Our Flag Means Death: Analysing "The Gay Pirate Show" for 90 Minutes

[@HeyRowanEllis]

✨PATREON SPECIAL OFFER ✨ (see 16:01) Join the $10+ for two OFMD character illustration prints of your choice! Join ANY tier for digital downloads of all 12 OFMD character illustrations!

[@CarmenJonnes06]

At what Patreon tier can I request short essay about Buttons, Karl and Olivia found family?

[@humanish4042]

have you heard of Heartstopper? its a beautiful gay webtoon that just aired its first season on netflix, it would be so cool if you covered it and everyone watched it and it gets renewed!

[@elnombre5597]

Where did you get your earrings from please i need them

[@mylifeismylaptop8529]

I absolutely love how everyone agrees that Lucius is still alive. He’s way too iconic to be killed off so early

[@lammieshipper]

i wanna like this comment but i cant, so here you go 👍

[@finchythepirate]

I very much agree. And if you look at common "You thought I was dead but actually I'm not" tropes, the fact that we don't see him actually die, and that he is basically just pushed into the water which still allows for a bunch of way he could have survived... yeah, I feel like given how brilliant the rest of the show was, they wouldn't give such an iconic and important character an off screen death. I'm honestly really excited to see how they handle this in the next season.

[@astoldbynickgerr]

I hope so. I love him so much 😭

[@myrrhee8831]

As they say, if you don’t see a body nothing’s set in stone

[@tangent94]

Look we KNOW there's secret passages on the ship, there's rope in the corner of the shot where he goes over, and both Roach (on screen) and Calico (by hearsay) have gone overboard and lived.

[@martymcflown3707]

A moment of symbolism I loved was Mary and Stede’s anniversary gifts to each other both being an expression of their secret desires and dreams, with Mary’s desire being to become an artist and Stede’s to become a pirate. And the fact neither of them understood the other’s gesture was such a painful reminder that they couldn’t provide what the other truly needed while together.

[@appleteeth2915]

Yes! And then with Ed both being really excited by Stede's model ship and pointing out the flaw in the message behind Mary's painting that they should 'be a lighthouse for one-another'.

[@morganbiddlecom]

They both got each other bowling balls with "HOMER" printed on them

[@juliamary7047]

@@appleteeth2915 There's also a parallel arc for Mary where Doug starts appreciating her paintings. They both found someone who gets them.

[@godnoble]

They each wanted to make the other happy, so they thought of the thing that would make themself happy and gave it to their spouse.

[@gghhpuf]

@@appleteeth2915 the ship model thing was incredibly cute

[@alexander_avila]

Yes.

[@HeyRowanEllis]

well said

[@FaiaHalo]

Are Ed and Stede Gay? Absolutely.

[@ruisinjams]

aleexx 😂

[@Minam0]

I can’t wait for your video

[@ruisinjams]

@@Minam0 samee I'm so excitedd :D

[@maefromnitw]

something i really liked is when stede corrects mary's "who is she?" with "his name is ed", and her jaw doesn't drop, her smile doesn't get any smaller at all and she's just as happy as ever. it's just a cute little thing

[@jackriver8385]

I cried so hard when I saw that 😭

[@annabeinglazy5580]

Reminds me a Bit of Gentleman Jack where everyone with a Bit of Life experience (Well.... The older women) Take one Look at Anne lister and Go.... "Yh Sure you and your friend totally live in separate rooms in your secluded little West Wing. And the Sky is yellow"

[@Samantha1lady2gotic]

Esa escena me hizo llorar

[@Strevii]

It's nice cause she's lived with him for so long she's probably picked up on little things that he's done that shows that, even if it didn't immediately click at first, once he corrects her she probably realises it all makes sense

[@RandomNexus]

YES! I was talking about that just recently. That was so perfect. 💜

[@chestersnap]

I just realized that there are multiple times where Stede becomes closer to people _right after they tried to murder him_ . He's a pretty chill dude

[@annathewoz]

Murder attempts as a love language

[@vampirelove75]

But they didn’t kill him so they must actually love him.

[@herefishyfishy13]

They talk about their feelings as a group

[@sennnia]

I relate to stede more than I should and I need to reevaluate my life as a result

[@randomgood43]

@@sennnia I feel ya. I had exactly that same thought about myself right after the moment in the bathtub scene when Ed admits he’s supposed to kill Stede and Stede just goes right into therapist mode and instantly forgives him

[@inactive5501]

this show really proves that gay word of mouth is the best form of advertisement

[@podpoe]

i started this video, paused it shortly after the summary began, watched the entire 1st season, texted all of my friends to watch it, and have now returned to the video.

[@astoldbynickgerr]

@@podpoe amazing!

[@hubbard_1]

It was just suddenly my entire fyp on tiktok without me ever having heard about it before

[@CharlieCharlieProduxtions]

@@podpoe Same! Lol

[@cyeayttheratking9501]

i saw a tik tok with a few shots from the show and mention of Taika waititi and did everything within my power and started watching it immidiately.

[@kelsey9114]

The fact that the idea of queerbaiting wasn't even an OPTION for David Jenkins like... what a breath of fresh air to have someone explicitly say "Yes, they ARE romantic, they WANT to kiss." I keep thinking I've hallucinated this entire experience

[@neuralmute]

Seriously! Now if they only have the brains and the guts to do the same thing in the Good Omens sequel...

[@elliart7432]

The revelation that David Jenkins is not only straight but had never written a romance before this point was frankly staggering to me

[@porfiriodiazcarrillo7551]

yess!!! he didn't have to go with the 15 season queer subtext just to kill it off in the before last episode, which, ironically, matched the kiss episode in the series!!!

[@neuralmute]

@@elliart7432 Maybe the fact that he'd never written a straight romance before is why he managed to make the queer ones in OFMD work so well? He hadn't written the "classic" heteronormative scripts, so they weren't cluttering up his mind and getting in his way? This is just a theory, but it's one I like.

[@user-qv2qf1jk5o]

AFAIK he hasn’t said he is or isn’t (I believe that’s why it’s qualified by “apparently” in the video), aaaand I personally think his past work counts as romantIC (and queer- subtextually anyway; people of earth got cancelled early so no one can prove me wrong, will die on this hill), just not a Romance, as far as story focus goes

[@ailsalillywhite2018]

I didn't realize Jenkins was apparently straight as well. I'm going to go ahead and weaponize this against other straight creators. Like, your straightness is not an excuse to be bad at this.

[@Me-vn3gz]

YES

[@viveleshistoires4874]

I mean, to be entirely fair, Jenkins _is_ particularly good at this… x) But yeah, I totally agree.

[@KazzieBB]

@@viveleshistoires4874 thats what theyre implying, dude

[@claudegrenier3180]

I'm sure other straight creators will appreciate it....

[@malorieclem1790]

I totally agree. A director/writer can say that being straight can limit their understanding of queer characters and perspective on accurate diverse representation, but it gives no excuse to not seek other writers/directors/actors/etc. who are queer (additionally race as well) to make sure that your creation IS good representation. That's why with Jenkins, despite being straight, he was still capable of making such a good series. Moral of the story: If you don't know something, don't be afraid to ask :))

[@kazualty3684]

Dude the first time they casually used they/them pronouns for Jim I legit had to pause it and be like "oh my god they can do that???? Like there's actually been nothing stopping every other tv show in the world from having good, well-rounded queer characters this entire time???"

[@himbeerfalter]

Actually cried when hearing it and finding out Vico Ortiz is non-binary… 🥹👌🏼

[@neuralmute]

I think this series just showed me that the masc name I'd been looking for has been hiding in front of my face all along. I'm afab enby, and the one positive, non-toxic male role model I had growing up was my grandfather, who I love and miss deeply. His name was Jim.

