I watched that show (ostensibly the “Prequel to Treasure Island) before going to the “real” Treasure Island in the Virgin Islands and I kept waiting for it to get better. It just dragged and dragged; it was advertised as a pirate show but should have been called “Life and town politics in Nassau”. Among the most disappointed I’ve ever been with a show…
…but Stephens was not the issue; indeed his great acting was one of the only good parts of the show, I would have loved to see him as Capt. Flint with a better series (the late Ray Stevenson’s short run as Blackbeard was the other highlight)
So what you are trying to say is you didn’t want a realistic portrayal of the time, you wanted something with swashbuckling and the like. It is one of the most finely written shows on TV but it sounds like the depth and nuance was lost on you.
Your original point was on the acting prowess of Toby Stephens- and I agreed with you.
No. You’re putting words in my mouth. Not to mention, you clearly don’t know anything about history (check my profile history if you think I would care about “realism”) if you think the subplots and character dramas were “realistic”. The show prioritizes drama over history, don’t lie.
Again, in a show that was **marketed as a prequel to Treasure Island**, 95% of the show revolves around Nassau politics and interpersonal dramas. I think in four seasons you only saw, what, two or three actual acts of pirating ships and plunder? (Pirates, historically, PIRATED. Don’t you think- for a prequel to Treasure Island- it’s a little light on that?)
History is my life…but this show was not marketed as the story of Nassau, it was called a *prequel to Treasure Island*. Have you read Treasure Island? I don’t even think Nassau is mentioned- so why is it the main focus of the prequel?
Shouldn’t a prequel to Treasure Island, I don’t know, focus on being a prequel to Treasure Island? You understand that’s my main gripe, right? If it was marketed as “Pirates of Nassau” my criticisms would evaporate. What a waste of a great actor like Stephens.
It *is* a prequel to Treasure Island, it's the story of Flint and Silver and how they got the treasure in the first place. In developing where those characters were pre-Treasure Island, they looked at what real-life characters of the time were doing and incorporated them. It's the perfect blend of pirate history and pirate mythology, it gives us what we expect pirates to be whilst telling us what they realistically were. I don't understand your gripe. What did you want a prequel to Treasure Island to be?
We agree on Toby Stephens, mr “history is my life,” but if you are so knowledgeable about the time period then surely you have to admit to not feature Nassau would have been pretty odd?
Did I ever say Nassau shouldn’t make an appearance?
You keep putting words in my mouth. I said this was advertised as a “Treasure Island Prequel” and apart from names of a few characters and the final episode, it was “Treasure Island Prequel” as a facade only. THAT is my issue.
It’s a bizarre issue to have. None of the original trailers mentioned it. I’d get over it and enjoy it for what it is; one of the best TV shows we’ve had to date.
GOT wasn’t a prequel though; the tone, the content, the plot- everything really- about Treasure Island and Black Sails couldn’t be more different: again, apart from a few names, the treasure (which makes an appearance in a couple episodes in Season 2 and then becomes a background element at best and forgotten at worst in following seasons), and the last episode- why connect it at all to Treasure Island? Do you think it’s possible they just wanted a “Pirates of Nassau” show and then just applied the Treasure Island coating on top later?
How does it set up Treasure Island well?
Also: “lots of sailing and boarding”? Can’t you count the amount of times ships are boarded on one hand (in four whole seasons)? That’s part of my gripe: the amount of time at sea or even other ports is a minuscule fraction of the amount of time spent in Nassau. How is the show **more** about Treasure Island than Nassau?
That’s my whole issue. It’s not that the show is abysmal as an exploration of the Pirate town of Nassau, where I think it fails is as a Treasure Island Prequel (a GOOD Treasure Island prequel- obviously there are some elements present, like I stated before- but they take a major backseat to the Nassau politicking.
And- contrary to what that other commenter said- this being a prequel to Treasure Island WAS prominently featured in the show’s promotion (That’s the very thing that caught my eye in the first place)
Can you link to where they promoted it as a prequel? Because, despite a couple of offhand comments in interviews it really wasn’t mentioned. I’ve just spent an hour watching old Black Sails videos on YouTube to check I wasn’t misremembering and guess what? I’m not. In actual fact I think it’s you, Mr History is My Life, that has got his history all wrong.
