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chocolatepotI really am, I just think about it all the time. It's a fantastic thing to think about because it's so wonderful.
I realized that I've just kinda launched into talking about how it's the best thing ever but didn't really tell you all what it is and why you should watch it, so I'll write a little promo bit.
Our Flag Means Death is a ten-episode HBO sitcom starring Rhys Darby and the considerably more famous Taika Waititi as, respectively, Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard (Edward Teach, Ed). Ed is also the considerably more famous historical figure, but Stede Bonnet was a real rich guy who ran away from his home and family in Barbados to become a pirate. The show largely follows Stede's perspective, only showing glimpses of Blackbeard in the first few episodes as Stede hears stories about him and he hears rumors about Stede until they meet at the very end of episode 3. Ep 4 opens with Ed sitting quietly on the edge of Stede's bed, watching over him as he sleeps, and quite frankly things only get more tender and intimate from there - five minutes later they trade clothes and go do a bit that confuses everyone around them. The cast is also filled out with Stede's delightful and diverse crew, and Ed's first mate, the extremely cantankerous Izzy Hands. Please go check out my OFMD tag for captivating gifsets, meta, and fanart.
And now I will cut to preserve your flist, a courtesy those who follow me on Tumblr cannot and do not receive.
But for real, I think it's just that I relate so hard to Stede, and it's pretty rare for me to actually relate to characters the way other people seem to - they usually fit in too well, I think. Stede never fit in with "normal" society and then even when he becomes a pirate and starts to be cared about by his crew, he doesn't actually fit in with them. (There's a trend in the fandom to depict him as becoming a competent pirate in the next season, but personally I think that's missing the point.)
There's an excellent tumblr post out there that I can't find again (I am reblogging 45-50 posts a day via queue, it's hopeless), but basically it was pointing out what a common gay experience it is to spend years and years being picked at for your ... everything about you, and then to finally find someone who thinks it's all awesome. (Definitely also resonates with neurodivergence imo.) The promise of that is just ... yeah. Strums a chord on my heartstrings. Obviously there is a different social context to a man being flamboyantly campy and my whole presentation as a (cis) woman, I've never faced homophobia for doing femininity too much, but there's also a strong congruence. And then on top of that, he's like the archetypal Sunshiney One without being some sort of secret badass or anything.
Oh, I found it:
(It seems like the fandom at large generally identifies with Ed, though, which is fascinating to me.)
But even past the fact that I'm over-identifying with the main character, my brain is !!!!! at the romance because it's amazing. Partly because it's unabashedly gay but really it's atypical for even straight romance? I can't put my finger on why exactly, though I think it's partly because the characters are so immediately and openly into each other, which is very obvious to the viewer and to many of the characters, but neither of them acknowledges it (until they finally do). Stede is not consciously aware that he's in love, he doesn't know that that's what he's feeling for Ed because of compulsory heterosexuality, a plotline that obviously can't exist in het romance, and as a result his relationship with Ed cannot run on typical romantic lines. The romance is a vital part of both characters' development/arcs: they both struggle to believe they can be loved (also not usually an issue with het tv romance, because characters have to be relatable to the main audience, which means romantic pasts and reasonably well-adjusted psychology), Ed because he's got a lot of darkness in him and Stede because he's always been told he's inadequate.
But also, typically tv writers focus on how to stretch out the tension before the central het couple gets together. One is in love and the other isn't. They each date other people while pining for each other. They show their attraction through being annoyed with each other all the time. Et cetera. That doesn't happen, they're on a pretty tight schedule of getting from the initial spark to coming together in six episodes.
ANYWAY. I have to go write my daily whump and domestic fluff pieces!
I realized that I've just kinda launched into talking about how it's the best thing ever but didn't really tell you all what it is and why you should watch it, so I'll write a little promo bit.
Our Flag Means Death is a ten-episode HBO sitcom starring Rhys Darby and the considerably more famous Taika Waititi as, respectively, Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard (Edward Teach, Ed). Ed is also the considerably more famous historical figure, but Stede Bonnet was a real rich guy who ran away from his home and family in Barbados to become a pirate. The show largely follows Stede's perspective, only showing glimpses of Blackbeard in the first few episodes as Stede hears stories about him and he hears rumors about Stede until they meet at the very end of episode 3. Ep 4 opens with Ed sitting quietly on the edge of Stede's bed, watching over him as he sleeps, and quite frankly things only get more tender and intimate from there - five minutes later they trade clothes and go do a bit that confuses everyone around them. The cast is also filled out with Stede's delightful and diverse crew, and Ed's first mate, the extremely cantankerous Izzy Hands. Please go check out my OFMD tag for captivating gifsets, meta, and fanart.
And now I will cut to preserve your flist, a courtesy those who follow me on Tumblr cannot and do not receive.
But for real, I think it's just that I relate so hard to Stede, and it's pretty rare for me to actually relate to characters the way other people seem to - they usually fit in too well, I think. Stede never fit in with "normal" society and then even when he becomes a pirate and starts to be cared about by his crew, he doesn't actually fit in with them. (There's a trend in the fandom to depict him as becoming a competent pirate in the next season, but personally I think that's missing the point.)
