When HBO Max’s pirate-themed comedyOur Flag Means Deathpremiered earlier this year, it quickly became a hit for the streamer. Drawing praise for its comedy and LGBTQ+ representation, the series wasrenewed for a second seasonin June 2022. The plot of the first season revolves around the so-called “gentleman pirate” Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) and his encounter with pirate captain Edward Teach (Taika Waititi), better known to most as Blackbeard. Both captains come to admire each other, with Stede envying how feared Blackbeard is and Blackbeard enjoying Stede’s relatively simple life. As they bond, a romantic relationship develops between them.
While most viewers have heard of Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet is likely a less-familiar figure. In reality, there was a Stede Bonnet who gave up his pampered life in the 1700s for a life of piracy. But how true to Bonnet’s life isOur Flag Means Death? Did he cross paths with the real-life Blackbeard? Are any additional characters based on real people? Obviously, many historical elements are exaggerated for comedy, but can we say it is based on a true story? Let’s see what we know.
The Real Stede Bonnet and Edward Teach
Who was thereal Stede Bonnet? Much like what the show presents, Stede Bonnet was a real person. Dissatisfied with his married life, he turned to a life of piracy and commissioned a pirate ship and crew. The real-life Bonnet’s crew numbered roughly 70 men, much larger than what we see on the show. Bonnet assumed the name of Captain Edwards, likely to prevent people from knowing his true identity. While his inexperience initially caused him not to be respected by his crew (like the series), he built a name for himself by capturing and destroying other ships.
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Bonnet’s ship crossed paths with the real-life Edward Teach and his first mate Israel Hands (the basis for the series’ Izzy Hands). However, the real-life relationship between Bonnet and Teach was less friendly than what we see on screen. While they initially allied, Teach convinced Bonnet to give up command of his ship for a place on Teach’s ship where he wouldn’t be bothered with running a crew. Teach was also planning to steal the valuables that Bonnet had collected and share them with his close associates.
There is a basis for the Act of Grace that Blackbeard claims in the series. While Blackbeard claims the Act of Grace and surrenders his pirate life to save Stede onOur Flag Means Death, the real Edward Teach tricks Stede into renouncing his pirate life. Teach claims he will as well, but he does not and escapes with Bonnet’s valuables. Despite receiving a pardon, Bonnet soon returns to a life of piracy. Further events may be touched onduring season two, so we’ll avoid potential spoilers here.
It’s clear that many of the characters and situations we see are based on true events and people, though much is dramatized for TV. Despite deviations, the core plot is true. Stede Bonnet and Edward Teach did encounter one another and briefly worked together in the early 1700s.
Who Else Actually Existed?
In addition to Stede Bonnet, Edward Teach, and Izzy Hands, several other characters that the crew encounters onOur Flag Means Deathare based on real people (or supposed real people).
One of these “supposed” real people is pirate captain Spanish Jackie (Leslie Jones). On the show, Jackie is depicted as a feared and ruthless captain who runs a bar with numerous husbands. Spanish Jackie is reportedly based on the legendaryfemale pirate Jacquotte Delahaye, who worked in modern-day Haiti with other rare female pirates. However, there is no evidence other than urban legends to suggest that Delahaye was a real person. Additionally, if she did live, it would have been around the 1650s. This is 60 to 70 years before the events ofOur Flag Means Death. In all likelihood, tall tales about Delahaye’s life influenced the development of Spanish Jackie more than any hard facts.
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Another character based on a real figure is Calico Jack (Will Arnett). In the series, Jack is an old friend of Blackbeard who visits and brings out Blackbeard’s hardcore side. As opposed to Delahaye, Calico Jack was a verified pirate captain operating in the early 18th century Caribbean. However, there is no evidence that Jack ever worked with Blackbeard or even crossed paths with him despite existing at roughly the same period in history.
What’s Not Accurate?
Despite the significant true-to-life basis forOur Flag Means Death, there are still many aspects changed for television, with the most notable likely being the romantic relationship between Bonnet and Teach. Granted, we can’t say the two didn’t have feelings for one another, but there’s no historical evidence to back that up. Additionally, Teach robbed and abandoned Bonnet. Stede Bonnet’s crew on the show is much smaller than the real Bonnet’s 70-man army. It would have been impractical forOur Flag Means Deathto cast 70 actors to reside on the ship as Stede’s army. Rather, focusing on his core advisors lets us get to know them as people and how they view Stede, even if the crew themselves are not based on real individuals.
Another element that sets the series apart from factual history is the dialogue. For the most part, characters speak in more or less modern English. In reality, while pirates did speak the English language, it was Early Modern English of the 18th century. Pick up any book or writing material from that time, and you can see the differences in language. The best way to describe it is “Shakespearean,” much more formal than how we speak today.
The Final Verdict
So, can we say thatOur Flag Means Deathis based on a true story? If we’re talking about the basic plotline of Stede Bonnet’s life as a gentleman pirate, then the answer is yes. However, if we dig deeper into the specific character arcs and storylines, the answer is no. It’s a good thing that the series isn’t an entirelyaccurate story of pirates, as there would be more death and suffering instead of heartfelt romantic moments.