[@idkt-t9214]

I'm not that used to using they/them pronouns in the context of a single person, because my native language doesn't have something like that, and the only enby person I know is a friend's friend I don't interact with that often. That said, the way they addressed it was so casual it didn't even register at first, when I finally noticed I had to pause, think it through and rewind a couple of times just to make sure I heard it right. It was fascinating and I don't even go by that, can't imagine how ecstatic non-binary people must have been watching and seeing themselves represented, for many maybe for the first time. Any they/them user out there reading this, it was so annoying having to explain over and over the aforementioned friend's friend's identity to ignorant and uneducated people the few times they've popped up in conversation. You have nerves of steel dealing with this shit on the daily, mad respect, best I can do is educate others when the opportunity arises. After all, I'm ashamed to admit I was an ignorant piece of shit a year or two ago, I got dangerously close to being one of those losers that goes "What are my pronouns?? They're nor/mal haha 😎", I still cringe every time I remember.

[@neuralmute]

@@idkt-t9214 Thank you so much for admitting that you were "an ignorant piece of shit", and for growing past it! I promise not to go all stabby on you. ;) Now if only more people had the self-awareness and humility that you do, and the will not to be losers...

[@podpoe]

made me tear up

[@seamusomorain6244]

I think one of the biggest things for me was the age of the characters. Watching middle and late-middle ages people find love and support in a queer setting honestly gave me such hope. There’s this sense among LGBTQ people that once you’re 25 it’s too late for you. Too late to transition, too late to find a community, to late to find love. And that is blatantly wrong! But it’s what we’ve been told by the world in general but also ourselves. So as a queer person no longer young, this aspect of the show filled me with such hope. Also, god it was so good seeing a nonbinary character played by a nonbinary actor in a show made for adults. I’m seeing myself on-screen for the first time! Not just in terms of age but gender!

[@bruja_cat]

I think it’s fantastic that they’re older because it reduces the way people fetishized queer/gay/lesbian entertainment, either by hetero & LGBT communities. Usually it’s some conventionally attracted 20-something-year-old queer coded character people fawn over because they just think they’re hot, which is a really shallow and dismissive perspective. By having the age be older, the audience is less likely to fetishize them and are instead more focused on their characterization & identifying with the personification & actual representation being presented. It’s really refreshing because it’s also a character driven story where queerness isn’t just shoe horned in for clout or a diversity check mark, it’s literally at the forefront of the storytelling.

[@mochhhhee]

@@bruja_cat i presume you haven't seen people call Izzy a babygirl on twitter huh

[@niftythegoblin]

@@mochhhhee or people thirsting over taika in his blackbeard costume lol

[@Lee-xw7gf]

Very true. The entire narrative toward age and queerness is completely anti-queer (duh). It’s like you’re either too young to know or too old to just, “change your mind”. It’s either, “you’re too young to know, you’ll understand when you’re older.” Or “I’ve just never seen you that way, how could you change so suddenly?”

[@sentientmarshmallow4644]

As a lgbtq teenager I can’t imagine the possibility of me being old, not straight and happy. All my life I was told you have a fulfilled life when you’re straight married with a house and kids. So to see a show where two middle aged gay men living outside of societal norms can be happy and fulfilled means the world to me.

[@myrmuur9367]

What's really fascinating to me is how homophobic people react to it. My parents are big fans of Taika Waititi's work so they were willing to watch the whole show, and they told me afterwards that they don't understand why Stede and Ed had to kiss, and why they had to "jarringly shift the tone at the last two episode". It baffles me so much, because there's such an organic build up to their relationship and there are so many hints from the beginning already. My brother had the same reaction saying that it was "unnecessary to the plot" even tho it WAS literally the plot. Homophobic people view queerbaiting as natural, and how everything should be handled. It was such a slap in the face to realize that, but it does explain a lot regarding the writing of certain shows.

[@Lisa_Flowers]

but it's also like homophobes literally just refuse to see queer relationships as two (or more) humans beings who develop a loving relationship - they see it as jarring and unnatural regardless of the context or how well it was built up, because that is their inherent view of queer relationships.

[@kobura6316]

I liked it for the same reason I liked Hamilton tbh. Like, I don't give a fuck about the gay agenda or whatever but I like the creator and I like when people get mad at art for being historically inaccurate. Like yeah no shit lmao, literally can't name a single realistic historical show, at least our flag means death doesn't pretend to be anything but a gay pirate fanfiction

[@kiera_rdh6697]

Same. My husband said “Don’t know if they had to kiss” and I was so surprised. He is not intentionally homophobic, but was raised in a very heteronormative environment and sees it as the default, so he thought they were just friends and didn’t recognize their intense romantic chemistry. If a man isn’t fopish, hyperfeminine, and covered in rainbows, the possibility of being gay doesn’t even cross his mind even though it’s right in front of his eyes. He’s working on it and learning about more types of queer stories (he loved the rest of this show and loved Heartstopper too), but I was so surprised at how surprised he was when they first kissed.

[@ivo8312]

WOW that is honestly so weird how could u not pick up on all the hints.. like they missed so much like what did they think was going on for example when lucien realized on the treasure hunt?? ... thank u for sharing this insight into the straight psyche

[@Liam-be5tm]

My dad loves taika waititi as well and I'm afraid he'll react like this when he finishes the show :/ Edit : he replied less with homophobia and more genuine surprise as he thought it was just a bromance lmao

[@Piratearicat23]

"They swap outfits like ICONIC gay couple Chad and Ryan from High School Musical, and it is, EXTREMELY CUTE"

[@carpevinum8645]

The shot of Ed crying, his tears streaking through his Blackbeard make up at the end of the last episode broke me.

[@Eggsther]

ed crying in general always gets me, like someone surround this sweet man with hugs and lots of pillows 😭😭😭😭

[@misanthrope9645]

@@Eggsther when he’s in the blanket fort- *sobbing*

[@SiraSpirit]

"I realize that two men kissing and declaring their love and planning to elope together sounds like hyperbole" god we as queer people really are used to getting burned at this point. The presumably straight showrunner being confused by queerbaiting reminds me of when men realize that women have to deal with sexism their whole lives.

[@thedragonsunicorn]

that's so accurate bcus often times i find myself exaggerating the queer crumbs in shows just to make it legit and canon in my head. it's so strange to be able able to say two ken kiss and confess their love for each other without it being hyperbole.

[@four1629]

@@thedragonsunicorn Deadass, the conversation about queerbaiting had me confused for a moment bcs i deluded myself HARD with some shows. Good Omens has been mentioned a lot, as well as Voltron, and i kept thinking the shows are literally gay?? i didnt realise i had internalised the message they were sending without saying, and it hurt like popping a knuckle when Stede and Ed kissed and decided to run away. I was like "so... i dont have to run to ao3 to convince myself the relationship is canon? it's actually written in?? wild"

[@kashiichan]

I mean, that's not exactly what Jenkins said. He said he had underestimated the impact that queerbaiting had had on viewers, not that he didn't understand it all all.

