When Our Flag Means Death hit HBO Max, it made an unexpected impact. The series, which is loosely based on the life of the real Stede Bonnet, quickly soared in views and overtook major competitors. But despite its tremendous fame, and the major cliffhangers the first season left us all hanging with, there is still no word of a second season from HBO Max. Series creator, David Jenkins, gives an update on the silence from the streaming service in an interview with the Los Angeles Times.
“It’s a rough one to not pick up on after what happened at the end of it. It’s a particularly rough one. I hope they figure it out. I hope they want to do more. I know everyone in the show wants to. Just to go on [social media] and see it trend for like two weeks feels unreal. It’s so gratifying, even not knowing if you’re renewed, to see that people liked it that much.”
Our Flag Means Death premiered on HBO Max on March 3rd, 2022, and ended its first season on March 24th. The series introduced audiences to Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby), a former wealthy landowner who had big dreams of becoming a pirate. So one morning he packed his things and left his wife and kids to become “The Gentleman Pirate.” As Stede struggles to earn his sea legs, as well as the respect of his ragtag crew, he comes across the infamous Blackbeard (Taika Waititi). The two captains form a mutual understanding, which soon blossoms into something much more. Waititi talks about the direction of the show with the Los Angeles Times.
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“It’s a romantic comedy in the best sense of the word. The romance is also the drama, and the comedy is what it is. So, tonally, it’s right in my wheelhouse — this is the kind of the balance of tone that’s with everything that I’ve ever made. Also, what I love about the show is that none of the characters talk about being gay. It’s never treated like, ‘Oh my God, it’s two men.’ [David] never mention[s] it in that way.”
Related: Our Flag Means Death: What to Expect in Season 2 (If It Happens)
Dangerous Waters Ahead
Our Flag Means Death by HBO Max
Beware, MAJOR SPOILERS ahead! The first season of Our Flag Means Death wraps with Blackbeard and Stede confessing their love and vowing to remain together. But a mix-up involving trauma and misunderstandings forces the two apart. When asked about what comes next for the two, Waititi admits that he’s just as in the dark as the rest of us.
“I’m waiting to find out too because this is all in David’s brain. I just look forward, if and, hopefully, when we go forward again, to see that time when they are in the same room together again. All of those little social nuances and details that we all relate to, I want to see that stuff. It’s like the opening of Grease after their summer fling.”
Since the premiere, Our Flag Means Death has exploded in popularity online. On March 30th, The Wrap reported that the series dethroned Disney+’s The Book of Boba Fett as the Most In-Demand New Series. It’s hard to be surprised, with its delightful representation of non-binary individuals, queer love, and hilarious script, the show has been a hot spot for fans all over the internet. We’ll have to wait and see if HBO Max will see the value in such a charming series, but for now, we’re all keeping our fingers crossed!
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About The Author
Caroline Miller
(126 Articles Published)
Caroline is a longtime admirer of film, music and the arts. She’s been giving movie opinions online (warranted or not) for over a decade, and putting those thoughts to Movieweb since early 2021.
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