‘Crossbones’ premiere review: Have NBC, John Malkovich found buried treasure?

NBC has used its Friday nights this year as ambitious programming, starting with “Dracula” before moving into the sensational “Hannibal.” Now, we have a series in “Crossbones” that wants to be the next big thing, and a pirate drama that captures more of the fun of being a pirate that “Black Sails” seemed to lose earlier this year. (Don’t worry; the following review is spoiler-free.)

We’re not going to say an episode in that “Crossbones” is anywhere near “Hannibal” when it comes to greatness, mostly because it’s not. There are some nagging flaws in the way. The premiere episode is entertaining and stuffed full of content, but perhaps to its detriment. The show needed a full two hours to establish the backstory of our lead Thomas Lowe (Richard Coyle), and also the Commodore that was once referred to as Blackbeard (John Malkovich). There is something lacking in the backstory department, and some of the female characters in particular need a little more depth beyond just a couple of defining character traits.

While we left the premiere episode feeling somewhat lukewarm, the upside here is that there is simply is an upside for the show. The visuals are beautiful, and there is a chance for Lowe vs. Blackbeard to become almost a Will Graham vs. Hannibal Lecter cat-and-mouse game. Malkovich is compelling already as the lead, and like “Dracula,” the show provides you with a very different look at an iconic character. The only difference here is that this show feels much more compelling and isn’t taking away much of what we love about the character. It is simply making him a more intellectual villain than merely a physical one.

“Crossbones” is worth watching again, mostly to see where the Thomas vs. Blackbeard story goes next. We also love the fact that NBC is willing to actually give this show a chance, rather than settling into more “Dateline” or repeats of a cop show on Friday nights. There is a market, even in the summer, for something new. We’ll just have to wait and see if people bothered to check it out. Grade: C+.

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Photo: NBC