Why Lucius’ Journey on ‘Our Flag Means Death’ Matters for Queer Trauma Survivors

Our Flag Means Death Season 2 is different from Season 1 in many significant ways. For one, each character finds themselves on a more traumatic path, creating more of a disconnect between what used to be a united crew.

While each character’s journey is essential in its own way, the one that deserves the most recognition is Lucius Spriggs’ struggle to overcome his trauma. Out of all the characters this season, he has the furthest to go and seems to have the least amount of external validation and support.

Many viewers recognized Lucius’ struggle the moment he reappeared during Our Flag Means Death Season 2 Episode 2, “Red Flags.” It is especially apparent for those of us who are part of the queer community and have survived our own experiences with past trauma.

Lucius Has Seen Many Things

Out of everyone, Lucius is the one who most obviously suffers from a form of PTSD based on what he has experienced since Season 1. This is evident by how he folds upon himself when standing in a room and how he cowers away from touch and becomes unsettled by sudden movements or noises.

Sure, his crewmates joke with him about his smoking and how he doesn’t seem to recall when or if he smokes. However, viewers know the signs for what they are – Lucius does quite a bit of disassociating to protect himself from the thoughts within his mind.

We hear a bit from him about what he was forced to do during his time separated from the crew when he starts yelling at Stede. However, it’s painfully obvious that he still has so much more to say, even if he can’t find the words.

When he finally opens up to his partner, Black Pete, about the horrors he’s seen, he gives a cliff notes version of the truth to protect Pete. At least, that is what Lucius claims, and anyone who knows the journey of a trauma survivor knows that sometimes it’s easier to lock the worst experiences away, never to look at them again.

While some viewers might think it’s unfair of the writers not to unload everything Lucius experienced alone, it is a realistic portrayal. This inability of Lucius to convey full thoughts on all that he saw is the validation that all trauma survivors never expected to see from this show.

How Lucius’ Experience Relates to the Queer Experience

Viewers look at any of Lucius’ experiences from a queer lens, considering he identifies within the LGBTQIA+ community. He’s always been a source of comfort for many queer fans of the show due to his sarcastic and witty nature.

Now that he’s changed and exists in a post-trauma world, there is a newfound sense of comfort found among queer trauma survivors. He represents what we’ve always needed to see outside ourselves – to be reassured that our experiences are valid and seen.

First and foremost, Lucius’ trauma starts when Blackbeard/Ed pushes him off The Revenge because he dares to exist in the world as his most authentic self. This resonates heavily with queer viewers because many of us are often victimized verbally or physically because of who we are.

Due to this, so many of us see the world through a lens of possible triggers and dangers – much like Lucius. The way he comes back to the crew and is always looking to assess the environment around him allows us to feel safer in our own coping methods.

A significant way this comes up for Lucius is how he treats Stede throughout the first half of the season. Stede didn’t directly harm him, but his inaction allowed Blackbeard/Ed to do what he did and catapult Lucius into his many traumatic experiences.

Often, we have someone we love and trust stand back and not defend us against the trauma, so we blame them. While this isn’t exclusive to the queer experience, it is a situation many young queer individuals find themselves in when their parents aren’t exactly on the same page about their identity.

The Queer Experience with Unsavory Names

Another moment of note with Lucius’ trauma comes toward the beginning of his return. The crew has insisted on making light of his “nickname,” which makes Lucius uncomfortable, and yet no one seems to notice until he verbally lashes out.

This moment is especially relevant to the queer experience because most of us have lived through moments where we have been given a “nickname” or had a slur permanently attached to our personhood due to how we identify. There aren’t many queer individuals who don’t have a lived experience of being called something unsavory that others might find funny or harmless and even go so far as to get defensive when we fight back, asking them not to use it.

Hearing these “nicknames” or phrases often drags us right back into the depths of our trauma without intending to. It makes the journey out of the darkness that much harder to accomplish, but this is where Lucius provides us with validation and encouragement.

Lucius’ reaction to the name Rat Boy is a relatable experience to the point that some might wonder if Nathan Foad himself is using some kind of personal experience to build upon Lucius’ traumatic response to the name. There is an authenticity in how Lucius is portrayed this season that shines through in how he holds himself in the face of his post-trauma world.

Despite it All, He is a Message of Hope

One of the knee-jerk reactions most people have when they suffer an unspeakable trauma is to wish the same treatment and more upon their attacker. So, when Lucius is allowed to do to Blackbeard what he did to him, viewers can live vicariously through his experiences.

