Our Flag Means Death: The Gay Emancipation of Blackbeard | READUS 101
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
- Our Flag Means Death: The Gay Emancipation of Blackbeard || Our Flag Means Death does a great job at tackling multiple queer characters and gay moments in ways that prioritize LGBT members in a narrative including pirates, adventure, and a well done kiss scene. But what really makes Our Flag Means Death gay, is its use Taika Waititi’s Blackbeard -- through his relationship with the main character Stede Bonnet -- to tell an allegorical story about how close-knit toxic masculinity is to internalized homophobia leading up to the kiss scene, and how one’s journey of emancipation can be more difficult than it seems.
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00:00 Intro
04:03 When It Comes To The Allegories...
07:54 Then There’s Izzy
14:00 It’s Not That Simple
18:32 Conclusion
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#OurFlagMeansDeath #OFMD
• Our Flag Means Death: ... - Zábava
Did I mention I hate Izzy?
Lol
Lol why
no need to mention it, everyone hates him lol
Your description has me on the crossroads after hearing the buzz, becauze Izzy absolutely sounds like my favourite objectively horrible character type that everyone justifiably hate, who always gets the ending they deserve, but yet somehow I will still get attached.
I love Izzy because it's so easy to hate him. You explained it perfectly: he's a character that the audience can hate but it's also easy to see why he's there and what he represents. It doesn't help that Con O'Neill plays him with such gusto and intensity, I can't recall the last time a show/movie had a villain that /loved/ to be evil. The show also takes time to mock him and make him the butt of the joke several times, so it's easy to hate him without finding him too intimidating or too close to a real-life threat (I don't know how to explain this last bit but I hope it makes sense).
HBO: Ok, you can have ONE explicitly gay ship.
OFMD: Cool. The Revenge will be the gay ship.
HBO: Hey wait-
I am laughing so hard, thanks!
hihihi
The whole ship, please and thank you lol
"Izzy invented homophobia just so he could internalize it" has become a bit of a saying in the ofmd fandom. He's so massively repressed that he's wound up a cartoon villain, eating his own toe and enjoying it.
I read a neat deep dive on Izzy where the summary was basically that hes a cartoon queer coded villain dropped into this world where everyone is proud and happy and doesn’t know how to handle that
Our Flag honestly like changed my whole set of standards for entertainment. I'm so happy that two middle aged men can have a romance and not have it be portrayed as taboo or only subtext. I'm so done with queerbaiting.
SAME
This!
Absolutely correct.
Preach!
i hope we're finally moving past the age of queerbait
i read someone else point out how satisfying it was that the show positions bigotry in general as Unacceptable within the crew. like in addition to immediately killing racists, whenever izzy tries to weaponize queerness against lucius, it just doesn't work. no one endorses what izzy's saying or doing.
that one scene in particular where izzy's confronting lucius in front of the crew, and lucius just SMIRKS. like "oh, you poor little shit. you think ~outing~ me will do anything? absolutely the fuck not, you're so pathetically mistaken."
and then pete going "that was hot, babe!" like YEAH! IT WAS! fucking cool as hell to have a show be like "oh you think you're gonna weaponize homophobia? keep that shit to yourself, loser." lol
and then of course the WIDE variety of men who are treated as whole people, interesting, and desirable. like lucius really does want to draw all of the men, it's sweet. and of course the non-issue of jim being just jim, and everyone using they/them pronouns. just an absolute delight.
I think one of the best examples of this is with the death of Karl. Even though most of the crew seems ambivalent about Karl, the second Calico Jack hurts Buttons, they all immediately back up their friend, respect his grief, and banish the guy that hurt him. There is no room for blatant disrespect of people's emotions, identities, or relationships, no matter their form.
@@MDaggatt 100%! another wonderful moment--terrible for karl and buttons, and eventually olivia, but such a good moment for the show. the show frames it as an unforgivable act of cruelty and carelessness, bc it is. i gasped when it happened, and like you said, the crew is equally as shocked and comes to buttons' defense and support.
I also love the fact that Fang and Ivan ended up falling into crew life. They both helped the crew with the mutiny against Izzy.
Izzy: I'mma tell 'em you're gay
Lucius: bitch if ur gonna pull that shit tell 'em something they don't already know lmao
Actually, Izzy's attempt at blackmail wasn't even about Lucius being queer, it was about Lucius not being monogamous. Izzy assumed he was cheating, only to find out they "don't own eachother." Additionally, his wording when talking about how Stede has "seduced" Ed seems more focused on the fact that he just doesn't like Stede specifically.
one thing i really liked about the show was that while ed's character arc was very much an allegory for queer self-discovery, the actual queer part of the show was just...there. nobody gave a shit except the people you were supposed to hate anyway, and the actual meat of ed's story was the toxic masculinity he was trying to escape. tbh it also felt like an addiction/recovery allegory (in part because toxic masculinity/societal expectations can feel very much like an addiction, but also because ed literally drank more when he was trying to be blackbeard), with ed ultimately unable to stay "sober" once his primary pillar of support was removed.
like the coming-out/queer self-discovery metaphor was still very much present, but it was ultimately just PART of what was going on, not the totality of it. and holy shit was that refreshing to see. it wasn't "oh no i like another man!!!" it was "oh no i want to be emotionally vulnerable and there are people who REALLY don't like that."
Oh wow, nice catch with the alcohol! I didn't even think about that when I watched the show!
@@Readus101 yeah, in the ep with calico jack, it comes up pretty explicitly a couple times. stede saying in his confrontation with ed that he doesn't like sitting around drinking all day and that he doesn't like how ed is around jack, going "oh look they're already drinking" when he's spying on them from the ship, etc. i mean everyone on the show drinks a lot, but it's only with jack and then at the end of ep10 that it's visually associated with violence/monstrousness.
Yes, this.
@@ravenofroses Building on this, when Ed drinks with Stede, it is always moderately - and high quality alcohol in cut crystal. They are savouring the "fine things" together, not just getting pissed and aggressive. God I love this show. The layers...
@@msbonsaihuman yes, thank you! i'd meant to add that but forgot. the little details in this show are amazing.
Izzy is indeed a personification of INTERNALISED queerphobia, it's very visible in the fact that he seems tempted by Lucius more than once. He feels very homophobic and very gay at once and i reckon it's purposeful.
And it's painfully obvious how hopelessly in love he is with Ed/ Blackbeard, especially in episode 10 how he lovingly stroked Blackbeard's face as he was being threatened after rebuking him. I think for Izzy, he feels that the only way his toxic masculinity allows him to love Ed is through violence. Kinda like having his cake and eating it too. The softer Ed becomes, the farther away he slips from Izzy, who's loved him from afar for years probably. Izzy is having his own struggles with masculinity, difference is he wilfully ignores them to keep up appearances. The now famous "daddy scene" after he discovers Lucius and Black Pete rings a little more genuine if seen in the light that maybe that's something he's always wanted to say to Blackbeard...👀
@@tatianamelendez490 that too lmao he's 100% in love there
@@amaeliss7827 I think that's why I can't fully hate Izzy. I don't like him and I hate what he's doing to our gay pirate dads, but I can't bring myself to hate him completely. I can see so much pain and unrequited love that, while not an excuse for his actions, make me feel for him regardless. If he could just pull his head out of his ass, maybe he and Stede can share a willing Ed (I think he'd appreciate twice the attention). Pirate polygamous relationship, maybe? Just a thought. 😉
@@tatianamelendez490 Izzy is too toxic. He set Ed back so much and he's probably more in love with the concept of Blackbeard than the actual man.
