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demuredimensions · 2 years

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This is something I just kept thinking of over and over so I had to get it written down. I’ve never written fan fiction before. I don’t know how. This may not be of interest to anyone else. I’m glad I wrote it though. Today they announced season 2 and it’ll be funny to see how wrong I am about this. Anyway, here’s what I wrote:

Izzy brings Ed a piece of paper confirming the death of Stede Bonnet. “Looks like we don’t have to worry about him anymore, Captain.” Ed stares at the bit of paper with an illustration of a well dressed man crushed under a piano. He looks past the paper and into Izzy’s eyes. Ed’s eyes begin to tear slightly. Izzy’s eyebrows raise. Ed’s eyes widen and he says “I never want to hear the name Stede Bonnet again.” and he leaves the room. Izzy crumples the paper and throws it into the open fire that happens to be on their wooden vessel. Ed cries himself to sleep that night.

Stede collects the crew in his dinghy and they head out in the direction the crew saw their ship sailing off to. Stede is happy and hopeful. He notices Black Pete is wearing makeup and asks why. The crew explains that they were going to have a talent show and instead were abandoned on the island. They think Izzy is the cause. Stede is ready to take back his ship, make amends with Ed, and exile Izzy once and for all.

After days, just when it seems they’ll never catch up to the ship, they see oranges in the water. The Swede is ecstatic. Buttons claims they’re poisoned by sirens and he ought not eat them. Then they see a bottle of brandy followed by Stede’s beloved books. Stede and the crew are still convinced this is all Izzy’s doing and Ed is unaware. They follow the debris until they find the ship. They make a plan to sneak onto the ship without Izzy knowing.

They get the dinghy close to the edge of the ship and the rope ladder has been left down by someone, maybe one of their crew still on the ship.

They sneak up the ladder. Stede climbs it with ease for the first time in his pirate career. Each crew member sneaks to a crevice of the ship hoping to avoid Izzy. Stede knows where every hidden passage is. He comes to a panel in the back of his auxiliary wardrobe and gets in. Luckily all his summer linens are still in tact.

Stede sneaks out of the wardrobe only to find everything else in his bedroom/parlor/office area gone. As he looks around the room noticing everything missing he worries; what has become of Ed? Then he feels a sharp sting in his lower back.

“Fucking Stede Bonnet.” Izzy greets him with the tip of a sword.

Stede attempts to talk his way into seeing Ed. “Oh, hello, Mr. Hands. I was just hoping to get a few things from my ship. Is uh…Ed nearby?”

Izzy is annoyed. “Captain Blackbeard is on deck and he’s dying to see you, Stede Bonnet.”

Stede is confused. “He is? Oh well then, yes. I am d-dying to uh…see him as well.”

Izzy takes Stede up to the deck at sword point. Stede sees the back of Ed’s head. Ed slowly turns around to reveal that he is Blackbeard once again. Stede is hesitant. “H-hello, Ed.” Blackbeard is unflinching. “The Gentleman Pirate, I presume.” This hurts Stede worse than Izzy’s blade in his back. They are back to being strangers as though their intimate kiss never happened.

Stede quietly asks “Ed, could we maybe have a discussion in private…possibly?” Blackbeard squints and grins. “Anything you have to say to me can surely be said in front of…my crew.” Jim and Frenchie are brought on deck with their hands shackled and kicked to the deck floor. Frenchie is terrified. Jim is furious. Stede realizes he’s not the only one at risk and makes up a quick fuckery on the spot.

“Ah…but uh…Where is the rest of my crew?” Stede asks. Blackbeard looks up. “I left most of them on an desert island. Can’t really say what became of them. I do know the fate of one though.” Stede realizes Lucius is no where to be seen. Stede looks at Ed in shock and dismay. Blackbeard looks down. “The boy went overboard. Like a real pirate.”

Black Pete comes up to the deck from his hidden passage running towards Ed but is stopped by Izzy. The two of them begin sword fighting. The remaining crew members run onto the deck. Jim is breaking loose. Frenchie is backing into a corner. In all the chaos, Ed and Stede lock eyes. This is happening.

Jim tosses Stede a sword. All they need is their dagger. Blackbeard takes out a sword. Stede is scared but angry. “Ed, you didn’t have to do all this! You didn’t have to remove every sign of me!” Blackbeard scowls. “I removed nothing that hadn’t already left!” He swings his sword narrowly missing Stede. Stede screams and blocks. “Can’t we just talk about this like civilized people, Ed?!” Blackbeard ties his hair back. “Pirates are not civilized. And my name isn’t Ed. I am the kraken.” Stede realizes Ed is broken and he is the cause. He looks around and sees his crew members, his family, fighting for their lives. He knows he must do something to save them. He’s ran Ed through once before. He’s not sure he can do it again. He’s already hurt him so much. Can he really bring himself to hurt someone he lov—Ope! Ed’s stabbed him. Stede looks down and sees Ed’s sword in his left side. He grabs Ed’s hand and pulls him closer. They look into each other’s eyes. Ed’s expression goes from fury to fear. Stede whispers to Ed “You’ve run me through. Did I do it right? Made you miss all the important bits?” Ed looks softly at Stede. “You did. You’re a lunatic.”