[@twentystars6116]

@@four1629 this aged well

[@elliart7432]

It never once occurred to me that Ed could've _already heard_ about Stede's death and that's why he was sobbing at the end... let me tell you my eyes literally popped out of my skull when you brought that up, lmao

[@HeyRowanEllis]

ur welcome 😌✌️

[@amylloyd6817]

Right!? I didn't think of that either I just assumed Ed was missing Stede. 😭

[@spookyho5994]

@@amylloyd6817 same 😭

[@SpaztasticSheep]

Right? Rowan is so smart

[@Dani_1012]

I had that small suspicion but I never considered it a clear possibility. I just thought Ed believed Stede betrayed him

[@lerualnaej5917]

I do find it extremely funny that David Jenkins is apparently way too straight to realize how many times we've all been burned but still managed to write this show. I have to laugh, I'm coping VERY well with everything related to this show. I'm also extremely happy how much he's pointed to everyone else in his writers' room and given them credit for *gestures toward everything*

[@_CallMeRex]

Jenkins to Vanity Fair about his writer's room: “I want buy-in and push-backs and on some level, blessing, with which history we're going to revise and why,” Jenkins says. “And I don't want that to come from a straight white male perspective. I think that's really dangerous.” You love to see that self-awareness.

[@demolitionwoman_OFMD]

@@Macallion Wait, whattttttt?! I haven't seen that anywhere! Link?

[@Macallion]

@@demolitionwoman_OFMD I'll come back and post one as soon as I find it again. He actually said it in an interview I saw here on KZbin, but I've seen so many of them I'm not sure which one it was in!

[@magikarpg]

@@Macallion was it an ofmd interview or people of earth? cause I'm pretty sure I've watched all of the former ones and don't remember him saying this

[@Cauldron6]

@@Macallion can you provide a source for that? I’ve been deep into the BTS stuff and I’ve never seen him say that, and it’s really not a great idea to say something like that without 100^ confirmation

[@pheela]

they didn't just touch boots, they 'knocked boots' and I still can't believe taika improvised it

[@sproetland]

Ohh, I didn't know that one! Mind linking the interview where he talked about it? :)

[@pheela]

@@sproetland hmm youtube ate my reply.... it was a collider interview Collider: Last week's episode ends in a bit of a precarious position for Stede and Blackbeard, especially, but right at the end after they've gotten apprehended, Blackbeard nudges Stede's foot with his own. Was that something in the script, or was that something that was improvised in filming? RHYS DARBY: That was improvised, that one, yeah. That was just Taika [Waititi] deciding he should do that. Because we were staring at each other. Yeah, it was just a little sweet moment.

[@jessicajeide3053]

I think it's because Taika can't imagine a close relationship where people don't always want to touch each other. He's very much a fan of PDA in all relationships.

[@carpevinum8645]

I heard or read somewhere (I can't remember where) a comment about how the show represented toxic masculinity in relation to alcohol. There is lots of alcohol throughout - though also not. A lot of pirate shows really emphasise pirates being drunk. The crew is hardly shown drinking at all. When Ed and Stede drink together it is nice liquor to be enjoyed, sipped from nice glasses. We only see Ed drunk when acting out toxic masculinity with Calico Jack. And we only see Stede drunk when he is trying to fit back in at his old home. Neither occurrence ends well.

[@mochhhhee]

Ohhh I saw someone say it in La'ron Readus's comment section

[@roselover411]

Oh this is SO good to read. That's a concern I had since I'm very alcohol averse after growing up with an alcoholic parent, and I'm so glad to hear that rampant alcoholism isn't something I'll have to deal with when I watch this.

[@CrisSelene]

And, of course, when he becomes "the Kraken" he starts drinking again. It's that overhead shot of Blackbeard looking up at his new flag and taking a swig from a bottle of some kind of hard liquor.

[@carpevinum8645]

@@mochhhhee that might’ve been where I read it. Another really good video!

[@carpevinum8645]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZK4nmStrLeYgNE

[@carpevinum8645]

I am glad they didn't run off to China. Stede had to resolve his relationship with his ex wife and children. I love that they parted well. That they both got a chance at happiness. I loved Mary hugging him at his declaration of love. They had obviously been intimate previously. But she didn't take offence, was instead genuinely happy for him. His daughter's gesture of the orange was so sweet too. Too young to comprehend it all, but kids are observant and she does genuinely want her parents to be happy. Ultimately one of the (weirdly) least toxic family separations I have seen.

[@amylloyd6817]

Yeah me too actually even though it broke Ed's heart. Maybe now Stede can go back to Ed and fully enjoy his life with him without the guilt of leaving his family hanging over his head.

[@arsyn.kolgrim]

for fuckin real, like as much as it hurts knowing that Stede and Ed are at this crossroads with each other, i'm glad Stede got the closure he needed to realize that Chauncey was wrong about him. he doesnt ruin beautiful things, he helps bring beautiful things to light. his leaving allowed Mary to pursue a fulfilling career as an artist, and his simply being himself created an environment where Ed was able to experience real, genuine love and safely feel all the pain he's had to carry for decades. the commentary on traditional notions of masculinity absolutely punched me in the face and like the sick masochist i am i enjoyed every second of it. i'm so excited for the angst of season 2 with Stede going to find Ed and having to explain why he didn't meet him at the dock that night. ohhhh, it's gonna be so spicy

[@inviotb]

I honestly didn’t realize how deeply damaged I was from years of nonstop queerbaiting until I saw that kiss. I wish I could travel back in time and show ofmd to my 12 year old self, he probably would’ve keeled over right then from sheer shock!

[@magicpensel9548]

I feel the same. I only watched it after it became known as the gay pirate show and even then I couldn't quite shake the damage from years of queer bating. I don't think I could have watched it without knowing they weren't going to pull the rug out from under me ahead of time. Like even knowing about the kiss the fear was still there, in the back of my mind.

[@inviotb]

@@magicpensel9548 yes same! I knew going in that it was canonically gay but I still couldn’t shake the feeling that “what if they don’t do anything tho? What if people are exaggerating?? What if they do all this just to pull the rug out from under us AGAIN???” I’ve never been so happy to be wrong

[@CanelaAguila]

I was screaming at the screen and had to pause and explain two centuries worth of history to my straight roommate who didn't even know what fanfiction was

[@CanelaAguila]

Also I had been spoiled on a bad ending, so I was 100% ready for Blackbeard to die

[@magicpensel9548]

@@CanelaAguila ah fanfics the only life boat we have in this never ending sea of straight. Littered with the ships the creators torpedoed and the dead bodies of the few that got to sail.

[@TactownGirl]

Karl deserves his own character sticky note and the fact that he doesn't have one minimizes the pain of his tragic death.

[@Groganee]

😭😭😭

[@carpevinum8645]

I loved that when Olu and Frenchy went with to the party they weren't wearing Stede's clothes. Instead they wore clothes they had found and chosen for themselves, took on personas they had conceptualised themselves.

[@robertborland5083]

The historical Izzy Hands would have been around 15 or 16 when Our Flag Means Death is set. I'm of the impression this is also true in the universe of the show; in those days, of course, life was tough for a 16-year-old.

[@millsrome]

Oh really? Wow it would have been a fun dynamic to have a young apprentice/right hand man opposing Ed and Stede's budding relationship giving pretty much kid of a single parent not liking to share the parent's attention with a new love interest

[@quteFreak]

It's even funnier in the context of Spanish Jackie saying hate and revenge make you look older!

[@alexarias5717]

@@quteFreak oh yeah the fact that she's 25 was hilarious 🤣

[@EmonEconomist]

I see what you did there!!

[@fuckwit107]

Good reference

[@keithredacted8154]

Rowan about Izzy and Calico Jack: "I hate them... I mean, well, they are great characters, but they need to stop." The fandom , including me: "SAME."

[@gota7738]

I think they should cause more problems.

[@akuloart]

@@gota7738 Jack is dead period. I don't want to see him ever again. His "frat boy" vibes trigger my fight or flight response

[@AmyAberrant]

Oh Izzy has quite a fandom of his own. Generally those who see him as a poor traumatised soft boy.

