User Reviews

I was a little concerned when I watched the first episode that this show would be a dud. Some of the humor felt forced, and I honestly didn't know where the show was going.

8 episodes in, I'm really glad I continued watching this show. It's a delight. It really gets better with each episode and covers some pretty dark themes. I think if this show keeps going, it could turn into something similar to Community.

'Pirating is not for everyone.'

Captain Stede Bonnet has turned his life on an aristocratic lifestyle, for a life as a Captain of Pirate ship, The Revenge.

I've been told by a few people that I wouldn't love the pilot, but that it would improve as if goes on, I can see that, but I thought this pilot episode was pretty funny.

It was the absurdity of it all that made it so funny, the situation, The Captain, it's all just so wonderfully over the top.

Rhys Darby is a riot as Stede, he's going to be funny. I liked that we learned a bit about him, his past, why he left etc.

Credit to them for casting the wonderful Rory Kinnear as the plumpy voiced English Sea Captain.

Pretty funny, 7/10.

Episode 1 gets off to a slow start. It's funny, it's cute, but it is really only the launching point for what will become an incredibly deep and rich experience. First episode almost feels like this show is going to be a light work-place comedy.

But what the show becomes is a devastatingly impactful exploration of toxic masculinity, queer love, and what it means to be true to oneself when struggling against societal and family expectations.

The show keeps the humor from Ep 1, and every little "throw-away" moment in Ep 1 ends up paying out in a dramatic way in this incredibly well-scripted show.

Binge it. It's meant to be binged.

It's not the funniest thing in the world but it's a fun little first episode with some heart at the center with an enjoyable pirate style and offbeat pirating.

This episode is endearing, hilarious, and begins introducing us to the characters. Hearing "high on a rocky ledge" at the closing of this episode makes me smile, it reminds me of the beauty and laughs I'm in for. I've watched the entire series several times through and i always notice new things each time. The writers thought of everything. Even if this episode doesn't get you hooked, please keep watching. The characters, the tone changes, the layers etc, no piece of media has ever made me feel as good as this one.

I'm giving this a 10 after my second viewing. This show has a uniqueness that I don't want to spoil anything by being too specific, but the pilot introduces you to some of the most unique, absurd, and yet somehow real characters on TV, and not a single one of them is a 'missed shot'! Give this show a chance and you won't regret it, I swear!

If I hadn't been told specifically to keep going, I would have stopped after the pilot. It wasn't bad, but it's not a strong opener, which I think is one of the few weaknesses of this show overall. It's obvious that the cast is new to working with each other and are still finding their feet in terms of tone & style. Some performances feel a bit forced, and it's unclear at first whether we're meant to be laughing with Stede or at Stede (humor at the expense of people's differences is not my jam). Nevertheless I don't think they could have opened the show in a dramatically different way. It's critical to give some time to the character development of Stede and crew before jumping into the meat of the story a few episodes in. Coming back to this episode a second time, once you know the crew, it becomes much more enjoyable.

What a amazing opening! The costumes, the set design, the music, the lighting, the acting and writing! Top notch.

I've loved Rhys Darby forever. And I'd watch Taika Waititi read the phone book. But made me tune in to begin with was Samba Schutte talking about the show. I'm so glad I did!

Great beginning to introduce us to this weird world with its weird people Loved it.

From Stede Bonnet's pompous buffoonery to the bitchy attitudes of most of the crew; to Izzy chewing the scenery and Buttons preventing a mutiny, the gonzo story went at a fast clip and kept me riveted. The show only gets funnier as it goes.

Rhys Darby is funny guy but I haven't been able to get into his post - Conchords output. Maybe he needs their droll humour to bounce off but on his own he starts to wear thin. OFMD looks great and i got a few giggles from it but its just not that funny.

On first watch of the first two episodes, many (like me) enjoyed the comedy just fine while others (my spouse, for instance) weren't fully convinced. However these episodes plant seeds that blossom beautifully as the season progresses, and even more reluctant viewers are fully reeled in in episode three. Each episode keeps getting better and going deeper in emotional complexity, while remaining funny as hell. A rewatch shows how masterfully the themes and details were established in the first episodes.

So! Even if you feel "eh" on this episode, please do yourself a favor and watch two more episodes to see where things are going. I have watched and enjoyed a lot of television in my time but this is the only show that has literally been life-changing.

I wasn't sure what to expect from "Our Flag Means Death", but the second half of the episode sparked my curiosity. Having seen this, I intend to watch a few more episodes.

The episode's humorous tone mainly stuck out to me. It was nice to watch an entertaining show that didn't try to take itself too seriously and had a good sense of how to blend drama with comedy.

I'm excited to see where "Our Flag Means Death" goes. While the pilot episode didn't give much in terms of plot, it definitely set the stage for what looks to be an entertaining and potentially wild ride.

