TVSquad

I've got an odd confession to make -- I'm a former Parrothead. Yes, I used to dig Buffett music too much, go to his concerts wearing stupid shit on my head and usually had a blender of something cold and boozy in my hand. But what I dug most about the whole scene was the notion of the ocean, the life of pirates of past, and of vast wooden ships skipping the Caribbean islands, all with nary a care in the world. So, when I got my hands on an early copy of History Channel's True Caribbean Pirates, I almost felt like a Parrothead again. Almost.

Here's the thing -- this show is on the History Channel for a reason. You're not tuning in to get a stellar acting performance out of the programming. You want in-depth, gritty facts about the past, or at least as close as you can come to it; the performance of the actors is secondary. Well, that's what you get with Pirates.

The individuals we follow in the program are some of the most infamous pirates ever to have lived, and their path from nothingness to notoriety is done well. Henry Morgan, Edward Teach (Black Beard), Calico Jack, Anne Bonny -- they're all discussed and displayed in detail, from their beginnings to their bitter ends. But again, it's the stories themselves that make this show somewhat interesting, not the performances. The performances reminded me of Renaissance Fairs or Civil War reenactments.

If you're not used to watching a history show from beginning to end, you just might want to record this show for viewing at a time when you're not apt to nod off. Honestly, the facts we learn about these pirates is interesting stuff, but I really wished for the portrayal to be something to keep me glued to the TV. I think I'll stick to reading books and listening to Buffett to learn about pirates and privateering.

True Caribbean Pirates airs Sunday, July 9 at 8PM ET on the History Channel.