[@lordbaphie]

@@AmyAberrant Those exist? Most of the Izzy fans I know of see him as an angry Chihuahua with a daddy kink. They rarely excuse his actions, just liking him for being an enjoyable antagonist

[@unouni2548]

I need a second season because I need to know that Lucius is OK. I mean, I love the gay captains and everything else, but that scene that came out of nowhere hit me right in the heart. MY BABY!!

[@lvmln7843]

Same! Lucius is my favorite character and I honestly don't care about Ed and Stede even half as much as I care about Lucius. And the rest of the crew!! Ed and Stede definitely aren't the most important characters to me hahah

[@niameyers6686]

I was so upset when Lucius was pushed overboard I literally screamed. I was also sad that Jim and Oluwande are separated AGAIN right after confessing. I want nothing but happiness for the whole crew!

[@poorlilmeowr]

exactly... right after ed pushed him overboard i was like - david if i dont see a body, i dont believe he is dead...the same happened to hopper from stranger things... lucius needs to be alive...he is so amazing

[@MsSarahJosephine]

Lucius totally managed to sneak/climb back onboard and is currently hiding in the many secret passages Stede built. That is my canon theory until season 2 comes out.

[@RapscallionReviews]

Upon rewatch, I was very intrigued by the potential foreshadowing in the beginning of ep 3 when Stede says to Frenchie (who is filling in as “scribe” while Lucius is locked up in the trunk for discovering Jim’s secret), “Well you’ll have to do until we find Lucius. I just hope he’s not dead. That could be bad… for the general vibe around here.” THE WRITERS KNOW.

[@j.totheworld]

i actually loved david jenkins’ comments about not understanding how hurtful queerbaiting was until he saw the hesitant audience response to the queer romance in this show. ive literally never heard a straight person take queerbaiting seriously, which means that those who are hurt by the trope are limited to only voicing their frustrations in the small bubble of the queer community. to top it off, that community is then often mocked and gaslighted for ”having queerbaited themselves”. obviously, the idea of queerbaiting yourself is a mostly ridiculous form of logic, but it does stoke doubt in the back of my mind where i question my judgement or just guilt myself for having been too invested. All this to say: hearing an outsider to the queer community confirm that this queerbaiting issue isn’t all imagined is just so incredibly reassuring!!

[@rosev1n]

"am I too into this show?" ME TOO I literally started dressing more piratey than I already do. I'm not sure my attachment to this show is entirely healthy lmao

[@flo9]

have you seen bernadette banner's video on how to make a pirate shirt? it's FANTASTIC

[@rosev1n]

@@flo9 o h m y g o d no I haven’t seen this!! Thank you 😭❤️

[@MDaggatt]

If you want to know more about 18th-century men's clothing, check out the channels Pins and Weevils as he has some good tutorials. Sewstine and Nicole Rudolph also have quite a few videos where they sew 18th-century and other historical men's clothing. American Duchess and Burnley and Trowbridge also sell a lot of 18th-century clothing tutorials/supplies, with American Duchess focusing on historical shoes and patterns, as well as two really good books on 18th-century women's clothing and hair, while Burnley and Trowbridge sells everything you would need to sew 18th-century clothing, fabric, thread, patterns, etc, as well as a TON of VERY detailed videos on sewing technique. They even hold regular classes and live streams where they'll sit down and teach you how to make an entire garment.

[@rosev1n]

@@MDaggatt I’ll definitely be looking into this, thanks!

[@angelasmith5019]

Yay I’ve followed the historical costumers for a while and actually started sewing myself and I’m so very happy about every crossover I see anywhere. Bless 💕 Also a Little addition of my own. Kat Rowe covers topics that are a mixture of bizarre history, queer history and historical fashion. Anstieg have recently made a video on the historical inspiration for this show :)

[@MaxxSuri76]

Taika saying he's cool with making fun of British culture gives me life and I laughed way too loud when you said it

[@tigersinlondon2152]

me, obsessing real hard about this show: [looking for more content about ofmd to continue on my blorbo journey] rowan: here's a 1.5 hour video about ofmd me: [STRAPS IN FOR THE RIDE]

[@chestersnap]

Yeah, I just watched the show this weekend but I've watched all of the interviews on KZbin already so I think I may need to rewatch the show because of how much I need more content. This video will hold me until the weekend, at least

[@BGPDCSF]

Soooo me I was just waiting for someone to do it, seen 1.5 hour is soooo good

[@El-de6nj]

@@chestersnap ive rewatched the show twice and installed tumblr just to consume content what do i do now

[@OrinPosner]

RE: 53:23 - Ed rejects and removes art as a means of self-expression - BUT he leaves Frenchie on the ship, specifically for his artistic skill of sewing, and re-makes the Blackbeard flag to reflect Ed's pain. This, along with seeing him cry alone in front of the lighthouse painting... it leaves us with hope that Ed is still there and not completely lost to Blackbeard/the Kraken.

[@idkt-t9214]

To me it feels a bit like they're slowly merging into one person, like the facade of Blackbeard he hid behind for so many years is cracking. And him pushing away anything that might make him appear or feel weak was just a last-ditch effort to hide once again behind this persona he's created. The last scene with him looking at the new flag, then at the painting, and crying in an empty room on what used to be Stede's bed felt to me like him realizing that it's not working anymore, that his sensibilities are seeping through the cracks. Without feelings he's "an empty shell of a man" and deeply unhappy, but he can't seem to survive without the adventure and danger of pirate life, he seems to enjoy it and is aimless without it. Those two separated are a recipe for disaster, and it seems like only when they'll unite will he be fully at peace with everything. With having killed his father, with all the brutalities he's done, with his sensitive side, with his feeling for Stede. At least that's my take.

[@sarahd.5244]

Fortunately David Jenkins has since come to understand how horrible queerbaiting has been to audiences, and he's been saying a lot of promising stuff. In his interview with the Verge he specifically spoke to that point, that his previous statements spoke from his place of privilege, never having had to question in a movie or tv show if he'd get to see himself in a piece of media before. I think it's also worth noting the show has multiple nonbinary writers in the writer's room, which I've never heard of happening before and just, warms my heart so much.

[@arsyn.kolgrim]

that makes so much sense, i know that Vico (who plays Jim) is nonbinary themself so i assumed they had something to do with the way Jim is portrayed, but knowing there are nonbinary writers makes it all the more endearing when i spot those little nonbinary moments. like Jim responding "Yeah, I guess. I don't know" when asked if they were really a woman the whole time, or when they're like "I hadn't really thought about it" to avoid the uncomfortable topic of what they want to be addressed as because they themself are uncertain of what they even identify as, let alone how they want other people to see them.

[@chestersnap]

Calico Jack is worse than Izzy because of what he did to Karl 😡😡😡

[@stefanfilipovits21]

Good on Olivia for avenging her man

[@a-bird-lover]

I will never forgive him

[@waningmoons]

I can at least like Izzy in some capacity but Calico Jack?? Absolutely not🧏🏻🗑

[@angelsheetz496]

Calico is THAT ex

[@ArkadianDream]

David Jenkins is straight?????? Omg I just assumed he had to be queer because of how good the queer content of the show is and WOW. These are some A+ straight men. Good work boys.

[@kashiichan]

One of many reasons why having a diverse writer's room pays off.

[@Liz.1014]

it doesn't happen very often 😅 but they definitely did a great job nonetheless

[@carpevinum8645]

I loved Nana's response to "I'm Jim now".

