Our Flag Means Death

I came as a fan of anything Rhys and Taika have done before (and hoping for a Jemaine cameo) but truly this is unlike anything they've done before and I don't think you'd have to be a fan of anything previous to like this. (There's no Jemaine cameo, minus one point!).

I also came for a queer pirate love story and boy did this deliver in a surprising way. Maybe the best thing about it is that there is no erotic element to the love Stede and Ed develop onscreen - not that I wouldn't want to see Rhys and Taika in an erotic embrace! But the absence of lust makes this quite a rare depiction of gay love on screen. It's really beautiful and the viewer is just witnessing two people realise over the series they ultimately just need each other to be happy and that's just doggarn adorable.

Comedy wise I agree with some reviews that the comediens are not used to their best abilities. It's not side splitting, but it is still thoroughly entertaining.

I am really nervous having read the true story of Stede Bonnet what a second series would bring... I'd love for there to be one and would also hate for it to be too close to the truth. I hope if there is one it goes further down the route of fancy and also allows a beautiful gay love story to have an even rarer happy ending.

I like this show - it's weird, it's funny, but it also has some serious undertones, like not conforming to society's expectations of what a man is supposed to be and the damage caused by bullying. And despite some issue with the language, I think this is a good family show, and there just aren't that many of those around anymore.

I am always willing to give anything by Taika Waititi a chance, and I don't think you'll be sorry for spending half an hour a week with this one. I have a feeling this will become a cult classic.

The silliness of this show works because of the excellent cast, and it gets better through the later episodes imo. It was probably more fun to produce this than to watch, bit it's exactly the kind of effort that audiences should reward- dumb as it is, it's a great break from the stark reality of 2022 : )

I was looking forward to Our Flag Means Death ever since I first heard about it and that Taika Waititi was involved. This series is about a wealthy aristocrat who leaves his privileged life and family to become a pirate. He's called the gentleman pirate for the way he treats his crew and how he doesn't want to use any violence. What follows is one hilarious moment after another. The writing and character development is what makes this show so good. You really come to care for each of these characters and what happens to them. This is one of the most original and unique shows I've ever seen. I'm already waiting for next season to come out.

Stede Bonnet leaves behind a life of property and luxury for a life on The Open Sea, a life of Piracy, his world is thrown upside down when he encounters the infamous Blackbeard.

It may take an episode or two for you to get it, and work out what's happening, but if you're unsure early on, I urge you to stick with it, it really is the most magical show. It's funny and weird in equal measure, the humour comes from the absurdity of it.

It's a show the family would enjoy, admittedly a family that has a chilled out attitude when it comes to bad language that is.

It defies every single pre conceived stereotype of what many think of when they think of pirates, if you don't think it'll happen, expect to see it here.

The characters are all magical, aside from the main players, the laughs will keep coming from Izzy Hands, The Swede, Buttons, they're a wonderful, amusing bunch.

Rhys Darby is an absolute joy as The Gentleman Pirate, he is equally matched by Taika Waititi, I could watch him in anything, the pair are phenomenal.

I'm counting down for the start of Series 2.

9/10.