It’s getting warmer, so I went for (probably) the last snowshoe of the season last weekend in Callaghan Valley. Tickets cost $16.50 for adults, but it’s worth it to enjoy a beautiful hike through mild hills with a stunning view of Alexander Falls.
Distance from Vancouver: About 120 km (2 hours) View Ski Callaghan‘s map of snowshoeing trails.
I have tried this trail three times in the three years I’ve lived in Vancouver. The first time in 2019, Rachel and I came just a couple weeks too late. The snow was incredibly soft, and unless you kept to the exact middle of the path where the snow was most packed, our snowshoes would fall through the drift, leaving us stuck with one leg buried up to the hip. One particularly memorable time, we both fell through. We had to roll our way to safety after nearly dying of laughter at our absurd circumstances.
The second time in 2020 was nearly the exact opposite. We went just after a huge dump of snow, and almost no one had gone before us to break it in. We had a friend’s dog with us who gleefully bounded through the snowdrifts, which helped a little. But we used so much energy stomping down the snow that we didn’t get far before admitting defeat and turning around.
This past weekend was the third time I attempted Callaghan Valley, and it was nearly perfect. The snow was just starting to melt, but the paths were passable and well-trod. We got to the parking lot by 9:00, which was a good call, because by the time our hike was over it was packed full of cars. However, the trail was pretty empty until maybe the last hour (around noon).
Note: I highly recommend taking the Real Life road trail out and the Finger Lakes trail back (rather than the opposite). This was the first time I went in that direction, and I felt like it was a lot less exhausting.
Alexander Falls Explorer & Finger Lakes Trail
Length: 11,7 km
Elevation Gain: 210 m
Route Type: Loop
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Have you hiked or snowshoed in Callaghan Valley? Leave a comment and tell me about your experience!
Flint unmasks a thief on his crew. Rackham chases a score over Vane’s objection. Silver hides with Max in the brothel. Eleanor faces an impossible choice.
A: NOT THIS EPISODE, that’s for sure. Despite the intriguing hints of his past with Eleanor, he is AWFUL here: nearly murdering Max and actually murdering his second innocent black man in as many episodes. Booooo!
BEST FLINT MOMENT
“They’re not animals. They’re men starved of hope. If you give them that back, who’s to say what could happen?”
Idealistic Flint is my favorite Flint!
TODAY’S RUNNER UP
Eleanor! During my first time through the show, I was too annoyed by her male-gazey big dick energy to pay attention to her character (this is why exploitative nudity and poor writing for women is so damaging), but this time I finally noticed how amazing she is.
Her first scene finds her comparing herself to her father, who saw the pirates as animals. She, on the other hand, saw more in them and did more for them when she took over the island’s business. Of course, she does later calls Vane’s men animals, so there’s also some interesting hypocrisy going on.
I also really like her conflicting motives about siding with Flint to pursue the Urca gold and remake Nassau – I’d wager she’s about equally motivated by communal good (Flint’s dream) and personal good (reassuring herself that her work there is not in vain). I like a character with conflicted motives!
LOL MOMENT
Silver’s belly flop, and especially the groan-scream he makes when he resurfaces.
WELL-FORMED THOUGHTS
The conversation between Flint, Eleanor, and Mr. Scott is the most important of the episode, the season, and perhaps even the entire show. As such, I want to quote it in full!
Eleanor: Why return at all to Nassau? With money like that and my father out of business, why not run? What’s coming our way can’t be outrun.
Flint: But with the money I strip from the Hulk, we could add fifty guns to the fort. We could build ships to defend our shores and train new men to sail them. We could work the land, grow crops and raise cattle. Then whoever arrives on our shores first, be it England or Spain, will be in for a most unwelcome surprise. A nation of thieves. …You have your doubts?
Mr. Scott: Of turning pirates into farmers and soldiers? Of fighting a war against Whitehall from a sliver in the Atlantic? Doubt, Captain Flint, does not begin to describe how I am feeling.
Flint: They’re not animals, Mr. Scott. They’re men starved of hope. Give that back to them, who’s to say what could happen?
Eleanor: Why do this? Why here?