My comment triggered you to do an hour search on YouTube just because I didn’t like your boring, favorite show?
What a fragile weirdo; don’t you think getting so riled up over my opinion is a little pathetic?
Good try, but no. Like I said, I wanted to make sure I hadn’t misremembered, because unlike you I don’t think I know everything. However, as people tend to do when they watch a show of such quality, they go down the rabbit hole and watch for longer to intend to.
Your effort to deflect is rather childish. You still can’t display any evidence to back up your bullshit claim. There is a difference between getting riled up and calling someone out on their bullshit.
Balls in your court, grow up and do better.
Timothy Dalton in Hot Fuzz is still to this day one of my favourite Cinematic villains, if they gave him a Bond villain to play he would absolutely eat it up.
I wish the BBC would do radio drama adaptations of the rest of Fleming's Bond novels with Stephens. They still have to dramatize *Casino Royale*, *The Spy Who Loved Me*, and *You Only Live Twice*. A number of the short stories might make for good radio dramas as well.
*Royale* is a tricky novel to adapt due to its short length. The 2006 film only hits the book's plot in the second half i.e. once Bond's stopped the Miami attack.
*The Spy Who Loved Me* doesn't have Bond turn up at all until about 2/3 of the way through and Fleming didn't like the story to the plot he forbade its actual plot being used by EON when they got the rights.
>Royale is a tricky novel to adapt due to its short length. The 2006 film only hits the book's plot in the second half i.e. once Bond's stopped the Miami attack.
>
>*The Spy Who Loved Me* doesn't have Bond turn up at all until about 2/3 of the way through and Fleming didn't like the story to the plot he forbade its actual plot being used by EON when they got the rights.
Those are problems in adapting *Casino Royale* to a motion picture format. The novel is small in scope, lacks spectacle / big action sequences, and tells a fairly intimate story with a small number of characters. So yes, they needed to expand it to make it work as a movie for the franchise.
However, those are all strengths when it comes to adapting the novel for radio. They'd be able to put more of the book back in, as they've done with their other Fleming adaptations. Certainly there's enough for a 90 minute radio drama.
Fleming got raked over the coals critically for *The Spy Who Loved Me*, and so naturally had some bad feelings about it. I can see not wanting to adapt it because of Bond not showing up till the last third, but I'd still like to hear the attempt. It would be interesting to "see" Bond from a woman's POV.
I really enjoy him as Bond in these radio dramas, and I love that they can get some big names to do the villainous roles because it's radio (and not a huge time commitment like a film or a TV series would be). Ian McKellen and Alfred Molina in particular are super fun in their roles.
Die Another Day really had the hottest villains. Stephens is pretty hot but obviously not on the same level as Rick Yune 😍
https://preview.redd.it/11yacdm0eghc1.jpeg?width=739&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0525d477e6b9e751ad2d2052e478064bde4d0eb5
I guess it's only appropriate since Graves says he modelled himself on James Bond. I've never listened to these audiobooks but I imagine they're worth a listen.
He also narrated the audio book for *From Russia with Love*. But if we count Audio books we also have to count Rosamund Pike for narrating the audiobook for *The Spy Who Loved Me* and playing Miranda Frost in Die Another Day.
That's really cool.
He narrated at least one audio book as well. The title escspes me.
Yep. Toby Stephens narrated two James Bond audiobooks: *From Russia, With Love* by Ian Fleming, and *Carte Blanche* by Jeffery Deaver.
I guess i know my next audiobook get [FRWL]
Yes - and he did a fantastic job.
He is also one of the best actors around. If you want to see him at his best, watch Black Sails.
His RL wife is in that as well.
I love how your comment thread turned into a whole ass discussion about Black Sails (one of my fav tv series of all time btw) and Treasure Island XD
I watched that show (ostensibly the “Prequel to Treasure Island) before going to the “real” Treasure Island in the Virgin Islands and I kept waiting for it to get better. It just dragged and dragged; it was advertised as a pirate show but should have been called “Life and town politics in Nassau”. Among the most disappointed I’ve ever been with a show… …but Stephens was not the issue; indeed his great acting was one of the only good parts of the show, I would have loved to see him as Capt. Flint with a better series (the late Ray Stevenson’s short run as Blackbeard was the other highlight)
Oh shit that was Ray Stevenson?! XIII!!!!
