The Lost Pirate Kingdom

I'm a sucker for anything Pirate related. When I first saw Netflix was working on a Pirate show my head went straight to Black Sails and instantly was excited. Later I learned this was going to be a docu-series so I was slightly disappointed but it was still about Pirates so I was in!

The show has its flaws, there is a lot of repetition but highlights some important events 1716-1718 of piracy and in general is an enjoyable watch.

The Lost Pirate Kingdom does something commendable. It tries to catch an incredibly interesting period in history; when pirates where all mighty. Emotionally, it does this very well. The stars aligned in such a way that pirates roamed the Caribbean virtually untouched, and it brought forth legend after legend, who are the clear focus of the documentary. It nails the feeling of just how extraordinary this must have been. Unfortunately, that's all it does well.

Functionally this documentary is pretty much flawed. There is too much repetition, the music is on the nose and there is so much focus on the players, that all the interesting background information, the ships, the technology, the navigation, the balance of power, the differences between the sea fairing nations... it's all pretty much completely lost. We get to spend a lot of time with (good) actors, and the (also good) narrator telling us how their characters felt, but we are left wanting. It's so thin on information, it hardly deserves the name 'documentary'.

I watched this after watching the excellent Age of Samurai: Battle for Japan. This is also a flawed documentary, that makes a few historical jumps too many, but far less so than The Lost Pirate Kingdom. I'm giving our pirates a positive 6 stars because I still think it's interesting to get a better feel for this period overall, and I got some new inspiration from it.

An emotionally engaging series sure, just not much of a documentary.

I enjoyed the show. I also like history and this documentary is a mix between drama and historical events. I think it's nicely filmed and acted.

My only complaint is that it's not historical correct. There are too much assumptions and 'artistical freedom' rather than facts. I don't say they're lying but it's halve the truth and you can get the wrong ideas about history. I also have my doubts about the 'Experts' who sound very dramatic and not neutral in my opinion.

I know some things are controversial these days but facts are facts and we all want to like pirates but it doesn't do right to history.

Edit: after watching more episodes its getting worse. Not only assumptions but also just wrong.

The list will be too long to write all the things wrong so I won't.

Pirates sailed mostly in small boats and some captured bigger ships. Most had a dozen cannons and 75 man. They needed fast ships not warships. You think they would attack British, Dutch or Spanish Navy with Galleons or Frigates with 80-100 cannons. And you also think they freed slaves. No, they sold them.

Probably 10% facts and 90% drama.

I don't understand why anybody is comparing this to a fictional show like Black Sails. The narration just contributes to the show as a historical story versus a non fiction story. Whether the whole story is completely accurate or not, it tells the story of how the pirates of the Caribbean legends were born. Besides the obvious gaps in great graphics that are available nowadays, I thought it was really really good

It's an average docu. Not that great editing, and sub par effects. But it does have it's charms. Overall a little slow in it's pacing, and some pointless B plots. But not bad.

6/10: Eh sure