Oh, the Golden Age of Piracy ... Infamous names, such as Blackbeard, Calico Jack, Stede Bonnet and the legendary Republic of Pirates... A rich stew of historical tall tales where facts and fiction intertwine to create that usable and reusable material for endless lore about the adventurous scourge of the high seas. Rowdy characters, tainted by greed, rum, and violence, finding general appeal based almost entirely on their free spirits and disregard for the law. These are the pirates as we've gotten to know them, whether in old-time classics like Treasure Island, or the brilliant pirate series Black Sails I posted about earlier. In light of all this, I was pleased to see a completely different approach to pirate lore, in the recent TV series Our Flag Means Death.
"Let's Talk About It"
The show follows Stede Bonnet, a landed gentry from Barbados, as he gives up his comfortable but boring life as gentleman, and leaves his wife and children to pursue a life of piracy. Being rather inapt at seafaring, let alone violent crime, he stumbles form one mishap to the next, until he befriends Blackbeard, the most feared pirate of all times. What sounds like complete fiction, actually follows historical account quite closely, though admittedly the Wikipedia article on Bonnet reads like a campfire story itself.
The part where the series differs greatly from typical pirate stories, as well as the realm of realism, are the interactions between Bonnet, his crew, as well as pretty much all other characters. The dialogues are much more reminiscent of modern day talk, as you would expect from people who may have read an article or two on popular psychology in contemporary magazines. This is not only reflected in Bonnet's "positive captaining style", but in the way they interact with natives and colonizers, or the attendees at a party of the upper-crust of society. Racism and passive-aggression are treated with a 21st century point of view, giving the show its own taste of humor. And yes, then there is homosexuality.
"Anything Goes At Sea"
While I'm sure that gay relations were common on ocean going vessels, whether they belonged to pirates, merchants, or navies, the issue was hardly discussed in the open. Taking our contemporary progressive approach to the topic, it's really no big deal: everyone should be allowed to love whomever they love. This reasonable thinking is clearly out of place in the 18th century setting, making it even weirder when admitted to in the same matter-of-fact way: "Sure, why not? Anything goes at sea." But by that time the viewer should be used to today's rationale imposed on the setting of three centuries ago. So instead of simply being gay, the outrageous part is the way Bonnet and Blackbeard bond, into a weird friendship / romance, where their opposing personalities not only complement each other, but bring out their best aspects, in the worst possible way.
Meant to be Funny, not Realistic
Granted, most pirate tales aren't meant to be realistic. However, instead of exaggerating the fearsome and adventurous parts of pirates, this show puts them in a weirdly modern light. The comic result, however, is far from being free of conflicts. Wanting to break the monotony of everyday life is what we get to see in both Bonnet's life before becoming a pirate, and Blackbeard's pirating life before meeting Bonnet. Also, not everyone is equally pleased at seeing Blackbeard discover a new, maybe more fun side to himself. Also, the series has its fair share of antagonists, none of which seem to have any problem with anyone's buggery. Instead, it's the lifestyle of pillaging, plundering, ... and yes, the occasional murder that is seen as either too much or too little of (depending on who you ask). Just as you would expect from actual pirates. Still, at the end of the day, it's supposed to be a comedy, and it is a very well delivered one. So far only one season has been released, keeping us hoping for the subsequent ones. Here is the trailer to get a first taste:
