#he frames it as an act of mercy inspired by Eleanor but i don’t buy that for a second

[starbuck]

God. Okay. Not to still be making Jesus Christ Superstar/Black Sails posts but there’s SUCH a parallel to be drawn between Pilate and Rogers in the way they’re both desperate not to be seen as villains, not because they object to committing horrific crimes against humanity which make them inherently villainous, but because they’re afraid for their reputations and how they’ll be remembered by history.

And they both mistakenly believe that they, as leaders of imperial occupying forces, should be able to control how they’re perceived within their narratives. But they CAN’T and this infuriates them.

this vs. Rogers and Madi’s convo in 4x09. Truly nothing like telling a man who is used to there being no limit to his power “you cannot control the outcome of this situation” (or, in Madi’s case “I’m not going to let you”).

#they’re both like ‘can’t believe i’m being FORCED to be the villain by the mean people i’m oppressing :/‘ and it’s like #dude. YOU entered into this situation!!!!!!!! YOU chose the role of ‘villain’! #you just didn’t think you were gonna get caught bc you thought all your atrocities would get passed of as ‘justified’ #but NOPE hahaha fuck you! #people give JCS!Pilate a lot of shit for having a prophetic dream that killing Jesus would damn him for eternity and then doing it anyway #but that’s the whole POINT!!!!!!!! #it’s not that he doesn’t realize - it’s that he knows EXACTLY what he’s doing as he utterly destroys his reputation for all eternity #and it is SO satisfying #because that’s the whole reason he’s trying so hard to avoid crucifying Jesus - not because he’s a good or merciful person but because #he’s afraid for his good name #which is SO reminiscent of Rogers insisting on offering Madi the treaty again in 4x09 #he frames it as an act of mercy inspired by Eleanor but i don’t buy that for a second #it would just be a lot more convenient for him if he could get both a signed treaty AND the cache out of this situation #because then his debts are paid AND he can frame himself as the ‘hero’ who stopped a war that could have ended civilization #whereas if he just kills them all - he doesn’t get that glory and risks not getting the cache either #AND - as it turns out - it also leads to him being defeated and having his reputation destroyed in the historical record #i am Once Again Saying that a JCS-esque AU where Flint and Silver know the ending from the start (to varying degrees) would be SO good #and it DEFINITELY involves Rogers having a prophetic dream about his defeat and humiliation and being even MORE terrified of that happening #Billy somewhat plays Judas to both Flint and Silver but so does Silver to Flint #and i don’t feel like anybody else fits in specific boxes - it’s really just Black Sails But With Selective Narrative Awareness #and it is VERY sexy and i think about it every day of my life #anybody who wants to talk more about this MESSAGE ME - i’m about to go to bed but my brain is EXPLODING #black sails