Flint: Odysseus, on his journey home to Ithaca, was visited by a ghost. The ghost tells him that once he reaches his home, once he slays all his enemies and sets his house in order, he must do one last thing before he can rest. The ghost tells him to pick up an oar and walk inland and keep walking until somebody mistakes that oar for a shovel, for that would be the place that no man had ever been troubled by the sea. And that’s where he’d find peace. In the end, that’s all I want. To walk away from the sea and find some peace.
This is the moment when Flint gets Eleanor on board with his plan for a stronger, securer Nassau. A Nassau so strong and secure that pirates can settle down and become farmers. All Flint wants is to be free enough and secure enough that he can leave the sea behind him, and he assumes that everyone else feels the same way. It will be fun to see whether or not he is correct!
I had a hard time believing that the pirates of these first few episodes weren’t animals and did, in fact, deserve Flint’s vision for them. After all, in just this episode we see them pissing on corpses, beating prostitutes, and murdering innocent men. I think we’re meant to have this visceral reaction to the crudeness of the pirates we’ve seen so far, because that is how “civilization” sees them. It’s only as our story continues and we get various characters’ backstories that we understand what pain, trauma, and abuse led them to a life of debauchery and cruelty. A good reminder that first impressions are often only part of the story.
FRAGMENTED THOUGHTS
That’s a lot of nudity. As I mentioned earlier, it still feels exploitative and cheap.
I would love to know more about the history of Flint and Vane’s rivalry!
I don’t know how to feel about Eleanor’s relationship with Max. Apparently, she only recently split from Vane, so they can’t have been together long. And can someone truly be together when one party is paying for the company of the other? I do believe Max loves Eleanor, but I don’t really believe it’s fully reciprocated.
Silver is seriously so smart, both with his misdirection on the beach and with his memorizing the contents of the page.
Max is also so smart, making the evaluator inspect every single pearl.
Flint: “I never much liked your father; too caught up in appearances.” LOL, okay, James.
Silver: “Do you have a candlestick or…perhaps a heavy shoe? Idelle: *pulls out sword*
I think that might be our first hint that background prostitutes are also real people with lives and intelligence (and not just Max as the token Special Prostitute). Also, hello Idelle! I didn’t realize you were a part of the show since the beginning!
It’s only episode two and we already have lovers being torn apart by the consequences of their own choices. Friendly reminder that this show is a tragedy 😀 This is one of my favorite things, though, that relationships are rarely broken because of outside influence or lack of interest, but because of fundamentally different worldviews and goals. Far more nuanced and interesting!
Honestly, what even is Jack’s hair?
Ninja!Flint makes his first appearance when he goes to the house of a Mysterious Woman and collapses. He’s so tired! If I hadn’t already fallen in love with him before, I would now.
Let me take care of you!!
ACCUMULATING QUESTIONS
What is Mr. Scott’s plan for Nassau if he’s opposed to Flint seeking the Urca gold?
Not done reliving the episode? Listen to Daphne and Liz’s podcast at Fathoms Deep!
A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship–the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.
Goodreads
SPOILER because I’m annoyed by the book description: By “friendship,” the paragraph above means BOYFRIENDS. This book is queer as hell and so cute.
This book is lovely. I read it for the first time in one day, staying up until 2:00 in the morning because I couldn’t sleep until I had the whole thing finished. This book has everything I love – friendship and the awkwardness of a new romance, families that are deeply scarred but deeply loving, introspective thoughts about growing up and finding yourself. And the whole thing is told in Saenz’s beautifully simplistic prose.
I honestly don’t know how to describe how awesome this book is. Aristotle (Ari) is a loner because he lives too much in his own head, burying himself under pain and doubt and confusion. Dante is a loner because he is too enthusiastic, too smart and too concerned with beauty and life. Together they complete each other, in both stupid and meaningful ways.
I loved the subtle comparisons between Ari and Dante’s relationships and those of their parents. Seems like quiet melancholy people need outgoing emotional people and vice versa. Relationship dynamics are so fascinating to me, and it was cool to see three different variations on the same theme of opposites attracting and complementing one another.
Underlying all the relationships is Ari’s struggle with growing up. Everything is changing for him, and he doesn’t know how to be himself. I’m a huge fan of coming-of-age stories, and Ari’s introspective nature makes for a really wonderful look inside an adolescent’s head.
This book is so fantastic, I wish I could read it again for the first time over and over.
