The problem wasn't Howard's acting but the way that the character was written. Bligh was portrayed as a malicious sadist who delighted in depriving his crew of food and water and other needless torments, and in so doing it presents the mutiny as though it were entirely Bligh's fault.
It happened again after Bligh was appointed Govenor of New South Wales. Within a few months after taking command, his military subordanant placed him under arrest as part of the Rum Revolt. Clearly, there was something lacking in Bligh’s command skills.