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[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Our Flag Means Death Season 2, Episodes 1-8.]
Our Flag Means Death is TV’s greatest feel-good comedy proper now. For followers who simply watched the whole second season together with that surprising twist within the finale episode, this assertion may not ring completely true, however bear with me!
Debuting on Max in 2022, this collection was initially promoted as a pirate office comedy created by David Jenkins, the thoughts behind People of Earth. It stars Rhys Darby as notorious pirate Stede Bonnet, a person who leaves his soft aristocratic life-style for piracy, abandoning his spouse and younger youngsters to sail on his ship, the Revenge, with a paid crew.
The present gained additional consideration when it was introduced Taika Waititi of What We Do in the Shadows and Jojo Rabbit fame joined as Blackbeard and the director of the pilot episode. But nobody may have predicted the fanfare that will unravel round this pleasant gem extra treasured than any treasure pirates could seek out.
(Credit: Max)
Instead of enjoying a straight-up villain as one would think about Blackbeard to be, Waititi’s rendition was launched as a weary pirate who’s exhausted by the terrifying status he’s constructed for himself through the years. When he crosses paths with Stede, a captain whose motto is to “speak it via as a crew,” and whose type of self-care comes within the form of a hidden wardrobe crammed with nice materials, Blackbeard is basically smitten.
Very rapidly this office comedy transforms right into a full-blown romantic comedy between two imperfect and really completely different pirates.
As if that’s not sufficient of a purpose to benefit from the enjoyable, the crew crusing alongside Stede and Blackbeard are simply as pleasant in their very own methods, whether or not it’s Oluwande’s (Samson Kayo) diplomacy, Lucius’ (Nathan Foad) underlying, well-intentioned bitchiness, Jim’s (Vico Ortiz) impassioned want to avenge their household, Buttons’ (Ewen Bremner) non secular connection to the ocean and its birds, Frenchie’s (Joel Fry) grifting schemes, Wee John’s (Kristian Nairn) vogue experience, Black Pete’s (Matthew Maher) tall tales, the Swede’s (Nat Faxon) real questions, or Roach’s (Samba Schutte) culinary creations.
(Credit: Max)
Even the “baddies” from Season 1 together with Blackbeard’s right-hand man Izzy Hands (Con O’Neill) and the polyamorous Spanish Jackie (Leslie Jones) rapidly turned lovable fan-favorite characters. Because, regardless of any of those characters’ pitfalls or errors, they’re a neighborhood that in the end depends on each other.
When I had initially seen Season 1, my greatest descriptor for Our Flag Means Death was that it was an analogous feel-good vibe discovered within the first season of Ted Lasso, however as a substitute of being a couple of fish-out-of-water coach and his completely imperfect soccer workforce, this present’s about homosexual pirates, and I’d nonetheless stand by it.
The feel-good moments can’t exist with no little turmoil in between although. As followers will recall, Season 1 ended with Blackbeard regressing into the model of himself on needed posters, referring to himself because the Kraken after Stede seemingly deserted him as a substitute of working away collectively. After returning house to his spouse, Stede learns that he’s in love and units out to search out Blackbeard, completely establishing Season 2 for a path to reconciliation, however not with no few bumps within the highway.
(Credit: Max/Nicola Dove)
While Stede works to make a wage to purchase a ship and chase after Blackbeard alongside the crew members deserted by the Revenge, Blackbeard continues to construct upon his prison status by plundering day after day along with his remaining crew made up of Izzy, Jim, Frenchie, Fang (David Fane), and new recruit Archie (Madeleine Sami). Even with the darker struggles they endure, similar to being pressured to amputate Izzy’s contaminated leg after he’s shot for mentioning Stede, there’s at all times comedy to be discovered.
And the introduction of pirate queen Zheng Yi Sao (Ruibo Qian) in Season 2, alongside the addition of bickering wives Anne Bonny (Minnie Driver) and Mary Read (Rachel House), helps increase the pirate panorama in a means that reveals viewers not all swashbucklers are working on the identical stage. Zheng runs a good ship and approaches her crew with kindness, however in contrast to Stede’s pushover type in Season 1, she will lead with a extra assured voice.
But Stede’s making an attempt and confirmed some nice development as Season 2 performed out. Even after initially believing Blackbeard had been killed in a mutiny by the Revenge crew, he stayed calm and took cost. When Blackbeard does wake after one of many present’s extra fantastical moments involving a mermaid dream sequence set to the tune of Kate Bush‘s “This Woman’s Work,” Stede by no means loses religion that Blackbeard might be his greatest self.
Even although he’s reluctant at first to just accept Stede’s apologies, there’s something so relatable and hilarious about Blackbeard hiding underneath a blanket to keep away from his pirate love. While I may proceed to summarize how the second season absolutely performs out, I’d somewhat sum up that Our Flag Means Death continues to be a celebration of friendship, discovered household, and love with out phrases or limitations.
As with any good storytelling, some painful moments will likely be skilled, however it by no means takes away from the pure pleasure this present holds and continues to prove. And in what different reveals may you watch a crew of pirates have fun “Calypso’s Birthday” with drag and musical performances of Edith Piaf’s “La Vie En Rose”? You can’t. So don’t wait, tune into Our Flag Means Death for laugh-out-loud comedy that can depart a smile (and possibly a couple of tears) in your face lengthy after the credit roll.
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Our Flag Means Death, Seasons 1-2, Streaming now, Max
