Our Flag Means Death

Our Flag Means Death
Genre	Period romantic comedy Adventure Swashbuckler
Created by	David Jenkins
Starring	Rhys Darby Taika Waititi Kristian Nairn Nathan Foad Samson Kayo Rory Kinnear Con O'Neill Vico Ortiz Ewen Bremner David Fane Joel Fry Guz Khan Matthew Maher
Theme music composer	Mark Mothersbaugh
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	10
Production
Executive producers	Garrett Basch Dan Halsted David Jenkins Taika Waititi
Cinematography	Mike Berlucci Cynthia Pusheck
Editors	Christian Kinnard Hilda Rasula Daniel Haworth Gina Samsom
Production companies	Piki Films Human Animals
Original release
Network	HBO Max
Release	March 3, 2022 (2022-03-03) – present (present)

Our Flag Means Death is a period romantic comedy television series created by David Jenkins. It premiered on HBO Max on March 3, 2022.

Premise

The series is loosely based on the life of Stede Bonnet. In 1717, Captain Bonnet is an aristocrat who abandons his comfortable life and family to prove himself as a pirate during the Golden Age of Piracy, despite having no aptitude for the role. Sailing aboard his ship the Revenge, Captain Bonnet and his dysfunctional crew struggle to survive against deadly threats from naval warships and other bloodthirsty pirates.

Cast

Main

• Rhys Darby as Stede Bonnet, captain of the Revenge and the self-proclaimed "Gentleman Pirate."
• Taika Waititi as Edward "Ed" Teach / Blackbeard, the legendary pirate captain.
• Kristian Nairn as Wee John Feeney, a crewmate on the Revenge obsessed with fire.
• Nathan Foad as Lucius, a scribe on the Revenge tasked with keeping a record of its adventures.
• Samson Kayo as Oluwande, a level-headed crewmate on the Revenge who is sympathetic to Stede and tries to steer him away from danger.
• Rory Kinnear as Captain Nigel Badminton, a British naval captain who bullied Stede when both were children. Kinnear also plays Nigel's brother, Chauncey Badminton.
• Con O'Neill as Izzy Hands, Blackbeard's ruthless first mate.
• Vico Ortiz as Bonifacia "Jim" Jimenez, a skilled fighter who has a bounty on her head for killing one of Jackie's husbands. With her friend Oluwande's help, she join's the crew of the Revenge posing as a mute male pirate.
• Ewen Bremner as Buttons, a grizzled pirate on the Revenge whom Stede often calls upon for advice.
• David Fane as Fang, a crewmate on the Revenge
• Joel Fry as Frenchie, a crewmate on the Revenge who often sings of the crew's adventures.
• Guz Khan as Ivan, a crewmate on the Revenge
• Matthew Maher as Black Pete, an irritable pirate aboard the Revenge who claims to have crewed with Blackbeard.

Supporting

• Nat Faxon as The Swede, a crewmate on the Revenge.
• Samba Schutte as Roach, the ship's cook on the Revenge
• Leslie Jones as Spanish Jackie, a powerful and feared pirate captain with 19 husbands.
• Fred Armisen as Geraldo, a shifty barkeep in the Republic of Pirates and one of Jackie's husbands.
• Claudia O'Doherty as Mary Bonnet, Stede's wife
• Boris McGiver as Father Bonnet, Stede's emotionally abusive father
• Gary Farmer as Chief Mabo, an indigenous leader tired of dealing with colonizers
• Kristen Schaal as Antoinette
• Nick Kroll as Gabriel
• Tim Heidecker as Doug
• Kristen Johnston as The Widow Evelyn Higgins
• Yvonne Zima as Fleur de Maguis
• Will Arnett as Calico Jack
• Angus Sampson as King George