NOTE: The audiobook is read by Lin-Manuel Miranda, so do yourself a favor and read the hard copy AND listen to the audiobook.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!
Twilight Imperium is a fabulous marathon of a table top game, one that requires an entire day, a fridge full of snacks, and friends who can endure the ups and downs of galactic interspecies negotiations.
I played Twilight Imperium for the first time on Boxing Day 2019. We had six players, five of whom had never played the game before. Full of greasy breakfast and eager to learn, we chose our races (I took the Emirates of Hacan, aka Space Cats) and set up our galaxy, defending our home planets with miniature spaceship Destroyers and Cruisers. At that point we checked the time; two hours had flown by, and we hadn’t even started the game.
The game itself feels like it moves quickly. There is a lot of strategy involved, so even when it is not your turn, you’re likely gaming out moves, checking your technology tree, and calculating how many Dreadnoughts you can afford. It’s complex, and I would recommend playing with at least one person who is familiar with the game. But the endless options draw you in, and it feels amazing when the game settles into your bones and you start intuiting what the best play is.
We wound up playing for thirteen hours. Yes, you read that right. We started at 10:00 a.m. and ended at 11:00 p.m. Some players lagged. Others pretended to do so, waiting until the last minute to run a carefully thought out play, only to be defeated in the end by a lone planet bound Infantry. I won, though admittedly it was in large part because of my alliance with my girlfriend, who played as the Mentak Coalition (aka Space Pirates). It’s likely that I’m biased by my glorious victory, but the thirteen hours was definitely worth it. Others must have agreed, because we played again less than a month later.
Pros:
Enormous Replay Ability. Especially because you create a new galaxy every game by laying out space tiles as advantageously as possible.
Multiple Ways to Win. There are public and private goals that earn players victory points, meaning you can lean heavily into technology, war, trade, or expansion in your bid to accumulate points.
Allies. You can play the game as cutthroat as you like, but at some point, it’s likely that you’re going to want to ally with another player. Often this is the person who shares a trade agreement with you, but the benefits don’t have to stop there. Guard borders, vote together, and when the time is right…stab them in the back to claim Mecatol Rex for yourself!
Cons:
It is really, really long. If that doesn’t make you salivate, you should probably give this game a pass.
When it isn’t really, really long, it’s because of a sudden death card that can feel unsatisfying when played. This happened the second time I played Twilight Imperium. We finished in “only” seven hours, but it was because a card was drawn that said whoever had the most victory points at that moment automatically won. Some people might put this in the pro section, but when I’m seven hours into a game, I want to claw my way to the finish line.
I recommend Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition to Uber Nerds who love strategy, intricate game pieces, and a deep emotional investment that can withstand hours of play.
Have you played Twilight Imperium? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Last weekend, I got away for the weekend and went snowshoeing in Manning Park for the first time. It’s a great destination that is far enough away to feel like you get a bit of a road trip while still not having to spend all day in the car. (Note: You will need snow tires during the winter season.)
Distance from Vancouver: About 220 km (2.5 hours)
On Saturday, we tried our luck at Fat Dog Trail. There is a smallish parking lot at the trailhead, so it’s a good idea to arrive before 9:00 a.m. at the latest. A porta-potty hut sits at the trailhead for those of you who, like me, want to make sure their bathroom needs are accommodated. It was relatively clean with toilet paper, but no sink – bring hand sanitizer!
Fat Dog Trail was relatively slow, with other hikers only passing us (yeah, wah wah) every 30 minutes or so. The snow was well tamped down, and the views were absolutely gorgeous.
The trail itself was never too steep, but the incline was pretty relentless for my winter bod. We stopped pretty frequently, ultimately calling it quits about halfway up. We took the Cambie Loop to add a couple kilometers to the hike, but wound up pledging to return next year and conquer!
On Sunday, we went with a much easier hike at Lightning Lake Loop near the Manning Park Lodge. This hike was very well trodden, so we opted to leave our snowshoes behind. This turned out to be an excellent decision, but use caution if you try this yourself!
As we started out, trekking across snow-covered parking lots, we realized we were actually trekking across the snow-covered lake! It was entirely solid, and we saw other hikers going straight across the middle, but the thought of being that far from the edge skeeved me out, and we found our way to the official trail.
