Reviews Of Blah: The Curse of Oak Island S05E15

Synopsis

There's a discovery in Smith's Cove that's not quite up to THAT cross standard, a relic from the past is delivered and some real treasure (maybe) is FINALLY found!

What I thought

It’s the penultimate episode of the season. Can the team top the discovery of THAT cross? Will the Money Pit ever prove to be a worthwhile venture? Will Jack shave his beard?

We’re in the War Room having a big discussion about the Money Pit where the gang call up Mike Huntley, the diver, via a conference call about going down DMT to check out what the heck that metal structure is at the bottom. Naturally, he’s up … for going down.

At Smith’s Cove it’s time for some digging, Lagina style, as they get out their kick-ass ‘No stone unturned’ yellow JCB. Marty is driving with Jim, Charles and Rick assembled nearby. With the tide out, they start digging near to where they found THAT cross. After digging up a trench and starting to go through the spoils, they find a whole load of wood in the trench, perhaps a wooden structure. But, with the tide rising very quickly, they go further speedily and see what else is there. We’re reminded by the narrator of a previous excavation done by Dan Blankenship where they found a wooden-U-shape structure which had roman numerals carved on some of the wood at strategic locations. That excavation was cut short by a storm; this one is cut short by the tide coming in. Later in the day Rick and Charles visit Dan Blankenship to discuss his previous excavation although nothing new about his 1971 adventure can be conclusively revealed from this conclusion, but with that piece of wood they have dug up, they can get it carbon dated to see when that U-shape was likely created.

Road-trip time! Rick, Dave and Charles head North to Wolfville to meet the descendants of a man who worked with Robert Dunfield who have an artefact from the Money Pit that one of the crane operators, Harold Bishop, found back in the 60s when Dunfield tried but failed to reach and find the Chappell Shaft. It’s a section of wood (with a modern plaque) allegedly found in the Money Pit that is thought might be part of a ship. We then have a reminder of Doug, the researcher, and his ship log translation from a few weeks ago before the gang talk about the various tests that can be done to find out the date of the wooden section’s metal nails, the actual tree and maybe the tree’s species.

A few days later, it’s a War Room meeting with John Wonnacottt, a geophysical engineer, someone who worked with Dan Blankenship on the u-shape structure 30 years ago, albeit to an inclusive verdict. The wood found in Smith’s Cove earlier is dated as 1684-1732; the Bishop wood 1646-1690. Bingo!

Yet another few days later, Rick and Gary are back in Lot 8 for metal detecting near to where last week they found the keyhole/lockplate object. First up, they find a metal button, quite small, maybe military from late 1700s. Next, it’s part of a broach. Then, just nearby the same hole, they find a jewel!! Yes, no sh*t Sherlock, a jewel!??? Hold the next season of Oak Island, we’ve found … Treasure!!!!! It’s a nice red jewel, 12 facets, in a worn unexciting circular metal casing. The metal bits aren’t very pretty or interesting, but the jewel itself is as clean, intact and beautiful as it was when it was first cut. The narrator gives us the story of Marie Antoinette and her missing crown jewels that are rumoured to have been buried on Oak Island. Pure speculation of course. The gang get really excited about the jewel, as they should, but what’s it date? It’s value? We won’t find out this episode though as those blooming credits start to roll.

Rating 7/10 - A show of discoveries, all potentially very significant. And there's TREASURE!?