Our Flag Means Death 2×08 Recap: Reunions, Farewells, and New Beginnings
Hello again crew! We’re back with our last recap of Our Flag Means Death Season 2, and while we sincerely hope this isn’t the last time we do this (when do we start campaigning for Season 3?), we’re ready to dive into the incredible journey that is 2×08. Titled “Mermen,” this episode is hands down our favorite of this season. Yes, it managed to surpass 2×03 and 2×06!
But before we embark on this adventure, let us remind y’all that you can check out our spoiler-free review of the second season of Our Flag Means Death here, and catch up on all our previous recaps of episodes 2×01-2×03 here, 2×04 and 2×05 here, and 2×06 and 2×07 here.
Anygays, in case you don’t have time to read all that, but still need a quick refresher on what happened last week, here’s a recap of the recap. In 2×06 we saw the introduction of pirate Ned Low (Bronson Pinchot), who had a bone to pick with Blackbeard (Taika Waititi) for snatching away his pirate record. Stede (Rhys Darby), for his part, helped Ed turn poison into positivity by using Ed’s remaining treasure to fund a party the crew wanted to celebrate Calypso’s birthday.
On the other hand, Zheng Yi Sao (Ruibo Qian) forged a dangerous alliance with Ricky Banes (Errol Shand), who is only seeking revenge against pirates after a run-in with Spanish Jackie (Leslie Jones). Ned managed to crash the party on the Revenge, leading to a tense confrontation that ended with Stede outwitting (and killing) Ned. As the party resumed and the episode concluded, Stede and Ed shared an intimate moment under the fireworks that straightened their bond. Yes, they did the deed! *squeals*
Episode 2×07 brought us a changed Ed, who decided to embrace a new, carefree outlook on life, throwing away his pirate stuff into the sea and serving Stede breakfast in bed. The crew disembarked on the Republic of Pirates where they discovered that what happened to Ned in the previous episode brought them fame and prestige.
But just when everything seemed to be going well for all our faves, tensions arose on all fronts. Stede and Ed had a painful fight over the news that Ed was leaving to become a fisherman. Zheng, after reconciling with Olu (Samson Kayo), attempted to recruit Jim (Vico Ortiz) and Archie (Madeleine Sami) to join her crew, which angered Stede. Zheng and Stede’s confrontation culminated in a brawl that broke out at Spanish Jackie’s bar. The episode ended with the Republic of Pirates in flames – Ricky’s doing – and a cannonball seemingly striking Zheng.
We’ll be honest, crew, after everything that happened in these last two episodes, we pressed play on 2×08 feeling a little fearful for the future of all our faves. But as always, Our Flag Means Death had a surprise for us and although we went through the entire spectrum of emotions while watching it, we still loved it.
As we said, in our humble opinion, this is the best episode of the season, the perfect send-off to an extraordinary second season. From tears to laughs, and everything in between, 2×08 truly has everything we wanted and more. But enough rambling! Let’s go through this last recap together as a crew!
PSA: If you haven’t caught up on the season finale of Our Flag Means Death Season 2 yet, you might want to hit pause on this recap and come back once you’re ready. From this point forward there will be a lot of spoilers for episode 2×08. You’ve been warned, so tread carefully.
Episode 8 Recap: “Mermen” – A Shack by the Sea
Episode 2×08 opens with Ed trying his hand at a new profession – fishing. By his own account, he seems to have found a sense of peace that he’d never known before in the sea, deeply appreciating the beauty of it. However, his fishing buddies, a father and son (Cohen Holloway and Joe Valentine), don’t share his enthusiasm. After a pre-dinner disaster and being berated for being lazy and useless, Ed is fired, and the fisherman advises him to return to what he’s good at *coughs* piracy *coughs*.
Meanwhile, we learn that the Republic of Pirates has fallen and now Prince Ricky calls the shots. Some members of the Revenge’s crew along with a few surviving pirates serve their captors at Spanish Jackie’s bar, where Ricky seems to enjoy mocking the famed pirate a bit too much. Revenge really is a dish best-served cold. He’s even been using the Swede (Nat Faxon) to test his drinks for poison.
