Turning pirates into a joke is not a new thing, and yet Our Flag Means Death comes off as a refreshing series amidst the years-long absence from the rather more famous Pirates of the Caribbean. Nevertheless, behind David Jenkins' pirate comedy lies a more refined blend of surprisingly accurate pirate history mixed with contemporary humor in just the right way.
In that sense, HBO Max’sOur Flag Means Death appears to be the perfect blend of Jenkins’ People of Earth and Taika Waititi’s signature style because, although the Thor: Love and Thunder director may not be fully in charge, his blueprints are all over this hilarious pirate adventure. All this ensures anyone that enjoyed Waititi’s What We Do in the Shadows or Jojo Rabbit will feel right at home once they board the “Revenge” alongside real pirate legend Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) and his crew of misfits.
The series starts off in 1717, towards the end of what is known as the Golden Age of piracy, a period that saw the rise of many men (and women) that terrorized the Caribbean and other parts of the world. However, the likes of Calico jack, Bartholomew Roberts, Anne Bonny, and Henry Morgan take a step aside to let Bonnet and Blackbeard star in this rose-tinted version of what a pirate’s life used to be, and it’s all thanks to the unique approach brought to the table by the Gentleman Pirate.
Historical accuracy is rather welcome too, because records show that Bonnet was indeed a rich man who turned to piracy due to a mixture of marital problems and boredom, yet it’s what Jenkins does with such premise that really ends up becoming comedic gold at certain points. This is obvious from the get-go when Bonnet’s upper-class manners rub his paid crew the wrong way, who at that point are in for the ride pretty much solely because of the promise of a guaranteed salary.
It’s this cultural clash and Bonnet’s clear lack of qualifications to enter the world of piracy that makes up for most of the jokes, though an equally colorful cast of supporting characters is essential to make sure each punchline is delivered in just the right way. Perhaps there was no other pirate like Jack Sparrow, but Bonnet’s constant invitations to his crew to talk about their feelings, sharing, flag-making contests, and his bedtime stories to a bunch of illiterate adults make him a unique captain that’s often a joy to watch.
Waititi directs the first episode, but he takes a bit more to show up as Blackbeard, just like many of the other cast members that were teased in the early trailers for Our Flag Means Death. Each member of the pirate crew has what feels like a very linear and over-the-top personality and, regardless of that, those characterizations are perfect for the tone of the show, such as Kristian Nairn’s pyromaniac Wee John, Black Pete (Matthew Maher), and especially the ongoing side plot with Jim (Vico Ortiz) and Oluwande (Samsom Kayo), or antagonists like Izzy hands.
The first three episodes each have a distinct theme to theme, which is rather welcome because it’s the cast and setting that really provides the entertainment value here. The funniest bits possibly come when the rest of the criminal world runs into Bonnet, whose biggest strength lies in being like nothing anyone has encountered before in their pillaging careers.
By the time Saturday Night Live veterans like Fred Armisen and Leslie Jones show up, Our Flag Means Death is mostly done with its initial setup, which is basically presenting viewers with its rebranded take on piracy, or at least Bonnet’s best efforts at it. While death and bloodshed are not a rare occurrence in the series, it both delivers and processes it in its own way, usually from the eyes of Captain Bonnet who’s mostly against most types of violence and struggles to keep up with his new job.
At the heart of it all, Our Flag Means Death is the marriage between a script that’s quite befitting for any modern comedy and the perpetual lure that pirates have always had. There’s a reason why pirate life was fancied by many, including Bonnet himself, back in 1600 and 1700s, since for all intents and purposes they were the closest things o a superhero back then, albeit with a radically different and often misguided moral compass, such as their HBO peer Peacemaker.
So who is Our Flag Means Death for? Well, any person missing the Pirates of the Caribbean or that just so happened to grow up with the franchise will probably like what Jenkins and Waititi have put together. Anyone who simply has a modest interest or fascination with pirates too. Lastly, people who enjoy the type of humor that has made Waititi a household name to the extent of being tasked with the next mainline Star Wars will probably find it to their liking as well, so the series might have a brighter fate than the real Blackbeard and Bonnet.