I'm not against Ed having another boyfriend... As long as it's litteraly anyone else xD
(Just to be clear though I don't fully gate Izzy either)
@@amaeliss7827 Fair enough. He's done too much harm, and again hate what he's doing to my gay pirate dads. But still... interesting thought experiment.
You know what I also love about this series, it's that in no scene whatsoever NUDITY is used as a selling point for the show.
When Jim were bathing in the ocean and Mr Buttons was doing his Moon bathing, it was never depicted as anything but 2 people being naked doing their thing, AND with the angle of the camera respecting them in what they were supposed to be doing.
I can't even remember any scene were anybody was sexualised, even were people were having sex.
Man, another point for this series as a whole.
Love them!
Also, Izzy is a great villian for the story, and for that he can suck balls in hell.
Thank you! Great points!
This show resonated with me so much.
I keep thinking about Ed's beard - how it's part of this masculine shield he's built up over the years, it greying, how he's not got it when he confesses, and especially how he tries to draw it back on when he's hurt - but fundamentally, he's been changed - he can't easily slip back into that persona, even though he's trying so hard to.
Also Izzy being happy to be fed his own toe - toxic masculinity = relishing needless pain.
Nice catch with the beard!
Along with that, steed’s crew doesn’t even have beards except for Jim (and that one’s fake); meanwhile, Blackbeard’s crew all have beards to varying degrees
@@quidditch1991 most of stede's crew have beards
@@quidditch1991 Stede's crew have beards, most of them do ! In fact, I think the only person not to have facial hair is Stede himself. Black Pete, while not having a full beard, has a stubble, and Lucius has significant sideburns
God, Izzy is so complex and Con O’Neill does SUCH a phenomenal job of bringing those layers. He depends on Blackbeard for his own purpose. You can see that he cares for Ed in his own terrifyingly possessive way, esp in ep 4 when he says “boss, BOSS it’s September 1st.” You see worry, fear, pity, begrudging sympathy all in the space of half a second on his face.
Of course this does not excuse him trying to cram Ed into a box and tie strings HOLD THE PHOOOONE I now understand why they anachronistically featured Pinocchio in this show… wooow wowowowowow, go me.
I think the element of abuse and poverty is also key in Blackbeard's story.
He's been cornered into who he is -- Oluwande says so on the first episode, most pirates become pirates because they have no other choice.
Edward was a poor kid that came from an abusive home situation, who considered himself a monster because he killed his dad (his abuser), who went into piracy to escape poverty and trained under an abusive and toxic enviroment (Calico boasts about their time as crew from the older pirates and the tales are horrifying). He's been cornered into this world and mindset that - as you say - is all he knows! And yet, he years for more!
Ed - because of his background - genuinely believes he doesn't deserve softness, ''Fine things aren't for people like us'' his mother told him and- although Stede and the way he treats him (''You wear fine things well'') goes against that, Ed genuinely can't escape that idea inside his own head. He's a monster, he's a lowlife, he's a Kraken and playing otherwise leads him to get hurt.
And it sucks because in episode 10, he explored emotional vulnerability without Stede!
Lucius and the crew were genuinely ecstatic to be soft and vulnerable and honest alongside Edward! And he was hurt but his expression was healthy! Izzy took a stab at that soft underbelly on purpose, manipulated him right back into his worst impulses and that's the tragedy of it: Ed's emancipation doesn't hinge on Stede, he can explore his softness on his own. But right when it was happening, Izzy nipped it in the bud.
This is a very crucial part of the story that I loved so much. With him leaving with Calico Jack, all I could see in Ed’s face was an intense self-hatred, a deep shame for showing Stede what he assumes others will see as his true self, deciding to cut off that connection in anticipation of rejection so he could have control. Of course he was going to go with Calico Jack, Jack is what Ed sees himself as, that he could have just as easily been caught up in the energy and accidentally hit a beloved bird, that it was just a matter of time before this kind loving man saw something too monstrous to love back.
@@daniellewasdelayed8921 OMG you gals are making me cry!
@@daniellewasdelayed8921 I love this show, and this fandom
God see this is why i like CZcams comments that talk about this. Twitter twisted the whole meaning of the story and what ed is struggling with. You're very right and you wrote it also well.
This analysis is perfect. That last bit is so crucial too. Ed was truly making progress after heartbreak, allowing himself to mourn and reach out to others, but Izzy refused to be discomforted by Ed’s progress. He even tried to lie to the crew about Ed being sad even though Ed wasn’t really hiding it himself.
I was super excited about this show when it was announced last year. I’m a huge Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi fan, so I was expecting a typical comedy where everyone was pirates but with heart.
Throughout the show, I was like, “Rhys Darby has amazing chemistry with Taika Waititi. It’s so cool that they’ve been friends for so long their chemistry translates so well to the screen!” Which quickly turned into, “Are they playing this gay?” I genuinely thought I was imagining it, since I’m so used to shows that aren’t marketed as gay, being very VERY straight.
Also, I love Izzy. I ship him with therapy.
The Izzy-therapy ship should be canon.
"I SHIP HIM WITH THERAPY" LMFAOOO
I ship Izzy with therapy destroyed me!!! hahahahahahaha I know some people IRL I ship with therapy hahahaha
Izzy x death tho 😊
@@thatonegirlwithamustache2758 This is actually the one show I'd expect to pull off a convincing redemption arc. Not because "Izzy is my babygirl uwu" but because it would show that it's never too late to improve and be the best version of yourself.
I made a tumblr post about this - I loved that all the romantic relationships in the show developed differently. Not every romance has to be the huge "OMG YOU'VE REDEFINED MY LIFE" thing that Ed and Stede have.
Exactly!! I love that this have this big epic romance for the main plot but Also have two other wonderful relationships, black Pete and lucious who are dating more casually but are also in love, as well as Jim and Olu who develop feelings for each other after being friends for a long time. It feels more realistic to show love in all these different shades.
Even after Blackbeard had broken up with Stede, he was still healthy. The crew was supporting him, especially Lucius. Then Izzy had to go to the underbelly because he doesn’t want Ed. He wants Blackbeard, and it was devastating. Even the crew was suprised. I hate Izzy, but he’s hurt and broken, he needs to work on himself and I fear that it would be too late for him then.
I was really really impressed with how the gay characters were depicted in the series. First of all, I'm glad they showed more than one couple, and I loved the slow burn between Stede and Edward very much. I got very invested in their relationship to the point I was cheering when they finally kissed. I don't know if the show did everything right, but at no point did I cringe because of the depiction of gayness in the show. It was funny, but not at the expense of the character's relatiosnhips.
the inclusion of an enby character in the main cast is what really gives me my respect for it, its honestly the first time i see it done in a series like this, unless there are others?
@@keithredacted8154 A totally human enby? Nah, I can't think of a single other example.
@@keithredacted8154 Netflix’s One Day At A Time has Syd, love interest for Elena Alvarez in the cast since season 1.
Another Life on Netflix has a non-binary character that has a very cute love story and uses ze/hir pronouns!
@@keithredacted8154 I know that Jim is the first character I've ever seen anywhere who I could relate to, gender-wise. And the fact that nobody made a big deal about their gender? I almost cried. And they had an actual storyline, and a love story too!
(For future reference it's TIE-kuh WHY-tee-tee) I love this show's treatment of queerness because queerness /itself/ isn't what the characters struggle to express; instead, it's an avenue of emancipation for what they're actually struggling with--vulnerability, softness, love and contentment, etc. Ed was openly queer long before Stede came along, but he'd never met someone who let him show the gentler sides of his personality until he met Stede
Waititi himself pronounces it "WHY-titi", which sounds incorrect, but makes me wonder if it is a dialect different to standard Te Reo. I've also heard other Te Reo speakers pronounce it this way when interviewing him, though perhaps just to reflect his own pronunciation.
