Our Flag Means Death
Our Flag Means Death
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Our Flag Means Death

"Prepare to have your ship wrecked."

7.5
Yr 2022
Status Canceled
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

After trading in the seemingly charmed life of a gentleman for one of a swashbuckling buccaneer, Stede Bonnet becomes captain of the pirate ship Revenge. Struggling to earn the respect of his potentially mutinous crew, Stede’s fortunes change after a fateful run-in with the infamous Captain Blackbeard. Stede and crew attempt to get their ship together and survive life on the high seas.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 82 /100

Our Flag Means Death is widely celebrated as a unique blend of workplace sitcom, swashbuckling adventure, and surprisingly tender character drama. Many critics praise the chemistry between leads Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi, noting that while the series begins as a slapstick-heavy comedy, it successfully matures into a poignant exploration of identity, friendship, and romance. Fans and reviewers alike have lauded its heartwarming nature and emotional depth.

While the consensus is largely positive, the critical reception is not monolithic. Some reviewers, such as those at Roger Ebert, found the pacing uneven, suggesting the show struggles to balance its tone or fully utilize its premise. Others noted that it takes several episodes to find its rhythm, occasionally failing to match the sharp comedic pace of projects like What We Do in the Shadows. Nevertheless, it remains a favorite for many, frequently cited as a must-watch series.

“It’s an ensemble sitcom worthy of rivaling 'The Office' and 'Parks and Rec,' but it’s also a dark comedy that faces loss, murder and detrimental guilt.”

“Our Flag Means Death becomes something much more tender: a story about identity and friendship.”

“A delightfully silly, surprisingly introspective, and positively heartwarming series.”

“But why isn’t the series itself more enjoyable, more escapist? Adding to the frustration is how 'Our Flag Means Death' has a good premise for a show [but] is too droll for its own good.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Crave
CA
HBO Max
UK • US
Show 1 more
Why fans love it

The 18th-century pirate genre usually fixates on grit and gold, yet this series pivots toward the absurdity of a gentleman abandoning his estate to lead an unruly crew. The result is a sharp blend of period drama and swashbuckling comedy that treats its unlikely captain with equal parts sincerity and skepticism. Rhys Darby anchors the ship as a man who prefers fine linens to cutlasses, grounding the high-seas chaos in the small, awkward moments of attempted leadership.

Instead of standard adventure tropes, the show focuses on the strange chemistry between a frustrated aristocrat and the legendary Captain Blackbeard. It manages to balance slapstick mishaps with an evolving dynamic that defies traditional pirate lore. By prioritizing character quirks over combat, the series crafts a distinct atmosphere where the primary challenge is not keeping a ship afloat, but figuring out how to live together once the sailing actually stops.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 15
Longest run 18 eps
Show 67 more
Matthew Maher as Black Pete 18 episodes Kristian Nairn as Wee John Feeney 18 episodes David Fane as Fang 18 episodes Samba Schutte as Roach 17 episodes Rory Kinnear as Captain Nigel Badminton / Chauncey Badminton 10 episodes Guz Khan as Ivan 10 episodes Gary Farmer as Chief Mabo 1 episode Ted Heyck as Elderly Fishermen 1 episode Pedro Lopez as Elderly Fishermen 1 episode Theo Darby as Young Stede 1 episode David Jenkins as Officer Shaw 1 episode Asher Bishop as Rowboat Bully 1 episode Eden Grace Redfield as Alma Bonnet 1 episode William Barber-Holler as Louis Bonnet 1 episode Brian Gattas as Siegfried 1 episode Will Arnett as Calico Jack 1 episode Simone Kessell as Mother Teach 2 episodes Pete Gardner as Dutch Captain 1 episode Selenis Leyva as The Nun 1 episode Connor Barrett as Officer Hornberry 4 episodes Leslie Jones as Spanish Jackie 7 episodes Fred Armisen as Geraldo 3 episodes Michael Crane as Officer Wellington 3 episodes Angus Sampson as King George 2 episodes Nat Faxon as The Swede 11 episodes Claudia O'Doherty as Mary Bonnet 5 episodes Boris McGiver as Father Bonnet 4 episodes Kristen Johnston as The Widow Evelyn Higgins 2 episodes Tim Heidecker as Doug 1 episode Dominic Burgess as Jeffrey 1 episode Nick Kroll as Gabriel 2 episodes Kristen Schaal as Antoinette 2 episodes Cerris Morgan-Moyer as Victoria Archer 1 episode Roslyn Gentle as Mother Bonnet 1 episode Ruibo Qian as Zheng Yi Sao 6 episodes Madeleine Sami as Archie 8 episodes Erroll Shand as Prince Ricky Banes 3 episodes Anapela Polataivao as Auntie 6 episodes Geoff Dolan as Priest 1 episode Amanda Grace Leo as Tiff 3 episodes Teresa Lee as Jane 1 episode Kate Fu as Maggie 1 episode Ma'aola Faasavala as Zheng's Foreperson 1 episode Mark Mitchinson as Hornigold 1 episode Maaka Pohatu as John Bartholomew 1 episode Lily Riley as Head Guard 1 episode Rachel House as Mary Read 1 episode Minnie Driver as Anne Bonny 1 episode Daniel Fernandez as Priest 1 episode Alessio Vannozzi as Sailor 1 episode Dave Perrett as Scariest Guy 2 episodes Brett O’Gorman as Raided Ship Captain 1 episode Bronson Pinchot as Ned Low 1 episode Josie Whittlesey as Hellkat Maggie 1 episode Adam Brookfield as Lighthouse Keeper 1 episode George Maunsell as Valet 1 episode Lee Tuson as Rum Vendor 1 episode Te Kainga O'Te Hinekahu Waititi as Girl #1 1 episode Matewa Kiritapu Waititi as Girl #2 1 episode Tim Dennis as Henchman #2 1 episode TJ Snow as Henchman #3 1 episode Jennifer Onyeiwu as Roughneck #1 1 episode Shayne Martin as Roughneck #2 1 episode Grant Lobban as Bloodbucket Bill 1 episode Jonny McBride as Scary Man 1 episode Aaron Richardson as Tattooed Pirate 1 episode Damien Gerard as Father Teach 2 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Storyboard Artist
Production Design
Art Department Assistant
Hair Department Head
Title Designer
Art Direction
Hairstylist
Set Decorating Coordinator
Makeup Department Head
Set Decoration
Construction Coordinator
Supervising Art Director
Prosthetic Makeup Artist
Assistant Property Master
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Our Flag Means Death overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

romcom pirate period drama swashbuckler 18th century
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
March 03, 2022
Status
Canceled
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
363