User blog comment:Uskok/Crossbones or: Blackbeard with white beard?/@comment-996391-20140707140228/@comment-1984959-20140708133912

Took a quick look at Wikipedia, it seems the show has been going on since May 30... but even now, and even though I like John Malkovich, I haven't seen more than the trailer so I can't comment on the show. That being said, this is probably (as you say) an example of alternate history - or, to briefly forget about the timeline and focus on Blackbeard's design, it's one of those unique directions they decided to take.

So since, again, I haven't seen the show, I can't say whether Malkovich did good or if I prefer the original look of Mr. Beard. And despite the reviews showing criticism on the character, I think performance-wise and appearance-wise Ian McShane did the character fairly well.