In today’s crowded media landscape, it’s hard for a new series to break through. But David Jenkins’ Our Flag Means Death has already made waves for giving audiences something they never knew they wanted: a historical gay pirate romantic comedy.
The slow burn relationship between “co-captains” Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) and Edward “Blackbeard” Teach (Taika Waititi) made the subtext fully text, delivering a gay love story free from queerbaiting and winking assumptions. Our own Kaila Hale-Stern wrote, “Perhaps the best part about the presentation of queer love here is how natural and easily accepted it is. By its very existence the show may be making a political statement in our world, but within the quasi-historical universe of Our Flag Means Death, being queer is just what you are.”
And Edward and Stede aren’t the only queer couple in the series. Other relationships include Oluwande (Samson Kayo) and non-binary pirate Jim (Vico Ortiz), as well as Lucius (Nathan Foad) and Black Pete (Matthew Maher). Few series have given us so many authentic queer love stories, and we’re here for it. Our Flag Means Death has inspired fans from across the globe, who have shared their fan art online. Here are some of our favorite pieces inspired by OFMD; every day, this stunning collection grows.
There are simply too many lovely pieces to fit into one post. It’s been a minute since a series inspired such an artistic output, and we’re honestly swooning over these talented artists and their works. Now all we need is a season 2 announcement!
Are you making Our Flag Means Death fan art? Are you watching the show? Let us know in the comments!
(images: HBO Max/Rachel Leishman)
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