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Reviews
Our Flag Means Death: Wherever You Go, There You Are (2022)
A Note of Hope
There is so much packed into such a short episode here. From Mary's life, to Stede's relationship with his children; from the nuances of Izzy threatening mutiny, to the return of Jim -- some of these moments are hopeful, and some raise the viewer's hopes only to sash them later (mostly at the separation of Jim and Olu, Pete and Lucius). The ending is on a very hopeful note; Stede, the lighthouse, come to guide his crew and again.
Compare that with the last shot we have of Ed -- alone in the bed nook in the cabin. He's been there since the episode first aired, and our main hope now lies in the romance of it all -- when will they kiss again?!
Our Flag Means Death: Act of Grace (2022)
Beautiful and heartbreaking
Another example of pitch-perfect pacing, from confession (Ed confesses to spare Stede; Stede confesses to spare Ed) to trial (and the affirmation of Stede as captain before all his crew) to capture (and Stede unable to believe that Ed may want to rest for a while) while the crew deal with an Izzy whose suddenly tasted a bit of power and begun to emulate seemingly every unsavoury pirate captain from his own past.
The part that always makes me cry is the image of Stede's hand on the doorknob -- at that point, there seems to be no turning back from the direction he's taken and, at this hour (now that the night has passed and he's far from Ed and the crew), there's no one near to help him see things in any other way but the fashion in which he's always seen them, and which Chauncey has reinforced. He opens the door, and begins to try to make amends...
Our Flag Means Death: We Gull Way Back (2022)
Masterful
A masterclass in exploring jealousy, deceit, self-realization, and growth. Jack arrives on board the Revenge and sows mayhem; Ed can't see beyond the Jack he's known from his past, and the way Ed himself was back then. He doesn't have the courage of his convictions, at first, to show Jack the ways in which he's changed. Stede gains in courage when he stands up to Jack (once more, as he did with Nigel), speaking up not on his own behalf, but on behalf of his crew/family when they've been injured.
But it's too late -- Jack's deception bears fruit.
Beautifully shot, and of course the Chain sequence is now firmly lodged in the minds of fans, and rightly so!
Our Flag Means Death: This Is Happening (2022)
Brilliant!
Magnificent pacing, humour, and emotional high notes. This episode has it all! We learn more of Jim's backstory, and the episode switches seamlessly between two sets of relationships, Jim and Oluwande, and Stede and Ed, each of which may or may not be having its own communication problems...
The rest of the crew have their own shenanigans going on, of course. One of the best feelings the episode engenders, each time I watch it, is the "back to the boat" line -- what a wonderful sense of a family heading out for a day's adventure on land, then coming home to their ship at the end of a long day.
Our Flag Means Death: The Best Revenge Is Dressing Well (2022)
Perfectly balanced!
Another perfect blend of humour, adventure, and romance! This episode does a great job of showing the deeper memories and long-hidden hopes of Stede and Blackbeard, while also delving into the motivations and goals of the rest of the crew. The growing relationships between certain crew members are shown with a light touch that yet contains a wealth of feeling behind it. And, when it comes to Stede and Blackbeard, once again the seemingly ordinary (an opportunity to wear purple, a full moon, a swatch of red silk) is transformed into a powerful visual and metaphor. Definitely worth rewatching often!
Our Flag Means Death: Discomfort in a Married State (2022)
Brilliant emotion and pacing
Another episode that knocks it out of the park, in terms of pacing, relationship development, and adventure. The pacing is spot on, shifting between flashbacks (for Stede), one-on-one interactions (Blackbeard and Izzy), and full crew moments (when Jim has to deal with curious shipmates). Relationships are developed so gradually that some can only be appreciated on multiple rewatches; not only between Stede and Blackbeard and other couples, but also among the crew, and of course with Izzy. The date of 1 September is now celebrated by fans, and rightly so! This show is wonderful at teasing metaphors out of various images and objects, and ensuring their continuity. "We need to be a lighthouse!"
Our Flag Means Death: A Gentleman Pirate (2022)
Brilliant!
This show never fails to blend intrigue and humour! There are so many small moments in this episode that contain a wealth of feeling and information behind them, and they're each presented so well -- you don't feel as though you're missing anything, rather, the hints at characterisation and backstory fire up your imagination! Sudden moments of intense drama keep the viewer invested; the timing of the action is spot-on, allowing time to process events and dialogue before moving on to the next. And certain character motivations are even clearer in hindsight (such as those of Izzy Hands), and this episode, as with all the others, merits a rewatch or two (or 20 :p).
Our Flag Means Death: A Damned Man (2022)
Funny and moving, both!
This show doesn't miss at blending humour with romantic and dramatic moments. Stede Bonnet's backstory and motivations come through clearly, and each member of the crew receives due attention/on-screen time. The slowly deepening relationships between the crew members are very well presented -- and with the other crew as well (even better on a rewatch, when the viewer knows whose crew it is). Once again, the musical choices blend perfectly. Each time I rewatch it, including based on comments from other fans, I notice new and intriguing moments and interactions -- and various titbits (the initials in the heart on the rock face!)!
Our Flag Means Death: Pilot (2022)
A brilliant intro
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.