15 Things We’ll Miss About ‘Our Flag Means Death’

Our Flag Means Death, the pirate workplace romantic comedy, was recently canceled after two seasons, despite its high ratings and high demand. The MAX series was initially written with a three-season arc in mind.

There is so much to love about Our Flag Means Death that we will miss seeing on our television screens. From its queer representation to its rich sense of humor, Our Flag Means Death is undoubtedly the whole package.

To honor this beloved show, which ended way too soon, here are 15 Things We’ll Miss About Our Flag Means Death,” in no particular order.

1. The Cast

The cast of Our Flag Means Death has a vast range of talent and all bring something special to the show.

In scenes where everyone is together, the cast does a wonderful job of bouncing off of each other and having perfect comedic timing for a joke.

Moments of improvisation from the actors add memorable gems to the story. The “Blackbeard’s Bar and Grill” conversation between Ed and Stede was fully improvised by Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi.

Darby and Waititi’s comfort with each other after working together for 20 years adds a reality to their relationship that wouldn’t exist otherwise.

The cast of Our Flag Means Death has been outspokenly proud of the show in the press and to fans. It is a waste of their talent to not continue their stories in season three.

2. The Comedy

One of the strongest elements of the series is the show’s sense of humor, which leaves us in stitches. There are many different areas of which the comedy comes from.

There is the immeasurable physical comedy of the characters, most notably from Rhys Darby who plays sea captain Stede Bonnet. Darby’s 20+ years of experience as a stand-up comedian grants us a masterclass on timing, expression, and cadence. 

One such moment is when Captain Badminton mocks Stede for having a bookshelf on his ship. Badminton asks him what happens when they hit rough waters and all the books fall out.

There is a hard cut to Stede flailing on a ladder trying desperately to keep all his books from flying off the shelf. Stede’s expression and body movement are those of a cartoon character.

Additionally, something else to note about the comedy of Our Flag Means Death is the touch of a New Zealand sense of humor.

Dry wit, observations, and improvisational banter are not the most common humor to be seen by American audiences. But this sort of comedy works perfectly for a show that is styled to be a workplace comedy.

3. The Costumes

The attention to detail in the costumes of Our Flag Means Death is so intricate that you could go on a deep dive of research for every single character.

Costume designers Christine Wada and Gypsy Taylor did an incredible job of retaining the historical accuracy of the period while also taking creative liberties.

Gypsy Taylor references Moroccan fabrics that would have been “imported from the Silk Road” during the 18th century as inspiration for Zheng’s costumes.

It is a refreshing departure from the Western costumes we were used to seeing in season one. Zheng looks like a total badass with her coattails breezing behind her whenever she is seen in battle.

We’re going to miss seeing such creative talent shown through costuming on Our Flag Means Death.

4. Fight Scenes

You cannot have a legendary pirate tale without action-packed battles on land and sea!

The stunt coordinators did exceptional work choreographing battles and raids on the show, and we are going to miss seeing epic fight scenes between pirates, the British, and more.

The show’s most impressive fight scene is on Our Flag Means Death Season 2 Episode 7, “Man on Fire,” with a brawl at Spanish Jackie’s bar that’s shot in one take.

The amount of choreography and practice it must have taken for the actors and camera operators to map it out and hit every mark without cutting away is a testament to their efforts. It is breathtaking to watch.

5. The Music

The music choices for Our Flag Means Death are cohesive and provoke the exact right emotions out of a scene: triumph, heartbreak, suspense, and affection. 

Most of the picks for each episode lean towards ’70s classic rock, but instrumental music plays just as an important role in telling a story through sound, most notably in Ed and Stede’s love story.

However, the most iconic song used in the show is none other than “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac, when the British navy captures the crew of the Revenge, and Blackbeard returns to share an intimate foot-touching moment with Stede.

In fact, “The Chain” is even considered the signature song of the show now. From singing it at comic conventions, to birthday parties, to fan-made collaborative covers, it has been the trademark song sung by fans all over the world.

6. The Guest Stars

Our Flag Means Death was fortunate enough to have some star-studded guest stars appear on the show.

Notable guest stars included Fred Armisen, Nick Kroll, Kristen Schaal, Minnie Driver, Rachel House, Will Arnett, Rory Kinnear, Claudia O’Doherty, and Kristen Johnston.

Leslie Jones as Spanish Jackie became a fan favorite as well, with recurring appearances in Seasons 1 and 2, to everyone’s enjoyment. 

The guest stars on Our Flag Means Death elevated the series in humor and drama and it is such a shame that we won’t get to see which talented guest stars could make an appearance in season three.

7. The Friendships

The friendships on Our Flag Means Death are just as important and meaningful as the romantic relationships on the show.

It’s always entertaining to see what side quests the crew of the Revenge get up to when their Captain is not around.

For instance, on Our Flag Means Death Season 1 Episode 8, “We Gull Way Back,” Frenchie and Wee John snag Oluwande’s quarters after he feels too lonely living there without Jim. 

It’s sweet watching Frenchie and Wee John get so excited about how they are going to plan their room and dub themselves “room people.”