But anyway, somewhere else in the Republic, Stede is in the company of the Pirate Queen herself, who didn’t die (she was actually the one who pulled Stede to safety), but feels responsible for the death of her crew, including her Auntie (Anapela Polataivao). Stede, being the softie that he is, tries to console her by sharing his own experience of always being a failure, but it doesn’t seem to work. However, the moment is interrupted by some guards patrolling the area.
Hearing the intrusion, Stede suggests to Zheng that they hide, but the queen is too mortified to care, she only has vengeance on her mind. The guards approach her and Stede seizes the opportunity to attack them from behind. But this is Stede we’re talking about, so of course his attempt to fend them off fails miserably and the Queen has to step in to save him…again.
On the other hand, Ed seems to have rowed his way back to the Republic of Pirates and upon witnessing the chaos and destruction, he gets worried sick about Stede. Some guards, who mistake him for a simple fisherman, inform him that he can’t fish in English waters, but Ed quickly reverts to his Blackbeard persona and kills them both. Recalling the fisherman’s last words to him, Ed retrieves his old leathers and transforms into a pirate once more.
In the prison cell beneath Spanish Jackie’s bar, Ricky informs the captured pirates that they will be hanged for their crimes, marking with that the end of all piracy. Izzy (Con O’Neill), always one to speak his mind, doesn’t hold back and insults Ricky. This results in Ricky deciding to have a final drink with the legendary pirate.
Once at the bar, Ricky is quick to acknowledge Izzy’s reputation, telling him that he always felt that Izzy was underrated and continually overshadowed by Blackbeard. In a powerful speech, Izzy explains that piracy isn’t about glory and personal gain, but about belonging to something when the world has told you you’re worth nothing. It’s about finding the family you’d kill for when yours is long dead. It’s about letting go of ego for something larger than yourself, your crew. *standing ovation*
Meanwhile, two guards find one of Stede’s letters washed up on the beach and start reading it aloud, mocking its content and not realizing that Ed is nearby. While the guards mock Stede’s romantic words, Ed kills them with his sword and finally has the opportunity to read the letter addressed to him. In those words, Stede tells Ed that he knows their relationship can’t be over because a love like theirs can’t disappear in an instant *cries*. Stede’s heartfelt message serves to reinforce the unbreakable bond between them, and Ed is deeply moved by it.
While on their way to kill Ricky, Zheng and Stede are attacked by soldiers, and to their surprise, Ed is there too. In a cinematic moment parallel to this season’s opening scene and underscored once again by Nina Simone’s “I Love My Baby,” Stede and Ed reunite, running toward each other and sharing a passionate kiss. Afterward, Ed quickly apologizes to Stede for being an idiot, but Stede reassures him that he isn’t, that life is. Ed confesses his love for Stede and it’s all very beautiful and sweet, but their emotional reunion is cut short as Zheng reminds them that they’re in the midst of a battle. Oops.
The crew, imprisoned, is trying to find a way to escape their cell. To their shock, one of the pirates captured with them turns out to be Auntie, who didn’t die but is injured. Olu and Jim join forces to assist her despite her initial reluctance. Meanwhile, Ed and Zheng start to get along, Ed is impressed with Zheng’s fighting skills and the pirate queen admits that she also admires Ed’s skills. Stede, feeling a bit left behind, mentions that he also did impressive stuff while fighting, and Ed, not wanting to hurt his boyfriend’s feelings, goes along with it, even calling him babe. Can you hear us screaming? Because we are!
Anyway, back at the bar, Ricky is still having a drink with Izzy and tells him that because he destroyed the Republic of Pirates that makes him the ultimate pirate, but Izzy quickly corrects him, reminding him he’s just a spoiled idiot. Just then, Stede, Ed, and Zheng walk into the bar ready to fight, but they’re outnumbered. Fortunately for them, like flies, all the guards at the bar start to fall. It turns out that Spanish Jackie did poison them! The Swede is momentarily worried that he might have been forced to drink poison, but Spanish Jackie reassures him that everyone in the household is poison-trained so he’ll be fine.
Zheng tries to kill Ricky in revenge for what happened to her Auntie, but Auntie walks into the bar and knocks the prince down herself. Zheng and Auntie hug each other awkwardly, they are happy to see each other again. Stede suggests a plan to escape the Republic of Pirates alive and everyone agrees to follow it, even when the entire crew thinks it’s a suicide mission.
