Our Flag Means Death

Largely original or loosely historical characters; some race-conscious casting but few established figures meaningfully swapped.

• Diverse crew cast against the typical all-white pirate trope
• Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet are loosely based on real figures but reimagined comedically

Not a girlboss narrative; female and nonbinary characters are strong but the leads are men whose arcs are explored sincerely.

• Spanish Jackie is a powerful crime boss
• Jim is a formidable fighter

The central storyline is a romance between two men, with multiple queer characters and a nonbinary lead throughout.

• Stede and Blackbeard's central romantic relationship
• Lucius is openly gay and has an onscreen relationship with Black Pete
• Jim is a canonically nonbinary character
• Multiple same-sex kisses and relationships across the crew

Deliberately diverse cast across a period setting, sometimes prioritizing representation over historical accuracy.

• Multiethnic pirate crew
• Nonbinary actor playing Jim
• Diverse supporting characters in 18th-century Caribbean setting

Themes of acceptance and identity are present but delivered through character and comedy rather than lecturing.

• Crew's casual acceptance of queer relationships
• Emotional emphasis on found family and self-expression

Actively deconstructs traditional pirate machismo and toxic masculinity, favoring softness and emotional openness.

• Stede rejects violence in favor of gentleness
• Blackbeard's fearsome reputation contrasted with his emotional vulnerability
• Mocking of macho posturing among pirates

Based loosely on real historical figures rather than a fixed text; takes broad creative liberties for comedy and romance.

• Romantic relationship between Bonnet and Blackbeard is fictionalized
• Historical pirates reimagined as comedic ensemble