Lucius learns from that exercise that violence in response to violence doesn’t make your trauma magically disappear or miraculously make you feel better. Sometimes, it can make you feel worse for stooping to their level.

Allowing Lucius the space to make that realization on his own instead of forcing Izzy to tell him it won’t work and convince him not to do it gives everyone watching the opportunity to see what could happen if we go down a path of revenge.

Everyone’s trauma journey is their own. However, seeing a character that is highly relatable to your experiences grow on their own gives us hope that we, too, can find closure, healing, and love within our dark history.

When Lucius finds the courage to move forward from his trauma thanks to a combined effort from another trauma survivor, Izzy, and his partner, Pete, it sends the message that no one is a lost cause. Despite what Lucius states earlier in the season, no one is broken beyond repair. There is always hope on the horizon.

Find That One Person You Can Count On

A big proponent of the adage that there is always hope is Lucius finally pushing past his anger and quest for revenge against Blackbeard/Ed to draw an image of Pete, the one man he loves.

Because Lucius knows he can count on Pete to see him on his good and bad days, Lucius finds it in himself to take that next step.

Pete gives him the strength to believe he can commit to something as permanent as marriage because he knows he can rely on Pete to always be there.

People who are naturally ingrained to respond through their traumatic experiences, also known as trauma response, will often look for that solid proof that no matter what they do, this one person isn’t going to hurt them, leave them, or both. For Lucius that person is Pete.

During Our Flag Means Death Season 2 Episode 5, “The Curse of the Seafaring Life,” Pete suggests that the crew put Blackbeard/Ed in a cat collar with a bell so that he can’t sneak up on any of them. That move is specifically so Pete can keep the man he loves safe and in a mentally safe space.

Lucius is the most jumpy about Blackbeard/Ed, and now he can hear the man coming – it’s the sweetest act of love the show has ever shown, whether Lucius realizes it’s all for him or not.

Then, when Pete confronts him about the freaky drawings and the fact that Lucius has blinders on to anything other than making sure Blackbeard/Ed knows the pain Lucius has suffered, Lucius realizes just how important Pete is to him. Hearing the man he loves tell him that he needs to move on or risk losing the person that means the most to him is the wake-up call Lucius needs to start the healing process.

Unfortunately, just because he’s starting to heal doesn’t mean he isn’t going to have setbacks or moments where his trauma rears its ugly head. We see this multiple times during Our Flag Means Death Season 2 Episode 8, “Mermen.”

Lucius falls back into his closed-off, skittish self when the crew is thrown into a prison cell together. He might be in the background, but his clothes are being used as a means of escape – no one else’s, just Lucius’.

This has caused him to fold in on himself and not make eye contact with anyone. It’s left him feeling exposed and vulnerable, which he isn’t quite ready for at this point in his trauma journey.

It might not be a glaringly obvious moment of regression, but the fact that the body language is there even in the background of a scene is vitally important to survivors. After all, our triumphs and setbacks aren’t always center stage, but that doesn’t mean they don’t still happen.

Love Isn’t A Cure-All, But It Helps

The littlest things can set off our fight or flight reflexes and put us right back in the headspace of our trauma. Being more naked than the rest of his crew puts Lucius back there even if he doesn’t ever call attention to it.

The other moment of note for Lucius is during his wedding ceremony. It’s a happy occasion – and further proof of that hope mentioned before – yet one turn of phrase creates a moment of panic for him.

Luckily, this time, the setback occurs at a point where Pete can help Lucius through it. Roach tells the men they can make their union official by slashing each other’s faces, but Lucius silently protests.

While Roach retracts his statement and says a kiss is fine, and the pair readily agrees, the damage can still be felt – especially for survivors. Lucius is put off slightly by what Roach says, but Pete’s reassurance and love stop him from panicking at that moment.

When they kiss to make their marriage official, Pete isn’t holding onto Lucius; instead, his hands are up in the air in celebration. Sure, that could just be Pete being Pete, but in a small way, it’s his way of saying, “How lucky am I to have this guy.”

Trauma survivors need solid proof that their existence matters; they aren’t too much and are worthy of love and affection. Pete does this in so many ways throughout Season 2 and gives viewers that reassurance they might still seek in their lives.

Lucius shows us that we exist and can find love, happiness, and value in a world beyond our trauma and pain. Pete shows us that we are all worthy of love and that someone out there will always be in our corner, no matter the storm.

 

Our Flag Means Death is now streaming on Max.

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