This is a flat trail with expansive views of snow-covered lakes surrounded by trees and mountains. There is a cool bridge at the at the first turnaround where we took pictures. Overall, it’s a refreshing, beautiful hike that is perfect for those who don’t want a lot of elevation.
The once powerful Captain Flint faces mutiny by his own pirate crew. John Silver joins Flint, hiding something of great value. On New Providence, Eleanor Guthrie keeps order in the face of a resurgent Royal Navy.
Q: When is the exact moment that I fell in love with Captain James Flint? A: Other Captain: “I won’t give you the satisfaction of crying out.” Flint, walking away: “Good for you.” Me: Oh, he’s SASSY.
BEST FLINT MOMENT
I’ve got to go with Flint’s first real power speech, given only to Billy, nicely outlining the thematic plot of this show.
Flint: There’s a war coming, Billy. Billy: One ship isn’t a war. Flint: One ship isn’t what’s coming. That man Hume, captain of the Scarborough, told you as much. When the king brands us pirates, he doesn’t mean to make us adversaries. He doesn’t mean to make us criminals. He means to make us monsters. ‘Cause that’s the only way his God-fearing tax-paying subjects can make sense of men who keep what is theirs and fear no one. When I say there’s a war coming, I don’t mean with the Scarborough. I don’t mean with King George or England. Civilization is coming, and it means to exterminate us.
(Side note, this is VERY fun to read in light of what we later learn of Flint. If only he had kept what was his and feared no one. *sob*)
TODAY’S RUNNER UP
Max! From the very beginning she’s presented as intelligent, which is something considering her first appearance is in the middle of an orgy. *eye roll* Even there she is noticing where Silver’s attention is, and after that she is everywhere, talking to everyone, holding her own and making sure people know she knows what’s up.
LOL MOMENT
When Joshua, the fearsome pirate with terrifying jagged teeth, jumps out at Gates to scare him, then giggles and takes his teeth out.
FRAGMENTED THOUGHTS
WATER! SHIPS!! I’m so excited to re-watch all of this!
The Other Captain IS urged to surrender, but refuses. I’m glad that is established early on, though I missed its significance the first time through.
We meet Silver before Flint – interesting.
“So you’re a coward, then.” “Yeah, and you?” LOL Silver, you’re so delightfully selfish.
Me in a pirate fight = the guy sitting in the corner with his arms wrapped around his legs, screaming.
In our first sighting of Flint (“It’s done”), he’s showing mercy. INTERESTING.
Shirtless Billy does not want to be Silver’s friend, lol.
Why are they torturing the Other Captain? This is not something that ever happens again and it only makes our pirates look like the monsters Flint later says they aren’t.
Flint’s earrings, Flint’s sleeves!
Randall and his cat!
Flint definitely thinks he’s better than everyone, and usually he’s right.
NASSAU!
Ugh, except this is not the Nassau that I’m actually in love with. This is Edgy Nassau where boobs are everywhere and all anyone talks about is sex and Eleanor LOVES saying the word fuck while being sexually inappropriate toward her subordinates. WE GET IT, this is an adult show. I wonder when exactly they stopped this nonsense and let the story’s awesomeness stand on its own?
Mr. Scott, already establishing himself as the knowledgable one!
The first thing we see inside of a “civilized” home is a painting of Judith beheading Holofornes. SALIENT.
Flint does know who Billy is (says he’s the bosun), so the whole “who’s Billy?” thing was just to fuck with him? I like this even more than arrogant, distracted Flint.
Once Flint knows that his crew thinks he’s weak, the devastating beatdown is inevitable.
Love seeing Billy realize that Flint has a method to his madness, but still not sure if it’s enough to justify the madness.
“Gossip is what holds civilization together. It reinforces shame, and without shame, well, the world is a very dangerous place.” IMPORTANT QUOTE ALERT.
Jack, Anne, and Vane, how did you become three of my favorite people? I don’t like you here.
“I am your king.” LOL, okay, Tyrant Flint.
I still don’t get the feather thing.
“The most important thing in a ship is trust between captain and crew,” says Flint as he lies to his crew.
If I have a type, it’s people getting beat down and then raging back to a win.
But also, ewwww.
I LOVE the power play of Flint putting Billy on the spot like that.
