User Reviews

I try not to put spoilers in these reviews and it's hard to know how to approach this one without giving anything away, but there's a reason the phrase people keep using to describe Our Flag Means Death is "queer joy." There's an adorable cameo by Taika Waititi's daughters; the crew comes together for a celebration that showcases the exact vibe that made people fall in love with this show; the crew is attacked by the sort of villain who does things like tie up the two main characters on a sofa next to each other and force them to talk about their feelings; Stede and Blackbeard's relationship evolves to a new level. It's hard to ask for anything more.

Izzy gets a big moment here that's incredibly sweet and touching. However, as with a lot of his arc this season, it's beautifully acted but as far as the writing goes it feels a little unearned. He moved from where he was two episodes ago to suddenly being comfortable behaving the way he does here awfully quickly, with very little struggle or hesitation, and it doesn't entirely make sense; but as usual, Con O'Neill's outstanding performance really sells it. Still, it would have been nice to have more time for the rest of the crew to do more than stand around looking great in their party costumes.

"Calypso's Birthday" left me utterly captivated and thoroughly entertained. The outstanding cinematography in this episode is a visual feast, seamlessly blending vibrant colors and stunning landscapes, enhancing the overall viewing experience. The careful attention to detail and composition truly sets this show apart. The lighting, scene decor, costumes, and overall aesthetic was an absolute marvel to watch.

One of the standout elements is the exploration of the queer found-family dynamics. The camaraderie among the characters, forged through shared adventures, challenges and love for one another, adds a layer of warmth and depth to the narrative. It's heartening to witness the bonds between the crew members evolve, creating a sense of unity that resonates throughout this episode.

The themes woven into "Calypso's Birthday" are both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. The show skillfully delves into concepts of identity, loyalty, and the pursuit of freedom, making it more than just a pirate comedy. These thematic undercurrents contribute significantly to the overall richness of the storytelling.

Romance is delicately interwoven into the narrative, adding a touch of tenderness amidst the high-seas chaos. The genuine and heartfelt moments shared between characters add a layer of authenticity to the relationships, making them compelling and relatable.

Stede Bonnet's character arc takes center stage in this episode, and the journey of self-discovery he embarks on is nothing short of captivating. The nuanced portrayal of his growth and transformation adds depth to the character, making him all the more endearing. Izzy Hands' arc, as well, is handled with care, providing a delicate exploration of identity and acceptance for this once tortured and hardened character.

The soundtrack of "Calypso's Birthday" deserves special mention. The carefully curated music not only complements the on-screen action but also elevates the emotional impact of key scenes. The synergy between visuals and sound enhances the immersive quality of the episode. Special shout out to actor Con O'neill for giving a captivating performance of 'La Vie en Rose' by Edith Piaf in both english and french, it really ties the whole episode together.

Lastly, the atmosphere created in this installment is simply intoxicating. The show masterfully transports viewers into its world, immersing them in the pirate life with a perfect blend of humor, drama, adventure and of course romance.

In conclusion, "Calypso's Birthday" is a triumph on multiple fronts - from its breathtaking cinematography and exploration of found-family dynamics to its engaging character arcs, heartfelt romance, evocative soundtrack, and immersive atmosphere. This episode stands as a testament to the exceptional storytelling prowess of Our Flag Means Death, leaving me eagerly anticipating more from this remarkable series.

Where to even begin; the set design and costume design in this episode are a force to be reckoned with. The visuals are stunning and so intricate down to every last detail. The makeup crew also deserves a shoutout to the phenomenal job they did with all of the characters at the party, and truly transformed what we thought we knew about some of the characters. It was full of romance and thrills (and comedy of course) and I couldn't have asked for a better episode. I won't spoil anything but I have to say that this episode really hits the peak of the season, culminating so much of what everything has been leading up to. Amazing work all around.

Perfectly embraces the whole crew with this episode, I watch it on repeat and the soundtrack when I can't visually pay attention is beautiful feelings. Izzy Hands singing is such a glorious thing and I appreciate both renditions of the song they included, definitely stick around until the end of the credits for that second one and a short piece not to miss of Fang .

I love the imagery and the behind the scenes work to bring Calypso's birthday to life, you can tell the crew each believes in the show and celebration of everything they share with this episode.

Glad they included the family of the show writers in there for fun as well.

