HBO’s swashbuckling comedy “
Our Flag Means Death” has turned out to be the sleeper hit of the spring — and a powerful clap again on the present wave of
anti-LGBTQ legislation sweeping a number of states, from the Florida measure opponents have dubbed the “do not say homosexual” invoice to efforts in Texas and elsewhere to
bar transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming care or
trans athletes from competitors. (HBO and CNN share a father or mother firm.)
This big-hearted collection, which debuted in March, took viewers without warning with a slow-burn romance between “gentleman pirate” Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) and the infamous Blackbeard (Taika Waititi, who government produced).
Their odd-couple relationship is just one of a number of queer storylines on creator David Jenkins’ present, which additionally options the nonbinary pirate Jim (Vico Ortiz, a nonbinary actor) paired with fellow marauder Oluwande (Samson Kayo), and a budding relationship between pirates Black Pete (Matthew Maher) and Lucius (Nathan Foade). The present even dips into polyandry, with comedian Leslie Jones taking part in a pirate named Spanish Jackie who has 19 husbands.
Per Waititi’s now well-established model, the present lives comfortably within the realm of goofy, quippy humor shot by means of with moments of heart-wrenching feeling. “To American ears, I might name the New Zealand accent the sound of kindness,” the American
Jenkins said of his Kiwi stars.
The present is a
popular and critical success. Which begs the query: Why on Earth hasn’t HBO renewed it? (This is hoping that by the point you are studying this, it has.) The collection finale aired weeks in the past. Normally, renewal is introduced by now.
“It is a tough one to not decide up on after what occurred on the finish of it. It is a notably tough one. I hope they determine it out. I hope they wish to do extra. I do know everybody within the present needs to,”
Jenkins told the LA Occasions. “I simply suppose that they need to as a result of it is sensible. Additionally, I have to know what occurs subsequent,” Waititi chimed in.
Followers are actually making their emotions recognized. “It is easy to inform when a film, present, or recreation has actually discovered a passionate viewers, as a result of the fan artwork abruptly begins trending on social media,”
said Tasha Robinson on Polygon. And you realize a collection has actually succeeded as an ensemble when fan artwork displays love for
all the characters, not simply the 2 within the present’s central romance.
Even Izzy Arms (Con O’Neill), Blackbeard’s seething second-in-command, makes frequent appearances within the flood of beautiful fan-fiction artwork on-line.
Ortiz has change into a bona fide nonbinary movie star by way of the present, and
recently announced their determination to get high surgical procedure was influenced by the quantity of affection they’ve obtained from followers. “It has been so cool to see that the present is being this instrument for individuals to really feel empowered,” they advised Out journal. “It has been actually stunning.” On “OFMD,” Jim’s fellow pirates seek advice from Jim with they/them pronouns, with out ever remarking on it — a radical act in itself.
A part of the rationale the collection is resonating so strongly with viewers is its dedication to truthfully depicting relationships between queer characters, versus “queerbaiting,” the time period for implying queer romance will happen on a present after which by no means truly letting it occur. “OFMD” additionally by no means means that queer relationships are in any manner uncommon. “What I like concerning the present is that not one of the characters speak about being homosexual. It is by no means handled like, “Oh my God, it is two males,”
Waititi said.
Unapologetically inclusive storytelling, and casting of BIPOC actors, have change into a trademark for Waititi, whose upcoming “Thor: Love and Thunder” seems to be possible
to queer the Marvel universe. The film’s
trailer contains a scene between Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) that acquired
fans excited.
Tessa Thompson’s overtly bisexual character, Valkyrie, is now the King of Asgard and, reportedly, searching for her queen. And Waititi himself will reprise his function because the character Korg, who’s
reportedly “canonically homosexual” (although he will not have a love curiosity).
Waititi has additionally been a groundbreaker in Indigenous-inclusive storytelling, from his good Native American “
Reservation Dogs” collection on Hulu to his casting of
Indigenous Australian and Maori actors in “Thor: Ragnarok” and his earlier movie, “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” in addition to the extremely various forged of “Our Flag Means Dying.”
“OFMD” could be trigger for celebration in any period, nevertheless it feels notably needed proper now. It is laborious to consider the present exists in the identical universe by which Florida prohibited academics from in any manner mentioning gender identification and sexual orientation in kindergarten by means of the third grade.
It is just one
in a slew of anti-LGBTQ bills across the United States. Per t
he ACLU, “over 100 payments attacking transgender individuals have been launched in state legislatures since 2020.”
Regrettably, a TV collection — even a boldly pro-LGBTQ one — is not geared up to take down legions of small-minded politicians and deep-seated bigotry. However maybe its worth lies in Blackbeard’s phrases of consolation to Stede of their hour of disaster: “There’s all the time an escape.”