Flint sounds craaaaazy, but let’s see where this story of a Spaniard named Vasquez leads us next!
Mother, Father, this is the man I have chosen to love.
WELL-FORMED THOUGHTS
Everything makes so much more sense, from the pirate codes (valuing freedom, democracy, loyalty, and equality) and roles (captain, quartermaster, bosun) to the politics of trade in Nassau. I was so confused the first time through! However, none of the characters really feel settled into who they are yet. I enjoy them, but I don’t quite feel like I know these pilot-versions of people I love. I know I soon will, though!
Other than that, I don’t have a lot of thoughts about this episode, because it’s mostly introductions and setups and not nearly as rich as the ones that are coming.
ACCUMULATING QUESTIONS
Who is Flint’s spy in Port Royal who first heard about the Urca gold?
Not done reliving the episode? Listen to Daphne and Liz’s podcast at Fathoms Deep!
With the coming of the Great Flood—the mother of all disasters—only one family was spared, drifting on an endless sea, waiting for the waters to subside. We know the story of Noah, moved by divine vision to launch their escape. Now, in a work of astounding invention, acclaimed writer Sarah Blake reclaims the story of his wife, Naamah, the matriarch who kept them alive. Here is the woman torn between faith and fury, lending her strength to her sons and their wives, caring for an unruly menagerie of restless creatures, silently mourning the lover she left behind. Here is the woman escaping into the unreceded waters, where a seductive angel tempts her to join a strange and haunted world. Here is the woman tormented by dreams and questions of her own—questions of service and self-determination, of history and memory, of the kindness or cruelty of fate.
In fresh and modern language, Blake revisits the story of the Ark that rescued life on earth, and rediscovers the agonizing burdens endured by the woman at the heart of the story. Naamah is a parable for our time: a provocative fable of body, spirit, and resilience.
Goodreads
I adored this complicated feminist retelling of Noah and the flood, from the perspective of his bisexual wife Naamah. It’s mysterious and sad and hopeful and never easy – like life.
I grew up with Bible stories, and (spoiler!) they are overwhelming male stories about men doing things with other men. When a woman exists in the story, she is usually nameless, as Noah’s wife is. Blake names her Naamah, which is the name of a demon in Jewish mysticism. This is fitting, because she is a wild woman, desperately unhappy to live with the burden of surviving a worldwide disaster, angry at God for causing it, and acting out her grief in healthy and unhealthy ways. She’s deeply sensual and very opinionated. And the kicker? It’s all of these unruly qualities that makes God (or his representation in this novel) like her. Not to get too personal, but this was revelatory and healing for me as I try to reconcile what faith looks like for me as an adult.
Naamah (both the woman and the book) wrestles with themes of unimportance and identity. “What makes a woman a woman?” is echoed throughout the book, especially with the awesome dreams with an angelic Sarai (another biblical woman who was given short shrift compared to her husband).
Speaking of angels! The Angel and Metatron are fascinating. I love an asshole vulture angel. Some of the more outlandish ideas – like Naamah having sex with an angel – is all the more delightful because there IS a biblical precedent for it.
And I guess, speaking of sex! There is a lot of it. Naamah is a very body-centric person, and it was satisfying to read about a middle-aged woman who processed joy and pain through sex. She’s an excellently written bisexual woman who loves her husband and also loves the women she sleeps with. It’s complicated and messy and very real.
I don’t know if this book would speak to people who weren’t raised deeply evangelical the way it did me, but I loved seeing a story I thought I knew from a very different perspective, and being led into grief, hope, and healing in a way that felt more biblical than the Genesis story.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Check out our Queer Lil Library for more book recommendations and reviews!
Wow, that finale!! Here’s your warning – go no further if you want to avoid spoilers for the entire season of WandaVision on Disney+.
I have to admit, I stopped watching WandaVision after it’s first two episodes. I admired the 50s TV pastiche, but it wasn’t exactly gripping despite hints that more was happening. Of course, it was immediately after that point that the show got interesting, with color and twins and characters being forcibly thrown into the real world. The internet lured me back, and by episode 5 I was watching each week, desperate to know more.
Can I add a brief aside to say how much fun it’s been to watch a show that comes out weekly? It took me awhile to set aside my binge-watching tendencies, but I found I really loved the agony of waiting, getting to read theories and reviews online, and letting each episode settle before heading into the next one.
