AUTHOR: SARAH PALMER
This review contains serious spoilers for Our Flag Means Death. If you haven’t already seen the series, you’re safe for the first paragraph, but venture further only if you dare!
Rating: 5/5 stars
Inspired by the true stories of 18th century pirate Stede Bonnet (also known by the moniker The Gentleman Pirate) and Edward Teach (better known as the dreaded Captain Blackbeard), the TV series Our Flag Means Death premiered for streaming on HBO Max in early March of this year. With a critic’s rating of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes from 34 reviews, and an even greater audience score, Our Flag Means Death has taken the world by storm; so much so that according to Parrot Analytics, its popularity has surpassed Marvel’s latest TV release, Moon Knight. Featuring familiar faces from across the bay, like Taika Waititi as Blackbeard and Rhys Darby as Bonnet, the ten episode first seasons retells the intersection of the two pirate’s lives in an ahistorical manner, using the genre of buddy comedy as a gateway drug to a touching period romance.
Many viewers have been drawn in by word-of-mouth through social media, as fans flocked to the show upon recognising a hint of romantic tension between Ed and Stede. However, without the release of the final episodes of the season, viewers were equally concerned that the show would fall into a similar trap as BBC’s Sherlock, or Marvel’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, or The CW’s Supernatural. In these cases, and many, many others, allusions to romance between male leads went unexplained and unfulfilled, instead used to draw in LGBTQ+ viewers in a technique called ‘queerbaiting’.
Creator David Jenkins learned firsthand through the release of Our Flag Means Death just how traumatic this repeated storytelling habit has become to queer people seeking representation.
“I think I didn’t realize — because I see myself represented on camera, and I see myself falling in love in stories — I didn’t realize how deep the queer baiting thing goes… I understand it much better now, and it’s like, oh, you were made to feel stupid by a bunch of shows — unintentionally, by and large, I think — but made to feel like “maybe I’m going to be up there. Maybe that’ll be me in this story.” And then at the end of it feeling like, “Aw. No, it’s not me. I’m not in this one”… I know it would make me feel that I didn’t belong, and I think that’s part of where the response to the show comes from.”
The Verge
Despite the initial unease amongst fans, most were elated upon the release of episodes nine and ten, when said romantic allusions were brought to a crux – Ed and Stede shared a heartwarming kiss on a serene beach, with Ed proclaiming, “I reckon what makes Ed happy… is… you”, and Stede replying with a touching “You make Stede happy”.
Our Flag Means Death also features a strong supporting cast of ragtag pirate crewmates, including Nathan Foad as Lucius, Con O’Neill as Israel ‘Izzy’ Hands (another real-life pirate from Blackbeard’s crew) and Vico Ortiz as Jim. The balance between the personalities and character development of an ensemble cast is handled marvellously – while the story certainly focuses on Stede as a protagonist and Ed as his love interest, taking a brief moment to explore Jim’s family life or Oluwande’s invention of the pyramid scheme, for example, doesn’t feel like filler. Each character is given a unique personality and role within both the ship and the show, my personal favourite being Mr. Buttons, Stede Bonnet’s blunt and slightly cannibalistic right-hand-man with an amazing sense of humour.
The symbolism and aesthetics of the show are equally captivating. As said by one Twitter user, “baroque colour grading” applied throughout the season connects directly with the historical setting of the show, and the use of symbols like lighthouses, oranges, and The Kraken are skilfully integrated into the narrative, adding depth to the characters they are applied to.
Our Flag Means Death contains more depth than can be detailed here – it explores a number of significant facets of 18th century society including marital expectations, the intersection of classism and racism, and the repression of one’s sexuality or gender while remaining a genuinely amusing and captivating ten episode season. Our Flag Means Death is a fresh approach to romance, to period dramas, and to comedies, skilfully handling an ensemble cast across multiple locations and enriching the eyes with nods to baroque period art and symbolism.
Whether you’re ready to psychoanalyse 18th century pirates, shed a tear over a touching romance, or enjoy a hearty laugh over pirate antics, you’ll enjoy Our Flag Means Death immensely. As of early May, 2022, HBO Max hasn’t publicly announced a renewal of the show, so you have plenty of time to catch up before news drops. And, when you’re done, swathes of “renaissance-painting level fanart” awaits you.
