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!

I watched that only yesterday - adorable.

It also occurred to me how lucky Rhys was that the first kiss was with a clean shaven Blackbeard. Taika's own beard is fine but that beard wig would have been pretty grim I think.

If anyone fancies a long form read of well written OFMD fiction then here are a couple of works I particularly enjoyed. Disclaimer: both are explicit in places and 'Semaphore' goes into significant detail regarding the more disgusting aspects of violent naval battles (author knows their stuff though). However, one could skip over the sex and violence should one wish. 'Semaphore' is surprisingly funny considering, however, 'Hell or High Water' has some fantastic character development and I thought the author really enhanced it with the addition of some original characters.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/38102629 Hell or High Water
https://archiveofourown.org/works/39353175 Semaphore

Welcome :) He really is going to make a wonderful house husband, isn't he.

@Phineyj Thank you for those recommendations. Can I add a favourite of my own? It's one I keep going back to, again and again. The original idea and telling of it is absolutely beautiful. There's one explicit chapter that can be skipped (authors note tells you at the start) and one other brief sex scene later. I've really enjoyed several of this author's works.

archiveofourown.org/works/52183231/chapters/131991523

@TriceratopsRocks Thank you for Cryptid suggestions – I’ll start with those three. You might already know (I didn’t) but if not, would it swing it for Wilderpeople if you knew it has Rhys in it? Sadly not for long, but an adorably silly (and plot-crucial) part.

I wasn’t sure about Next Goal Wins due to the reviews, but funny and feel good definitely sounds worth a try. I’ve been saving Flight of the Conchords for my son’s A level pick-me-up as I think he’ll love it.

Domestic Ed – ‘I’m folding stuff, and that’s OK’, is one of my favourite lines in the whole show, and the delivery is so sincere. But my favourite domestic Ed bit is breakfast in bed, with decorative twine, but no dish for the marmalade.

That scene is very sweet and sexy but the presentation of the breakfast was like something my daughter would have done. It was hilarious.

Enjoying this one at the moment.. bonus is the other angle of the cabin kiss at 3:07

Gorgeous video. I love seeing footage from different angles. I think the official version with Stede on the left, Ed on the right is a pattern throughout the show. There are various interpretations of why this is online. I need to reread. The attention to detail in this show is off the scale. I think it’s another reason the show is so successful. We trust the storytelling as the show runner and everyone involved is constantly thinking of the ‘how’ not just the ‘what’. It’s moving art. It’s beauty.

Thank you for that one, @ExtraOnions. I watched it last night, just after the What Could Have Been video by Ella linked somewhere up thread (still my current favourite). Meant I so had to go and read something more smiley and happy before bed!

I'm sure I saw something about whichever of them is the most emotionally vulnerable at that moment often being on the right of shot. But I haven't yet re-watched with that thought in mind so don't know if I think it's accurate.

The two mirror scenes (S1 bathtub and S2 Calypso kiss) I read were about giving them some privacy in those moments when they were at their most vulnerable, by shooting via a mirror, rather than shooting them directly. I love the way they shot the bathtub scene particularly, like these two images (sorry for low res).

Hi all! Been following the thread for a while to check out all the fanfic and YouTube recommendations. I cannot get enough of these adorable gay pirates! Unlurking to share this edit - don't let the fact it means you have to listen to Barbie Girl by Aqua in it's entirely put you off, it's hilarious and just brilliant ✨💖

LOVE IT!! 🤣🤣🤣

Thank you for that one, Pumpkin

@TriceratopsRocks I never noticed that the wall slam kiss was mirrored. But you’re correct because Ed’s left arm is uncovered. What are your thoughts?

Mirrors, another motif!
Ed looking into the handheld looking glass in 1.4 in Stede’s bedroom nook
The mirror reflecting the lighthouse flame. Is Ed the mirror here enhancing the glow of Steve the lighthouse? 😍
The reflection in the plate in 1.5 after the insult by the French captain and the first red silk flashback
The mirrors in 1.6 is the bathroom during Ed’s incredible vulnerability and confession
(One I found on the internet)1.10 when Izzy threatens Ed as they’re both framed in Stede’s bedroom nook, the mirror is behind Ed in shot and the lighthouse painting behind Izzy. The mirror must be reflecting the painting, the mirror reflecting the light as in 1.4. But Ed removes everything except the painting after his Kraken spiral. The missing mirror. It’s like a self annihilation.
The reflection of Ed in his knife as he becomes the Kraken in 1.10
The mirrored wall slam/ kiss scene in 2.6. Why is it mirrored? Intimacy, making the viewer a ‘peeping Tom’ possibly. I think there’s more and I’m not there yet. 🤔

This show, it’s healed parts of my heart I didn’t even know were broken.