I have pretty much loved everything about this show. Watching their lives cycle through tv decades became more enjoyable as they hit on eras I was more familiar with, and I screamed, “That IS how shows used to be!” more than once. The different introductions and theme songs alone should win them an Emmy.
I also loved all of the interesting, fully developed female characters, from Wanda to Monica to Agnes to Darcy. I do wish we had gotten a little more from Monica in the end, since it felt like she was being set up to participate in the finale a bit more. But I will forgive them if she gets the role she deserves in the upcoming Captain Marvel film. Agnes was delightful, and obviously the whole internet loves Kathryn Hahn, so I don’t think I have more to add here.
The person I really want to talk about is Wanda. I always liked her because she was a woman in a Marvel movie, but I can’t say I ever truly connected to her. My heart broke during the scene where she must kill Vision only to see him brought back and killed again, but it was more because of the drama than because of an attachment to their relationship. But now! This show gave us everything that Wanda deserved, and I loved getting inside of her head.
Wanda’s moral complexity really shone here, and I loved watching her struggle with the realization that not everyone wanted to be forced into a sitcom dreamland the way she did. She’s not a hero and not a villain; she’s just a woman/supernatural cosmic entity who wants a quiet life with her husband and children.
Also, Wanda and Vision are so cute together?? I loved their conversations, their flirtations, their fights. They felt so effortlessly coupled that I couldn’t believe it took this show to get me to ship them. And the kids were pretty great, getting just enough air time and no more. I was truly shocked when all three of her constructed family members faded with the Hex; I knew from the internet that these kids of hers are true Marvel characters…will we see them again?
My god, that ending between her and Vision.
“We have said goodbye before, so it stands to reason–“ “We’ll say hello again.”
I didn’t cry, but I didn’t NOT cry, you know what I mean? I can’t wait to see her meet White Vision again and start their love story all over again.
I think the only other thing I need to say right now in the aftermath of it all is:
How hot is Scarlet Witch’s look??? She’s so gorgeous, and her outfit is the perfect example of sexy but not sexualized.
This year was the first time that I had heard of the Dine Out Vancouver Festival, and I’ve got to say, more people should be talking about this!
From February 5 to March 7, 2021, TONS of restaurants served special set menus to show off their best appetizers, entrees, and desserts for a reduced price. Their site allows you to search by restaurant, menu price, cuisine, and neighborhood. I found far too many places that I wanted to try, but in the end, I enjoyed Dine Out menus at two different places.
Sylvia Restaurant & Lounge
For $45, I got House Made Goat Cheese Ravioli (with chardonnay cream, curly endive, sweet chili pepper, and blood orange), Rossdown Farms Chicken Breast (with yam and potato pave, braised red cabbage, carrots, and vadouvan jus), and a Dark Chocolate Torte (with vanilla ice cream and mixed berry compote).
It was entirely too much and super delicious, particularly the ravioli and torte.
The Greek by Anatoli
For $35, I got Saganaki (traditional Greek cheese, crispy, served with pita), Chicken Souvlaki (grilled and finished with garlic butter and lemon, served with rice, potatoes, and vegetables), and Ekmek (vanilla and bourbon custard with angel hair filo).
Eating an entire portion of saganaki was a bad gastrointestinal idea, but I wouldn’t change my decision for anything. And the ekmek! Oh my goodness. I could have shoveled it into my mouth for hours.
In addition to appreciating the reduced cost for a delicious meal, I also liked how Dine Out encouraged me to try new restaurants and venture into new areas of the city I love.
Dine Out Vancouver is still going strong for two more days, so don’t miss out! And if if you do, put it in your calendar for next year. I know I will.
Two years ago, I was a normal woman with a variety of interests. Ever since I watched Black Sails for the first time, my life has been consumed by thoughts about this impossibly compelling Starz production that demands rewatch upon rewatch.
Over the course of four seasons and thirty-eight episodes, viewers are introduced to a world that combines pre-Treasure Island characters with historical pirates from the Golden Age of Piracy in 1715. What seems like the premise of a rollicking pirate adventure is exactly that…with the addition of challenging political themes and philosophical debates. If you’re looking for a television show that is equal parts entertaining and thought-provoking, then Black Sails is the show for you!