There's an excellent tumblr post out there that I can't find again (I am reblogging 45-50 posts a day via queue, it's hopeless), but basically it was pointing out what a common gay experience it is to spend years and years being picked at for your ... everything about you, and then to finally find someone who thinks it's all awesome. (Definitely also resonates with neurodivergence imo.) The promise of that is just ... yeah. Strums a chord on my heartstrings. Obviously there is a different social context to a man being flamboyantly campy and my whole presentation as a (cis) woman, I've never faced homophobia for doing femininity too much, but there's also a strong congruence. And then on top of that, he's like the archetypal Sunshiney One without being some sort of secret badass or anything.
Oh, I found it:
OFMD is like such a gay person fantasy like you spend your whole life as some silly little guy who gets mocked at every turn for everything you love and then all of a sudden this really hot person shows up like "YOOO, this shits cool as hell!!" and also they're madly in love with you.
(It seems like the fandom at large generally identifies with Ed, though, which is fascinating to me.)
But even past the fact that I'm over-identifying with the main character, my brain is !!!!! at the romance because it's amazing. Partly because it's unabashedly gay but really it's atypical for even straight romance? I can't put my finger on why exactly, though I think it's partly because the characters are so immediately and openly into each other, which is very obvious to the viewer and to many of the characters, but neither of them acknowledges it (until they finally do). Stede is not consciously aware that he's in love, he doesn't know that that's what he's feeling for Ed because of compulsory heterosexuality, a plotline that obviously can't exist in het romance, and as a result his relationship with Ed cannot run on typical romantic lines. The romance is a vital part of both characters' development/arcs: they both struggle to believe they can be loved (also not usually an issue with het tv romance, because characters have to be relatable to the main audience, which means romantic pasts and reasonably well-adjusted psychology), Ed because he's got a lot of darkness in him and Stede because he's always been told he's inadequate.
But also, typically tv writers focus on how to stretch out the tension before the central het couple gets together. One is in love and the other isn't. They each date other people while pining for each other. They show their attraction through being annoyed with each other all the time. Et cetera. That doesn't happen, they're on a pretty tight schedule of getting from the initial spark to coming together in six episodes.
ANYWAY. I have to go write my daily whump and domestic fluff pieces!
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Date: 2022-05-11 03:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-05-12 11:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-05-14 01:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-05-11 11:52 am (UTC)I also think that the queer metaphor extends to Stede's kids, because historically, and unfortunately still now in many cases, LGBTQ+ parents DID have to choose between their families and living their truth. And I imagine if you're an Evangelical father or mother and realize you're queer, for instance, the same applies because you're kicked out and unfortunately may be barred from seeing your kids. Back then it would've even been more true.
And for all we know, the real Stede Bonnet was queer and that's why he left. There's no historical indication of that that I know of, but I also don't think we know that wasn't the case. The pirate life really was more subversive, and I can see a queer person having been drawn to that. I don't even think that's why THIS Stede left, I'm not sure he had any idea until Blackbeard (and I haven't gotten into the relationship yet, we're still pre-relationship), but I do think the metaphor fits.
I also appreciate that there is a nonbinary character, even if Jim hasn't been acknowledged as such yet.
to characters the way other people seem to - they usually fit in too well, I think. Stede never fit in with "normal" society and then even when he becomes a pirate and starts to be cared about by his crew, he doesn't actually fit in with them. (There's a trend in the fandom to depict him as becoming a competent pirate in the next season, but personally I think that's missing the point.)
Yeah, I think Stede needs to be Stede. I LIKE that he's not a conventional pirate. I will admit my initial impression of him was that he was a bit of a pirate Michael Scott, but in that same episode the notion is quickly subverted. (And there was probably some level of bias on my own, because... okay, rich guy decides to chill with pirates, great. But then we learn how miserable he was in that society.)
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Date: 2022-05-13 10:41 am (UTC)I don't even think that's why THIS Stede left, I'm not sure he had any idea until Blackbeard (and I haven't gotten into the relationship yet, we're still pre-relationship)
I read a take suggesting somewhat jokily that maybe he was subconsciously attracted to the pirate life because of the homosocial environment and the illustrations of jacked men with their shirts open. But yeah, I think he had no conscious idea until the end of the season.
I will admit my initial impression of him was that he was a bit of a pirate Michael Scott, but in that same episode the notion is quickly subverted.
Oh, same! I had an initial tensing-up about his bluster. But he's so lovable! The end of the first episode absolutely kills me, I put "High on a Rocky Ledge" into my Favorites playlist on Spotify and when it comes up I grin like a loon.
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Date: 2022-05-13 04:08 pm (UTC)Ha! Good point.. but yeah, he probably had no idea.
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Date: 2022-05-11 12:55 pm (UTC)It made me happy to read about how happy you are from a tv show. That was a nice part in a morning where I forgot to turn on the coffee pot.
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Date: 2022-05-12 11:28 pm (UTC)I'm so glad my joy is contagious!
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Date: 2022-05-13 12:48 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2022-05-12 11:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-05-14 12:10 am (UTC)