Our Flag Means Death is (Already) the Best Show of 2022

It took me two days flat to finish Our Flag Means Death. This is unsurprising, considering that the series clocks in at just over 5 hours (including the “on last episode” recaps and closing credits that bookend each episode). It’s probably more shocking that I managed to spread out the show by that much. Yes, Our Flag Means Death feels more like watching two Marvel-length movies back to back than binging a full show, but the punch it packs is more than worthy of its series status.

Set in 1718, Our Flag Means Death follows the “gentleman pirate” Stede Bonnet as he abandons his cushy life of the aristocracy and his distant family to live out his dream of becoming a pirate captain. Problem is, he’s not a particularly bloodthirsty one, and his crew is as intensely odd as he is.

On the surface, Our Flag Means Death is nothing more than a wacky show about pirates with an ensemble cast. And honestly, this is a fair assessment. The series is first-and-foremost a comedy, and it never lets you forget it. Comedy series tend to be hit or miss, but luckily, Our Flag Means Death just about always hits. For reference, I’m pretty sure everyone in neighboring dorms thought I finally cracked based on how hard and often I was laughing in the two days I took to finish the series. Creator David Jenkins doesn’t shy away from inserting humor into even the most introspective scenes, though he always does so in a compelling way. Fans of Taika Waititi’s previous works (such as Thor Ragnarok, What We Do In The Shadows, and, my personal favorite, Jojo Rabbit) will especially relish the humor, as well as his brilliant performance.

Photo by Rotten Tomatoes

Speaking of performances, the greatest strength in Our Flag Means Death is undeniably its characters. Ensemble casts, like comedies, are often either really good or really bad. Juggling a multitude of characters is tricky. That being said, Our Flag Means Death once again pulls it off. At this point in the article, I planned to list out some of my favorite characters, but, unfortunately, nearly every single character made this list. I don’t think I have time or space or enough of your attention to go through and wax poetic about every character and the actor that plays them, so I won’t, but I can’t say the thought didn’t cross my mind. What is important for you to know is that every protagonist in the show is charming and lovable. The minor characters are all hilarious, every antagonist is delightfully evil, and every guest star is so memorable that you’ll forget they were only in one episode. Basically, the acting and directing are on point.

The brilliant characters--their respective relationships and arcs--are at the heart of the show. Sure, the comedy is witty and fast-paced, the premise is undeniably intriguing, and the acting is stellar (to say the least)--but it all pales in comparison to the bulk of the series: the characters’ stories. While each episode contains an aspect of the slice-of-life-esque--featuring a contained storyline that’s more or less resolved in the 30-minute runtime--the character arcs overlap and develop and regress. The character arcs are built throughout the entire series without regard to episodic boundaries. Not every character is afforded the same attention, of course, but more than a few of them get their respective chances to shine between the quick humor and silly scenarios. Emotional beats aren’t denied their time, either. Instead, they are given their due attention and respect without feeling out of place.

There are so, so many reasons to love this show. The comedy, the dialogue, the sometimes Wes Anderson-esque cinematography, the costuming, the excellent and effortless LGBTQ+ representation, the unabashed gimmick of it all--truly, I could go on and on. What I keep returning to, though, is the characters. They are the reason I clicked on this title, and they are the reason I stayed to watch it all the way through. It’s impossible to watch an episode without finding yourself grinning just at their interactions and expressions. If for nothing else, I urge you to watch Our Flag Means Death for the characters.

With finals season nigh and time becoming an increasingly finite resource, Our Flag Means Death offers the perfect distraction from the woes of being a college student in a short, manageable package. Though it tells the tale of 18th century pirates, the story is relatable and fresh, and the plot and dialogue aren’t bogged down by trying to be historically accurate. Due to its universal sort of charm, just-right amount of goofy comedy, and endlessly endearing characters, Our Flag Means Death hits the mark for me in a way that no other show has been able to in 2022. If this review has made it sound at all interesting, you should give it a shot. Worst comes to worst, you lose thirty minutes, but I think it’s much more likely that you, like me, will also get lost in this world of piracy, hilarity, and family.

You can find all 10 episodes of Our Flag Means Death right now on HBO Max.