A Pirate Needs His Crew: How Our Flag Means Death Perfects The Ensemble Cast
The ensemble cast is a story writing concept that is excellent when it works, but tragically easy to mess up. Some works can barely hope to create one identifiable character, let alone a full main cast, several iconic supporting characters, and a small army of bit players.
Our Flag Means Death is the powerful new pirate comedy from the mind of David Jenkins which tells the story of 18th-century pirate Stede Bonnet's quest to escape his family through piracy. Along the way, he scoops up a crew of lovable oddballs, joins forces with Blackbeard and company, and meets an eclectic mess of allies and enemies.
New Our Flag Means Death Trailer Promises More Pirate Hijinx
Stede's crew aboard the Revenge features ten members at the start of the season. The crew merges with Blackbeard's retinue, adding four to the group. Stede sets sail joined by arson fan Wee John, scribe Lucius, temporary captain Oluwande, skilled assassin Jim, grizzled bird-guy Buttons, musician Frenchie, braggart Black Pete, chef Roach, and eccentric Swede. Blackbeard, a tremendous force of personality in his own right, brings violent first mate Izzy Hands and complex enforcers Fang and Ivan. The amazing thing about the crew is not the numbers on display, it's that every character on the ship is extremely well handled. They change and grow, find new passions, interact with each other in new and interesting ways, and refuse to be defined by a moment's glance.
Of course, not every character gets the same amount of screen time. The A-plot is heavily weighted towards Stede and Blackbeard's relationship, but every episode gives a little view of what the other mates are up to. Some of the best moments of the show are handled efficiently, but effectively. Jim's excellent
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