We’ll miss seeing all the ways platonic love blooms on Our Flag Means Death and what new friendships could have been in store for season three.

8. Its Representation

What sets Our Flag Means Death apart from many other shows is its unabashed pride in representing all different identities in the series.

Different languages, cultures, and skin tones are all represented on the show, commending BIPOC and AAPI characters and actors. It is refreshing to see a period piece in which every pirate is not whitewashed. The storylines that deal with racism are met with humor and candor.

In fact, LGBTQIA+ liberation is a significant element of the show’s essence. Nearly all of the characters on the show are queer in some way, shape, or form. Either by who they are romantically involved with, their gender expression, or simply by the act of existing against the status quo.

Disabilities are also represented in the series. Black Pete, Blackbeard, and Izzy are all shown to have a physical disability of some kind.

The representation in Our Flag Means Death is the most important part of the series. We will miss having a running television show where underrepresented voices are seen and heard.

9. The Production

Our Flag Means Death would be nothing without the talented people who worked in art & design, visual effects, props, directors, hair & makeup, catering, editing, cinematography, and so much more.

One example of the stunning work of practical effects was the underwater scene at the end of Our Flag Means Death Season 2 Episode 3, “The Innkeeper.”

The past crew who worked on Avatar: The Way of Water and their giant leftover water tank meant that they had everything they needed to practically film that moving scene. It’s absolutely stunning.

10. The Women

Our Flag Means Death Season 2 meant the addition of more characters, including some intelligent, well-written women.

It was about time we got to see a cool female pirate Captain and her crew made up of mostly women. 

Auntie and Zheng had a great dynamic. Both women were so great at their jobs and communicated with each other respectfully.

Auntie had great honor for Zheng, but her style of mentoring leaned towards tough love. While Zheng respected Auntie’s work ethic, sometimes what Zheng needed to hear was direct words of encouragement and affection.

In a male-dominated cast, it was refreshing to see new female characters that had interesting stories to tell in Season 2.

11. The Drama

As much as Our Flag Means Death serves as a comedy, it also delivers with punches of drama. 

Grief and heartbreak are a throughline of many characters’ arcs on the show.

In the Season 2 finale, for example, Izzy Hands is laid to rest after being shot by Prince Ricky Banes. The entire crew is there to grieve together as they watch longtime companions Izzy and Edward speak their final words to each other.

Seeing everyone surround Izzy to pay their respects hits hard because he grew into a character who touched the lives of all his crewmates. This is a significant departure from Season 1, where everyone agreed to mutiny against him.

Letting these dramatic moments balance out with comedic moments is what elevates the series into not just a farce, but a show that possesses emotional intelligence and humanity.

12. The Title Cards

The title cards of Our Flag Means Death is one of the many creative, unique touches to the show. 

Each episode has a different title card to go with the opening strings, sometimes corresponding to what the episode will be about.

It was always a treat to wonder what the next episode’s title card would be and what hints it might provide for that episode. 

13. The Romance

The number of romantic ships (literally and figuratively) in this romantic comedy is the biggest swoon factor for the show.

At the romantic center of the show are Ed and Stede. Their story means so much to people because it proves that not all love stories have to start in your teens or twenties. They can begin in middle age, too.

Ed learns how to embrace his softer side from Stede, and Stede learns how to stand up for himself because of Ed. At their core, they both know how it feels to grow up as an outcast. They embrace each other’s weird quirks and accept each other for who they are.

And yet, the relationship isn’t always smooth sailing. Sometimes, their lack of communication leads to bickering and misunderstandings. This realistic approach makes their relationship more interesting.

Ed and Stede’s relationship only just begins as they start their new life as innkeepers. There is still so much of their story to tell that won’t be seen without a Season 3.

14. The Quotes

If you’ve ever seen even one episode of Our Flag Means Death, you would have heard at least a few memorable quotes from each episode.

Funny one-liners like “Did you mean to do that?” when Stede gets very intentionally stabbed and “The teeth don’t go back in!” when the Swede contracts scurvy are unforgettable and will catch you off guard by the brilliant actors that deliver them.

Other quotes are more serious and moving. 

When Izzy tells off Prince Ricky Banes about how Ricky doesn’t know the first thing about piracy, for instance, Izzy begins his monologue with, “It’s not about glory. It’s not about getting what you want. It’s about belonging to something when the world has told you you’re nothing.”

This line strikes the hearts of every fan of Our Flag Means Death who found belonging in the show.

15. The Community

One of the most prominent themes in Our Flag Means Death is how the crew of the Revenge fosters a sense of community.

Stede Bonnet’s catchphrase, “We talk it through, as a crew,” is what helped the crew grow from apathetic pirates to defending Stede’s honor in front of the British. This is especially poignant given Stede’s history of being bullied in his childhood.

A lovely moment in the pilot episode is when Stede tasks the crew with making pirate flags as a teambuilding exercise. At the end of the episode, everyone’s flags are hoisted to sail, showing that everyone matters and no one’s voices are left behind.

This sense of community bleeds out into the real world, as Our Flag Means Death fandom spaces explode with passion.

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What are you going to miss the most about Our Flag Means Death? Let us know in the comments below!

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