You won't regret it.