Our Flag Means Death: Thread 2. Still utterly brilliant and we are still obsessed!

[TriceratopsRocks]

Ahoy there mateys! Hop aboard our ‘safe space ship’ thread 2, where we can continue to wax lyrical about our favourite show.

If you haven’t yet seen Our Flag Means Death, what are you waiting for? Do go watch it (on BBC iPlayer) and then come back here and join us.

You may have heard that this is a comedy about pirates and think that's not for you. But it’s actually about self-discovery, healing and found-family with a love story at its heart. It does begin as a sort of pirate workplace comedy, but in episode 4 the tone changes and that’s where the main story really starts. The joint leads are both damaged by abusive backgrounds and think they want what the other has. The show is about their healing and their respective journeys. It’s tender, romantic, funny, emotionally intelligent and utterly refreshing. It subverts genre expectations. There is comedy, absurdity and a good amount of heartbreak and despair - sometimes in the same scene! The acting is outstanding (Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby especially). But the writing, music, costumes, sets, the sheer attention to detail – for a show with only 18 half-hour episodes it is still keeping us talking, a full thread and many re-watches later. Can you tell how much I love it?

If you think this might appeal, do watch it, then come back and talk to us. It would be lovely if more were to join our crew. But be aware it's a show that needs time. The 2nd lead doesn’t arrive until the end of episode 3 and that’s when the main story starts. You need to give it at least 4 episodes. It then took me several more to fully appreciate what I was watching but then I was hooked - and had to immediately watch it all over again. If you like Good Omens, What We Do in the Shadows, Ghosts or even Bridgerton, this might be the show for you.

(I’ve kept this spoiler free, but if you scroll down you will no doubt find many, so beware!)

Thread 1: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/telly_addicts/5008593-our-flag-means-death-its-utterly-brilliant-and-i-am-obsessed?reply=135294204

One of the things that I found most heart wrenching about Boy was not just the film itself, but about how it was based on his own childhood (from "true and imagined memories" he said). And not only did he film it in the area where he grew up, but actually in his family's house (it's either his aunt's or his grandmother's house), his own school. It's just so incredibly personal. No wonder it's such a good film. But it really made me think about what Taika's childhood was like (I'd also read that he drew on it for the bathtub scene) and how far he's come. It's no wonder he is so good at supporting and promoting indigenous film.

I haven’t watched Boy yet, it’s on the list, very much looking forward to it.

Loved that interview with Rhys Darby - it inspired me to watch S1E7 again. Utter genius. I love Lucius lecturing BB. "That bizarre little man over there likes you very much"

@TriceratopsRocks His capacity for optimism and enthusiasm is wonderful and we see it time and again

Stede is at his most endearing in this episode - it's definitely one of my top 3. I love 'I think I can fix this - the day's not fully ruined' as he picks out up the charred remains of the map and the way (post-Lucius's wonderful rant) Ed and Lucius team up about the tree/river/road. He's quite childlike here - rapid cycling from optimism then despondency then back to enthusiasm based on some very shaky map reading and a bit of encouragement - or like a puppy that's been praised. I love the kindness in how Ed/Lucius go along with it all, encouraging him to dig to 'get it out of his system'. Plus the way he's quite open about how he didn't want to give away the orange and treasure is the real treasure - he doesn't feel he needs to pretend to say the 'right' thing - kind of like a child who hasn't learned tact yet. Or I guess that it could be ND/lack of filter? Whatever the reasons, he's such a delight in this episode. I also love the interaction between my three favourite characters - a real treat.

Shared on Twitter - the ‘real’ Stede and Blackbeard.

The whole podcast that that interview quotes from is worth a listen - especially the stuff about being attracted to a tumultuous environment, lack of control etc.

I don't think Taika is really in the TV series version of WWDITS, except maybe as a guest, but I haven't actually watched it. If you haven't already seen it though, he's in the WWDITS film which is on iplayer for another few days. It took me two goes to get into - gave up after 10 minutes the first time - but I loved it second time round - his performance is sweet and funny and endearing. Not nearly enough Rhys though.

If that's Ed on the right, that looks like eyeliner...

Oh thanks, @lizziesaurusx - I didn't realise there was a film and a series. No wonder I was confused!

@Phineyj I think S1.7 has the three NZ vampires as part of a vampire tribunal.

I was the same! Hope you like the film.

This is the podcast quoted in that interview:

https://open.spotify.com/show/7GYWmAt84VcLUgMWAt3bVz

Oh now that is more achievable, thanks @BillStickersIsInnocent!

@lizziesaurusx is the film WWDITS more watchable than the TV series? I tried the series and managed about three episodes. I probably needed longer. I kind of got it, but it didn’t quite grab me. It was about six weeks ago and I was fully in the grip of OFMD lunacy at the time (still am). Should I try the film first?

@lizziesaurusx sorry, just realised you haven’t seen the series. I will give the film a go. 🙂

“Guest”

I like the air-quotes. 😆

Re WWDITS I watched the film first. Loved it. Then tried watching the series but it just wasn’t the same, I don’t think I could get over the recasting. I persevered and got into it much more by S2, then thoroughly enjoyed it. I did start a S1 rewatch and “got it “ much better second time around.
But yes, re the NZ cast, the three main leads show up in a cameo towards the end of S1, then Jemaine and Taika do very brief individual cameos in later series.

Mrs J, I haven't seen the series yet, but enjoyed the film. Not enough Rhys though 😥. But bonus Madeline Sami 😀. I'd intended to watch it again before it left iPlayer but I guess I missed that now...

@MrsJellybee I only gave it a second go because my brother said it was like OFMD and takes a wee bit of time to acclimatise to. It starts off quite rambling, then once the plot gets going it takes off. The bit where they're getting ready to go out clubbing made me laugh out loud - it's all so silly. I don't think I'll watch the TV version though as Taika/Rhys and the NZ setting were the draw for me.

8 days left on iplayer! I’m going to try and watch it tonight. It’s only 81 minutes.

@TriceratopsRocks bonus Madeline Sami

That reminds me - we loved Deadloch in which she's one of the two leads. The junior detective (Abby) is particularly great. Described as feminist noir - it's dark and very funny, and for a pleasant change the murder victims are all white men and most of those with power are women.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jun/01/deadloch-review-ripsnorting-whodunnit-pumps-new-blood-into-old-tropes

Oh excellent! I will get another viewing after all. 😁 🧛🧛‍♀️🧛‍♂️🦇

A couple of my favourite Taika pictures to go with that lovely one from yesterday. When I saw how many screenshots I have to choose from I realised I may be deluding myself that my crush is strictly on Ed and that I'm only fascinated by Taika for his mind😳

Hehe Lizzie, welcome to my world. I long ago realised that my crush is on Rhys Darby just as much (more?) than it is on Stede. And both Ed and Taika are utterly gorgeous. You can console yourself with the knowledge that you have excellent taste.

Well, Ed's insanely good looking because he's insanely good looking. Sigh

Ooh this sounds excellent. It has been recommended on this thread before. It might also be something I can watch with DH. Only thing we have atm is Richard Osman's House of Games!

Sigh indeed