[@carpevinum8645]

I find it amusing that Izzy assumed something sexual was happening - which contributed to him initiating the duel. When in fact it was Ed teaching Stede the technique that would lead to Izzy losing the duel.

[@phosphenevision]

stede really keeps having post-murder attempt heart to hearts with people huh, it's almost like nearly getting murdered is his love language

[@kashiichan]

I mean, he literally prepared his ship to help his future crew cope with trauma he assumed they'd have. He's just really aware of PTSD and therapy and how it'd be vital to create the kind of environment he wanted on his ship. Offering that same outlook to people who just tried to kill him totally jives with his whole character.

[@perelandrawaddle]

I was in the interesting position of watching the show once by myself and once after with my straight mom. It was so interesting to see her lack of understanding the queerness that was going on. It wasn't until they kissed that see realized there was any kind of queer storyline going on with the two. This is so interesting to me because we watch queer shows and films together all the time. Killing Eve, Orange is the New Black, Call Me by Your Name, etc. my understanding is because it wasn't outright said she just couldn't pick up on it at all. In fact, she told me that her guess for where the story was going was that they would switch lives, Bonnet would take over as Black Beard and Ed would marry Mary and be a father to his children. Straight readings are so interesting to me, she loves romance films and picks up on romantic tension very easily whenever the characters are straight but as soon as it's queer she doesn't get it.

[@CorwinFound]

That's funny. I watched with my (likely) cis straight 13 year old son. About episode 5 he exclaimed, "Stede's GAY!!!" "Yes dear, Stede is gay." Later I found out that he knew Ed was gay almost right away but didn't clue into Stede. Which I found both hilarious and confusing. He's young and woke enough to not understand gay coding but somehow read Ed as queer.

[@astoldbynickgerr]

@@CorwinFound that’s very cute & interesting haha

[@perelandrawaddle]

@@CorwinFound Fascinating, I think this could be a generational thing. Ed falling in love with Stede definitely follows the outline of a typical romcom infatuation so it could be that because he grew up in a world where not a romcoms are straight be default (or starting to change in that regard) that he simply picked up on the crush rather than assuming a correlation between Stedes efeniminities and queerness.

[@CorwinFound]

@@perelandrawaddle That's the thing. He didn't pick up on the queer coding. He doesn't know that effeminate equals the stereotype of gay man. Admittedly, he's been raised in a very agender environment. He doesn't seem to get a lot of the gender normative ideas of masculine or feminine. I once mentioned makeup as being a girl thing and he jumped all over that as wrong. Pointed out that boys in high school wear makeup sometimes and actors and models. Which is amusing to me because he's very much a boy's boy and has no interest in clothes, makeup, hair etc. lol I haven't clarified any of that for him by starting to transition 1.5 years ago. But I don't see any harm in him being a bit clueless to normative gender tropes. It might be just part of growing up at this time and in a relatively liberal place.

[@kith1789]

im currently rewatching with my parents right now and i specifically didn't say it was queer because i wanna see when they'll realize it. we just watched the treasure hunt ep last night and during it my mom went "oh i just realized, they're using they/them for jim. are they non-binary?" and i was like A+ mom good job. i feel like there's no way they don't see the gay between stede and ed but who knows?

[@mylifeismylaptop8529]

Queer baiting is such a prevalent problem that even though I saw an article where the thumbnail was a rainbow filter over Ed and Stede and the title was like “the 3 queer couple of our flag means death” I STILL wasn’t sure that Ed and stede were actually gonna get together until the kiss

[@soharbennett8079]

Same, I had to call my sister who’d already watched the show to get the BlackBonnet confirmation halfway through watching OFMD because I just couldn’t handle the prospect of being baited once again!

[@flowerbit4137]

I’m so used to being queer-baited that even when my partner directly told me “yes, it really is a gay pirate show” I didn’t believe them, until that fateful episode where Ed actually confessed and they kissed. Which, to my defense is largely because my partner often ships many ships that will never sail. So I thought this would just be another one of those. I was so overjoyed by the stede and ed kiss, I was brought to tears!! And I don’t think I’ve been brought to tears by a “yes these are confirmed gay love interests” kiss since She-Ra and The Princesses of Power, so it was a nice feeling. Anyway, I really loved the show and wish it could just be renewed already!!! And I really enjoyed this video too

[@thedragonsunicorn]

this is me but with my friend. they recommended this show to me, usually we don't have the same taste in shows but they seemed so oddly persistent that i was gonna like it that i agreed. they said it was about gay pirates and automatically i assumed it was subtext, the shock when i actually watched it and it's ACTUALLY queer.

[@DroneGotMinerals]

Thank you for mentioning this, I knew the queer vibe felt familiar! OFMD and SheRa have very similar energies in their portrayal of queer people.

[@Painocus]

The greatest gift this show has given me personality is the ability to, whenever someone talk about "the Gay Pirate Show", go "oh, you mean Black Sails?"

[@stefanfilipovits21]

Omg, ur right!

[@saintkohle]

I just binged this entire show a day ago, so this breakdown is excellently timed lol

[@chestersnap]

I watched it over the weekend. I can't remember the last time I finished a show but I couldn't stop watching this

[@neuralmute]

I just finished bingeing this show a few hours ago, so the timing of this video was perfect for me!

[@sam_597]

lmao! same 😅i watched it all yesterday

[@DarkFoxKirin]

Same, I stayed up all night binging the entire show 😅

[@kthxbi]

personally i like the ship name blackbonnet. it sounds like a spicy little chili pepper also i find it interesting that they chose a form of cubism as Mary's art style. its very anachronistic, which is true for many things in this show, but i still think is important to mention because the anachronistic choices are often made purposefully. cubism is a style that comes from attempting to translate multiple perspectives of 3 dimensional space into a 2 dimensional artwork, creating an effect that often looks fractured and disjointed. in the same way, so much of this show is about 3 dimensional characters either being forced or attempting to force themselves into being flat 2 dimensional caricatures of what they 'should be' in their cultures, and the damage that causes them as people. so the choice of a cubist style to me is VERY purposeful and telling about the way these characters are struggling to reconcile the multiple and often irreconcilable perceptions of themselves into one person.

[@thatsdisco]

woah, it's insane how tightly the symbolisms and themes of this show work

[@kashiichan]

Unfortunately there are a lot of Black fans who *really* don't like the name "blackbonnet" for the ship, so I've started using gentlebeard instead.

[@DancingProduce]

1:03:06 the whole thing with "is lucius dead" there's this bit from calico Jack's ep where roach (I think?) falls off the mast and hits the side of the boat on the way down & he shows up later totally fine. I think that's foreshadowing that getting thrown overboard isn't necessarily a death sentence.

[@kashiichan]

The only correction I'd make is that Roach deliberately jumps off (as part of a game) but accidentally hits the railing on the way down. However the emphasis isn't on him being hurt, it's more about the comedy of missing the mark. Unlike Jack, who we explicitly see get shot with a cannonball. Lucius' fall is played for comedy in exactly the same way as Roach's is (the shoe flip!) so I'm pretty sure he'll be fine.

