What are you waiting for if you haven’t seen HBO Max’s new comedy Our Flag Means Death?
This half-hour sitcom, created by David Jenkins, follows Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby), a rich man who foregoes his family life in favor of a thrilling pirate adventure on the high seas. The show’s humorous viewpoint stems from the fact that Stede is completely unqualified to be a pirate, resulting in a hilariously captured mid-life crisis.
Stede bonds with the “fearsome” Blackbeard (Taika Waititi), much like the real-life historical person he is based on, but what follows is an unexpectedly lovely rom-com narrative between the pirates who couldn’t be more different on paper. If that isn’t enough to persuade you to watch or hope for a second season, we have a few more suggestions below.
Cliffhangers
Stede and Blackbeard (who Stede affectionately refers to as Ed) departed Season 1 apart after declaring their affections for one another. What sort of romantic comedy concludes with the main characters feuding? Death can’t leave Stede and Blackbeard on separate shores, right? Stede tied up loose ends with the wife and children he left behind after being separated while imprisoned by the King’s soldiers. Meanwhile, Blackbeard was sad as he managed to elude capture without Stede, boarding the Revenge alone. Is it possible for HBO Max to leave fans waiting like that? Certainly not, and that’s only the beginning, since Blackbeard abandoned many members of the Revenge’s crew on a barren island while taking others on his newest adventure.
Representation
Although it may be difficult to relate to pirates, Our Flag Means Death serves as a mirror of queer identities for many of the show’s continually rising following. The show’s LGBTQ+ portrayal is one of its strongest features, since the characters aren’t forced into narratives about their sexuality, but instead deal with day-to-day life in piracy for gay people. It would be a tragedy to lose that type of representation for a program that has already struck a chord with so many people.
It’s a heartwarming story.
A pirate’s existence is indeed harsh, but the swashbucklers at the heart of this story are a group of sensitive individuals with their own peculiarities and coping mechanisms for trauma. While Blackbeard is a renowned villain, the show’s version depicts him as a man burdened by the expectation of fame, whereas Stede’s ambition is to be known as the “Gentleman Pirate,” creating a charming interplay between the polar opposites. It’s a show that demonstrates how surprising individuals may form connections in the most unlikely of locations. Who wouldn’t want a little more of that?
Why do you believe Our Flag Means Death should be renewed for a second season? Let us know what you think in the comments area below, and relive the moment.
Why do you believe Our Flag Means Death should be renewed for a second season? Let us know in the comments section below, and watch HBO Max now to relive every hilarious scene from Season 1.Season 1 of Our Flag Means Death is now available to stream on HBO Max.