@@msbonsaihuman I think the only reference that matters as to the correct pronunciation of his name is the way Taika himself wants it to be pronounced, if that makes sense. I've also heard that he pronounces it WHY-titi.
@@mlorpf Absolutely, which is why I mention it. I pronounce my own surname "incorrectly" to some ears, but rather than reflecting my pronunciation, others take it upon themselves to "correct" it when repeating it back. It's frustrating and we should respect that people know how to pronounce their own names.
I'm glad that Stede got a chance to tie up loose ends when he returned to Mary and then officially "killed" his old self. Now Blackbeard has returned to his old self, fully embracing the toxic masculinity and I hope that he also gets his own journey of self-discovery.
I hope they get back together tho 😭
I just finished watching Our Flag Means Death and I’m so HURT over Edward.
I was really surprised and moved by how /real/ the story got with these painful themes regarding queerness, homophobia, masculinity, and struggling to be in relationship.
… I was especially struck by the scene when Jack needles Stede “so are you two buggering, or what?”
And taunting him that “we had our dalliances…”
basically that all-too-familiar idea that it’s SORT OF acceptable to "fool around" with a dude in very specific circumstances, but it’s VITAL that it stays just purely physical, and that you’re the manliest of men, or ELSE.”
And the aggressive subtext of “I can clearly see that you’re actually gay and it’s pathetic; you mean nothing to him.”
(And then coming back to what that all implies about how Ed has had to navigate his queerness over the years on crews as a sailor, and then eventually as Blackbeard...)
I just mean to say… I’m still shocked that they went there!??
This isn’t subtext, it’s THE TEXT, And I’m kind of still reeling tbh.
Omg You nailed it about Izzy’s role and what he represents- he’s such a GREAT antagonist for this story, embodying the homophobia and brutality that constricts the characters…
…and he’s able to spread poison and sew doubt so effectively because Ed, at heart, believes him and really fears giving up the power of Blackbeard, especially after Ed has his heart is broken at his most free and vulnerable. (Did I mention that I’m HURTING over Edward??)
Also; I obviously also hate Izzy and wish theyd gone through with tossing him off the boat… fuck that guy
Ed’s multiple “this is who I am, Stede. You were always going to see/find out/leave me/(I don’t actually remember what he said but he implied a LOT)”’s
Anyway yeah they broke me. Also them leaving each other because they each see themselves as destructive…. Oh god my heart
@@marilyncruickshank110 oh my gosh I didn't notice that!!! 👏👏👏
Omg yes, i got that feeling of “homophobia” coming from calico jack, but i could never pinpoint why...
He sees stede is actually gay and likes blackbeard on a romantic level, he doesn’t intend to fool around out with him out of necessity cause there are no women on ships, like calico jack did, he is actually choosing blackbeard...
and jack wants to burst his bubble by going “darling, we did that shit too, it’s not love, blackbeard doesn’t like you”... he doesn’t want to accept that... well, it is love on blackbeard’s end too
This show means so much to me. As a queer trans man I often struggle with trying to meet society’s standard for masculinity. Seeing queer men and nonbinary people depicted on screen sharing their emotions, learning how to be kind and caring and soft to those around them, has effected me deeply. Definitely has become my favorite show and I’m eagerly awaiting a second season!
Hard same! I'm trans-masc non-binary, and I never thought I'd see a character like Jim (or me) in anything, ever, let alone treated like a person with their own story and love, and not just a walking exoticism or question mark. All this positive queerness fighting toxic masculinity is brilliant, and has me so damn happy! It's up there with my all time favourites, and I need more, now.
Also, I want to build a tall ship, grab a crew of inept but lovable queers, and then spend some time sailing the Great Lakes, inflicting Gay Chaos wherever we go. I think this is perfectly reasonable.
@@neuralmute ready to set sail as soon as you get that ship built!
@@beetlejuicesgraveyardrevue Awesome! Now I just need funding for the ship, and to learn how to sail anything bigger than a canoe...
At least I've got some decent ropework and knot tying skills to work from! ;)
Just to add, it was SO nice seeing a gay romance without it just going straight to sex. the actual blooming of a slow-burn relationship of two men finding each other while they go about their lives just trying to be friends first. (who arnt tweens or buff meatheads)
At every pivotal moment of Ed and Stede’s relationship, I kept expecting the show to chock it up to “bromance,” but I was pleasantly surprised! I wonder what are your thoughts on Stede’s antagonists - the twins? They are motivated by such outrage towards Stede that they get themselves killed trying to “take him down.” And it’s not because he’s ever done anything to them. They resent him for who he is and lash out because of how they feel about themselves.
I got my mother to watch and she's about mid way through the series and just sent me "such a sweet bromance". Desperately wanted to say something but since she's watching with absolutely no spoilers I'm trying not to say anything.
@@cupguin please tell us if she got it’s a romance when she finishes watching. I’ve read about some people’s moms saying it’s a friendship kiss lol
Yeah I think they, like Izzy, represent toxic masculinity the kind that Stede grew up with, that was picking on the kid that was different and was less gender conforming in his interests. They also remind him of the life he left behind, the expectations he never felt that he met.
@@katitax508 oh god whaaat? I can understand (a bit) with some of the Chinese wuxia ones because they’re so heavily censored, but this literally featured an episode that said “This Is Happening.” People are WILD with their worldviews….
My favourite part was just the depiciton of queerness itself. It's a story about people that happen to be queer. Their queerness is never their only or even most important trait, the conflict of the story never comes from it, it is never ridiculed. While coming out stories etc are important, it was so refreshing to watch a show about queer folks, that wasn't about queerness while still having it at the center.
Stede also retreats to his old life late in the season, though for different, somewhat complicated reasons. Ultimately this allows him to make a clean break with his old life, without the guilt he felt from just walking out the door the first time. Can we hope that Blackbeard will be able to do something similar in the next season?
In real life, Stede pursued Blackbeard after his crew was marooned, but they never saw each other again. The show clearly doesn't consider itself to be constrained by the historical record. Still, maybe Blackbeard's original plan, to fake his own death and take on another person's identify, is foreshadowing...
My theory regarding Ed and Stede’s potential identity change is that Izzy might decide HE is Blackbeard 😶
@@robotrightsactivist That would make a lot of sense! I didn't want to get into it in my original comment, but in real life Blackbeard and Stede didn't meet again after Stede's crew was marooned, and Stede was executed only a couple of years after he became a pirate, not long after Blackbeard died in battle.
This rather depressing real life end to their story suddenly has a lot of interesting possibilities if people start taking on each others' identities. I mean, Stede already faked his death once or twice, depending on whether you count the first time he was declared dead.
Of course the show isn't constrained to the historical record and may choose to go a completely different direction. It's fun to think about though!
That's the main plot of a lot of fanfiction written so far for the show. E.g. Stede Bonnet sailed (in real life) under a sudonym later and Blackbeard 'died', which gives free imagination for season 2 plotting :)
For sure, a return to the familiar is a valid reading of Ed choosing to go with Calico Jack. But it also could mean a duel interest, an allegory for bisexuality or non-conforming gender expression. Ed doesn't seem to be feigning his enjoyment of Jack's crazy behavior, though now he's better at recognizing when things have gone too far. His enjoyment of drinking, violence, and chaos are established throughout previous episodes. It's not until Calico Jack shows up and makes Stede feel inferior for not being like a 'proper pirate' that Stede becomes intolerant of those traits in Ed. This seems very much like gender expression/sexuality gatekeeping.
