Season 1 of Our Flag Means Death proved to be one of the most shockingly emotional shows in many people's recent memory. This was notably thanks in part to its use of a fun pirate story on the high seas in order to conduct a deep character study on masculinity and sexuality. Anyone who hasn't seen the show is probably very confused right now, and those who have are likely still recovering. But it looks like the latter may have to steel themselves for even more emotional nukes.
David Jenkins, the creator and showrunner for Our Flag Means Death, just posted the first tease of what's to come in the show's recently confirmed second season. After season 1 ended with several massive cliffhangers regarding the relationships between certain characters and the fates of others, it was clear that the writers fully intended to continue the story given the chance. Now, thanks to HBO Max finally giving season 2 the green light, they'll finally have that opportunity, and Jenkins has been teasing even more of the heart-wrenching drama fans have come to expect from this deceptive comedy series.
Jenkins just posted a cryptic tweet with a picture of the script from season 2's first episode. Unfortunately for fans, it gives away little aside from the fact that this is definitely Our Flag Means Death and that it's definitely episode 1 of season 2. The real meat is in the caption, though. "Anyone care to have their s*** f***ed up?" he said in the tweet. "Because this is happening." This seems to indicate that the emotional aspect and sincerity of the show are alive and well going forward, and his hashtag use may also imply something fans have been wondering about since the nail-biting season finale.
The tweet also includes the hashtag #justiceforluciusrip, which references Nathan Foad's character Lucius Spriggs. Just one part of the show's stellar ensemble cast, Lucius was last seen falling into the sea at the hands of Taika Waititi's Edward "Blackbeard" Teach, who returned to his life of crime after the heartbreak of thinking he was betrayed by his love Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby). Fans had fallen in love with the pacifist character of Lucius throughout the show, particularly as he had begun to overcome his own insecurities thanks to both Stede and Ed. This extended to a popular theory among viewers that Lucius is not only still alive, but may return as the villain for season 2. Jenkins' mention of the character at the very least may imply that the character will play a significant role going forward.
Our Flag Means Death quickly became a surprise hit when it established itself not only as a solid pirate comedy from the mind of Waititi, but also as a tender story of love. It's no wonder that it became a triumph of word-of-mouth marketing, especially as a mainstream show that incorporates LGBTQ+ themes in ways that surprised pretty much everyone. Inspiring fan art and cosplay in droves, it was very clear that the series had become a true hit thanks to its broad appeal while still tackling historically divisive topics.
The main takeaway here is that Our Flag Means Death will very likely continue its gut-punching style of storytelling in season 2. Even though no plot details have been released yet, it's painfully clear that fans should probably stock up on the tissues they used up during season 1.
Our Flag Means Death is available to stream on HBO Max, with season 2 expected sometime in 2023.
Source: David Jenkins/Twitter