[@lavendyre]

really hoping they make ed and stede's death in the show a "bit of fuckery" and they DO finally get to run off to china together :,) (hopefully still in touch or in contact with the revenge crew too ofc)

[@GetOfflineGetGood]

I will weep if they don't do this

[@chestersnap]

That consPIRACY board is a work of art 😂

[@catboymiles7224]

gotta love how while the fact that ofmd is a gay romcom is not immediately obvious based on the advertising (and based on david jenkins’ surprise at the prospect of queerbait fear, probably just due to the fact that stede and ed having a legit romance is big spoilers for the show itself), you can look back at stuff that mr jenkins and other people involved said before the show even aired and see things like him posting one of the trailers on twitter with a caption that mentioned something about the show having a “whole lot of love” in it

[@lilanthia]

I have the theory that Anne Bonny MIGHT be Alma Bonnet taking to the seas after seeing how happy it made her father, I dunno I just think it would be interesting 😅

[@shayp3558]

Oh yes! They could do the same thing Rowan was taking about where stede and Ed raise her but in the ways of being a pirate. AND they set it up. She decides to split the orange with her father, proving a shared link between the two of them and representing her own forgiveness for his leaving to become a pirate. It wasn’t only a moment that left the audience feeling like he had brought a close to his debilitating guilt via her willing and genuine actions, but could also be something that the show makers bring back in later seasons to link them together again. Also it was established that she remembered him, which means that likely the only memory of her father before his returned was of them playing pirates together.

[@EosHeliosSelene]

Similarly to what you said, Ed reverting back to Blackbeard/ The Kraken was initially shown as his silk piece being let go as he remembered Stede Saying "You wear fine things well ." I took Ed letting the silk go as him releasing all hope of ever having "fine" things. He held on to that piece since childhood hoping that he could have these gentle things, but after Stede left and Izzy called him weak/worthless in the silk dressing gown... that hope shattered and he let go. "Gentle, soft" Ed was found lacking and not worthy of respect. In order to survive, he had to let go of that last sliver of hope to have "fine things" like silk, friendship... and love . 💔 Moments before this break, Lucius attempted to comfort Ed. Lucius advised him "to let go" to which Ed replied "so, I should just curl up in a ball and die." In an attempt to comfort Ed, Lucius say "Maybe it's not a death. maybe you can just begin again." After the incident with Izzy questioning his authority, Ed realizes that Lucius is technically right. He needed a new beginning. Per his conversation with Stede, "Blackbeard" was gone. But, "Edward" was too vulnerable to survive on his own. In his mind, Instilling fear was the only thing that he excelled at before meeting Stede. He needed to be fearsome again. So, he became the thing even he feared, to protect himself from ever being hurt again ... The Kraken. The Kraken is even more ruthless than Blackbeard. Blackbeard might have loved a good maime, but always "outsourced the big job." Ed took on the mantle of The Kraken rather than Blackbeard after pushing Lucius overboard (in an attempt) to kill him. After surrendering all hope signified by the release of the silk piece, Ed no longer has reservations with killing and thus we see Ed put away Edward...and we see the rise of an even more ruthless pirate "The Kraken." All to protect the last remnants of the true Ed.

[@SistersTape]

Interesting, I hadn't considered the difference between Blackbeard and The Kraken before, but I see it now! Good point!

[@alinaponce9090]

Mr Jenkins as a sapphic I am starving and I need healing from whatever the hell killing Eve did with that ending. I am BEGGING for sapphic pirates PLEASE

[@waningmoons]

PLEASE x2

[@shadowmaster1313]

If calico jack showed up, that means Anne Bonny and Mary Read have to be around somewhere *fingers crossed*

[@swiggydswirl330]

Tehe. You should begin watching S2 then ;)

[@keynchris7059]

I really didn’t think that Steed and Ed would actually kiss until it happened. I absolutely lost my shit. I was a long time Sherlock fan and I never thought that it would happen

[@BexTheBoo388]

I fully believe that Izzy is in love with Ed. His reaction to when Stede stabbed Ed and Izzy thought the grunts were sexual... that goes far far beyond him just being mad that their closeness meant Stede would be sticking around longer. Izzy is insanely jealous!!

[@ZS-gd9zh]

I think the director or Izzy's actor said that Izzy is in love with Blackbeard, the concept and not the man (Ed)

[@theinfantmetroid]

how does it feel to be a genius?

[@Groganee]

Yeah! That's why I could sort of never hate, like he clearly has some internalised homophobia and toxic masculinity, the way he treats Stede, calls him "soft", picks on Lucius and then look at him with the most intense sexual tension?!

[@friday6448]

I love how this show does take the life events of the figure Stede Bonnet and Ed Teach and recontextualises them into this great gay workplace comedy with pirates an incredibly heartfelt themes. And from a straight writer no less. There is now officially no excuse for straight writers for half-arsing LGBTQ representation in their fiction.

[@kashiichan]

Just another reason why having a diverse writer's room pays off.

[@not_zippy]

To me as a neurodivergent person, the dynamic between Ed and Stede felt like finding another nd person and immediately clicking with them after being mocked your entire life. Ed and Stede support and love the REAL versions of each other, not the versions other people want them to be. They immediately run with each other’s weirdness too.

[@GrumpSupport]

Oh! By the way the writer came out and said he was heartbroken over when he understood how queerbaiting effects the queers in their fandom. I’m so happy that they decided to go for it. They seem so invested, and maybe now the industry and the writers of shows will see the difference in engagement between queerbaiting vs actual queer payout. Please god let this be the next big turning point for rep in media, pleaaaaass. Thanks for the video Rowan, always a pleasure! ❤️

[@grutarg2938]

Exactly! Just like when corporations try to pander to the gays during pride month with silly rainbow products. I want media companies trying to pander with the best LGBT+ representation in their stories.

[@astrid5483]

About the "maybe French" people on that party boat: I think they are meant to be Prussian, their accents sound more German than French - and the Prussians were just really into French culture (weebs). It's probably confusing because the people with the invitation they capture early on are French, but the rest of the aristocrats are probably supposed to be Prussian.

[@ruby7706]

honestly, as a nonbinary person i was just so taken aback (in the BEST WAY) by how smooth they depicted Jim's gender identity. It was the canon, "im not a girl" "im not a boy" and the Spanish gender neutral term used on them by the Nun-Aunt. shows very often flip flop trying to talk about gender without actually saying nonbinary people with they/them pronouns exists and i didn't realise i needed that on screen, performed by a nonbinary actor, to see that we have a place in media. i didn't realise how tired i was of how majority of tv shows are like, "see she's a masculine girl" or whatever gender-smashing ideas that they want to show but can't even think to write nonbinary characters! idk how to properly articulate my sentiment bc i know that there is a place to write women and men diversely but it's also like damn we smashing the gender norms but we still can't write a nonbinary character (and) trans* character in it? seems like a piece of that gender conversation is missing.

[@VMKjelly]

wait, they used elle? I dont remember the nun using NB spanish

[@wickedmusicalmad]

I was one of those (I’m assuming rarer individuals) who saw the buzz about a ‘gay pirate show’ and saw nothing about Stede bonnet and Edward teach. I didn’t even know taika was going to appear in the show. I honestly thought Lucius was the only gay character and obviously discovered that the show has further queer characters in Jim. When the moonlight scene took place I turned to my sister (who knew vaguely what was gonna happen) and was like ‘omg this show is fuckibg with me! I can’t believe everyone isnt freaking out about this clear queer baiting’ - she looked at me like I was crazy lol. Then when the kiss took place in episode 9 I was totally taken aback. I could hardly believe what I was seeing honestly. This has led to a myriad of rewatched and falling in love because the first time, I just couldn’t let my guard down. Such a wonderful surprise of a show - pumped for season 2 Was so cool to have too leads who have amazing chemistry think they should be together and then just doing it.

