Our Flag Means Death. It's utterly brilliant and I am obsessed!

[TriceratopsRocks]

I'm sure I found a thread on this series a while ago, but now season 2 is out I've looked back and I can't find anything apart from the renewal petition.

For anyone who hasn't come across it yet, I would thoroughly recommend. It starts off as a sort of workplace comedy set on a pirate ship, sort of in the style of Ghosts, and with a similar fanbase to Good Omens. When the 2nd lead character arrives at the end of episode 3, it starts to change and it only hit me two thirds of the way through season 1 that I was actually watching a very different sort of show to the one I thought I had started watching.

From that point it's phenomenal. The attention to detail is superb. Both leads are clearly neuro diverse, from abusive backgrounds and damaged because of these. They both want what they think the other one has. It's about them discovering themselves, accepting themselves for who they really are, and healing. There is comedy, but also heartbreak and despair. The show handles these so sensitively and accurately, down to minute details, and Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby deserve every award under the sun for their work here.

I don't think I've ever obsessed about a show as much as this one. I've tried to make this not too spoilery in case some of you want to watch it, but really I just want someone to talk to about it! I've already watched it countless times and the more I rewatch the more I appreciate it. I said I was obsessed and I really am!

The show has sadly been cancelled, despite its popularity, and the producers are currently trying to see if it will be picked up by another network. I have read that they are keeping an eye on the iPlayer numbers as part of this, so I also wanted to shamelessly plug it here 😁

If any of you haven't seen it and fancy giving it a try, it grows into itself in the first season and you really need to give it at least 4 episodes (episode 4 is where the main story really starts). Its not a show I would have thought to watch myself (DD wanted me to watch it with her) but I'm so glad I have.

I don't really know what I want from this thread really. I want more people to find it, but I also want to just talk about it and obviously can't do that without more spoilers than I've already given. Help me out people!

Just like lizziesaurusx I think about the show most of the day and certainly at night when trying to drop off to sleep, which is when I usually try to think of things I would like the show to have been able to show us. I really wanted Mary and Doug to visit the inn (although it's unlikely that the, now former, Republic of Pirates would have been on their bucket list.

I also tend to imagine conversations between Stede and Izzy about what Izzy did to create Kraken Ed and what happened to Stede when he tried to go back to his old life.

Welcome @lizziesaurusx 😀 So glad you have found us fellow obsessives! I only have a few minutes now, but you mentioned fan fiction so I thought I'd post one I've enjoyed recently, so you're in the right place to explore a bit.

It's a post S2 adventure that fits well within the universe of the show (canon compliant and suitable for teen audiences):

archiveofourown.org/works/53598247?view_full_work=true

Enjoy!

Such an interesting read. I’m having trouble with some of the ‘angle’ talk as maths isn’t my strong suit 🤣

This hits upon some ideas I couldn’t put my finger on regarding the first kiss. There is absolutely a feeling of distance afterwards. Ed kisses Stede then immediately goes off to plan alone. Why doesn’t Stede go with him? I also cringe at the part where Ed seems to tuck Stede into bed and tells him to ‘Get some sleep’ like he’s a child. I know it’s necessary plot-wise so that Chauncey can take his revenge, but it really riles me. It’s as if Ed doesn’t think Stede is up to the task and puts him out of the way whilst he does all the heavy work of planning their escape to China. I think Stede senses this rejection by Ed’s constant physical withdrawal to ‘go off and plan’ without him. Ed is the chivalric hero at this point rescuing his damsel, Stede.

I think the way season one ends is so important because the roles reverse, I feel. Despite Ed going full Kraken, he’s actually now the damsel who needs rescuing (from himself). Meanwhile, Stede is now the chivalric lover, dragging his boat out to sea in those hero shots, ready to find his true love. It’s an amazing power shift and so necessary. I also like that Ed is placed as the ‘bride’ on the wedding cake as I think it subverts expectations. I like that Stede initiates the consummation of their relationship and that Ed does the morning-after breakfast. Ed is an amazing househusband in the making!

I love this, very clever.
It's definitely a show made by very clever, very funny people, who are clearly having such fun with it all. No wonder it's so good.

@BigMandsTattooPortfolio Thank you! I've made myself Spotify playlists for both the classical and the non-classical music in the show, but haven't listened to the actual soundtrack - that will be a treat for tomorrow.

@TriceratopsRocks Thank you - excellent to have somewhere to start as there's a bewildering amount of fan fiction on that site. I think I definitely want something that expands and extends the story in its own universe rather than moves into a more contemporary world - at least for now.

@CarlaH I'm reassured to hear that it's not just me that's thinking about it last thing at night - though I've yet to dream about it. I would've loved Mary to meet Ed - apart from almost killing Stede with a skewer, I thought she was great and made the best of a miserable situation she really didn't want to be in either.

@MrsJellybee That's just brilliant, I'm due a rewatch of that episode and will enjoy it even more spotting all Shakespeare references.