Stede and Jack represent two different types. Jack represents 'it's ok to be gay IF you're still a proper man'. While Stede represents 'if you don't reject traditional masculine gender expression, then you're perpetuating heteronormativity'. Both want Ed to choose to be like them, instead of anywhere in between or outside the false binary. The difference is that Stede is more honest about his feelings, directly confronting Ed about not liking how he acts around Jack. And so Ed feels rejected, saying that it was inevitable that Stede would see the real him. Jack, on the other hand, manipulates Ed by reminding him of the fun, ego feeding side of being a 'real pirate'. He conspicuously keeps his criticisms of softer behavior aimed at Stede, not Ed, until he's successfully gotten Ed off the ship. And so Ed chose to stay with the one that didn't make him feel directly rejected at the time.
I am a 59-year-old cis-het woman and am absolutely in love with this show. I just finished watching it a few days ago (I was a little late to the party), but have not been able to stop thinking about it, reading about it, watching videos about it, etc. I have lots of LGBTQA+ friends (and some family), so I absolutely love how matter-of-factly queer folx and relationships are depicted in this show. The tenderness of the relationship between Stede and Ed just melts my heart -- watching the two of them navigate unexpectedly falling in love with each other (with there being no shame or disgust involved -- just surprise and the fear of possibly having their feelings unreciprocated) at a stage in their lives when love is the last thing on their minds just moves me so much. Physical pain is something Ed/Blackbeard is used to and knows how to handle -- he laughs when Stede stabs him at his goading. But he is lost when it comes to handling a broken heart. Taika Waititi plays Blackbeard with such nuance and vulnerability. He -- and the writers -- have created a character I don't think I've ever seen in a TV show or movie before. And I'm in love with the whole thing.
If you want to crawl depper down the OFMD rabbit hole, make sure to check out the lovely amount of fanfiction and fanart online as well :)
I have been talking for YEARS about the queerness of pirate history and this show did in one season what Black Sails only ever flirted with in four seasons. Loved the nuanced queer relationships. The only thing I was a little disappointed in is that Calico Jack Rackham was part of the toxic masculinity when in reality he sailed with two women (Mary Read and Anne Bonney) and was named for his foppish patchwork calico (patterned cotton) clothes. Maybe we'll get some character development from him in the second season too.
Lots of historical references and evidence to show just how queer pirate society was. There are many historians who argue against this but the evidence still stands.
@@gboi7703 the biggest one being lots of men on one ship for months at a time get horni all the time because boredom. Also, I just learned they even had their own kind of marriage called Matelotage!
ngl i dont think he can survive a cannonball to the stomach fbvdhfvbf but it'd be nice if he could also get development, yeah
Black sails was incredible, no need to bash it to uplift ofmd, they can share the queer pirates medal
@@plapowaitenani9373 I really enjoyed Black Sails, wasn’t my intention to bash it, but it left me wanting more, the queer relationships felt much more catered to what a straight audience could handle than OFMD.
I actually really liked the last episode. Stede _needed_ closure with his family and I absolutely adored the way they did it. I love that his wife is now living her best life and is totally supportive of Stede running off with Blackbeard. I also find it hilarious how Stede keeps having relationship developments with people who've just been about to kill him. I'm sad Blackbeard's hurting but love how emo he's gotten about it especially since Izzy lost a toe in the process. And if Lucius is actually dead I'm going to hunt down whoever made that decision and have some words with them
This show literally is everything I've ever wanted but could never articulate. And then it's got Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby together... everything those men do together is magic.
(and I'm secretly hoping we get cameos by Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement bcuz that will be the best scene in history, can they pls play an opposite gay captain couple?)
I absolutely ADORE this show, and one way that your layout of Ed's character progression is shown that I truly loved is through the soundtrack!
So, Blackbeard gets introduced with "Dies Irae," massive orchestra pounding beat choir fairly screaming about the Day Of Wrath, yeah? But his falling-in-love theme is *nothing* like that, because who Ed wants to be is nothing like Blackbeard.
Gnossienne No. 5: Modéré is a quiet, tentative little piece, trilling its little melodic runs and hesitantly waiting for the support of the chords before it continues. It doesn't have much of a beat to speak of, and there's no accompaniment; it's more suited to serenade one's love in private than it is to a concert hall. It's peaceful, and it never rises above mezzo-forte, and it's hopeful but almost halting, as though the pianist is unsure of their welcome into the tender space they're entering.
Which is so much of what Ed wants! He wants peace, and he wants to be allowed tenderness, and he's unsure of this new ground he's treading over the course of the show.
I've had the whole soundtrack on repeat for the past week, but the one I keep coming back to (and tearing up over) is Modéré, and I think this is why.
as soon as the word "knows" in the song synced with Jim taking off the fake nose in episode 1 I was like oh the music is going to be important/symbolic in this show
It was the last eps when Ed yolked up Izzy when he called him out for “being soft”. (Great performance) on Izzy side his eyes lit up becuz to him blackbeard returned.
In Ed’s eyes the light began to go out as he decides to become what society thinks he should become.
4 real I wanted Ed follow through throw Izzy off the ship but wearing the costumes of what society thinks you should wear is more convenient.
This series was so much more then a comedy. I didn’t expect it to get this deep.
This is why I NEED a season 2!! I love too that they had Ed have them destroy everything of Stede’s and being Blackbeard, but then it cuts to him sobbing in his/Stede’s cabin showing how much is heart is really broken. It shows that he really is suppressing his love and devotion to Stede for who he is “supposed” to be.
I really liked the detail that Ed continues to try and hold onto his new, emotionally vulnerable self after Stede leaves. It’s Izzy that once again pushes him to take up the toxic Blackbeard persona again.
I love though that even when he gives in and becomes Blackbeard again, it cuts to Ed sobbing in his/Stede’s cabin showing that he really is still heartbroken. He still is the guy that Stede helped bring out and who he really is. It further shows that Blackbeard is just a facade.
@@allshookup1640 Ed's just killed his second person ever with his own hands (as far as he knows); I'm not surprised at all that he's turned back to the role that helped him feel like he's gonna make it. Ed legitimately enjoys chaos and drama, but Blackbeard is a performance of strength and fearlessness in the face of trauma; I love that they reinforced that to the audience before ending the season.
I LOVE this analysis, and it throws Blackbeard’s murder of Lucius into an even more tragic light - because Lucius was the one who first told Blackbeard plainly that it’s obvious that he and Stede love each other, and warned Blackbeard that if he didn’t drop the toxic masculinity act, he’d be “another leather-clad middle-aged sad sack dying alone in a puddle of his own piss.” I hope in season two, Blackbeard manages to avoid this fate.
I dont have any deep commentary about the show but it just exactly what we were needing you know? With all the horrible anti trans and anti gay shit going on Im just really happy that we got something where it was like "yeah this is actually completely normal"
I want to be a pirate.
I am already one.
as a queer trans man with a complicated relationship with masculinity, you managed to put into words everything i love and resonate with in this show. this video was so well presented and organized, thank you so much
I also really liked the way Calico Jack's arrival played out exactly like an extremely toxic friend down on his luck crushing on the couch for a bit, with Ed caught between trying to better himself for Stede (acting like a gracious partner at first, then taken aback at how much of a negative influence Jack is) and regressing to his old ways when the enabler is in town. With the reveal that they had their 'dalliances', I think it underlines the idea that accepting being gay or even acting on it does not necessarily mean you're free of the toxicity. Quite the opposite, Jack appeals to his worst instincts and makes him drink more, act more cruel, and reject Stede when he's clearly hurt by the transformation. Another commenter said something about Ed's arc being an addiction/recovery allegory as well, and Jack is clearly the old 'fun' friend whose reappearance causes Blackbeard to 'relapse'. And with the reveal that Jack's been mutinied several times, he's too toxic even for the hierarchical society of a pirate ship.