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
1	"Pilot"	Taika Waititi	David Jenkins	March 3, 2022 (2022-03-03)
Stede Bonnet, an English aristocrat eager to prove that he can attain great wealth and fame on his own, abandons his family and spends his fortune building a ship, the Revenge, outfitting it with all manner of luxuries, and hiring a seasoned crew, declaring that he is now a pirate captain. Several months pass, and the crew, bored and irritated with Stede's genteel manner and lack of pirating experience, threaten to mutiny and kill him. To save himself, Stede finds a ship for them to pillage. The vessel turns out to be a Royal Navy warship captained by Stede's childhood bully, Nigel Badminton. Stede invites Nigel and his officers aboard, pretending that he and his crew are aristocrats. Nigel mocks Stede and calls him pathetic; a furious Stede strikes him on the head, causing him to accidentally stab himself through the eye with his sword. The pirates reveal themselves and take the officers hostage, escaping before Badminton's crew realize what's happened. Stede's men call off the mutiny, figuring that their captain will get himself killed soon enough.
2	"A Damned Man"	Nacho Vigalondo	David Jenkins	March 3, 2022 (2022-03-03)
After accidentally beaching their ship on an island, Stede orders his crew to take a "vacation" so they can recover their strength. The hostages manage to run off into the island's jungle, and Stede, Black Pete, and Oluwande go to retrieve them. While walking along the beach, Lucius discovers that his crewmate "Jim" is actually a woman in disguise. He barely manages to flee before Jim can kill him. Stede, his men, and the hostages are captured by the island's natives, who put them on trial. Stede, haunted by visions of a dying Badminton, breaks down and confesses to murder; a tribal elder advises him that his fear may stem from something deeper. The men are set free but learn that their hostages have been sold to three other pirates. Stede improvises a plan to catch the pirates off guard and agrees to trade them one of the hostages in exchange for the other. As the crew sets sail, he makes peace with Badminton's death. Lucius is ambushed by Jim, who knocks him unconscious. The pirates secretly follow the Revenge under orders from their captain, Blackbeard.
3	"A Gentleman Pirate"	Nacho Vigalondo	Adam Stein	March 3, 2022 (2022-03-03)
Stede learns of the "Republic of Pirates", a haven for criminals where he hopes to both sell off his remaining captive and introduce himself as the newly minted "Gentleman Pirate". Aboard his ship, Blackbeard orders his first mate Izzy Hands to approach Stede and request a meeting. Jim and Oluwande take Stede to a tavern operated by Spanish Jackie, who seeks Jim's head for killing her former husband. When Izzy finds Stede, he rudely dismisses the later, saying that his boss can "suck eggs in hell". A fight breaks out over who will purchase the captive, and Jackie kicks Stede out of her tavern. To thank Jim for sparing his life, Lucius steals back her lucky dagger from Jackie. Geraldo, Jackie's barkeep, tricks Stede into boarding a ship of the Spanish navy, where he is stabbed and sentenced to death for piracy, while Jim is exposed as a woman. Stede is about to be hanged when the ship comes under attack by another pirate crew. Cut down before he strangles to death, Stede opens his eyes to see Blackbeard standing over him.
4	"Discomfort in a Married State"	Nacho Vigalondo	Eliza Jiménez Cossio	March 10, 2022 (2022-03-10)
Blackbeard and Izzy take command of the Revenge, while Stede slowly recovers from his wounds; flashbacks reveal his unhappiness at being forced to marry against his wishes, culminating in his running off to become a pirate after willing his property to his wife. He then has a nightmare where his wife and father mock him as a coward and his own daughter condemns him to death. When he wakes, Blackbeard greets him. The pirate confesses that he's grown tired of his life since no one dares to challenge him. He and Stede decide to switch lives for the day. This proves to be the last straw for Izzy, who angrily calls Blackbeard a "twat" and a "shell" of what he once was. With Spanish warships closing in on them, Blackbeard's plan to use the cover of fog to escape is ruined by his failure to accurately determine which day it is. He and Stede then come up with a new plan: using a mirror and lantern as a fake lighthouse, they fool the Spanish long enough to escape. Blackbeard convinces Stede to teach him how to be an aristocrat, seemingly planning to betray him and steal his identity.
5	"The Best Revenge Is Dressing Well"	Fernando Frías	John Mahone	March 10, 2022 (2022-03-10)