Rating: 7/10 (Good, It Gets the Job Done)

Obviously these guys are not the Monty Python but if you don't laugh here I'm not sure where.

Even though some dialogue seem unnatural and forced, the overall rhythm is so enjoyable that it's everything I needed when I pressed play: a comedy that actually makes you think about the miseries of life, an incompetent protagonist with a heart of gold who discovers what is needed to gain respect within his new family (ie violence). All of the above compressed in about 30 min. Perfect.

Of course the crew won't move on with their plan to take over the ship and hang our captain (otherwise the show is over) but it's always good to know there's a danger looming behind the corner: it adds potential drama and,in our case fun stuff.

The dinner scene is a masterclass in editing, so good. I watched it twice. If you like a period piece, costumes and production design are well put together (love the skit with the library)

This first episode is brilliant at introducing the characters and building the world of the show. It engages with interesting storytelling, allowing the viewer to meet its endearing characters and will leave you wanting to know them more.

The ensemble cast do a fantastic job and the story told is humorous and compelling. It is able to convey such a wide range of emotions. This episode is shot beautifully and does an excellent job at setting the tone for the rest of the series.

It is truly a charming show which captured me from the beginning. You will not regret getting into this amazing pirate comedy.

The pilot is pleasant and likeable. A bit like Captain Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) and aristocrat turned pirate ship captain.

He abhors violence and likes to give his crew decent working conditions and a regular wage.

Stede is not cut out to be a pirate and his crew are plotting to get rid off him as he shows no stomach for fight. The crew are not used to having a pirate captain treating them with compassion.

A sighting of another ship gives Stede an opportunity to prove himself. Only for it to be a much larger Royal Navy ship on the lookout for pirates.

Can Stede take advantage of a bullying old school friend to be a hero to his crew?

Although made in America. The humour of New Zealanders Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby is very much in tune with quirky British humour. At times Stede seemed to be channelling his flamboyant side just like Captain Shakespeare in Stardust without his bravery.

The pilot episode is so charming, especially on rewatch when you've gotten to know the characters better--the background details of the crew's interactions are really worth paying attention to, and VERY funny. It's definitely not a serious historical drama, but tbh I watch a lot of historical dramas and they don't always have the level of care that went into the sets and the costumes for this show. It's not that everything is perfectly period-accurate, it's that the rich background details add to every scene. And it sets up the show perfectly for future episodes as well.

A great start to a very fun show :)

Fans of Kiwi humor will jump right in with all the enthusiasm of Stede Bonnet deciding to be a pirate captain.

In this episode we meet our protagonist Stede as he leaves his family behind and begins his journey at sea. He pays his crew a salary to alleviate the "mental pressure" of needing to steal. His newly commissioned ship, the Revenge, features a library and other amenities, but some of the crew would rather be raiding ships.

As the pilot continues, we get to know some of the crew members and meet a cruel figure from Stede's past (guest star Rory Kinnear in a delightfully unhinged performance).

Each of the characters are introduced smoothly as the protagonist, Stede, interacts with them, and it introduces the story in an interesting way without immediately sucking you into an intense plot. Light-hearted, absurdly funny, and full of lovable characters. It introduces the viewer to the conflict and you get a taste for the enthralling pacing that is consistent within this show. It is a pilot, and for that reason it can be seen as a 'slow start', but it is one of the most fun pilots of a show I've ever watched, and within another episode or two, the show is absolutely impossible to put down.

An absolutely magnificent start to the series, working as a great way to introduce many of the main characters we will grow with over the course of the show.

The found family trope has strong beginnings here, as we get to know this bunch of misfits who have come together to crew the Revenge, captained by run away aristocrat Stede Bonnet.

This episode really showcases Rhys Darby's comedic physicality, and introduces one of the main sources of conflict that will play out throughout the season.

Everyone gets their chance to shine, and I certainly couldn't wait to carry on my journey with them!

The ideal blend of humour and pathos; I was captivated by the characters right from the start and by the last scene (with all the flags fluttering), I was tearing up. It had been a while since I watched a show that so clearly, with few words and only through gestures, showed the characters' motivations so clearly. The musical choices are also inspired and capture the mood perfectly. I could not wait to watch the rest, and I've rewatched the series many times since that first watch, and noted new details and new favourite lines each time. Always impressed by a show that stands up to endless rewatches, like rereading a favourite comfort book.

This is a very strong pilot, beautifully shot by director Taika Waititi, that gives us a decent dollop of backstory and pulls the audience in with the clever humor of a not-quite-historically-accurate Age of Sail parody.

The pilot, like the show overall, is heartfelt but never schmoopy. It's got great narrative drive, and it is truly FUNNY.

Rhys Darby gives perhaps his most compelling performance to date as aristocrat-turned-pirate Stede Bonnet: he's a fancyboy loser who might just make good on his escapist dreams before it's all through.

The supporting cast of Revenge crewmembers make this one worth watching. And they're just getting started!