This series is called our flag means death

Ed's hopes were dashed. He had just been the bravest he had ever been, in a lifetime of doing brave things daily. He had dared to hope he could change, and have a lot of new possibilities instead of more of the same old life he was so sick of. He was terrified that he honestly didn't deserve, or couldn't attain such tender dreams because he saw himself as unloveable and unworthy of anything soft. To have his affection returned gave him the highest soaring hope he had ever known. It contradicted everything bad his father or anyone else had ever told him about how worthless he was. But to have Stede disappear instead was confirmation that all along it had been hopeless, and that actually Ed really WAS repellant and evil with no trace of goodness, who didn't deserve anything soft, warm, intelligent, kind, or sweet. It broke his heart. That's why he went so feral in season 2. He loved all that stuff he was destroying, and hated all the cold violence he was doing, but he figured that he had just got the message confirming that he couldn't have and didn't deserve anything else. He was trying to wallow in the worst of his life, trying to accept that these were his limits. But he had tasted better things, and would never be satisfied again to live without them. I'm so glad we got to see the whole arc. It's so human, and speaks to so many of us. I've never been a pirate but I sure as hell have had my low points where I was afraid that I didn't deserve the good things I saw and wanted for myself. Afraid that I couldn't be loved as I am, and afraid that I'd have to cramp myself into the role others allowed for me rather than the better hopes I had. In my case I never had a Stede to rescue me, but I was able to find a sort of Stede within myself. I was able to embrace my own permission to do what I wanted and be who I am rather than stay trapped in others' limited view of me. Sorry for the wall of text. It's a subject I've been mulling over since I saw the series, but I only just now put it into words for myself. I don't love pirates. I love the struggle to become something more, even when the change is very painful. Maybe all great changes are always painful. IDK. I know for sure mine was. But I'm glad I was able to do it. I didn't always know I would survive the change. But I did, and I hope others find hope to hang on and change too.

Good news from the future! :D

@@morguenmorguen6862 thanks, I watched the latest season too! Ps. It helped heal my Good Omens heartbreak 💔 🙂

Oh, same. I am very much unhinged, but also enjoying myself immensely.

this is the most accurate description of them yet