The crew of the Revenge encounters another vessel. Ed (Blackbeard) explains they are going to board and cause some havoc. Stede asks how violent it will get. It gets a bit violent. Stede is happy to train with Blackbeard's crew and to learn about pirating. Stede believes there are some bad habits though. Stede starts to teach Blackbeard about high society. Blackbeard has a memory of his mother. She gives him a fine piece of red silk cloth and tells him that they will never be fine people. Stede teaches Blackbeard about passive aggression. He explains that the upper class strikes with fine words. Stede and Blackbeard crash a fancy party on a ship. They attend with other members of The Revenge's crew. At first, Blackbeard hits it off, but soon the high society members get the best of him attacking him with passive aggression. Stede steps in and saves him by shaming the high society crowd. Stede and Blackbeard's relationship progresses when Stede tells Blackbeard he did well and helps him add his silk scarf to his outfit, telling him, he wears fine things well. In a B plot some crew members from the Revenge con the high society crowd out of money by convincing them they are royalty. In a C plot Izzy tries to shame and upset Lucius, but the crew of the Revenge defend him. As the episode ends, viewers learn, Badminton has a twin brother who is also in the British navy. He convinces the British navy to go after Stede's ship to avenge his brother's murder.
6	"The Art of Fuckery"	Fernando Frías	Simone Nathan	March 10, 2022 (2022-03-10)
Izzy is upset by Stede's relationship with Ed (Blackbeard). Ed and Sted spar. Stede tells the story of a man with a hook for a head. The crew asks Blackbeard for a scary story. Blackbeard claims he doesn't feel fear. Blackbeard tells the story of when he saw a Kraken. Blackbeard claims that the Kraken killed his father. He says fear is the most powerful emotion. An abnormal fog overtakes the ship. Blackbeard fools around with the crew and calls it the Art of F*ckery. Izzy gets very upset. He reminds Blackbeard that pets are not allowed aboard a ship. He believes Stede is a pet, and he tells Blackbeard to end it and take Stede's identity. Stede decides to do some f*ckery. Izzy tries to convince Blackbeard that this will be a good time to end Stede Bonnet's life. Meanwhile, Lucius develops an infection in his finger and the crew tries unsuccessfully to cut it off. Izzy harasses Stede. The pirates come up with some real plans for f*ckery. The Revenge approaches a vessel and is boarded. F*ckery ensues. During the chaos, Blackbeard tries to kill Stede, but Lucius interrupts, adding to the f*ckery by cutting off his own infected finger. The invading crew is disgusted. Blackbeard finds the entire display of f*ckery incredible. The Swede starts singing and Stede Bonnet announces that the Kraken is coming. This awakens memories in Blackbeard. The maurading crew freaks out when they see him, and they retreat. Later, Stede checks on Blackbeard. He admits that the Kraken did not kill his father; he did. He says he is the Kraken. He says he has never killed another person since then. He admits he was supposed to kill Stede and take his identity, but he can't do it. Blackbeard claims he has no friends. Stede says they are friends, and they decide to not talk about the murder idea ever again. Izzy challenges Stede to a duel and says the loser will be banished from the ship. Izzy stabs him with a sword but misses his vital organs. Stede breaks Izzy's sword and wins the duel. Izzy is banished from the ship. Lucius' finger gets buried at sea. Black Pete whittles a new finger for Lucius. Izzy makes his way to Spanish Jackie's and makes a proposal.
7	"This Is Happening"	Fernando Frías	Zayre Ferrer	March 17, 2022 (2022-03-17)
An opportunity for adventure arrives when the crew must go to land to find oranges to treat the Swede's scurvy. Stede buys a treasure map. He and Blackbeard and Lucius go on a treasure hunt, while the rest of the pirates, including Jim go in search of oranges. Jim is reluctant to go ashore, and it is clear they have some history there. The pirates end up at an orange orchard in a church courtyard. A nun throws a knife at Black Pete. Jim calls the nun, Nana, and we learn that they are family. Jim came to live with her after here father was killed. The nun taught them to use knives in order to avenge the death of the Jimenez family at the hands of a roaving gang of mercenaries. Jim admits to having only killed one. On the treasure hunt, Blackbeard gets crabby. Stede orders Lucius to have a fun, cool adventure. Stede finds a butterfly. Blackbeard kills a snake, and they all eat it together. Stede and Blackbeard have a moment together by the fire. Lucius sees that Stede is falling in love with him. He confronts Blackbeard and asks him to have fun for Stede's sake. The map catches on fire. Blackbeard tells Stede he is having fun. They try to find a treasure from the leftovers of the map. After following the map, they find a petrified orange under the Jimenez family tree. Stede keeps the treasure. Jim remains behind to finish their revenge. The pirates return to the ship. At the end of the episode, Badminton's twin arrives at Spanish Jackie's where she and Izzy are plotting against Stede Bonnet.
8	"We Gull Way Back"	Bert & Bertie	Alyssa Lane and Alex Sherman	March 17, 2022 (2022-03-17)