I love this show so much, especially for the way that Jim coming out as nonbinary was treated by the crew- the way they immediately started using they/them pronouns and it wasn't treated as a big deal. Going off that, the details of how the crew acts as one big supportive family to each other, away from the influences of a larger society, which in other shows is often used as a source or reason for bigotry and homophobia, and there's just none of that on board the revenge. And in conclusion I actually hate this show it emotionally wrecked me and now I have to spend over a year drowning in an ocean of sorrow, hanging on to the driftwood of fix-it fics and fanart :((
The bit where you were talking about the familiarity of toxicity is so relatable wow. I grew up in a really conservative household and I’m breaking out of that mindset even now. I’m doing a lot better than I was- I’m growing content with my sexuality, gender and political opinions- but I still feel strange and outcast by having different views to those who raised me/I grew up around.
That’s probably why Ed is my favourite character. I definitely relate to just giving into old mindsets/ideologies because it’s familiar and kinda easier than sticking with my “new” self and facing backlash from others.
OFMD did something I really appreciate when shows do it, which is that every time I thought something groan-worthy or unpleasant (story structure-wise) was going to happen, it didn't. With how Stede was presented in the first episode, I worried the whole season was going to be about how pathetic he was and how he had to overcome it, and we'd get some half-baked arc where he's still pathetic, but at least he did one cool/worthwhile thing. But that's not what the show does. Stede does have to step up and find himself, but he has agency and believable growth; he's not just a pansy buffoon the whole time.
This also happened with Stede reuniting with his family. A lesser show would have him and his wife admit that they both despite each other, and maybe work together just to go back to how things were while still hating each other's guts. But Stede genuinely reconciles with his family, both his wife and his children. And I was particularly fond of Mary's reaction to hearing Stede had fallen in love with a man rather than a woman. She's just immediately understanding and supportive. I'm not a gay man myself, but I know this sort of thing happens a lot, where exes who broke up when one of them was still in the closet come to understand each other more once that person is out.
This show could have been a mediocre comedy, but I think it really wound up being something special.
Nothing Taika Waititi does could ever be mediocre even if it's not his best work. But I see your point.
I love how this show can be viewed through so many different lenses and analyzed in many ways, and this analysis is just perfect! As a queer trans dude this show has absolutely changed my life and I can't wait for more
Same here!
Same here!
Same here!
This speaks to me, as a man who came out as trans at the age of 30, who is still being told by doctors, family, peers and queer spaces that if I was "actually trans" I would've known so since I were a child.
I’ve been told that and I realised when I was 14. You can’t win. :/
this is the first analysis style video I've seen about ofmd and it was absolutely beautiful man! your explanation of how familiarity often trumps true happiness and self-actualization was absolutely spot on for blackbeard, and I love the show's depiction of his struggle. this constant back and forth between his desire to let his old self go that is propelled forward by stede and his fear of that very same thing constantly being stoked by izzy.. which makes it even more heartbreaking when in the end, his decision to take that leap of faith and be open about his feelings towards stede only gets him a brief moment of happiness, before he gets stood up by stede, seemingly confirming all his doubts and anxieties. this is also probably the reason why he throws lucius off the ship, essentially punishing him for encouraging Ed to actually try his luck with stede.
I think getting rid of Lucius is more than that - Lucius isn’t Stede, but like Stede he rejects the idea that you have to be bound to a certain way of being a man/pirate. The rest of the crew are much closer to the traditional image of manliness - even Jim, since Jim is super dangerous and threatening in a way associated with masculinity, good at fighting and so on. I think it’d be very hard to convince yourself to go back in the “this is how you have to be” box if Lucius is there reminding you that it isn’t. Lucius also explicitly speaks to Ed as if even *without* Stede he can continue on his journey - he isn’t going to let him get away with “but Stede is gone” as an excuse for backsliding. So Lucius has to go if Blackbeard the Pirate is going to be a convincing performance.
I think Izzy got a very interesting relationship to submission. He never wanted to be a captain, he just became one at some point due to the circumstances. No, what Izzy wants more than everything else is to HAVE a captain to submit himself to. Think about it : The moment we see him being the most emotional and grateful is when Ed makes him eat his own toe, and threaten him, and calls him a dog. The "real blackbeard" Izzy is so desperately seeking is a brutal daddydom to crush him. I was genuinely touched by the look in Izzy eyes at that moment, and the level of violence he is willing to accept to indulge this fantasy. It seems also obvious to me that blackbeard is the absolute core of his life and nothing else really matters to him, that's why he loses his shit when his belowed captain's character falls appart, it's like the end of his world.
I think there is a lot to develop upon this in future seasons. What do you think ?
YOU!!! You get it!!!
That moment was so goddam hot.
I think it's kind of problematic to portray an abusive person as abusive because of someone else's masochistic desires. That's not why people are abusive.
But I also don't care, I loved the scene where he's forced to eat his own toe, and I loved that Blackbeard was more submissive in episode 6. The hottest story they could have told was told.
OFMD is probably the best allegorical screen writing I've seen in the last 20 years for any topic, let alone for queer identity. Subtle, funny, allowed time to watch the journey unfold, it was a masterclass in executive level storytelling. And you didn't even cover all the journeys going on in the show!
I can't recommend this series strongly enough, it's entertaining, sure, but it's so much more than that too! I initially tuned in expecting something akin to What We Do in the Shadows, but this is head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes better because it's not JUST funny.
Our Flag Means Death is consuming my entire life, I loved the amount of representation and insightful metaphors for real-life they included.
Really appreciate your analysis, spot on! There's also a theme of deep self-loathing in both Stede and Ed that goes beyond the expectations of toxic masculinity, I think. They've both done some pretty terrible things to other people (Ed even moreso, arguably), which they feel deep shame and regret about, and get stuck in a "I am fundamentally a bad, bad person unworthy of love, forgiveness, redemption" loop. I think the series did a good job illustrating just how incredibly difficult it is to get out of that loop of self-loathing and shame.
My heart pretty much breaks for both of them and roots for both of them, and mostly I just really hope they get a happy ending, regardless of how their real-life counterparts ended. It's not like this is a show *that* concerned with accuracy, and the tragic gays trope would hurt all the more here. Give us and them the happy ending we all deserve!
I giggle cried when the kiss happened I was so excited and happy. It feels like a response to decades of baiting.
I vehemently disagree with the idea that the show expects the audience to hate Izzy and does not present his point of view in a holistic way. He's not a one dimensionally evil character, I don't think any of the characters that appear in more than one episode are. He is as heartbroken and jealous of the new relationship between Blackbeard and Stede as he is disgusted by it. To abstract that to the toxic masculinity allegory, his character's dilemma exemplifies how toxic masculinity harms not only those who would diverge from it, but it also destroys those True Believers that adopt it as the only way to be. Izzy finally gets what he thinks he wants at the end of the season by being maimed, tortured, and belittled by the person most important to him. And that's pretty tragic.
Agreed. The audience is supposed to see the layers in the character and disapprove of his actions while also trying to figure out why he's doing them. The only way to catch toxic masculinity in yourself is if you're open to noticing it, and Con O'Neill does such a great job of giving us that.
The show really spoke to me.
I'm a female who was raised basically like a guy, to not show vulnerabilities even when I'm sick. Friends r used to seeing me like a tough person who nothing really bothers me, or at least doesn't make me emotional. They say i am more of the logical thinker.
