Our Flag Means Death is a genre-bending television series that blends historical piracy with absurdist comedy and tender drama. Created by David Jenkins and loosely inspired by the real-life exploits of Stede Bonnet, the show quickly built a devoted audience for its unconventional tone and heartfelt storytelling. It aired on HBO Max and has become a standout in the modern wave of queer-inclusive television.
Production
Filming began in early 2021, with production handled by Piki Films and HBO Max. Taika Waititi, best known for Jojo Rabbit and What We Do in the Shadows, served as executive producer and also directed the pilot episode. The show’s sets and costumes were largely constructed in California, using advanced LED volume stages to simulate seascapes and island vistas. The series avoids reliance on stock footage or historical recreations, instead leaning into stylised design to craft a unique world of its own.
Main Cast
- Rhys Darby as Stede Bonnet: a well-meaning aristocrat turned pirate captain.
- Taika Waititi as Edward Teach (Blackbeard): feared pirate who hides unexpected emotional depth.
- Samson Kayo as Oluwande: a level-headed member of the crew and one of the more grounded characters.
- Vico Ortiz as Jim: a skilled assassin with a hidden past.
- Con O’Neill as Izzy Hands: Blackbeard’s loyal but increasingly sidelined first mate.
- Ewen Bremner, Joel Fry, Matthew Maher, Kristian Nairn, and others round out the ensemble crew.
Plot Summary
Set in the early 18th century during the so-called Golden Age of Piracy, the series follows Stede Bonnet, a wealthy landowner who abandons his family and estate to pursue a romanticised dream of piracy. Unlike other pirates, Stede runs his ship, the Revenge, as a floating salon of manners, complete with books, fine china, and non-lethal discipline. His journey intersects with the notorious Blackbeard, and their meeting transforms both their lives.
The show explores their evolving relationship while subverting expectations about pirate life. It shifts from comedic fish-out-of-water antics to something far richer: a character-driven exploration of identity, freedom, and found family.
Series Overview
The first season aired in 2022 and consisted of 10 episodes. It was quickly praised for its character depth, visual flair, and willingness to explore queer relationships without exploitation or caricature. A second season followed, offering darker turns while continuing to balance humour with emotional storytelling.
The series stands out for its willingness to defy narrative conventions. Romantic arcs are treated with sincerity, violent moments are undercut by absurdity, and familiar pirate tropes are frequently inverted. It is not interested in realism but rather in tone and meaning.
Choreography and Sword Fighting Scenes
Fight choreography is deliberately uneven, matching the experience level of the characters. Stede’s early attempts at combat are comically pathetic, while later scenes involving Blackbeard and Izzy Hands are tightly choreographed and reflect their skill and menace. The fights are never mere spectacle but often reveal something about the combatants’ emotional state or relationships. The series prefers short, character-driven bursts of violence rather than elaborate duels.
Swords Used in the Series
Weapons in Our Flag Means Death are a blend of stylised and practical. The most frequently seen include:
- Smallswords and rapiers used by upper-class characters like Stede.
- Cutlasses in the hands of Blackbeard’s crew and rival pirates.
- Naval sabres and hangers, often used by British officers or more serious combatants.
There is a clear design contrast between refined, ceremonial blades and brutal working tools, visually reinforcing class and character identity.
Memorable Quotes
- “You wear fine things well.”
- “I’m just a gentleman pirate.”
- “Being a pirate is not about swords and treasure. It’s about belonging.”
- “You’re more than just a myth.”
Many lines have resonated with fans, not through punchlines but through simple, emotionally charged delivery.
Critical Acclaim
While initial reviews were mixed, the show rapidly gained critical favour. Reviewers praised its tone, inclusivity, and originality. It has been commended for its portrayal of queer romance, its nuanced characters, and its refusal to flatten them into comic stereotypes. The chemistry between Darby and Waititi was singled out as the emotional core of the series.
Its success is not built on spectacle or historical accuracy but on emotional investment, vulnerability, and the careful subversion of genre tropes.
Legacy
Despite a modest rollout, Our Flag Means Death became a cult phenomenon. It inspired fan art, academic essays, and wide discussion about queer representation in period drama. Its willingness to centre non-tragic queer love stories set it apart in a genre that often relegates such themes to subtext or tragedy.
The series’ legacy lies in its tone: one of defiant softness and humour in the face of a genre usually built on violence and masculine aggression.
Where to Watch
Our Flag Means Death is available to stream on HBO Max in the United States and via NOW or Sky Atlantic in the United Kingdom. Availability may vary in other regions.
Watch the trailer:
