‘Our Flag Means Death’ Sails Into a Second Season of Queer Romance on the High Seas

Alci Rengifo

A series like Max’s “Our Flag Means Death” has enough charm and energy to attract a loyal enough following to justify more seasons. It’s a swashbuckling combo of pirates, sea adventures and queer romance. You can be into any of those three themes, tune in and enjoy the rest. We need more offbeat humor of this kind on Peak TV, especially when so many genre shows take themselves so seriously. Because the comedy works so well, we can also buy the love story as something sincere. Now that the material and characters have been introduced, this second season feels broader and more emotional. The great laughs are still on deck, but with a new depth.

Following last season’s heartbreaking conclusion, gentleman pirate Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) is now left separated from his great love, Captain Blackbeard, a.k.a. Ed Teach (Taika Waititi). They are both maneuvering back toward each other. Blackbeard, who feels rejected, has returned to being a murderous pirate and runs the Revenge with an iron grip. As tends to happen after breakups, he tosses Stede’s things overboard and leaves crew loyal to Stede on a desert island. But Stede is determined to win Blackbeard back and despite some major problems, attempts to put a strong crew back together. Back on the Revenge, the crew gets worried over how the situation is affecting Blackbeard. Even Izzy Hands (Con O’Neill), who hates Stede, is unnerved by how Blackbeard seems to be going on a rampage without purpose. 

So “Our Flag Means Death” returns in full breakup mode, like that friend who you’re trying to support as their love life falls apart. Seeing it through a pirate’s periscope is hilariously effective. Stede writes letters to Blackbeard, unsure if he’ll ever receive them, claiming everything is going well despite a few setbacks. Ed’s own coping mechanisms include raiding weddings at sea with vicious glee, announcing “I’m the fucking devil.” Stede meanwhile is island hopping with his crew, making unwise decisions such as attempting to rob Spanish Jackie (Leslie Jones), owner of a pirate bar with 19 husbands. They are desperate for funds and luckily are saved by a new character, Zheng Yi Sao (Ruibo Qian), a pirate queen who commands the Red Flag. She usually doesn’t let men onboard but Stede and his comrades are so “tender,” which was no doubt a rare feature at the time.

Fans have connected with “Our Flag Means Death” because of how it combines lively offbeat jokes with very relatable characters. Blackbeard’s crew warns him that a “toxic atmosphere” is spreading around the Revenge and that loyal Izzy is an unhealthy relationship with his adored captain. The writing gets even funnier because of how merciless the situation can become. Blackbeard isn’t beyond killing one of these characters to cement his place and make sure everyone knows he’s ok. When Frenchie (Joel Fry) is promoted by the ruthless pirate, he tries to downplay his qualifications. Moments like these capture the essence of the series. These pirates have lives as complex and melodramatic as anyone on “Friends.” Sexuality is also cheerfully celebrated all throughout. Oluwande Boodhari (Samson Kayo), from Stede’s crew, still has feelings for Jim (Vico Ortiz), but catches the eye of Zheng Yi Sao.

The action is mostly also a collection of great gags, including Blackbeard forcing his crew to fight each other or steering the Revenge into a storm, all out of the need to get over Stede. We’ve all been there. “Our Flag Means Death” began as a witty take on the pirate genre, which had such a revival for a while in the wake of “Pirates of the Caribbean.” But it stands on its own as a really good time with some great actors performing a sharp combination of empathy and absurdity. Taika Waititi is thankfully allowed to really let loose even more this season, playing the enraged tyrant to Rhys Darby’s sophisticated aristocrat who nonetheless, truly loves him. This series remains a gem worth getting back onboard. 

“Our Flag Means Death” season two begins streaming Oct. 5 with new episodes premiering Thursdays on Max.