Do You Need More Proof?
1. Captain James Flint is one of the most complex characters I’ve ever seen represented on popular television. Despite knowing little of his motivations until halfway through season 2, he is dramatically intriguing from the very first episode. Phenomenally performed by Toby Stephens, Flint is a ruthless idealist whose pursuit of a free Nassau destroys almost every relationship he values, and I love him.
2. One of Black Sails‘ central themes is that oppressed people are easily villainized because the only options they have to claim their freedom are so often villainous. Intentionally choosing diversity, Black Sails showcases main characters who are enslaved, queer, disabled, and poor. It is, actually, a history told from the perspective of the oppressed.
3. Queer relationships are respectfully represented throughout the series. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual relationships are represented amongst the main characters of Black Sails, and multiple relationships are shown as polyamorous. The show does an impressive job of normalizing these relationships while also portraying historically accurate consequences.
4. In a television world that is traditionally male-dominated, Black Sails intentionally puts women in leading roles of various kinds. One review I read (that I unfortunately cannot remember and therefore cannot credit) said that this show “demonstrates that it’s possible to depict a world that devalues women without constructing the show itself that way too.” As such, we have female pirates, prostitutes, business leaders, and princesses, all of whom reveal a part of what it meant to be a woman in the early 1700s.
5. All of the characters are both flawed and lovely (with one exception for me personally). Everyone is selfish and desperate, which naturally leads to shifting alliances and betrayals on a regular basis. Despite this, the show constantly asks us to see from their perspective and have understanding. We are refused the baser joy of loving to hate a character, and instead are shown how to do the better thing: love a hateful character.
With Miranda in Milan, debut author Katharine Duckett reimagines the consequences of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, casting Miranda into a Milanese pit of vipers and building a queer love story that lifts off the page in whirlwinds of feeling.
After the tempest, after the reunion, after her father drowned his books, Miranda was meant to enter a brave new world. Naples awaited her, and Ferdinand, and a throne. Instead she finds herself in Milan, in her father’s castle, surrounded by hostile servants who treat her like a ghost. Whispers cling to her like spiderwebs, whispers that carry her dead mother’s name. And though he promised to give away his power, Milan is once again contorting around Prospero’s dark arts.
With only Dorothea, her sole companion and confidant to aid her, Miranda must cut through the mystery and find the truth about her father, her mother, and herself.
Goodreads
I don’t remember much about “The Tempest” from my high school English class beyond the vague idea that the quote about “All the world’s a stage” is from it (Spoilers, this memory is wrong! That quote is from “As You Like It.”) With so little knowledge about the original, I was worried that the sequel wouldn’t make sense to me. But it appeared on some list recommending books about ladies loving ladies, and I decided to give it a try!
I’m so glad I did. For starters, it’s a short little book at only 204 pages. By the end I wanted more because I enjoyed the characters so much, but I admire Duckett for keeping the book to exactly the length the story needed and no more.
If you, like me, fear your meager Shakespeare knowledge will mean this book is not for you, do not worry for even a second. Duckett explains enough of the plot of “The Tempest” to catch you up to speed, but it’s enough to know that a young woman is returning to normalcy after having been raised on a fantastical island by a powerful (and power mad) father.
Miranda is an excellent protagonist who straddles the line between wanting to engage in this new world that intrigues and confounds her while also being realistically overwhelmed and scared. It doesn’t help that, in addition to preferring wild hair and comfortable clothing to the restrictions of a proper Italian gentlewoman, she gets weird looks and whispers anytime she shows her face.
It’s a mystery tied to her dear departed mother, and guys, this mystery is so great! The whole book plays with the theme of women as monsters in really interesting ways, from sexuality to aging to cultural misconduct. I hope it’s not too much of a spoiler to say that I love a book where women are redeemed not by shucking the label of “monster” but by embracing it.
As for the gay stuff, wow it’s so much fun! The only woman who will treat Miranda as a human is Dorothea, a servant who has secrets of her own. Their relationship development is quick but realistic and so sweet. I also really liked how they handled the power imbalance of a noblewoman and a servant hooking up; it isn’t ignored, but it’s also not insurmountable.
If you like historical fantasy or seeing patriarchal classics given a feminist twist, you owe it to yourself to read Miranda in Milan!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
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