So, you just finished the marathon that is Black Sails. Your head is probably spinning from that finale—flames, betrayal, and the weirdly poetic ending for Captain Flint. But then, right at the very end, a new face shows up. A kid named Mark.
Except, if you know your pirate history, you know it wasn't just some random "Mark."
Mark Reed Black Sails fans have been obsessing over this for years because it was the ultimate "Easter egg" for history nerds. The character, played by Cara Roberts, is actually the legendary pirate Mary Read.
Who Was Mark Reed in Black Sails?
Let’s be real. If you weren't looking for it, you might have missed the significance.
In the series finale, Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny are back on a ship, doing what they do best. They recruit a young sailor who introduces himself as Mark. Anne gives a knowing look. Jack looks satisfied. It’s a brief moment, but it’s the show's way of saying the cycle of piracy never really ends.
The name "Mark Reed" is the alias Mary Read used for most of her life. She dressed as a man to serve in the military and later to survive on pirate ships. In the context of the show, she’s the third piece of the famous historical trio: Jack Rackham, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read.
Why the Alias Matters
Historically, Mary Read was a total powerhouse. Honestly, her real life was probably even more dramatic than the show. She spent years disguised as a man, fighting in the infantry and cavalry in Flanders.
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When she eventually ended up on Jack Rackham's ship, she was still going by Mark. Legend has it that Anne Bonny actually took a liking to "Mark" and tried to seduce him, only for Mary to reveal she was also a woman. Imagine the awkwardness. Then imagine Jack Rackham getting jealous and threatening to slit "Mark's" throat before the secret was shared with him, too.
Black Sails played it way more subtle.
By introducing her as Mark Reed, the writers gave a nod to the fact that the "Golden Age of Piracy" was shifting. The old guard—Flint, Vane, Rogers—was gone or broken. The new era belonged to the legends we read about in history books today.
Why Mark Reed Only Showed Up at the End
A lot of people were actually kinda mad about this. "Why wait until the last ten minutes of the entire series to bring in one of the most famous pirates ever?"
It’s a fair question.
The show was always a prequel to Treasure Island. It was focused on how James McGraw became Captain Flint and how John Silver lost his leg (and his soul, depending on who you ask). Adding Mary Read earlier might have felt like "pirate fatigue."
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The showrunners, Jonathan E. Steinberg and Robert Levine, were very careful about how they integrated real historical figures with fictional ones. They already had Anne Bonny as a main character. Adding Mary Read in Season 2 or 3 might have felt like they were just checking off boxes on a "Famous Pirates" list.
Instead, her appearance serves as a bridge. It tells us that while the show is over, the story of Nassau and the "Republic of Pirates" continues into the history we know.
The Casting of Cara Roberts
Cara Roberts took on the role for that tiny, crucial cameo. It wasn't a long performance—basically just a few lines—but she nailed the androgynous, gritty look that Mary Read was known for.
Most fans expected Max (played by Jessica Parker Kennedy) to eventually reveal she was Mary Read. There were a ton of theories on Reddit back in 2015 about Max taking on the "Mark" identity to escape her life in Nassau. When that didn't happen, the finale cameo was the show's way of giving the fans what they wanted, just not in the way they expected.
The Real History vs. Black Sails
It's important to remember that Black Sails takes massive liberties with time.
In actual history, Mary Read and Anne Bonny were captured alongside Jack Rackham in 1720. They famously escaped execution by "pleading their bellies"—basically telling the court they were pregnant. Mary ended up dying in prison of a fever in 1721.
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The show ends around 1715-1716. By introducing Mark Reed at the very end, the show is essentially "resetting" the timeline to align closer with the real Golden Age peak.
- Real Name: Mary Read
- Alias: Mark Read (or Reed)
- Fate in History: Died in a Jamaican prison
- Fate in Black Sails: Ready to start a new adventure with Jack and Anne
What You Should Do Now
If the Mark Reed cameo left you wanting more, don't just stop at the finale.
Go watch the "making of" specials. The creators talk a lot about why they chose to end the series where they did. Also, if you haven't read A General History of the Pyrates by Captain Charles Johnson, you're missing out. It’s the original source for almost everything we know (or think we know) about Mary Read. It’s where the "Mark Reed" alias was first popularized.
Honestly, the best way to appreciate that finale is to re-watch Season 1. Seeing how far Jack and Anne came—from being Charles Vane's sidekicks to being the leaders who recruit the next generation—makes that tiny "Mark" introduction hit way harder.
Take a look at the historical records of the 1720 trial of Mary Read and Anne Bonny. You'll see that the dialogue in the show often mirrors the defiant tone these women actually took in court. It makes the ending feel a lot less like a goodbye and more like a "to be continued" in the real world.bold text
Next Steps for the Ultimate Fan
- Read Saltblood: Check out Francesca de Tores' 2024 novel Saltblood. It’s a fictionalized but incredibly researched look at Mary Read’s life that feels very much in the spirit of the show.
- Compare the "General History": Look up the 1724 book A General History of the Pyrates. Compare the description of "Mark Read" to how Cara Roberts played the role.
- Map the Timeline: Try mapping the real dates of Woodes Rogers' arrival in Nassau against the show's timeline. It’ll show you exactly how much the writers squeezed and stretched history to make the story work.