Outer Banks Season 4: Blackbeard, Francis Genrette, and Historical Inaccuracies

Outer Banks Season 4: Unmasking Francis Genrette – Fact vs. Fiction in Blackbeard's Death!

Outer Banks Season 4: Diving into the Mystery of Francis Genrette and Blackbeard's Demise

Outer Banks season 4 introduces a brand new set of mysteries! Those fun treasure hunts are back and are now exploring a whole new historical legend involving Blackbeard, that infamous pirate and a whole lot of history, but this new mystery brings us to a completely new, important character, Francis Genrette! This is going to be amazing, so be sure to catch those latest episodes now.

Our favorite teen treasure hunters (the Pogues—John B, Sarah, Pope, Kiara, JJ, and Cleo) are broke! Remember those millions? Gone, folks! So they take a new job, offered by Wes Genrette, that character that showed up at the season 3 ending and offered an additional opportunity that involved this amazing opportunity – hunting Blackbeard's amulet from his wife, Elizabeth. It promises $50,000—a ridiculously small sum for these treasure hunting pros. Let's dive deep into this mystery!

Also Read: Outer Banks Season 4: Wes Genrette's Death - Who's the Killer?

Francis Genrette: A Fictional Killer Inspired by History

Painting of Elizabeth Teach in Outer Banks season 4 episode 2. Image

Wes Genrette unveils a seriously dramatic family secret involving Francis Genrette (his ancestor): He claims that this ancestor not only killed Blackbeard (aka Edward Teach) back in 1718, but also Blackbeard’s wife Elizabeth. This created that legendary curse impacting the Genrette family for over 300 years; these elements build tension while also expanding lore, creating even deeper immersion, folks! But it turns out this tale is a work of fiction, a clever spin of true events cleverly interwoven to create that specific storyline element, so be sure to carefully consider which elements have that creative liberty applied to those historical narratives, if you wish to avoid having some of those moments ruined by comparing these with historical facts.

Outer Banks twists things and that amazing plot choice changes that historical figure; Francis Genrette is inspired by Lieutenant Robert Maynard, that British Royal Navy officer credited with Blackbeard’s actual demise. The show changed certain details: Francis is supposedly the murderer of Blackbeard and his wife– not really historically true; yet cleverly building its own plot from those historical events. That encounter involving Maynard and Blackbeard near Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, resulted in Blackbeard’s death; with his head placed upon Maynard's ship’s mast – that’s some brutal history! That real life, brutally violent encounter gets incorporated here; but gets changed significantly through reimagining!

Also Read: Outer Banks Season 4: Blackbeard's Treasure – History vs. Hollywood

Blackbeard's Curse: A Work of Pure Fiction

A composite image of Sarah looking sad in front of John B. comforting JJ in Outer Banks Image

The entire curse that Wes Genrette claims haunted his family, because Francis Genrette supposedly murdered Blackbeard's wife Elizabeth Teach— after ignoring her dying request regarding a certain family amulet gifted from her husband– that part, it's completely made up! There is absolutely no proof and absolutely no mention of those aspects ever having transpired! Elizabeth Teach is fictional. Blackbeard's actual last wife (Mary Ormond) is very, very different. This means that any supernatural claim, its importance; becomes purely fiction within the larger historical and political contexts that this new show references to. The creative freedom allows that entire storyline to add suspense, even without adhering to existing historical realities!

Also Read: Outer Banks Season 4: Everything You Need to Know

Robert Maynard’s Real Life Legacy, beyond Blackbeard's End

Outer Banks season 4 part 1 poster Image

Robert Maynard, who actually defeated Blackbeard back in November 1718, lived on a full six more years until January 1751 at the age of 66. That key part about his history becomes very easily understood because of the subsequent ambiguity: His famous life ended; fading from memory. This lack of significant historical material allows that creative reimagining for the purposes of fiction; creating those specific points that greatly defines a very specific character for the story arc: Francis Genrette.

That's likely why Outer Banks needed a fictional Francis Genrette! A lot of that creative space, and flexibility involved allows greater possibilities than adhering to facts only!

Also Read: Outer Banks Season 4 Part 1: JJ's Secret, Treasure Hunt, and Shocking Twists!

Conclusion: A Blend of Fact and Fiction to Create Great Adventure!

Outer Banks' writers take creative liberty with those historical figures; demonstrating incredible levels of imagination, completely and fully utilizing a known plot of pirates and high-stakes adventures for its own new take; building an entirely fictional, yet strangely credible story based upon some familiar real-world events and names which greatly benefits the experience through storytelling. That blending of real historical individuals (Maynard, Blackbeard) with completely made-up elements (Francis Genrette, the curse of Elizabeth Teach) results in the show adding unique adventure. Those historical inaccuracies enhance storytelling – as that completely fiction element works incredibly well, highlighting that fiction allows opportunities to be even better.