But in truth I do get emotional. I tend to get angry due to frustration when holding things back since i don't want to show I'm a weak person. Like there were a few times I shown vulnerability and friends got mad at me cause "that's not me"; or they brush off when I start getting overwhelmed as if "ull endure it, u always do, whatever".
There was one girl though who witnessed a few times me being "weak" and even though I was embarrassed and tried to push her away during those moments she was so good at making me feel i was safe and things were okay.
Honestly she was like my Stede hahaha. I fell hard for her cause up to this point she's the only one I can somewhat let my walls drop.
But yah, men may be more prone to be forced to hide things but for sure some women struggle too... at least for me I have the same struggles with emotions like my dad...hahaha. we tend to be more angry since i guess we bottle things up and instead of being sad well yah...
my brother in the other hand has no problems with his feelings but that's cause my mother let him be more emotional while with me it is even now taboo. I feel like in my family from my moms side women and men were forced to not be vulnerable... my grandmother for sure is mentally "hard" just like a male and doesn't show vulnerabilities.
But anyways the show is great, and I for sure want to learn to be open for things and learn to be vulnerable like blackbeard has in the show. Though for sure it's going to be harder to do than writing it down, hahaha!
Thanks for the great video
I *adore* Our Flag Means Death. I saw many people say its a standard of television that isnt just queer representation, but queer joy. Most if not ALL of the relationships in this show are some form of queer. Pete and Lucius, Jim and Olu, Jackie and her polyamorous husbands, Stede and Ed. I think the one exclusion is Mary and her painting instructor whos name I forget. I didn't know this show wasn't going to queerbait me, I usually just pickup on social media popular LGBTQ+ ships and see what the hype is about; but when I watched this I was thoroughly impressed. When Ed and Stede finally became canon, I was genuinely shocked. I was so thrilled to see a relationship like theirs onscreen. It wasn't a throw away scene between two side characters, it wasn't buried in subtext, IT WAS THE PLOT OF THE SHOW. AND IT WAS FANTASTIC
A friend recommended "Our Flag Means Death" as a new queer show & to start with I was like...where's the queer then? It's just really funny & well put together...and then slowly but surely the story opens up, the characters open up & yes, it is a positively queer show in all senses of the phrase. It's not some awful gimmicky thing, it's a beautifully funny love story between characters that usually don't get that treatment without some sort of awkwardness or disconnect. I'm rooting for the ship & it's can(n)onical! ;)
this was such a good analysis!!!
I absolutely loved "our flag means death" and I'm still agressivly recommemding this show to everyone I know. it's so heartwarming, funny and soooo beautifully filmed and written. one of these shows that I watch and immediately need the next season. I really appreciated the non-binary rep and the queer rep in this show. especially, it's not often you see a romance between middle aged men:)
and they had 3 nonbinary staff in the writer's room!!!!!!! which explains why jim was so expertly written
It's so important to me that they had queer writers for the show❤️
Y'know I too had thought upon my first watch of ofmd that izzy was to be the embodiment of internalized homophobia and toxic masculinity that we have not only today but also within the set timeframe of 18th c. America's. It's amazing to see how not only is he the embodiment of a metaphor, he's also his own character and is self-agent: we can tell that he's having some Emotions with Blackbeard, but he tries damn hard to smother the feelings by lashing out, while simultaneously desperately trying to bring back this legend and icon that was meant to be his god but now in comparison is nothing but a soft hollow shell of a man. There's so much there that's great to pick through I love this show so goddamned much.
Both I and David Jenkins credit Con O'Neill for his amazing acting adding so many layers to the performance of Izzy. Have you seen him as Val in Uncle? He's such a great actor it's almost unfair.
Izzy is awful and I love him. Terrible little man. Great character.
Our flag means death is its own original thing. I have no idea what to compare it to. The queer aspects of the show came out of nowhere for me. Honestly i did not see any of it coming which made for a pleasant twist.
I loved your analysis of the show. I like how you broke it down and explained everything.
Truly a masterpiece
The closest thing I describe it to people is The Great, but they’re really two completely different beasts, totally and thematically. The only thing they really have in common is this “anti-historical” approach to storytelling, where it takes the names and rough histories of real historical people and just rolls with it.
The Great also acebaited us and I’m still mad about that
I’ve watched it through beginning to end four times now and I’m blown away at how well built this show is that they crafted these incredibly well thought out characters and developed an insane level of detail, symbolism and more in just TEN EPISODES. Half hour episodes at that!
Honestly, I am blown away at the craftsmanship. I love that we are getting a genuine queer romance (multiple actually) that’s taken seriously and allowed to not only happen and be explicitly in the text rather than subtext, but is allowed to be messy and break and need work and fixing. I love this show.
great video as always! i watched the show with my cishet brother and he said “everyone in this show homosexual”, tells you everything you need to know about the show :)
It funny how hetero relationships easily get overlooked when homosexual relationships are strongly represente... Anne the fact that historical professions mostly dominated with men actual had more homosexual relationships occurring
stede and ed’s relationship feels so well done, by the time they kiss it feels like they’ve known each other for so long despite it being only a few episodes since they met.
Our Flag Means Death is so amazing! I loved how it centered the romance for multiple crew members, making it part of their characterization and driving the plot. I also loved how refreshingly and deftly they handled the relationships. The issues weren’t strictly bc of queerness, but life choices, like Jim’s obsession with revenge. With Calico Jack being queer as well, it shows Blackbeard wasn’t afraid of that specifically but being vulnerable in a relationship.
Bonus answer! My consumption of anime/manga isn’t as deep or wide as it could be, but Fruits Basket tackles toxic masculinity as well as societal/familial expectations really well… through a family curse and shapeshifting shenanigans. Yuki’s gender panic reads as a little dated now, as well as a few of the other characters, but its handling of peoples’ perceptions of themselves vs from others is top notch.
Thanks for the awesome video! I’m so glad OFMD brings you joy, as it does for so many of us.
Gosh im so happy you made this video! I was so blown away with the show, not only for its humor, development and queer rep, but also for its perspective on masculinity! I felt that not a lot of people had been talking about it , that I was just thinking to deep, and since im an afab enby it might not necessarily ring true since my relationship to masculinity isnt the same, I was going insane! Because I saw these themes and the dialectics between expectations of masculinity in stede's aristorcratic background and ed's pirate reputation, and I got really excited! Blackbeard's journey into surrendering himself to vulnerability through stede was so beautfiully structured, and it all comes to its climax when he makes the act of grace. He was literally giving up everything! Only when they are striped bare of their backgrounds and roles do they finally get the moment to kiss - to experience freedom. SO ITS SO TRAGIC WHEN BLACKBEARD EXPEREICNES HEARTBREAK AND REGRESSES BACK INTO HIS TOXICITY. I just really want more men to watch this show, its a healing balm!
Your wording of “stripped bare” just made me realize that even the costuming in that scene represents them being “stripped” of all the symbols of their societal roles-they’re dressed the same, in simple base garments 🤯
This was an absolutely fabulous analysis; thank you.
The relationship between Ed and Izzy is so well-written and disturbing. I think your breakdown of it is spot-on, and you're the first person I've seen to reference Grima Wormtongue, who popped into my head at one point when I was trying to put a finger on what makes their power dynamic tick. (The other one I was reminded of was Daenerys and Viserys's dynamic in Game of Thrones.) There is something about Ed and Izzy's relationship that, in certain lights, reads as abusive. A current of something that belies the surface, obvious "Ed is in charge and Izzy is his subordinate" fact of the situation. Because while that's true, Izzy does go to pains to keep Ed isolated and make him behave the way Izzy wants him to (and that Izzy is aroused by and sexually attracted to, which is yet another layer.) And when Ed steps out of line, Izzy, either through action or threat, essentially says "I will hurt you if you don't perform your role."
