Our Flag Means Death

Stede Bonnet leaves behind a life of property and luxury for a life on The Open Sea, a life of Piracy, his world is thrown upside down when he encounters the infamous Blackbeard.

It may take an episode or two for you to get it, and work out what's happening, but if you're unsure early on, I urge you to stick with it, it really is the most magical show. It's funny and weird in equal measure, the humour comes from the absurdity of it.

It's a show the family would enjoy, admittedly a family that has a chilled out attitude when it comes to bad language that is.

It defies every single pre conceived stereotype of what many think of when they think of pirates, if you don't think it'll happen, expect to see it here.

The characters are all magical, aside from the main players, the laughs will keep coming from Izzy Hands, The Swede, Buttons, they're a wonderful, amusing bunch.

Rhys Darby is an absolute joy as The Gentleman Pirate, he is equally matched by Taika Waititi, I could watch him in anything, the pair are phenomenal.

I'm counting down for the start of Series 2.

9/10.

I'm really enjoying every moment of this show! It's got story and a little bit of drama, interwoven with perfect comedic timing and silly moments. The characters are brilliant too. If you're a fan of Taika and Rhys... this show will be right up your alley.

I like this show - it's weird, it's funny, but it also has some serious undertones, like not conforming to society's expectations of what a man is supposed to be and the damage caused by bullying. And despite some issue with the language, I think this is a good family show, and there just aren't that many of those around anymore.

I am always willing to give anything by Taika Waititi a chance, and I don't think you'll be sorry for spending half an hour a week with this one. I have a feeling this will become a cult classic.

I'm a huge fan of the actor who plays Blackbeard (I'm not going to embarrass myself by trying to get the name correct). He is intense and yet completely hysterical at the same time. He is intensely watchable Which is what makes me Think someone is what other people refer to as "charismatic." I really enjoy him as a writer and Director too. I enjoyed the Thor that he did and I enjoyed Jojo Rabbit. He's a perfect example of someone who shows that intensity can work both in comedy and drama. I would love to see him play the leading role in a movie. I'm sure he would kill it in a comedy but I bet he could do really well in a drama as well.

I came as a fan of anything Rhys and Taika have done before (and hoping for a Jemaine cameo) but truly this is unlike anything they've done before and I don't think you'd have to be a fan of anything previous to like this. (There's no Jemaine cameo, minus one point!).

I also came for a queer pirate love story and boy did this deliver in a surprising way. Maybe the best thing about it is that there is no erotic element to the love Stede and Ed develop onscreen - not that I wouldn't want to see Rhys and Taika in an erotic embrace! But the absence of lust makes this quite a rare depiction of gay love on screen. It's really beautiful and the viewer is just witnessing two people realise over the series they ultimately just need each other to be happy and that's just doggarn adorable.

Comedy wise I agree with some reviews that the comediens are not used to their best abilities. It's not side splitting, but it is still thoroughly entertaining.

I am really nervous having read the true story of Stede Bonnet what a second series would bring... I'd love for there to be one and would also hate for it to be too close to the truth. I hope if there is one it goes further down the route of fancy and also allows a beautiful gay love story to have an even rarer happy ending.