No self-respecting pirate (or privateer) in the 1700's would ever be caught dead behaving as "21st century" as these poor sods (actors) were instructed to do by the screenwriter and director. I start rolling my eyes whenever period pieces exhibit modern day dialog ad-nauseum and attach 20th and 21st century cultural ethics. Truth be told I only watched the first 30 minutes of episode 1 - which was far and away more than was necessary. The opening sea battle was ludicrous - the British vessel turning broadsides and opening up with musket fire.... the two ships passing each other and then suddenly stopped and joined at the hip to permit the pirates to stroll over - gah! Onshore - the tough-speaking lady-in-charge ... no. The fast moving doctor tossing black powder onto a severed carotid artery and igniting it to cauterize the wound ... no. The good doctor left alone for any period of time with the valuable instruction book ... no. Blackbeard portrayed as a cross between Socrates and Charlie Manson ... no. AND - overall it's all just TOO CLEAN !! No one so much as farts. The cinematography is quite good - the rest is an outright mess.