By Dakota G.
(spoiler warnings!)
HBO Max’s new show “Our Flag Means Death” has quickly become their top show, airing first on March 3, 2022 (Tassi). The story follows the main character Stede Bonnet, an aristocrat who abandons his life of luxury to be a pirate in the early 18th century. This period romance comedy is loosely based on the real events of Stede Bonnet, The Gentleman Pirate.
This show breaks down many different stereotypes and represents different types of queer relationships in the show. To quote a statement posted by executive producer and main star Taika Waititi, “This is a show that was made about minorities TO minorities. About people who don’t fit in, to those who still don’t. About those who feel like outcasts, to those who still live their lives feeling like that.” There are multiple explicit queer relationships in the show, all with their own dynamics. None of the characters are forced into storylines or drama about the fact that they’re queer, the show follows them as they deal with pirate situations, and they happen to be queer.
The first queer relationship/individuals we are introduced to are Lucius Spriggs and Black Pete. Their relationship is loving, simple, and explicitly non-monogamous. When Lucius is threatened with relationship blackmail, it is immediately shut down and Lucius shares the information with his partner Black Pete who is supportive. It was obvious and easy that the crew was open and comfortable with the relationship. This relationship between Lucius and Black Pete showed a healthy representation of nonmonogamous or polyamorous relationships, which there are few of in the media.
Jim is a character who is explicitly nonbinary. Originally introduced as a woman faking being a man to run away from trouble, the show explores them and who they are. When the crew finds out they are curious, not judgemental, asking questions such as “Are you still Jim?” and “If you’re not going to be Jim anymore, can I be Jim?” Jim responds in a later discussion saying, “Look, You all know me as Jim, si? So just… keep calling me Jim.”(Episode 4). That is the end of their conversation about it, no more questions are asked, and everyone easily adopts they/them pronouns for Jim. The vast majority of queer shows deal with coming out, homophobia, transphobia, and other issues, while in Our Flag Means Death, it is accepted, and they move on. The show also hired a nonbinary actor to play a nonbinary character, giving Vico Ortiz the role of Jim. Even when Jim gets into a relationship with their close friend and fellow crewmate Oluwande, there isn’t any questioning of their relationship. Olu isn’t asked if he’s “gay or straight,” the rest of the crew is just happy for them to get together. Vico Ortiz in an interview about the show said “And in terms of the show, I love that there are all these different types of incredibly valid masculine experiences that include tenderness, include being vulnerable, include being sensible, include being sweet,” (Machado).
The main focus of this rom-com, however, is focused on the characters Stede Bonnet, and Edward “Blackbeard” Teach. The show was created to explore their relationship and during an interview with Entertainment Weekly, show creator David Jenkins said, “that Stede and Blackbeard’s romance was always part of his initial pitch for the series — and one of the things he and the writers found most creatively fulfilling.” (Coggan). The show explores how these two very different individuals could find comfort and fulfillment in each other. It is opposites-attract energy, that leads to each character finding what they really want out of life. The interactions between them were easy and comfortable, and it felt like a realistic relationship. We are shown how much Ed and Stede care for each other as friends first, before building a romantic relationship. Their romance is definitely a slow-burn but is obvious to everyone on the crew before Stede and Ed finally recognize their feelings for one another.
Our Flag Means Death is a show about found family and queer relationships. It rejects toxic masculinity by having characters talk about their feelings and have breakdowns. No one is shamed for being emotional or having certain feelings. This show has become so important to the queer community because of how unafraid it is to show these things. So often shows tend to queerbait – the practice of implying non-heterosexual relationships or attraction to engage or attract an LGBTQ audience or otherwise generate interest without ever actually depicting such relationships or sexual interactions. Queerbaiting is a way for shows or other media to attract a queer audience, but not show or confirm anything because of fear of backlash. Our Flag Means Death did what other shows fail to do, and have actual queer relationships, without the usual stories of coming out or dealing with hate from it. With very little advertising about the show, they have managed to create an amazing show that is now HBO Max’s number one show. While it hasn’t yet been confirmed for Season 2, fans know this show will change how media shows queer relationships and characters.
References:
https://ew.com/tv/our-flag-means-death-finale-spoilers/
https://ew.com/tv/our-flag-means-death-vico-ortiz-interview/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cba-rfVPwdi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link