Jim has stayed behind in St. Augustine and Oluwande is sad without them. He decides to give up the room that they shared. Buttons is moon bathing, and his friend Karl the seagull shows up when an old friend of Blackbeard's, Calico Jack, shows up in a dingy. Calico Jack and Blackbeard immediately start causing chaos, disrupting the otherwise peaceful ship and coming in between Stede and Blackbeard. Calico Jack admits that his crew tried to mutiny him, and has an emotional outburst. In order to soothe him, the crew agrees to take him to Blind Man's cove to cheer him up. In Dead Man's Cove, Calico Jack confronts Stede. He admits that he and Blackbeard had dalliances in the past. Back on the ship, Calico Jack gets drunk and kills Karl with his whip. Buttons is distraught. He curses Calico Jack. Stede has had enough. He kicks Calico Jack off of the ship. Blackbeard decides to go with him. Stede keeps the Revenge in the cove. He watches Blackbeard and Calico Jack through a telescope. Lucius asks him if it is over. Stede tells him it is done. Lucius goes ashore and returns Blackbeard's things. Stede announces that Blackbeard will no longer be sailing with them. Calico Jack admits to Blackbeard that Izzy Hand's sent him to get Blackbeard out before the English come to get Stede. Blackbeard leaves Calico Jack and joins the Revenge again. Blackbeard tells them to raise the white flag. The British capture them, but Stede and Blackbeard happy because they are reunited. Meanwhile, Jim pretends to be a priest and takes Geraldo's confession before taking him hostage and bringing him back to Spanish Jackie's. Jim threatens to kill Geraldo if Jackie doesn't tell them everything she knows about the Siete Gallos. Jackie kills Geraldo herself. Jackie and Jim feud but eventually come to an understanding. They drink and discuss the Siete Gallos. Jim has killed two of them.
9	"Act of Grace"	Bert & Bertie	David Jenkins and Yvonne Zima	March 24, 2022 (2022-03-24)
The Revenge has been captured by the British. Chauncy Badminton questions the crew, including Stede. Stede has flashbacks to when he killed Nigel Badminton. Stede deines that Nigel was ever on board. Lucius tries to hide Stede's journal, but the British get a hold of it. Chauncy reads it but doesn't believe Stede could do it. Blackbeard confesses to the murder, but it is weak. Stede confesses and signs a confession. Chauncy puts Stede in front of a tribunal, but Blackbeard claims an Act of Grace -- a proclamation by King George that any pirate who abandons crime and pledges service to the crown is granted amnesty. After proving he is a pirate, Stede is granted the act of grace. Chauncy gets upset and his crew subdues him. Blackbeard and Stede are sent to the privateering academy to get reformed. Stede finds out he has been declared dead. Blackbeard has his beard shaved. Stede begins to have memories of his family. Stede thinks they should escape. Blackbeard thinks they should accept their fate. He says it is a comfort. Blackbeard just wants to be Ed. He wants to do what makes Ed happy. He says, Stede makes him happy. They kiss. Blackbeard and Stede discuss running away to China together and assuming new identities. They agree to meet at dawn. Before Stede can meet Blackbeard, Chauncy finds him and take him at gunpoint into the forest. He accuses Stede of being a monster. Stede agrees. Chauncy trips and kills himself. Stede runs away. Blackbeard finds himself alone on the beach waiting for him. When Stede doesn't arrive, Blackbeard leaves alone in the dingy. Meanwhile, the crew of the Revenge is being captained by Izzy. The crew decides to mutiny and put Oluwande in charge. Blackbeard makes his way back to the Revenge without Stede. He spares Izzy from being thrown overboard. At the end of the episode, Stede returns home to his wife and family.
10	"Wherever You Go, There You Are"	Andrew DeYoung	David Jenkins	March 24, 2022 (2022-03-24)
Stede has returned home, and Mary has moved on without him. She has enjoyed being a widow and has pursued her painting career. When Stede returns, she finds it hard to adjust. His children are unhappy he is home. Mary has taken a lover, Doug, her painting instructor. Stede meets Doug and learns about Mary's art show -- "Paintings by the Widow Bonnet" -- She tells him she's keeping the name because it adds an air of mystery. Stede discovers that he has been painted out of the family portrait. He learns Mary and Doug are lovers. Stede confronts her. She tells him that she is going to have her life whether Stede decides to return or not. Another widow suggests that Mary murder Stede. Stede goes to the pub and starts telling pirate stories. Someone claims he has never killed anyone. Stede tells he has seen and caused death, that it changes you forever. Stede shows up drunk to Mary's show and embarrasses her. He almost kills Doug. Later that night Mary considers murdering Stede by running a skewer through his ear. He wakes up and confronts her. They have a talk and realize that they are unhappy together. Mary tells him about she loves Doug. Stede realizes that is how he feels about Blackbeard. Together, Stede and Mary decide to fake Stede's death. After, Stede finds a dingy and tries to find the Revenge. Instead, he finds the crew abandoned on a deserted island. Meanwhile, Blackbeard is on the Revenge mending his broken heart. Izzy tries to get the crew motivated. Blackbeard calls for Lucius. Lucius visits Blackbeard in the blanket fort. Blackbeard has written lyrics to a song. He's having a hard time. He decides to have a talent show. Izzy confronts Blackbeard. He tells him he isn't being Blackbeard, that he is pining for his boyfriend. Izzy tells him Blackbeard is his captain, not Edward. Blackbeard remembers the night Stede told him he wore fine things well. He lets go of the fine red cloth into the wind and throws Lucius overboard. He reclaims his Blackbeard personality--the Kraken. He feeds Izzy his own toes, leaves the crew, except for Frenchie and Jim, who has returned to the ship, on a deserted island, and sails away with the Revenge.