This show. Damn.
I just adore this show! Especially the total absence of queerbaiting. After being strung along by shows like Supernatural for literal years, it's just a really exciting, refreshing change. I really hope more shows and movies follow suit as a result too.
Oh gosh yes. I have to admit having the thought the second time I watched the kiss scene of “you know, Supernatural COULD have just done this. But no.”
Ok I have a point to make on this subject as a whole. Let me open by introducing myself going through exactly what Blackbeard was going through. First off this is not about whether or not a man is gay or have gay tendencies, I feel it's about literal courage to shrug off the societal expectations that you as a person that's honest with yourself sees as wrong or as you say toxic.
I was raised in Texas by my parents who both seem to have the same views as to what a "man's" place in the world is. Dad was a pipeline worker a very rough and brutal occupation that does not suffer the weak or timid in any capacity. It is because of this environment my father expected my brother and I to always be tough as nails with little to no considerations for comfort feelings and emotions that were soft or to sissy-like. I was not into fighting, or talking brashly, or acting like an asshole in any capacity. I thought the whole behavior was unnecessary and highly disrespectful. My brother on the other hand was more like Dad and very selfish, egotistical, and self motivated and very sexist towards women as well. Unfortunately all the friends and relations we had conducted themselves as My Dad and my brother did because "that's what men do". I never believed this mentality. I was tough when I needed to be and I was soft when I needed to be. Because of this attitude of mine my brother and my father both assumed I was weak. The truth is a man should be loving and calm and reserved in their opinions so as not to blanket policy people, ideals and situations in order to embrace wisdom over ego. At the same time I believe a man should be willing and able to bring a leveled amount of stubbornness and even wrath when the situation needs a decisive and resolute outcome. This is to say that this behavior is never to be the norm and a man should be free to pursue his happiness and openly express his desires and opinions in a respectful and thoughtful way no matter what it is, without societal judgment swaying his true feelings and intentions. ll of this takes a lot more courage then you know.
This made me think of a great quote (from Better Call Saul), where Howard says 'don't mistake my kindness with weakness'. There is definitely a stereotypical idea to what traits a men should and shouldn't have.
@@anneuldahl That's true. And if you don't adhere to the stereotype, you will be marginalized and passed over more often then not as weak, immature, naive, or if you are straight undesirable to women. It's pretty destructive.
love this essay !!! this show was like a cool glass of water in a desert filled with crappy representation and bury your gays tropes, we love to see love being the fuel for overcoming personal shortcomings 💙
Great breakdown of Ed’s emotional journey as a man. Your point about Izzy as a stand in for societal expectations of performing masculinity is on point. Ed’s reluctance at letting Izzy go because he stands for the only life he knows, and it makes absolute sense when he returns to Izzy and resumes the role of Blackbeard.
I have literally never felt anything similar to what this show made me feel, I have been recommending it to every single person I know, and honestly your analysis was beautiful! Congrats!
I'd say Beauty and the Beast is a good example. While yes, you have Gaston’s toxic masculinity. He feels the need to control Belle to exert his power and he solves most of his issues with anger and violence
But we also see him change. He learns to be gentle and more open about his feelings. And he lets Belle go, giving up his happiness for her own
My favorite scene is when he’s holding Gaston over the edge and you see his anger fade into something else
What I think happened is the Beast saw himself in Gaston, or what he may have become. So he spares the man, maybe in hopes this mercy would change him in some way. But Gaston was not as willing to grow as the Beast was
Thank you for putting into words so many of the things I was thinking about the arc of blackbeard. I discovered the show only a week ago and it has not left my mind since. Every rewatch brings more layers, and I find myself appreciating just how well crafted this story is. I find the character of Ed so deeply tragic. As much as I love to pretend the season ended with that kiss, I come back to those moments in the final episode. On the first watch, Blackbeard pushing Lucius off the ship felt rather abrupt to me. Then I looked back and realized it *had* to be lucius. Because of course Stede brought out all those moments of vulnerability in Ed, but I honestly believe it is lucius who is the real anti Izzy, and who continually encouraged Ed to be vulnerable and open. Perhaps lucius's pinocchio voice was so bad because he was really jiminy cricket all along.
Hmm... I'm always a sucker for adult-oriented pirate media and I hadn't heard about this series until now. Sounds fun.
If anyone is interested in a more serious pirate series that has queer characters (including a bisexual male main character whose prior relationship with a man is very important to his story) I'd highly recommend Black Sails.
The only good part about Izzy is the actor, he’s an absolute menace on Twitter and I love him
Con O'Neill, the biggest Izzy stan/hater of us all
I had seen so many clips from the show which made me slowly fall in love. I saw the kiss scene and said screw it and binged it in a day. I thought the kiss would be the end and after watching episode 10 I understand why no one was talking about it, absolutely heart wrenching. Everyone's relationships, platonic or romantic, was so wonderful to watch. I really hope we get another season cause I don't know what I'll do without it.
I think what really brought all of those themes together best was actually those small moments of seeing the crew support each other. Little moments like falling asleep next to each other, working together to scheme, having each other’s backs when being offended, complementing each other, “talking it through as a crew”. All of those small moments just showed off each character’s development individually and as a group. And to see all that pay off was so heartwarming.
One of the things I absolutely ADORE about this show is all the background acting. Lucius counting on his fingers, Wee John playing the harpsichord, Jim rolling their eyes when Black Pete calls sewing "women's work", the stolen plant getting more lush and vibrant over the course of the show... It's all just so utterly fab.
This show means so much to me. It helped me navigate stuff that I was struggling to acknowledge in myself, and as a queer person it let me explore different aspects of my identity again.
I did not see Ed/Stede coming from the start because I had my straight goggles on, but when it happened I was totally there for it. Absolutely lovely, one of the most romantic things I've seen in ages.
Izzy is toxic masculinity personified in this show. (While simultaneously probably also being gay and in denial) A fantastic character that I love to hate.
I also love the rest of the crew, I find them all fascinating, and it's so much fun that there's more romance happening aboard the Revenge.
only 10 minutes in but i put this on during the background of my morning routine and had to stop and go insane for a couple seconds every time you articulated an idea i've been thinking since i finished the show
Some say Izzy is a queercoded villain -- that he is so hateful and harmful because he is in denial, because he is jealous of Blackbeard's emancipation, of Lucius' flamboyant sexual freedom and confidence, of Stede's healthy soft masculinity. Also his suppressed sub energy and need to be dominated is so strong. In several scenes I get the impression the acting was MEANT to suggest frustration, desperation and jealousy. My prediction is he will have a moment of awakening (a kiss? a sexual situation?) and he will get freaked out and bring death upon himself due to his enormous denial.
I really liked your point about Ed choosing what is familiar over what is good for him. We often forget how hard and scary it is to go against those engrained familiarities!
I *fervently* hated Izzy on the first watch, but after a couple more I can't help but feel sorry for him. By his reactions in the last episodes I get a strong feeling the norm he wants to go back to is not just 'old blackbeard' but specifically the bond of 'keeping each other in check' they once had. There are also all these little moments that show them *both* at times trying to pull away, only for the other to immidiately pull them back. It's a two-way game they've been doing for a while. Ed was just lucky to meet a perfect person to give him a propper out first.
I really hope Izzy gets to have a similar arc next season.
