The three-episode premiere of OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH makes the unfortunate mistake of keeping our leads separate. It’s a frustrating choice that works at times but will keep audiences longing for S1, where we were treated to an “Act of Grace” with the onscreen chemistry of Stede (Rhys Darby) and Blackbeard (Taika Waititi).
Yet, even with that nit, this show is still heartfelt and hilarious. Here are my thoughts on the first few episodes.
E1 IMPOSSIBLE BIRDS 😊
Well, that was a lot of setup! I get it, it has been a while since we’ve spent some time with the Gentleman Pirate and Blackbeard. Yet, this episode spends the majority of its time catching us up while being a “bird that never touches land,” aka it doesn’t stick the landing.
E2 RED FLAGS 🤩
Despite our leads not sharing screen time in RED FLAGS, the irresistible charm of the pirate queen of China (Ruibo Qian) makes the second episode a must-watch. Additionally, the Sea Witch bits are hilarious.
Two stand-out quotes:
- “We eat, but how often do we taste?”
- “Some people are just broken, no matter what you do.”
E3 THE INNKEEPER 🤩
I’d gladly check into this Inn by the Sea. What I love about Max’s programming of OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH is I believe they are scheduling the episodes in thematic chunks. And E3 ends on the perfect cliffhanger to set up the exciting sophomore season.
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Episodes one through three are available to stream on Max.