TriceratopsRocks - thank you so much for that fanfic recommendation. I’m really enjoying it!

Yes the Stede/Ed separation issue after the kiss is entirely plot driven. It does jar a little bit.

It must feel so awful to pluck up the courage to kiss somebody and then to have to deal with what you could only assume is rejection as a result of it. Stede is really understandably quite hesitant about agreeing to run away with Ed.

I tend to go off on tangents. Am obsessed with anything Taika Waitiki has done at the moment and can thoroughly recommed 'The Hunt for the Wilderpeople'. Joyous. 'Jojo Rabbit' was not as good as the hype said it would be but still enjoyable and tonight I'm watching 'Boy'.

@MrsJellybee Thank you for your wonderful Shakespeare post - I had spotted the more obvious references, but it hadn't even crossed my mind to look for others.

I also absolutely loved this phrase "Meanwhile, Stede is now the chivalric lover, dragging his boat out to sea in those hero shots, ready to find his true love." That is exactly it. At this point, Ed is most definitely the damsel in distress, and this is where they hit us over the head with it. Those scenes at the end of S1 where Ed is crying alone in his cabin are just heartbreaking. And Ed as the bride 😭But I love that they both got a turn at being the dashing hero; they each had a quest to save the other and found them just in time - woken from their deathbed. It's very 'Disney Princess' and I love it!

But I do think they are both saving each other in both seasons. They both desperately needed a friend - someone to show them that their life has value. So Stede is already saving Ed in S1 by showing him that he can drop the pirate mask and be his real, gentle self. Ed going from "just treading water, waiting to drown" to excitedly wanting to run off to China. Only to then have that separation :( And Ed's despair was so deep because he'd finally allowed himself to hope, only to have it dashed. More sobbing!! 😭😭😭

Enjoy Boy! I wached that a couple of weeks ago :) I thought it a very good film and Taika wonderful as ever. I've also been checking out things that both Rhys and Taika have done, so thank you for the Wildepeople recommendation - I keep hovering over buying this as it's not available on any streaming I have, and I'm getting more and more tempted. I loved the WWDITS film and was also absolutely delighted by Rhys' Love Birds. I've also been checking out Rhys comedy, and even his Cryptid podcast! I know know a lot more than I even thought I would about Bigfoot, alien abductions and the Loch Ness Monster 😂

And if its not already obvious - I'm at one with you guys who keep thinking about this show ALL THE TIME! When I woke up this morning I found myself watching the couch scene in my head. Last night I went to sleep thinking about Rhys' recollection of "You wear fine things well" in S2E2, and how he must be seeing that and many other things in such a new light now he recognises and understands their feelings for each other.

I have just been rereading this thread and, as it happens, the scene with Lucius and Ed in the blanket fort was my repeat viewing earlier today.

Lucius was so wonderful and empathic but I found myself thinking this time around that he was signing his own death warrant seeing Ed so broken.

I have also seen on Reddit that some people think that when Ed says to Lucius during the 'you can push me off the boat now to help you get over it' scenes that talking about the talent show "doesn't sound like something I would say" means that Ed has completely forgotten all about it (the talent show) as part of his trauma. However he does clearly remember the push so I am not sure I buy that.

Apologies for the appalling grammar above.

It’s like a love sickness. I keep waking at 2am with thoughts and questions, plus ear-worms. Last night was Run from Me 🤣. I had to put the soundtrack on this afternoon just to get motivated to do some gardening. Dies Irae got me through a tough patch of weeding.

I’m currently going down the black cravat rabbit hole…

I also noticed in 1.6 today that just prior to the run-through, Ed hits Stede on the arse with the flat of the sword and Stede shouts ‘Ooh, bugger!’ DJ puts all the clues in, we (I) just missed them first time.

Oh yes I noticed that one - and Stede copies him and does the same to Izzy in their duel, much to Olu's disgust.

You've got me thinking this evening about househusband Ed. Can I just say...

Yes please...? 😂

I agree that Ed would be very happy in that role (with Stede, that is!). He became quite the domestic with his door fixing, fishing, cooking etc. Simple pleasures :) On a slightly different tone, it also makes me think of Ed's face when Stede gives him orders - "Stand down, Ed!" "On your feet, we're having a day" and his captain's voice "Go and fix something!". Ed's eyes - he's besotted, and he loves it!

The song that stuck in my head today wasn't a soundtrack one, it was the one by Chxrlotte I linked way up thread somewhere. It can feel very ear-wormy! It's about OFMD and I love the lyrics:

Oh my love I've been longing for you
It's been silent since I last saw you
I've been willing the tide towards you
In my soul I know that we're not through
I'll turn cold I'll live by the sword too
Write your name permanent like a tattoo.