[@kashiichan]

It's even more hilarious when you remember that Taika and Rhys have been friends for decades. Can you even imagine your friend being like "hey, there's a role in this show that's perfect for you" "oh that's cool, what is it?" "my pirate boyfriend" xD

[@natureislovely2988]

i am actually sort of happy it wasn’t announced as being a gay pirate show. there’s something about it being “just a pirate show” that feels comforting. like yeah, it’s normal and okay to be queer, so what? (in the media being queer is so often turned into this big thing, so maybe i like that it’s so casual for once as it makes me feel included and not like an “other” to heteronormativity.)

[@TROQUE4]

plus it avoided all the assholes trying to tear it down before even watching

[@flacobrian3754]

kinda like black sails another pirate show with a gay romance

[@Kate-ms2mn]

The association between masculinity and violence, and the trauma those social expectations put onto amab people is way too absent in mainstream feminist analysises of gender - I really appreciate this empathetic analysis!!

[@arlokyle1403]

As a queer person watching this show felt like a chance to let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding. Like, being an early 2000s baby I've been having conversations about queerbaiting basically ever since I first realized I was queer as a teenager but it wasn't until I watched OFMD that I really felt the damage those years and years of being strung along by barely-there representation did to like, my entire understating of my own queerness. Something about the way OFMD didn't make a big deal out of the inherent queerness of its characters and treated every single one with exactly the same respect and normalization cishet characters usually get really got to me in a way I didn't think it would 🥲

[@fantasticalfascination]

Lucius going overboard in the last episode is, to me, a glaringly obvious example of the trick TV shows like to pull where they SAY "this character died", but never show the body, and then bring the character back in a way that's supposed to be surprising, but isn't, because they never showed the body.

[@trancedoutkid]

Show me a person looking unhinged and pointing at a white board with frantic eyes and I'm in, damnit!!

[@shagan1926]

Watching video essays about thsi show, just increases my love for it. I was fully expecting queerbaiting while watching the first few episodes, to the point that seeing the kiss on screen canonizing the romance made me giddy all day

[@nikolasslead6582]

This show and, by extension, everything that Taika Waititi has ever created, have had such a death grip on me for weeks since I watched it in Late March/Early April. I was so pleasantly shocked that the show wasn't a queerbait, I literally cried violently on both of the last two episodes.

[@m.w.8568]

13:34 "thats pretty gay of you, edward" is my new #1 favourite Rowan Ellis quote

[@kristinhigginbotham1881]

Just a side note- St. Augustine (Jim's hometown) is on Florida! It's the oldest European settlement in the state (and I think country) and it totally doesn't make sense for them to have been that close and also island hopping in the Caribbean. It does make perfect sense with Florida oranges though!

[@Pan-optic]

To be fair, a few years ago I was translating some Spanish Florida letters from the Seminole wars and a lot of the people in them seemed to have been moving a lot and doing Spanish errands between St. Augustine, Cuba and the rest of the Caribbean. Although I can't remember the specifics very well anymore, so take it with a grain of salt!

[@kashiichan]

There was historically actually quite a lot of piratical activity around the east coast and out through to the Caribbean. One of historical Blackbeard's favourite anchorage points was Ocracoke Island, which is off the coast of North Carolina.

[@tuna5204]

Cannot believe how there's no mention of Ed's GLOVES. And I was also expecting Rowan to pull Blackbeard's beart off in the show run-down, like she pulled the sword out. Nonetheless, amazing video, very much needed and appreciated. Hashtag LuciusIsAliveInTheSecretPasages and EdWillHaveAFullBeardAgainAtTheStartOfSeasonTwo

[@kobura6316]

our flag means death is just proof gay ships can be done right, the rest of y'all lacking.. fr I didn't think a show about fruity pirates would be the best thing in queer cinema, step tf up my lgbt brothers

[@GarnetHeartIllustrations]

Hearing live action show characters use "they/them" pronouns makes me so happy

[@bodybalanceU2]

i think this show is great allowing the kiwis to speak in their own accent instead having to put on a poor british accent

[@kashiichan]

Can you even IMAGINE Taika Waititi putting on a Bristol accent? **shudders**

[@emblachan]

As someone that listen to Rhys Darby in his podcast The cryptid factor i would say its toned down. Not gone, but toned down. Im also from sweden so im not so good at recognicing dialects. But i did not realice it was him until like episode 8. It was somthing familiar, but my brain could not understand that de fancy silly man in the show is the silly geek that likes cryptids on that podcast.

[@dominomasked]

Shout out for the titanic comedic talent of Rory Kinnear. Both subtly and broadly. The scene in ep 10 where he trips and shoots himself in the face... pure gold. His facial acting when he's crafting this absolute pile-of-crap character? Gorgeous.

[@IvyBellwether]

I do enjoy the idea of Lucius living in the walls of the revenge but I'm also really rooting for Lucius to get fished out of the sea by Anne Bonney and them developing a Kelsey Jannings/Todd style friendship (and then she rescues the rest of the crew from abandonment island obvi)

[@magikarpg]

I got into the show before episodes 9 and 10 were out and I think I'm still recovering from the hope and fear of that wait. I was so hopeful for Ed and Stede because the show already was queer and David Jenkins kept tweeting stuff like the "this is a love story" gif from Fleabag, but the kiss scene still managed to floor me haha. I remember that scene starting with Stede just sitting sadly on the beach and I Knew this was it. The colour grading, the quietness, you know. If it was ever gonna happen, it was now. It's so obvious now, but I think I was still a bit surprised it Actually happened. Queerbaiting does that to a person lol. Anyway I'm so delighted they have a good writer's room with marginalised perspectives, cause they're the reason this show resonates with people.

[@kingsaracoon9594]

For me, the thrill was in that space of time between "I reckon what makes ed happy is....you" and I had to pause and take deep breaths. When it cut to Stede's reaction, it felt like FOREVER. It was like we were both sharing the shame breaths of joy. AND THEN ED LEANT IN?? Like he literally blocks stede from the shot SO IT TAKES YOU BY SURPRISE. needless to say it was really exciting to watch.

[@MrGrandpapa]

our flag means death feels like an ineffable husbands pirate AU. (binged it and could not get that thought out of my head) also, I read Izzy as an extremely kinky jealous bastard. like he just enjoys toxic men (as you said, a masochist). he probably loved eating his own toe for "the real Blackbeard/HIS Blackbeard" he's a toxic ex who "wants you back"/"pick me" boy honestly. it's gonna be very interesting to see if he gets a redemption arc at some point or if they just kill him/leave him to die somewhere.

[@jsmountain]

I think there are totally parallels between the Ineffable Husbands and Blackbonnet, but I personally have trouble seeing Ed as a version of Crowley. I think they would get on like curtains on fire, but they have such different relationships with gender and particularly with masculinity. That being said, if we flip it the other way, au-wise, I could totally see Izzy fitting right in with the other demons who complain how Crowley/Ed has "gone native."

[@besupaaa]

I wasn't expecting the absolutely adorable drawings.

[@mr.fish666]

Please, please, please!!!! If you're a youtuber that talked and shared their love for this show, please spread awareness and protest the cancelation!!! I don't know if what I'm doing right now makes any fucking sense but I'm just feeling really hopeless about this. I'm thinking that with an internet outrage comparable in size to the praises of s1, something can be still done about it. I'm so heartbroken.

[@hayleyquinnx94]

must put in a complaint that you call Karl just 'A Seagull' and Buttons just 'a member of the crew'. Idk why but Buttons weeping naked on the deck the next morning has me in tears every time. Poor Buttons 😢

[@corvusblair]

I was told by four other people and then my husband that the show was actually gay, and I laughed and hand waved them because it never is. I watched it anyway with my husband in one day and when they kissed we had to pause it for half an hour because I couldn’t stop crying because it was real. Every character in it and the writing is all so fantastic but god the relief of it not being queerbaiting… ugh. My heart felt lighter somehow.