The plan is to impersonate the fallen guards and use Ricky as a hostage to fool the remaining guards. However, Ricky takes advantage of a minor distraction to spoil the plan and reveal the crew’s true identity. A dramatic confrontation ensues, resulting in their successful escape, albeit with Izzy seriously injured.
Back on the Revenge, Izzy’s condition is deteriorating. Ed tries to help him, even asking the crew to fetch something to save him, but it becomes clear to everyone that Izzy won’t survive. Izzy apologizes to Ed for his behavior and reveals that he encouraged Ed’s Blackbeard persona because he needed him, Blackbeard was them. Ed says he should be the one apologizing to Izzy and begs him not to leave him since Izzy is his only family. Izzy assures Ed that he’s surrounded by family – his crew – and encourages Ed to just be himself. Izzy passes away, leaving Ed, the crew, and all of us devastated. *weeps uncontrollably*
The crew mourns Izzy’s death and decides to bury him in a nearby field. In a moving tribute, the crew fashions a cross with his wooden leg and passes it around in remembrance. Stede tries to comfort Ed by telling him that Izzy was a good person, intense, but good nonetheless. Ed admits that Izzy was a nightmare, but he still liked him. Zheng approaches Ed and Stede and, after offering her condolences for Izzy’s death, she suggests a team-up – the pirate Queen, Blackbeard, and the Gentleman Pirate against Ricky Banes. Ed and Stede seem to agree.
It’s all very bittersweet, to be honest, but y’all know what they say, after the storm comes the calm, and with it, the promise of new beginnings. And new beginnings are truly starting because wedding bells are ringing on the Revenge. Pete (Matthew Maher) and Lucius (Nathan Foad) are getting married! After vowing to love, protect, kill for each other, and keep each other’s ships afloat, Roach (Samba Schutte) declares them official mateys, and the couple seals their new union with a kiss.
After the wedding, the crew prepares to set sail, hoisting the anchor and dropping the sails. Against all odds, the Revenge is back at sea, with the entire crew – plus a few new additions – in their respective roles. Well, all but two: Ed and Stede.
In a surprising twist, it is revealed that Ed and Stede have decided to stay behind. They are going to make a home in the shack where Izzy is buried and become innkeepers. Stede’s optimism shines through as they decide to embrace the opportunity to start anew together. So now it’s official, crew, the domestic chapter of their lives has begun. *cries*
The final shot of the season shows the shack and Izzy’s final resting place, with a seagull, Buttons (Ewen Bremner), landing on the cross. The end.
The season 2 finale of Our Flag Means Death was nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster, filled with shocking twists and heartfelt moments that made us cry and scream at the same time. From Ed and Stede’s cinematic reunion to Izzy’s emotional farewell, this episode kept us on the edge of our seats and made us feel all the emotions. We were left completely devastated and emotionally drained in the best way possible, so kudos for that.
And while we’ve said this in every article we’ve published about this show, the cast truly deserves a huge amount of recognition for their incredible performances. They all have been exceptional this season, but we have to give credit where credit is due and we have to admit that O’Neill, Waititi, and Darby outdid themselves this time, delivering exceptional portrayals and bringing their characters to life with depth and nuance. Hats off to you gents!
Since its debut, Our Flag Means Death has been a beacon of representation and authenticity for the community. In today’s hostile atmosphere, we believe it’s essential to have LGBTQ+ shows that embrace their existence wholeheartedly, that are not afraid to be as loud as they can, and speak out for those who are often silenced. Representation in media is like what Izzy said about piracy, it helps you feel like you belong to something, even when the world tells you you’re worth nothing. And this quality is what sets this show apart from others in its genre – its capacity to not only represent, include, and celebrate the diverse spectrum of human experiences, but to make you feel like you belong.
So we sincerely hope that Max gives us a third season to continue this incredible journey and that Our Flag Means Death can carry on offering even more of what makes it so special. And while this recap marks the end of our official coverage of this season, it’s not a goodbye, but rather a hopeful “until next year,” as we eagerly anticipate the renewal of our beloved show so we can come back and recap a new batch of episodes for y’all.
But until then, farewell crew, until our compasses point us back together!
The entire second season of Our Flag Means Death is available to stream on Max now. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!
Featured Image: Image Courtesy of Max
