MovieChat Forums > Black Sails (2014) Discussion > Flint, Thomas, and Miranda question

Flint, Thomas, and Miranda question

posted 8 years ago by skeletornumber70
11 replies | jump to latest

I understand that the writers wanted the affair with Thomas to be a shock so they clearly led us to believe that Miranda was Flint's lover, but I always kind of wondered how much of the affair between James and Miranda was actually real. They show them kiss multiple times and there was a sex scene in season one, although neither seemed like they were enjoying themselves very much and I suppose that could have just been a way of satisfying mutual needs without any emotion. I'm just wondering if the flashback of the two in the carriage was real or if it was just a red herring. The way I'm looking at it is they were all 3 in an open sexual relationship with Flint and Thomas being the ones who were actually in love, but I could be wrong. Any other thoughts?

[–] RightfulFireLordIroh 8 years ago

I think you're right about them all 3 being together and Flint and Thomas actually loving each other.
But I also think Season 3 makes it pretty clear Flint loved Miranda too. I think after the trials they've endured, Flint is just a rather joyless man. Plus the only time we saw him and Miranda having sex he was pissed at her and in general.

I see another joker on the news telling me to play the fool.

[–] Fusion72 8 years ago

If I remember correctly, the sex scene seemed like a way of strengthening their bond, because they not only had to present a united front but also needed to work together to clear their names. It also showed the audience that something wasn't right between them.

I don't think they had a three way romantic/sexual relationship; Flint & Thomas were lovers, Miranda & Flint were allies.

[–] skeletornumber70 8 years ago

But the flashback shows him and Miranda getting together in London before any hint is even made at a romantic interest in Thomas. I think there was at least somewhat of an affair, however insignificant it may have been compared to the one with Thomas. I doubt they were all 3 ever together at once but I think Flint considered both of them lovers at some point.

[–] IntestinalFortitude 8 years ago

I think the carriage scene is meant to show how Flint is being changed by the hamiltons, he is portrayed as a straight arrow to book naval officer trying to make a name for himself, not really someone who involves himself in personal relationships. I don't think Flint began loving her until after Thomas is taken away and certainly not in a sexual way. In season 3 ghost Miranda says something like "I was mistress when you needed love" I believe this refers to Flint being so focused on the Navy that he didn't really express himself or form his own identity, her advances on him began the process of him opening up which led him to Thomas. Flint was in love with Thomas and he loves Miranda if that makes sense.

[–] RomaVictorrrr 8 years ago

It opened him up? Or it corrupted him?

On his own, he would've had a good career, married eventually, lived a good life as a naval officer.

Instead he got seduced into a three-way sexual dalliance with a married couple, was seduced into a movement that he himself didn't believe in, got himself kicked out of the navy, became a ruthless pirate and cold-blooded murderer, doomed to routine sex with his puppet master Miranda and no positive relationships with ANYONE else.

We can blame Senior Hamilton for things. But I think we can also blame the free-wheeling, seduce-people-into-their-cause Hamilton couple. :)

[–] IntestinalFortitude 8 years ago

A good life not being himself, he's bisexual and it seems like he leans towards being gay, so I don't think a traditional 1700s life brings him much happiness. Initially he didn't believe in the movement because he was trained not to by the Navy, we know Flint isn't the typical naval officer because he's the loner in the bar and flips out when the other Navy guy insults Thomas.

I don't really remember him being seduced, iirc he disagrees with Thomas for sometime before understanding that he's a good man with good intentions. England at the time is an imperialist nightmare that has wreaked havoc on the old world and Thomas wanted to prevent them from doing the same to the new world, the pardons proving that England could forgive and not need to solve every problem with war and oppression. I think Flint was enlightened not corrupted, the Hamilton's made him realize the horror of England and set him on a course to fight it.

[–] RomaVictorrrr 8 years ago

Well, if he was born after the 1960's, I'm sure "being himself" would've been of utmost importance. But I think the normal 1700s life of a naval officer was good enough for people. I don't know. I sometimes think America is an "imperialist nightmare wreaking havoc" but I sure love living here.

Miranda bragged about how Thomas could run circles around people's beliefs and show them other ways of thinking. Add that with bi-curious sex and Thomas's come-hither face and his good intentions and yeah, it feels like he seduced Flint.

If the three of the them hadn't been messing around like horny teenagers, Hamilton Sr. couldn't have used it as an excuse to stop their already unpopular movement. :)

This is all just my opinion though.

[–] skeletornumber70 8 years ago

Speaking from a straight man's perspective, a man cannot seduce another man who has no interest at all in men. Flint was content with Navy life because it was all he ever knew. As Miranda said, the Flint personality always lived in James, he just never knew how to let it out until the events involving the Hamiltons occurred. I believe both she and Thomas were the only two people Flint ever allowed in his heart and after that he could never go back to a repressed English life.

[–] RomaVictorrrr 8 years ago

Miranda brought out the Flint personality that was a cold-blooded murderer, too?

You're speaking from a "straight man's perspective," but you're a real person. These are fictional characters. And in this world, it seems characters like Flint and Anne Bonny CAN be seduced by a same sex person.

Which is all fine and dandy until you're messing with a married man who's in the middle of a political struggle.

[–] skeletornumber70 8 years ago

The violent, blood thirsty Flint personality manifested itself because for the first time in his life, James found out who he was and how to be happy, and lost everything because England wouldn't let him. He realized the system he had been part of for so long took lies away from good people simply because it could, and he wanted to bring it down. As a apart of this system his whole life James had never had the opportunity to consider what he really wanted until he met Thomas and Miranda.

[–] RomaVictorrrr 8 years ago

Actually, it seems the "violent, blood-thirsty" Flint may have always been there, according to the character of his naval superior.

But sure, that's probably the way he sees England.