But I've been dreaming of you there
When the wind was in your hair
And you lingered on my skin like salt air
Was it as perfect as it seemed?
Was it nothing but a dream
Til I left you on the beach
And for now I'll be...
Calling you to me
Like a siren to the sea
Feels like an eternity
So hold me gently
Every day's the same
I've been writing out your name
For forever and a day
And forever It'll stay
Like a message in a bottle in the waves.

Oh my love it's been dark without you
I was foolish to never doubt you
with no lighthouse I'll run aground soon
I was all in but you weren't were you
Who am I to think I deserved you
I'll trust no-one I'll burn like a tattoo.

But I've been dreaming of you there
When the wind was in your hair
And you lingered on my skin like salt air
I guess the finest things are dreams
Like the one of you and me
Then you left me on the beach
And for now I'll be...
Calling you to me
Like a siren to the sea
Feels like an eternity
So hold me gently
Every day's the same
I've been writing out your name
For forever and a day
And forever It'll stay
Like a message in a bottle in the waves (repeat)

However he does clearly remember the push so I am not sure I buy that.

@CarlaH I'm not sure I get that either. I can see he might have all sorts of memory issues related to the time when he was downing all the booze and rhino horn, but this was before then. Maybe when he decided to become the Kraken he buried all memories of heartbroken Ed so deep, that he really did forget?

“Go and fix something!". Ed's eyes - he's besotted, and he loves it!
When Ed tells Stede he ‘just has to work on his mean voice’… well, we know where Stede will be using that at some point! The first words Ed ever hears towards him from Stede is ‘Go suck eggs in Hell’ via reported speech from Izzy. It could be argued that that is where Ed, at least subconsciously, falls in love with Stede. He likes this new ‘mean voice’. It makes Ed alive, no longer ‘a ghost’. (Of course Stede didn’t know Izzy’s Captain was Blackbeard because Izzy withheld it. Stede wouldn’t have replied like that to Blackbeard. Izzy really is hoisted with his own petard so many times). I think the ‘mean voice’ scene is one of my favourites.

I missed your earlier link to that song. My god, how far does this fandom go? And why did I only discover this show four weeks ago? How did you all survive the 18 months between S1 and S2? And how shall I ever be normal again? 🤣🤣 I can’t listen to the song now else I won’t get out of bed. I will just think of lighthouses and fine thngs and Ed’s bare right arm all day… I will listen later. Thank you, again @TriceratopsRocks

Wow that is just glorious.

Ahoy shipmates ! Just found a load of OFMD quizzes on Sporcle, for those who like that kind of think (me!)
I wasn’t to do it was my specialist subject on Mastermind

Another one here who is slowly working her way through things by TW and RD. Watched Boy last week and it's beautiful, loved the scenery and the music but was unprepared for quite how much it's about grief and loss. Wilderpeople is one of my husband and son's favourite films and like an idiot I've never wanted to watch it as I though 'wilderpeople' sounded kind of superheo/fantasy/men fighting and we watch a lot of that already, but in fact it's bittersweet, poignant, touching and offbeat funny and the NZ landscapes are so used so well too - definitely worth watching if you haven't already. Jojo Rabbit next, though I'm a bit concerned that TW as Hitler might give my massive crush on S2 Ed a bit of a wobble.

I'm ashamed to say I'd never even heard of Rhys Darby until now, but trying to catch up. I really enjoyed and would recommend a comedy set of his on Spotify - Mystic Time Bird - whimsical and silly and touching and I've just found there's a film of it too on Amazon, which probably works better as you get the visuals of the physical comedy. Love Birds next. And any recommendations on particular Cryptid episodes very welcome!

Oh and Seabird is also in Wilderpeople and really fits its wistfulness and charm.

Thanks for this, ExtraOnions, I tried a few. I liked the 'what's the next line' one. But it was a bit too easy when you've got all the answers visible 😁 I'll have a go at some more this weekend.

@lizziesaurusx I had never heard of Rhys either, and now I can't believe I missed out for so long. I've also enjoyed his comedy on YouTube. And I think I'm definitely going to have to buy Wildepeople with all these rave reviews :)

I've listened to Cryptid Factor episodes 84-90 and enjoyed them. I think the ones that stood out were the latest one Slit Slot Issue, which was great fun, (a follow up to 89). And the Backpack issue was great. But there's been good bits scattered throughout. Not sure how far I'll delve back though.

We recently watched Next Goal Wins, which is directed by Taika (he has a small cameo part) and features Rhys Darby a bit too. Really liked it, it was funny and feel good, it's on Disney plus.

I watched Eagle vs Shark absolutely years ago and remember liking it but can't remember what happens.

Rhys is very funny in Flight of the Conchords, but that whole show is genius.

Can I join please? I love this programme.

I think my favourite scene is when Stede and Ed are in pirate prison, and Stede wakes up from a nap to find a freshly shaven Ed folding laundry. “Do you want anything folded?” It’s totally absurd but so pure and hopeful of a different type of life. Domestic Ed is so sweet.