I'm assuming the main reason people will tune in to "Crossbones" is to see John Malkovich strut his stuff as the cunning, clock-obsessed Blackbeard -- though don't call him that to his face. He is commodore Edward Teach, thank you very much, but is still as menacing as ever as he controls what goes down on the secret island of Santa Compana in the Bahamas.
But it's the hero of the series, Tom Lowe (played by Richard Coyle), who is an unexpected treat. His character is by no means as fun as Blackbeard because, please. In a show where there are pirates and wenches, heroes and villains, Malkovich will get to chomp the scenery and be the wildest character of them all. Deservedly so, because arguably no one can sashay that fine line of menacing and delightful the way Malkovich can.
That doesn't make Coyle any less interesting; just less lively. His portrayal of a spy pretending to be a surgeon is a tad stuffy but, hey, there can't be two campy characters to take in, right? Like with any great pairing, there needs to be a balance, and the odd couple of Edward and Tom turns out to be quite fascinating.
But I'm making Blackbeard (and Malkovich's portrayal) sound more cartoonish than he actually is. He's not as evil as I thought he would be -- though that's purely based on the premiere episode -- and he and Tom are more alike than they each care to admit. I'm sure the more we learn about each man, the more entertaining both will be, and I'm hoping we see shades of Malkovich's creepy side come through, like in the scene where Blackbeard gives himself acupuncture treatments.
"Crossbones" comes to us from Neil Cross, creator of the stunning psychological crime drama "Luther." Not only does he know how to fill an hour with action and intrigue, but his characters are always compelling. Set in 1729, Blackbeard is the ruler of a rogue, hidden nation which, from afar, looks like paradise. Too bad it's filled with an array of baddies, barbarians and people who are good but will do anything to survive.
There's something called a Longitude Chronometer, which Edward is determined to get his mitts on. He knows it's a groundbreaking invention and will do anything to possess it. But Tom has been assigned to protect it from falling into the pirate's hands so he must do whatever it takes -- even if it means killing him -- to keep him from it. In fact, William Jagger (Julian Sands), the man who hired Tom, wants Edward back in England to stand trial but if that doesn't go according to plan, he's content with Tom killing the pirate.
Lowe and his sidekick, Fletch (Chris Perfetti) are taken as prisoners to Santa Compana and manage to stay alive. While there, Lowe must find a way to reassemble the chronometer that he destroyed, all while trying to stop Blackbeard's plans of getting it. But things go awry when he is pulled to help the pirate he was hired to destroy.
On the island, Tom encounters Kate (Claire Foy), whom the English have branded a traitor, hence why she's there (because, honestly, no one would choose to be there). Her husband, James (Peter Stebbings), may be Blackbeard's key to patching up the chronometer, and her growing closeness to Tom will likely cause problems, and not just in their already troubled marriage. It's another relationship I'm looking forward to, as is the one between Tom and Fletch. Blackbeard's henchpeople -- Selima (Yasmine Al Masri), Nenna (Tracy Ifeachor) and Rider (David Hoflin) -- are mysterious but the difference is that I don't care about them yet (though I'm not sure if we're supposed to).
"Crossbones" has two other problems. The first is the script, which some may find dull, daunting, and more than a little overblown. The dialogue is unlike anything on television right now, so at least it's got that refreshing quality going for it. Plus, if you're of the mind that Malkovich can be fascinating while reading the dictionary, then all is good. The second issue is when it airs: Friday nights -- at the start of summer, no less -- which is never a good thing. Here's hoping viewers give "Crossbones" a chance to shine before it sails away into uncharted waters.
"Crossbones" premieres Friday, May 30 at 10 p.m. ET on Global and NBC.
