I Watch TV: Our Flag Means Death

 

Our Flag Means Death Season 2

At the end of Season 1 Stede Bonnet (real) and his crew had been left stranded in the Republic Of Pirates (real). They are recruited by Zheng Ye Sao, the Queen Of Pirates (real) who has a very serious pirating fleet.

Meanwhile Blackbeard, Edward Teach (real) is devastated by being abandoned by Steed, and drives his crew to riskier and riskier efforts. Eventually his first mate Izzy Hands (real) tells him to his face that he’s doing it to because he misses Stede and he should pull himself together. Ed shoots him so he loses his leg, and drives the ship into the heart of a storm.

Mutiny of course. Mutiny and secrets; first Izzy is hidden from Ed by his crew, who eventually turn against him. Then they hide Ed when Zheng comes across them. Ed’s near death experience changes him and he and Stede have to decide who they are and what their relationship is. This takes place via several funhouse mirror historical pirate characters and possibly events.

Also one character validates Ed’s time in the purgatory-like “Gravy Basket” before turning into a seagull.

The show leans into both queer relationships and destructive relationships even harder than season one. It’s often very funny indeed, and my moderate knowledge of the period(s) and setting was more often amused than annoyed by the liberties. They aren’t trying to get the world of pirates right, and why should they.

Watch This: Funny, occasionally tough pirate sitcom
Don’t Watch This: Pirates aren’t to be played for laughs