My favourite episode of the season I think. There was so much joy and love and absolute fun in this episode, not to mention the set dec and design was incredible! Shout out to the crew for pulling off such a magical setting, and all the decorations on board The Revenge. I especially loved the attention to detail when leaving only the green lanterns on when a change in mood was required due to the situation at hand. Izzy's singing was such a treat, unexpected but wholly beautiful, and the costume was once again unparalleled. Thank you to each and every member of the cast and crew for such an incredible episode, as a crew!

This episode is absolutely brilliant. The writing is great, but the design is perfection. A perfect blend of historical inspiration and queer joy exemplified.

The whole show is a gem, but this episode stands out. The brilliance of having the important plot arcs resolve together and celebrating them with a visual exploration of gender, queerness, costume play, and perfomance epitomizes the best things about Our Flag Means Death. This is a show where anything is possible in the name of self-actualization. Where self-acceptance is the most valued goal, and accepting and celebrating others is a close second.

I need more.

Our Flag Means Death has some beautiful cinematography, sets, costumes, the list goes on, but never has it looked so beautiful as this episode, with The Revenge decked out in gorgeous florals, bathed in purples and blues, and everyone dressed to the (piratey) nines! And no one was more stunning than Wee John, for reasons obvious in the episode. This one instantly goes into the OFMD Hall of Fame for the sheer queer joy emanating from every aspect of the episode - the expressions of self, the celebration of that by a found family of ragtag outsiders, an important romantic milestone for our main couple, and the cathartic thrill of making it through another perilous ordeal with your best crewmates by your side.

Spoiler-light? I'm trying to not give away too much.

In a media landscape where everyone figures themselves out at 17 or 20 or the late late age of 30, it's so good seeing myself for once. Older and wiser but also just as confused. Good to see Izzy learning who he really is and how he can connect to others, good to see Stede and Ed learning how to care for one another, good to see the new-old crew stretching themselves and sharing joy. You can want to feel beautiful when you're seven foot tall and bearded or if you're older it's your very first time even admitting it matters to you. You can want to have a community around to support you through your journey. (And Roach, in the background, absolutely having the time of his life through this entire episode doesn't hurt either!)

Oh my god I literally can't even begin to explain how much I love this episode. Literally everything was so perfect. This show is so unpredictable, what happened in this episode was literally the last thing I expected and I love it. It was executed so beautifully, when I say this show captures the feeling of love and community better than any other I've seen, this is what I mean.

Izzy's character development makes me sob oh my god, seeing him in this episode was THERAPY. It was so sweet and lovely, I adore it so much. And seeing Wee John get to shine as well?? So amazing, I love the constant focus on each character throughout the show, it really brings the whole concept of "as a crew" into light.

Another thing I love about this episode that kind of contrasts the rest, is how it marks the beginning of Stede's next era. Throughout the next episodes we see Stede take a bit of a turn, starting with the rather traumatic events of this one. I love how they managed to capture that idea, repeating the same flashbacks again and showing the distress that leads into the switch in his mentality and character development over the rest of the season, despite the episode being otherwise a light-hearted and joyful experience.

The execution of this episode was just perfect, the cinematography and set design was gorgeous, the makeup and costume design was beautiful, the acting was amazing (Con O'Neill's performance was especially outstanding) and everything else. This episode was genuinely perfect, I love it so much.

That was such a lovely episode. Well, it contained some genuinely weird torture and Ed explaining a couple of children the mechanics of stabbing someone, but other than that: lovely :)

It was much quieter, I felt, than the previous episodes. There's a bit of introspection from Ed's side (who is out of the burlap sac again). He wants to make amends for his previous rampage and Stede has an idea how to help him with that.

The grand finale though... not so quiet. First of all, Wee John and Izzy look spectecular. Izzy's performance is dazzling. The entire crew partying and singing and dancing, so wonderful to see. They all deserve something nice. Well, and Ed and Stede... good for them.

Favourite line: "We're sort of in the, like, pre-revenge window."

Don't even get me started about this episode! The lights, the costumes, the make-up! Con O'Neill's beautiful voice! The set design in this episode, considering the budget cuts that this show faced in season 2, was spectacular and so fun to watch on screen. The color palette is so vibrant and playful, and the dark backdrop of the night sky only helps those colors to pop out at you. Additionally, the LGBT representation is top tier. I love how the writers were able to replicate the feeling of community brought about by drag culture. We get to see some great character development too as this pirate family comes into their own and learns more about their own desires.