Production

The series was given a straight to series order by HBO Max in September 2020. Taika Waititi, who serves as an executive producer, also directed the pilot episode, which was filmed after Waititi completed production on Thor: Love and Thunder. Series creator and executive producer David Jenkins serves as showrunner. Filming took place between June 14 and September 28, 2021.

In January 2021, Rhys Darby was cast to star in the series. Waititi joined the cast to play Blackbeard in April. In June, Kristian Nairn, Nathan Foad, Samson Kayo, Rory Kinnear, Con O'Neill and Vico Ortiz were added to the cast, with Ewen Bremner, David Fane, Joel Fry, Guz Khan and Matthew Maher added in July. Leslie Jones, Nat Faxon, Fred Armisen and Samba Schutte would be cast in recurring roles in August.

Release

The series debuted on HBO Max on March 3, 2022. The first season ended on HBO Max on March 24, 2022. As of that date, HBO had not yet ordered a second season.

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 89% approval rating with an average rating of 7.40/10, based on 27 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Our Flag Means Death's gentle sensibility doesn't quite strike comedic gold, but its bemusing band of buccaneers are endearing enough that viewers seeking a comforting watch will find bountiful booty." Metacritic gave the first season a weighted average score of 71 out of 100 based on 12 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

External links

• Our Flag Means Death at IMDb