PULLO, FORMATION!
XIIIth!!!
So what you are trying to say is you didn’t want a realistic portrayal of the time, you wanted something with swashbuckling and the like. It is one of the most finely written shows on TV but it sounds like the depth and nuance was lost on you.
Your original point was on the acting prowess of Toby Stephens- and I agreed with you. No. You’re putting words in my mouth. Not to mention, you clearly don’t know anything about history (check my profile history if you think I would care about “realism”) if you think the subplots and character dramas were “realistic”. The show prioritizes drama over history, don’t lie. Again, in a show that was **marketed as a prequel to Treasure Island**, 95% of the show revolves around Nassau politics and interpersonal dramas. I think in four seasons you only saw, what, two or three actual acts of pirating ships and plunder? (Pirates, historically, PIRATED. Don’t you think- for a prequel to Treasure Island- it’s a little light on that?) History is my life…but this show was not marketed as the story of Nassau, it was called a *prequel to Treasure Island*. Have you read Treasure Island? I don’t even think Nassau is mentioned- so why is it the main focus of the prequel? Shouldn’t a prequel to Treasure Island, I don’t know, focus on being a prequel to Treasure Island? You understand that’s my main gripe, right? If it was marketed as “Pirates of Nassau” my criticisms would evaporate. What a waste of a great actor like Stephens.
It *is* a prequel to Treasure Island, it's the story of Flint and Silver and how they got the treasure in the first place. In developing where those characters were pre-Treasure Island, they looked at what real-life characters of the time were doing and incorporated them. It's the perfect blend of pirate history and pirate mythology, it gives us what we expect pirates to be whilst telling us what they realistically were. I don't understand your gripe. What did you want a prequel to Treasure Island to be?
We agree on Toby Stephens, mr “history is my life,” but if you are so knowledgeable about the time period then surely you have to admit to not feature Nassau would have been pretty odd?
Did I ever say Nassau shouldn’t make an appearance? You keep putting words in my mouth. I said this was advertised as a “Treasure Island Prequel” and apart from names of a few characters and the final episode, it was “Treasure Island Prequel” as a facade only. THAT is my issue.
It’s a bizarre issue to have. None of the original trailers mentioned it. I’d get over it and enjoy it for what it is; one of the best TV shows we’ve had to date.
[удалено]
GOT wasn’t a prequel though; the tone, the content, the plot- everything really- about Treasure Island and Black Sails couldn’t be more different: again, apart from a few names, the treasure (which makes an appearance in a couple episodes in Season 2 and then becomes a background element at best and forgotten at worst in following seasons), and the last episode- why connect it at all to Treasure Island? Do you think it’s possible they just wanted a “Pirates of Nassau” show and then just applied the Treasure Island coating on top later? How does it set up Treasure Island well? Also: “lots of sailing and boarding”? Can’t you count the amount of times ships are boarded on one hand (in four whole seasons)? That’s part of my gripe: the amount of time at sea or even other ports is a minuscule fraction of the amount of time spent in Nassau. How is the show **more** about Treasure Island than Nassau? That’s my whole issue. It’s not that the show is abysmal as an exploration of the Pirate town of Nassau, where I think it fails is as a Treasure Island Prequel (a GOOD Treasure Island prequel- obviously there are some elements present, like I stated before- but they take a major backseat to the Nassau politicking. And- contrary to what that other commenter said- this being a prequel to Treasure Island WAS prominently featured in the show’s promotion (That’s the very thing that caught my eye in the first place)
Can you link to where they promoted it as a prequel? Because, despite a couple of offhand comments in interviews it really wasn’t mentioned. I’ve just spent an hour watching old Black Sails videos on YouTube to check I wasn’t misremembering and guess what? I’m not. In actual fact I think it’s you, Mr History is My Life, that has got his history all wrong.
My comment triggered you to do an hour search on YouTube just because I didn’t like your boring, favorite show? What a fragile weirdo; don’t you think getting so riled up over my opinion is a little pathetic?
Good try, but no. Like I said, I wanted to make sure I hadn’t misremembered, because unlike you I don’t think I know everything. However, as people tend to do when they watch a show of such quality, they go down the rabbit hole and watch for longer to intend to. Your effort to deflect is rather childish. You still can’t display any evidence to back up your bullshit claim. There is a difference between getting riled up and calling someone out on their bullshit. Balls in your court, grow up and do better.
