Our Flag Means Death is the newest show from Taika Waititi, and it delves into the world of Blackbeard and the Gentleman Pirate, Stede Bonnet. The series features some incredible actors and is truly hilarious. Not only is the show wildly entertaining, but it’s also re-imagining pirates and throwing off most of preconceived notions that people have about pirate shows. Through the crew of Stede Bonnet, the series shows pirates to be sensitive, emotional and just looking to have fun while sailing with their friends. This is a big change from the normal swashbuckling and raiding, and it makes the series special and unique.
Stede Bonnet was a wealthy aristocrat who felt trapped in his life of leisure. He dreamed of a life on the open seas, sailing with his family. When his wife rejected the idea, he abandoned his comfortable life, took the ship he had built and began pirating. The problem, however, is that Stede is truly the worst pirate on the ocean. Just as his crew is on the brink of mutiny, Bonnet creates his Gentleman Pirate persona and meets Blackbeard. Blackbeard is tired of the pirate life and wants to settle down in luxury. Stede agrees to teach him the way of the aristocrat, if Blackbeard shows him how to be a fearsome pirate.
Pirates are generally expected to be more blood thirsty and vicious than the ones on Our Flag Means Death. Most expect pirates like those in Pirates of the Caribbean, but this series flips the script and delivers a whole new experience. Bonnet has very little interest in killing or torturing, he simply wants to provide his crew with steady wages and plenty of food to eat. He acts like a father to his crew, reading them stories and making up activities for them to do. Most times pirate captains are cruel and savage, but Stede is determined to do things differently. This change helps to make him unique. His character is memorable and sticks out because of his incompetency and different attitude.
The crew themselves are also much different. While most pirates want to pillage and raid, this crew is very content making flags and hearing stories. At first they seem to dream of raiding ships and taking down galleons, but those dreams quickly fade when they realize how ill-equipped they are for that. They are better at running schemes or even putting on plays. The crew’s relationships are also quite different. They love each other, and share in both platonic and romantic relationships without any jealousy or infighting. It’s wonderful to see, and the show is elevated because of their free spirits. With every move the show makes away from traditional pirates, the more memorable the series becomes.
Our Flag Means Death understood that the traditional pirate story has been done numerous times and that the genre needed a refresher. This series is the perfect refresher, it’s hilarious and incredibly creative. Each character helps to perfectly balance the others, and the cast all seem to be having a really fun time with the show. The relationships are in-depth and heartfelt, and fans quickly find themselves rooting for the silly antics of Stede Bonnet. Watching pirates put on a play in order to intimidate another ship is something that no one would have thought to do before, but it works so well in the context of the series. Our Flag Means Death pushes the limits of a pirate show and proves that pirate adventures can be an inclusive and fun genre.
Our Flag Means Death found a way to make an old genre feel fresh and new again. Through clever comedy and inclusion, the show re-imagined what it meant to be a pirate series. The entire cast works well together to deliver smart comedy that has viewers truly laughing out loud. Each one of Stede Bonnet’s schemes make him more and more loveable and memorable as a character. The series understood that for it to be well received, it needed to do something different. The changes that it made to the traditional formula have all worked and elevated the series as a whole.
Our Flag Means Death is now streaming on HBO Max.
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