I'm going to have to think on this. It's definitely about intimacy/privacy, but I think it's also something about layers. There are often several layers of meaning behind so much of this show, and the mirrors theme seems to be about looking beyond the most superficial reading of it. As viewers we can look beyond what we are seeing on screen to work out what is really happening - the real 'why' of why characters are acting in a certain way, and also for the characters themselves to look beyond their own images of themselves, to see either who they are deep down, or maybe how others see them as opposed to how they see themselves. I will need to properly think about this to give you examples though, and probably won't have time until tomorrow as I'm about to be out for the rest of the day. I'll be back :)

Can I join you please. I've just found this thread and am so chuffed to find others sharing my obsession with OFMD.

I only recently discovered it and am having to stop myself binge watching because it's so good and I don't want it to end!!! (Though I've done enough googling to know how it all pans out so not fussed about spoilers). Just watched S1E6.

I honestly haven't been so excited/obsessed about a tv show since I was a child (and I think that was Flambards!!!!). Very weird feeling 😊

Yes, isn’t it a weird feeling but a lovely one …. and joyous to know you are in good company!

I also appear to have developed a middle aged lady crush on both Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby. I haven't felt like this since Adam Ant!!! 😂

Welcome, @mrsdolittle . So grateful that @TriceratopsRocks has created this ‘safe space ship’ (S2.5 in joke 😉) for us. By god, if you’re on S1.6 still, you are about to go on the emotional ride of your life even if you know some spoilers. Be prepared for the ending of S1.8 to ‘hex’ you.

My series one crush was Taika, but Rhys has done something very strange to me in series 2 and I did not see that coming.

Saved this up to watch when my OH was out. I absolutely loved it.

Ahoy there@mrsdolittle welcome to the thread :) I think several of us haven't been as obsessed with anything like this before. And I loved Adam Ant too! Enjoy that rollercoaster you've got coming up. Although I'm not sure 'enjoy' is the right word...

My series one crush was Taika, but Rhys has done something very strange to me in series 2 I'm totally with you there @MrsJellybee Rhys has definitely done something to my brain.
I did not see that coming - me neither. (I can't help but hear that line in Nat Faxon's voice and it makes me smile 😁)

Welcome @mrsdolittle – strongly agree on not ever being this obsessed with a TV series before. I’m very envious that you still have 12 episodes left to watch, and as @MrsJellybee says, there will be lots of emotional turmoil! I’m so sad that I’ve seen everything there will be to see of these wonderful characters - there was so much of their story still to tell.

I love Rhys, especially the non-OFMD stuff of his that I’ve been listening to, and he just gets better and better in S2, but crushwise it’s Taika S2 for me. In S1 I loved both Stede and Ed and their developing relationship but in a non-crushy way – Ed’s beard, while splendid, was a bit much for me.

@Pumpkin314 Thank you for the Barbie Girl link – joyous!

I'm trying to get my friend to watch OFMD cause I know she will love it and then we can obsess together but she's taking her time getting round to it. She loved WWDITS which I was a bit ambivalent about. I definitely prefer Taika the pirate to Taika the vampire.

@RumNotRun sounds like the start of a rather - ahem - adult series of picture books!

Taika the Pirate
Taika the Vampire
Etc

😀

I didn't get a chance to contribute to the v interesting "mirror" discussion the other day. Damn real life getting in the way of pirate enjoyment. But I meant to add that in the Calypso's birthday shagging scene, I thought it was clever to show the mirror shot then film through the sheer curtains - kind of "this far, but no further."

Only got eyes for our Captain .. at the start of S1, had anyone told me that by the end of S2 Rhys would be a handsome hero, I would never have believed them.

Been watching lots over the weekend, watched Discomfort in a Married State, and The Best Revenge is Dressing Well - trying to work out when they fell in love.

For Ed, I think it’s where they are sat eating Marmalade after being a lighthouse (metaphor there somewhere), he falls fast. Stede is a slow burner, I think it’s “you came back” “never left” .. but he didn’t know he was in Love, he had to check in with Mary first.

I guess Ed is a bit more primal and driven by emotion, Stede more typically reserved.

I think Taika would enjoy the idea of those adult picture books. He's talked about liking some of the more risqué fan art that has been made of Ed.

I agree the Calypso scene was a beautiful way of giving them some privacy. And that brief glimpse of Ed's face as Stede was closing the curtains - it was such a tender look.

I still think there's something more interesting about the use of mirrors in the show but I need to watch those scenes again really. I'm just starting another rewatch so I'll look out for them.