Another show that depicts two older men in a buddening relationship is Severance! It is a show about work/life balance, a thriller about what it means to give your life to work, including your own memories! And there is an office romance blooming between Burt and Irving, played by Christopher Walken and John Turturro respectively, and its portrayed as forbidden not just cause of the homosexuality, but also it breaks the societal expectation of not having personal connections in the workplace, where you are just seen as a cog in the machine instead of a person!
Please watch Severance if you are into mysteries and thrillers with a sci-fi twist!
After obsessing over this show for a week I was like OHHHHHH THE *BEARD!* I get it!!! The symbolism is absolutely genius
Yeah. I've been closeted. I had an Izzy in me. What everyone wanted me to be that I went along with. But it's a hateful and joy-deprived life. I see Izzy as an important foil to Ed's gay journey, because it's an external manifestation of internal conflict, and as a mouthpiece for "the establishment." Minions aren't always the best villians, but they are the most evil.
I feel like this is missing a small aspect that can change your perspective: everyone is gay. Maybe I'm too optimistic, since this definitely made me sit back and think about my reaction to the show, but the whole time I read Izzy as jealous, same as Calico Jack was, of what Stede was able to get out of Blackbeard. Emotions, kindness, respect, it all came easily when it comes to Stede, but for others they had to prove themselves in some horrible way to earn Blackbeard's approval. Of course the toxic masculinity is true, and you did a beautiful job of spelling out how for me, but with this show and its characters, it's never just representations of some aspect of society. Izzy has so much character outside of that, and while he definitely is toxic and homophobic and greedy for power and violence, he loved the Blackbeard he knew before because he was too. How desperately he tries to reclaim that era of both their lives, all the manipulation and badgering, just to see Blackbeard heart-broken and angry and on a war path. Thank you so much for your video, you rock!
I wish I could put into words how this show made me feel but I'm very bad at articulating my emotions--- so it's fun to watch others analyze and talk about the media I love, great stuff!! Ed building the courage to be himself and retreating back into his shell after he believes Stede had left him, hurt to watch.
Our Flag Means Death has been such a breath of fresh air. It represents a journey that deserves to be seen and shared and it has a love story that honestly raises the bar on what media can and should be doing. And God do I want to thrash Izzy.
I came to the show because I love pirates, I stayed because the comedy was great and so was the representation. As a non-binary person, I absolutely adored Jim and their relationship with Oluwande. It was great to see Jim just be accepted by the crew when they found out they weren't a cis man. The crew embraces everyone (except Izzy who can die). Also thanks to the show I found this channel. ☺️
my favourite izzy moment is soooo subtle, but really sets the tone for him.
when izzy tells blackbeard that he explicitly told stede that is was blackbeard that wanted to speak to him, he lied. he never told stede that is WAS blackbeard. he said it was his captain, and never gave a name.
izzy punished himself in the moment for his lie. he holds his hand waaaay too close to the flame of a candle. he is loyal to a fault to blackbeard, but he knows it’s ed that wants to meet stede, so he’s willing to lie, but knows he would be punished for it. like the toe.
i love izzy, but i also hate him. and i adore con o’neill’s acting.
Tell me why when he said “then there’s Izzy” we sighed at the same time 😂
I love this show so much and I love the way the relationships were handled. Even Stede's wife finding someone too. The little montage of how their romance blossomed was too beautiful.
The thing I like about the personification of homophobia and toxic masculinity, is that he’s not even explicitly homophobic. You can read him that way in the way he talks to Lucius, but it doesn’t have to be about him being gay. He’s so clearly an allegory for it, and yet we don’t have to watch any uncomfy scenes of him calling anyone slurs or explicitly bullying them for liking men.
He’s also a fascinating character in general. He is so clearly in love with Blackbeard as well. Like, I’ve never seen a character so equally homophobic and gay at the same time without explicitly being “bully who’s secretly gay”
the thing about izzy is that i never got the feeling that he was ever explicitly homophobic. he seems content in his love for blackbeard (and enjoy blackbeard threating/weilding power over him, kinky bitch lol) but more offended by expressions of femininity or "softness". which is very realistic for a lot of gay men.
My partner got HBOMax just to watch this show. I love it SO much, It's freaking great and I'm really glad they talked me into watching it.
My best friend convinced me to watch this show with them, I had seen a lot of fanart for the show and assumed it was a drama (which is a genre I’m not a massive fan of), I was very excited when I realized it was a comedy.
I've watched the show about four times through now and I still can't get enough of it. I think it's the combination of the *amazingly* diverse crew, Taika Waititi's deadpan delivery a lot of the time, and just how engaging it all is. It drew me in from the first episode. I write slash stories (m/m fanfic) and got so used to subtext that seeing something overt is fantastic. If it's like this for me, a boring, straight, white female (albeit from Africa), then what must it be like for LGBT+ people, especially those of colour? I can't know but I'm guessing it makes them HAPPY! We need another season.
This was so good. I really liked hearing a man's view of this, but one that's open an honest about it all. Really cool study of the show and I agree wholeheartedly. Also, Izzy can go die on a desert island!
This was a great freaking show, I love it. It definitely reminds me of Good Omens, where the two men aren't bound by societal/sexual norms and are very much the 2 sides of the same coin. But see, Our Flag Means Death actually went there and confirmed that there was love there, and it's glorious!
great video!
I do however like the take that i see a lot of people have (i think including the actor who play Izzy) that Izzy himself is gay, but repressed. He is taking this toxicity out on the crew because he himself doesn't believe that they deserve to live freely, to live emancipated.
and i don’t really think that this idea is going against your analysis in any way. Izzy too just want to live in a familiar setting, in which he is repressed is repressing queer people on behalf of society.
btw would really love some proper subtitles on your videos. Is there anything I (we?) can do to help that happen?
great video as always! I realy loved the show and one thing in particular that stood out to me was the handling of mary. I feel like it could have been very easy to just have her as an obstacle to stede's development and freedom, but her character is given so much to do even with fairly limited screentime. I really loved her and stede finally coming to an understanding once they acknowledged they were never actually going to spend their lives together, and their conversation about love was so sweet
It doesnt have a happy ending but explores trying to break free from norms and explore true self- is a lesbian piece: Portrait of A Lady on Fire. Also a historical piece, and its long and french but made me tear up.
I had a huge brain moment when I realized that the main theme of toxic masculinity holding back Blackbeard was also, in a way, expressed in the show Wander Over Yonder, with that lead "antagonist", Hater. Which would make Peepers Izzy. And Stede would be Wander.
it's obviously not 1:1, but I actually found myself super impressed with how nearly 1:1 Peepers and Izzy are, despite their intended audiences.
As for OFMD, I absolutely adored it, i was a sobbing wreck. I'd love to see you talk about how Ed changed Stede, too, for the better or for the worse, in your opinion.
So fantastic. I loved that they have such a variety of queer expression and representation. I likely also would not have watched it if it wasn't for my entire twitter feed shouting about how it was canonically very queer and wonderful.
The show has the main relationship (which, yES SO GREAT TO SEE) as the slow burn as these characters grow together as well as Lucius and Pete and the burgeoning relationship with Jim and Olu. Lucius is genuinely a fantastic and well rounded character and not just there for laughs. Just so lovely and fun and a joy to watch.
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.
The funny thing is that the "Blackbeard is my pirate, not Edward" is that Izzy called Ed Edward all the time until Stede started doing it like, boy, you definitely served Edward you're just pissed
I dropped it after an episode because awkward humor gives me severe anxiety, but I'm glad people are loving it.
You mentioned a lot of interesting things i hadn’t even thought about, like the toxic masculinity allegory. Great show and great video about it. ✨💫