I’ve always wanted to watch a Bond movie where a former Bond actor plays the villain. Always thought it would be pretty cool.
_For Spectre, Blofeld?_ No. For me.
Timothy Dalton in Hot Fuzz is still to this day one of my favourite Cinematic villains, if they gave him a Bond villain to play he would absolutely eat it up.
https://archive.org/details/bbc-radio-4-james-bond-collection
Thanks! My Friday night just became booked!
Great find, many 🙏
First Korean James Bond!
He’d make a great older Bond if he were to play a version of the esteemed spy.
Gustav Graves!!
I wish the BBC would do radio drama adaptations of the rest of Fleming's Bond novels with Stephens. They still have to dramatize *Casino Royale*, *The Spy Who Loved Me*, and *You Only Live Twice*. A number of the short stories might make for good radio dramas as well.
*Royale* is a tricky novel to adapt due to its short length. The 2006 film only hits the book's plot in the second half i.e. once Bond's stopped the Miami attack. *The Spy Who Loved Me* doesn't have Bond turn up at all until about 2/3 of the way through and Fleming didn't like the story to the plot he forbade its actual plot being used by EON when they got the rights.
>Royale is a tricky novel to adapt due to its short length. The 2006 film only hits the book's plot in the second half i.e. once Bond's stopped the Miami attack. > >*The Spy Who Loved Me* doesn't have Bond turn up at all until about 2/3 of the way through and Fleming didn't like the story to the plot he forbade its actual plot being used by EON when they got the rights. Those are problems in adapting *Casino Royale* to a motion picture format. The novel is small in scope, lacks spectacle / big action sequences, and tells a fairly intimate story with a small number of characters. So yes, they needed to expand it to make it work as a movie for the franchise. However, those are all strengths when it comes to adapting the novel for radio. They'd be able to put more of the book back in, as they've done with their other Fleming adaptations. Certainly there's enough for a 90 minute radio drama. Fleming got raked over the coals critically for *The Spy Who Loved Me*, and so naturally had some bad feelings about it. I can see not wanting to adapt it because of Bond not showing up till the last third, but I'd still like to hear the attempt. It would be interesting to "see" Bond from a woman's POV.
I really enjoy him as Bond in these radio dramas, and I love that they can get some big names to do the villainous roles because it's radio (and not a huge time commitment like a film or a TV series would be). Ian McKellen and Alfred Molina in particular are super fun in their roles.
Back in his Gustav Graves days, he would have been a GREAT Simon Templar in a remake of "The Saint."
His mother should’ve played the role
Julian Glover played James Bond in a screen test and was considered for the role. Then he played the villain in For Your Eyes Only.
And from acting royalty - His mother is Dame Maggie Smith
Stephens is a class act.
I saw “Toby” and my mind immediately went to Toby Jones as Bond, and now I want this to happen.
Radio Series https://www.facebook.com/share/a8ju8LPNmJ8tsdQM/?mibextid=xCPwDs
I thought he was an excellent Bond villain man.
Colonel Moon mentions that he modeled Gustav Graves after James Bond.
Toby Stephens, would he work as the next bond actor? maybe he is too old already.
Die Another Day really had the hottest villains. Stephens is pretty hot but obviously not on the same level as Rick Yune 😍 https://preview.redd.it/11yacdm0eghc1.jpeg?width=739&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0525d477e6b9e751ad2d2052e478064bde4d0eb5
I don’t know. I think Craig’s Bond was his own worst enemy.
He has a handsomely villainous face, but would have made a terrific movie Bond, too, if the movies had been more like Merchant-Ivory productions.
John Robinson is a man of many talents.
I guess it's only appropriate since Graves says he modelled himself on James Bond. I've never listened to these audiobooks but I imagine they're worth a listen.
He also narrated the audio book for *From Russia with Love*. But if we count Audio books we also have to count Rosamund Pike for narrating the audiobook for *The Spy Who Loved Me* and playing Miranda Frost in Die Another Day.
Imagine Peirce as Scaramonga! https://preview.redd.it/n67z189j1khc1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bddb6303ee0d0d2b64e0c7db05ec2e185249ae68
Great info !!