Beware the “Gentleman Pirate”, known oceanwide for his brand of “polite menace”. He is Stede Bonnet, callow ship captain and the lead character of Our Flag Means Death, an odd, amiable HBO Max period comedy loosely inspired by the true story of an 18th-century aristocrat who decided to swap high society for the high seas.
Having deserted his cosseted life, Stede (Rhys Darby) soon discovers that voyaging across the treacherous Caribbean waters is not exactly an escape. Instead of a wife and children, he now finds himself surrounded by ruthless mercenaries, killers and cannibals — and that’s just his own crew. In the first few episodes we see the conflict-averse dandy attempt to quell a mutiny and negotiate perilous encounters with the Republic of Pirates, unwelcoming islanders and a British navy ship helmed by Stede’s old school bully (Rory Kinnear).
But these escapades act as a unique backdrop to what is essentially a swashbuckling take on the character-led workplace comedy. With an incompetent boss and ragtag ensemble of disgruntled employees, this outlaw vessel can come to resemble almost any office — or even The Office.
While Our Flag Means Death may bear the emblems of other shows, it feels quite singular in its commitment to diverse representation, and its thoughtful, narratively-justified explorations of race, gender, class and identity. Series creator David Jenkins does well to broach these worthy themes with a lightness of touch. But for all the gentle wit and whimsy on offer, there are perhaps too few standout gags or exchanges.
The sharp, cynical streak that might be expected from an HBO original is instead offset by a surprising warmth. Much of this is found in the relationship that Stede strikes up with infamous pirate Blackbeard (Taika Waititi, who also produces). From their shared sense of existential malaise an unlikely romance begins to blossom. A gentleman pirate may not be a skilled plunderer, but he can seemingly steal a heart.
★★★★☆
On BBC iPlayer now, with new episodes airing on Wednesdays on BBC2; on HBO Max in the US
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