Our Flag Means Death returned for its second season Thursday on HBO Max, and has garnered great success with viewers. Rhys Darby stars as gentleman pirate Stede Bonnet while Taika Waititi as Blackbeard has won fans over since its premiere last summer.
In Season One, Revenge featured multiple boatmances among its cast, most prominently between Stede and Blackbeard; Season Two deepens that story by exploring other relationships but takes on an emotionally charged edge due to various breakups and heartaches within these relationships.
| Title | Our Flag Means Death |
|---|---|
| Season 2 Premiere | Recently premiered on HBO Max |
| Main Cast | – Rhys Darby as Stede Bonnet |
| – Taika Waititi as Blackbeard | |
| – Con O’Neill as Izzy Hands | |
| – Minnie Driver as Anne Bonny | |
| Plot | Season 2 explores deepening relationships among |
| the cast, particularly the romance between Stede | |
| and Blackbeard, set in the Golden Age of Piracy | |
| Success | The show has garnered great success with viewers |
| due to its unique take on pirate life and humor | |
| Streaming | Available on HBO Max and soon on Netflix |
| Returning Cast | Rhys Darby, Taika Waititi, Con O’Neill, Minnie |
| Driver, and others | |
| Newcomers | Includes Ruibo Qian, Madeleine Sami, Anapela |
| Polataivao, Bronson Pinchot, and more | |
| Creator | Created by David Jenkins and Taika Waititi |
| Setting | Set during the Golden Age of Piracy in 1717 |
Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby)
Our Flag Means Death’s main draw is its sprawling cast, but its central romance between Stede and Blackbeard has proven deeply moving. Jenkins noted in season 2 “the lovers’ separation is more pronounced than ever; Blackbeard is still pining after Stede while Stede remains clueless as to why. Reconciliation won’t come easily though; Con O’Neill as Izzy continues her fanatical devotion for Ed, while Minnie Driver as Anne Bonny could threaten both relationships at any moment.”
Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi make a return as Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard respectively, alongside Ewen Bremner as Buttons, Joel Fry as Frenchie, Samson Kayo as Oluwande Boodhari, Matthew Maher as Wee John Feeney, Nathan Foad as Lucius Spriggs, David Fane as Fang, Kristian Nairn as Black Pete as newcomers such as Ruibo Qian as Zheng Yi Sao (the pirate queen of China); Madeleine Sami as Archie; Madeleine Sami as Archie; Anapela Polataivao as Auntie; Minnie Driver plays Gabriel while Bronson Pinchot plays Antoinette respectively. Guest stars such as Minnie Driver and Bronson Pinchot appear alongside Minnie Driver as Gabriel and Antoinette respectively!
Blackbeard (Taika Waititi)
Fans eagerly anticipated Our Flag Means Death’s return after its thrilling first season and were not disappointed; its second season will prove just as enjoyable and worth the wait. Rhys Darby of Flight of the Conchords fame and director Taika Waititi are back together again as stars to tackle what happens when Blackbeard and Stede reunite after their unplanned romance caused him to change back into himself again.
Set during 1717 during the Golden Age of Piracy, Our Flag Means Death is a sharp yet charming comedy/drama/romance show that has quickly become one of 2018’s must-see shows. Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby), a wealthy landowner-turned-pirate who forms an uneasy alliance and romance with Edward “Blackbeard” Teach (Taika Waititi). The film has received widespread acclaim for its outsized romance, quirky cast, and subversive take on masculinity. Waititi and Darby star alongside Garrett Basch (co-creator and director), Joel Fry, Leslie Jones (Spanish Jackie), Kristian Nairn (Wee John Feeney), Con O’Neill (Israel ‘Izzy’ Hands), Samson Kayo (Oluwande Boodhari), and Vico Ortiz (Jim Jimenez). Our Flag Means Death airs weekly on HBO Max in the US and Sky Atlantic UK.
Izzy Hands (Con O’Neill)
Our Flag Means Death has become a viral hit due to its delightful anachronisms revolving around 18th-century pirate feuds. Creator David Jenkins expertly blends sitcom comedy with absurdist elements for an intoxicating take on pirate life during its golden era.
The first season told the tale of Stede Bonnet, an uppity petty criminal who embarks on his quest to become a pirate but inadvertently seduces Blackbeard (Rhys Darby). Unfortunately for Blackbeard, this romance caused his heart to break and ultimately turned him into the less-than-ruthless captain.
Con O’Neill plays Izzy Hands, his cynical sidekick who is intent on keeping Blackbeard’s tough image intact and initially views Stede as an unnecessary distraction who is hindering Blackbeard from fulfilling his true calling.
While other shows might drag out their romantic subplots for months or years, Our Flag Means Death swiftly reveals the romance between these two pirates without ever once losing its sense of satire. O’Neill recently talked with Vanity Fair about crafting this intricate plotline and noted how Our Flag Means Death’s mission statement emphasizes going deeper emotionally than other shows do while staying true to its roots as satire.
Black Pete (Matthew Maher)
After an action-packed first season of Our Flag Means Death, featuring fights and plunder, its second season has arrived! Created by David Jenkins (People of Earth) and Taika Waititi – Our Flag Means Death has already won praise from critics as an original take on pirates with its refreshing approach and whimsical humor.
Our Flag Means Death upended many common conceptions about pirates in its first season. Instead of being depicted as flatly masculine individualist conquerors with wenches to please and fighting a war for personal glory alone, the crew of Revenge was instead seen as an extended family sharing feelings openly while enjoying period-piece settings and swordplay.
Season two features an ensemble cast that includes Rhys Darby as Stede Bonnet and Taika Waititi as Blackbeard; Con O’Neill as Izzy Hands, Leslie Jones as Spanish Jackie, Joel Fry as Frenchie, Samson Kayo as Oluwande Boodhari, Ewen Bremner as Nathaniel Buttons, Samba Schutte as Roach, Vico Ortiz as Jim and Kristian Nairn as Wee John Feeney – plus Matthew Maher as Black Pete who never quite fit into his community. Vico Ortiz returns as Jim while Kristian Nairn returns as Wee John Feeney! Matthew Maher returns as Black Pete who never quite made his mark among his fellow pirates despite all his talents as a gay pirate community.
Lucius Spriggs (Nathan Foad)
After receiving such an incredible reception in its debut season, Our Flag Means Death was quickly renewed for another run and now has a trailer that showcases what will likely happen when its return occurs.
Fans have eagerly anticipated the return of this swashbuckling period romance created by David Jenkins and Taika Waititi. Now the trailer for their movie promises more outsized romantic drama with plenty of pirate intrigue!
Thank goodness it appears all of the key players will return for the upcoming run of episodes, such as Rhys Darby as Bonnet and Taika Waititi as Blackbeard. Additionally, the trailer suggests Izzy and Ed may finally reconcile, although that won’t come easy to either of them.
Conclusion
Minnie Driver and Bronson Pinchot, in addition to returning cast members, have joined Our Flag Means Death as recurring roles. Our Flag Means Death can currently be watched on HBO Max which can be added to Hulu, YouTube TV, and Sling TV subscriptions; Netflix will soon follow with availability for viewing of this series.
