Though the unlikely romance between two notorious pirates might not seem like the fodder for a hit comedy from HBO Max, that’s exactly what has happened with Our Flag Means Death. A whimsical, and often deeply romantic, take on the real-life relationship between famous pirates Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard, the show has quickly developed a passionate fan-base.
In large part, this stems from its excellent characters, many of whom seem to leap off of the screen. Thus, it’s worth examining them in more careful detail through the interpretive lens provided by the Chinese zodiac.
One of the things that makes Our Flag Means Death such a popular show is its representation of LGBT people, of whom Lucius is one of the more exemplary characters. Though he has a sharp tongue, he quickly shows that he is one of the series’ most charming characters. He shows many of the traits associated with the Monkey, particularly because he is one of the most quick-witted of the members of Stede’s crew (which is why he relies on him to document their adventures).
Though he might not be one of the HBO series’ most likable characters, Izzy Hands nevertheless comes to play a very important function. As an Ox, he is very stubborn and conservative, and he makes this especially clear in his profound antipathy toward the friendship between Stede and Blackbeard, since he sees it as weakening the latter. What’s more, he also has the Ox’s patience, which means he can lay his plans for revenge with care before springing the final trap.
Jim Jimenez is a notable character for a number of reasons, not least because they are one of the most noteworthy representations of a nonbinary person in a television series. They are also cut in the mold of most Tigers, as they repeatedly show.
They are, at times, a bit emotional, allowing their own drive for revenge to take over, and they also have a powerful intensity that renders them into one of this series’ most vital and compelling characters.
Frenchie is arguably one of the most intelligent members of Stede’s crew, as he shows when he is able to swindle several aristocrats out of their money. At the same time, he also shows many of the personality traits associated with the Rabbit. In general, he shows that he is a very popular member of the crew, someone who is able to entrance others simply with his charm and personality. It’s for this reason that he seems to have few enemies among his fellow crew members.
Blackbeard is, of course, one of the series’ most important characters, and he is certainly one of Taika Waitit’s best roles. As a Dragon, he is a person with a great deal of personality, energetic and fearless, sometimes to his own detriment. Though he has cultivated a sinister reputation, the truth is that he is really quite warm-hearted underneath it all, which is precisely what draws him to Stede and why the two men ultimately bond. Stede allows Blackbeard to finally see the goodness inside himself.
Oluwande is another of the series’ best characters. Charming and kind, he has many of the traits associated with the Snake. Like others born in this sign, he is very kind and generous, particularly when it comes to Jim. He sees Jim as someone he can love and care about, regardless of their gender presentation. Just as importantly, they also stick with Jim through all of their various scrapes and dangers, no matter how dangerous they are.
Marry Bonnet is, of course, the wife that Stede leaves behind when he sets out on his life of piracy. While others would have given into suffering and misery, as a Horse Mary isn’t the type of person to retreat from a challenge. In fact, she repeatedly shows that she is like many others who are Horses. With her energy and her independence, she is more than able to carve out a life that meets her expectations. Though this puts her in conflict with Stede, she’s also independent enough to be happy for his own pursuit of joy.
When the series begins, Black Pete seems like he is going to be one of the more abrasive and unlikable characters. Very quickly, however, he shows many of the signs of those who are affiliated with the Sheep. Beneath his sometimes abrasive exterior, he is actually quite gentle and kind.
This is particularly true when he starts a relationship with Lucius, and it’s clear that he truly cares for the other man in a deep and very genuine way.
Wee John is one of the most avuncular of the characters that appear in the series. Though he has some of the rough edges of the rest of the pirates, it’s also true that he is also one of the most fun. He is one of those who proves he is more than willing to go along with some of Stede’s more outlandish plans and mannerisms. And, perhaps most importantly, he is the one who dresses up as a cat in one of the series’ funniest episodes.
Buttons is one of the series’ strangest characters. With his propensity for making declarations of doom and his unusual relationship with a seagull, it might seem strange to think that he is a Rooster. However, beneath all his strangeness he has a keen sense of what is going on around him. In fact, he is one of the most observant of the members of Stede’s crew, which is precisely why he always goes to him when he needs good advice.
Though Our Flag Means Death doesn’t have very many villains, Chauncey Badminton is one of those. Just like his brother, he has an intense dislike for Stede. As a Dog, he also has a powerful sense of loyalty to his dead brother, which is why he hunts Stede with such commitment. And, given that he has the Dog’s sense of diligence and commitment to a cause, he will never stop until he gets the revenge that he so desperately seeks.
As the center of the story, Stede Bonnet is one of the series’ most fully-drawn characters. Like all Pigs, he loves a life of luxury. Even on the high seas, he is not without his many elaborate clothes, his library, and the other trappings of his wealthy upbringing. Just as importantly, however, he also has the Pig’s loving nature. There are few people who he doesn’t try to understand and reach out to, though there’s no question that his relationship with Blackbeard is the most important in the series.