[@Roxeburry]

My Dad started watching the show as it came out and I wasn't super interested because he watches a lot of stuff that I don't necessarily like but as soon as I saw the kiss and heard it was involving Taika I knew I had to see it. I will say as a cishet man my Dad did not catch ANY of the gay stuff between Stede and Ed; he was very surprised to see the kiss. My partner was also on the bandwagon before me and the show DID NOT DISAPPOINT!! Also, this is the first essay of yours I've seen and it was very good!

[@bialynia]

What I love about the show is that it avoids two things that bother me greatly in any queer content and honestly in the queer community in general - obsession with labels and coming out. The show never states explicitly what are the exact sexual orientations and gender identities of the main characters in a way that very clearly says it doesn't really matter. People are not defined by their labels and therefore don't panic when they discover something new. The best example is when Lucius realizes he's attracted to Jim after already knowing they're AFAB, and before confirming they're not a woman. His reaction is a surprise but not in a bad way. What I see there is the joy of learning something new about himself. He isn't attracted exclusively to men after all. No big deal. No existential crisis and weeping over the lost purest of gays status.

[@majoapaolaza7122]

Ever since they mentioned they were going to scape to China, I'm dying to have Ching Shih as a character, and for them to end up serving her as part of the Guangdong Pirate Confederation

[@adaezefeyisayo]

Yassssssssss!

[@ormoffat]

Section One: Toxic Masculinity Me: Izzy Hands, next

[@kashiichan]

Izzy Hands and the Effects of Internalised Homophobia

[@trapsaltnburn]

I've been holding off watcing this video essay until I finally got to see OFMD, and I'm glad I waited. I went in with a little knowledge, and even then, even knowing FOR A FACT that we weren't getting baited this time, a part of me STILL couldn't help but go, "Wait, am I reading too much into this?" It's a real testament to how queer-baiting and having to look for subtext because it's all we usually get has affected how I watch media. I would also like to say I truly, truly appreciate that the writers didn't try to demonize Mary (or Doug, the new love interest for her) when Stede goes back. A lesser writing team would have. And I love that what her murder attempt actually facilitated was an open, honest conversation (possibly for the first time) between Stede and Mary. That they parted as friends and that he was genuinely happy for her, and for Doug.

[@hanna.ciszewska]

God I was just WAITING for you to pull Ed's beard off when you were talking about The Kiss episode...

[@caitie8921]

if HBO doesn’t renew this show for season 2 we hunt the execs for sport Edit: RENEWED

[@chrisleneil]

*sharpens knives*

[@Liam-be5tm]

*loads gun*

[@clearlynotaneldritchhorror8798]

*Gets me mallet*

[@caitie8921]

REJOICE

[@kristopherdawne]

I sometimes get into full cosplay and end up wearing it to the grocery store to make strangers smile or just confuse them. It's always a good time tbh. I recommend wearing your cool pirate outfit to the shops for fun.

[@raesdaee]

i need a chaotic retelling of the whole show from you PLEASE 🙏🙏🙏

[@vikib1758]

The actor that plays Jim said that there were nonbinary writers in the writer's room.

[@Matty002]

people forget our idea of marriage is extremely new. actual 'traditional' marriage is basically what you described

[@malyciousapple]

1) thank you for your service, i do not have hbo max so you doing this whole breakdown has partially soothed my clawing need to watch this show, 2) i've seen "blackbonnet" as the ship name almost exclusively and i think there was genuinely a giant poll on twitter in which people voted for it to BE the official ship name and can i just say after several years in the trenches of the star wars fandom fighting for my life it is a RELIEF to not have to lament the widely-accepted name of a juggernaut ship, and 3) you *absolutely* can and should just go grocery shopping and whatnot while dressed like a pirate.

[@kashiichan]

In regards to 2: unfortunately there are a lot of Black fans who *really* don't like "blackbonnet" as the name for the ship, so I've started using gentlebeard instead. Many fans are still using both, so hopefully it won't be too hard to switch over. Either way, I also agree that it's nice to have just 1 or 2 virtually-universal ship names rather than ~6 (god, fandom is wild sometimes)...

[@miserablepunk]

Yeah oof it's a good name ig but I also am not too fond of it, gentlebeard is adorable 🫶🏾

[@miserablepunk]

Yeah oof it's a good name ig but I also am not too fond of it, gentlebeard is adorable 🫶🏾

[@JuniperArtemis16]

1:20:45 Rowan please deliver on this casual promise of an analysis on the “In Defense of Elizabeth Swan” and the queerness of the entire Pirates of the Caribbean franchise please

[@HeyRowanEllis]

it is coming i promise!!

[@demolitionwoman_OFMD]

Me, a Gen X queer, literally crying at the 1:09 mark of this video because it's so, so true. 😭 I really don't think I realized how much 25+ years of queerbaiting had affected me until this show didn't do it.

[@angelawossname]

Remember when we expected to be grateful for queerbaiting? I remember being so appreciative of Xena when I was in my early 20's.

[@squeeneytodd]

Watching the show as it came out was a wild experience. Initially it was because someone I know just Really Likes Pirates. Then, after we watched the first three episodes released, I looked up Jim's actor and found out they used they/them pronouns. And while nothing had come of it, as a person who uses they/them pronouns there was this tiny, tiny bit of hope that the show was going to do something different than the standard "woman dresses like a man for plot reasons" story. And they did! And they hired several nonbinary writers for this purpose! I'm still floored by this aspect, and as the show went on I just kept getting hit with how much I loved Jim as a character. And then it continued to be queer, and none of the characters had to shoulder being the only queer character or being in the only queer relationship. Can't explain how fun it was to be entirely surprised by what was going to happen next.

[@nyctori]

when i first watched the show, i had only seen one singular fan meme..... so when i say i lost every marble i've ever owned when i got to ep9............... also THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO, SHAKING AND CRYING AS USUAL!!❤️

[@oblivionfiend2037]

I remember hearing about the show through the Good Omens fan art community and dismissed a lot of the kiss related artwork as fan ships and Stede and Ed being *one of those ships* where nothing is really confirmed and just implied, so imagine my surprise when I found out it's all real. Additionally, when I was younger, I desperately wanted to be a pirate and I got a lot of negative reaction from teachers etc because of that. I saw pirates as freedom- freedom from familial abuse and societal expectations, freedom to just go anywhere and be anyone. I was, and still am, considered an outcast but maybe at sea I could find my place. So in that regard, I relate very much to Stede, but I also relate to Ed too because, as I pirate, maybe I wouldn't be a victim anymore. I would be brave and feared and as such untouchable, no longer vulnerable. I wouldn't be weak, I'd have riches and reputation and therefore power that would give me some place in the world that wasn't under people's feet

[@lichidlc4418]

“a kind of freedom he doesn’t have the scope to imagine” if i had heard that early on i think things would’ve been a lot easier for me

[@GentleDogSnores]

"Am I too into this show?" Is the general response I've seen, I'm happy to see that it's stolen other people's souls like it stole mine.

[@OrinPosner]

pausing at 11:40 to appreciate that the orange is the new black nun grows oranges??? somehow I hadn't realized this is SUCH a great correlation

[@wickedest-witch]

I have so many thoughts I'm still processing into words around how the theme of monstrosity plays out in OFMD versus Black Sails - specifically Ed and Captain Flint. Like you touched on Ed painting himself as a monster and the label of the monster is such a central theme to Flint's character as well, and the idea of monstrosity comes up in the two shows both in similar and very different ways.