The crew stops fighting to spectate. Ed stumbles away from Stede. Stede’s crew rushes to his aid. Stede faints.

Stede wakes up in his bathtub, wrapped in bandages. Ed sits by his side. Stede is confused. “I thought you were going to kill me, Ed.” Ed has been crying. His charcoal is running. “I was. Every time I think I’m going to kill you, I can’t do it.” Stede is slightly smug. “Well…I did turn to the left.” Ed is unamused. “Do you really think I don’t know how to counter my own move? I missed because I wanted to.” There’s a silence. “You wanted to?” Stede asks. Ed looks at the ground, embarrassed. “I meant what I said that day. And when you didn’t come to the dock I was prepared to erase you. Either by forgetting you or killing you.” Stede looks remorseful. “Ed…I…panicked. I thought I’d ruined the great Blackbeard. I’ve been a fool. I’m so terribly sorry.” Ed remembers the paper Izzy brought to him. “Sooo…the bloke under the piano; that was a fuck-“ “A fuckery, yes.” Stede answers. Ed smiles. “That’s not bad, Stede Bonnet. Not bad at all.” Stede smiles back. Ed puts his hands around Stede’s face. Stede leans into Ed’s hands. He feels safe. He feels home. Ed gives Stede a gentle kiss. Stede goes in for another. Ed puts his hand on Stede’s chest. “Best to rest up for now. You’ve got a hole in your liver.” Stede’s a little embarrassed. “Oh…heh heh, yes. Probably right.”

Just as Stede starts to nod off, he hears a noise in the auxiliary wardrobe. He climbs out of the tub to investigate. He opens the wardrobe and Lucius falls out into the floor. “Oh thank you! I’ve gotten to that door a dozen times and couldn’t figure how to open it!” Stede is shocked. “Lucius! How long have you been hiding? How did you eat?” Lucius smiles and whispers. “This lot isn’t exactly observant. They leave food out every night. I just sneaked out and back in.” Stede is curious if Lucius remembers what happened to him. “Ed said you went overboard. What happened?” Lucius’ smile turns to an annoyed frown. “Well I suppose he was a little angry that I told him to get over you and he PUSHED me overboard but I caught my little barnacle cleaners’ swing and managed to hang on until I could get back into the boat. Just typical.” Stede turns to Lucius. “What’s typical? That you, YOU managed to save yourself by a rope and board?” Lucius huffs “No. Typical that a pirate when faced with feelings would naturally throw their proverbial emotions overboard.” Stede raises his eyebrows. “Ah yes. That…uh…that does seem quite typical.”

Ed enters the room. “Hello, Lucius. You look…well.” Lucius is in slight disbelief. “Well? I nearly died.” Ed grins. “But you didn’t, my boy. Congratulations. You’re a real pirate now.” Lucius rolls his eyes. “A real pirate. Sure. Great.” Ed leaves the room. Stede and Lucius look at each other and shrug. At least he’s Ed again.

#our flag means death #OFMD #taika waititi #rhys darby #pirates #fan fiction #ed x stede

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joan-of-arc-beat · 2 years

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Modern AU where Ed is a singer of some sorts and Stede is an aspiring manager/producer or something to that effect. Izzy is Ed’s current manager or whatever.

Ed hears Stede and his clients wacky sounding music and absolutely needs to get his help on new projects. This royally pisses izzy off for obvious reasons.

That’s all I’ve got.

#blackbonnet #gentlebeard #edward teach #our flag means gay #stede bonnet #ofmd #blackbeard #taika waititi #our flag means death #david jenkins #ofmd s2 #our flag means death fan fiction

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3ndlessgalaxies · 2 years

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Chapter 10 is here!

Setting off from the Republic of Pirates, Stede begins to believe everything will be perfect now. He takes Ed down to the cargo hold, where they make a surprising discovery, and Stede offers to teach him something.

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rhysdarbinizedarby · 7 months

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How ‘Our Flag Means Death’ Became the Funniest Show on TV

Creator and showrunner David Jenkins breaks down the new season of TV’s most adorable star-crossed pirates.

Our Flag Means Death debuted in March 2022 to respectable viewership numbers that grew. And grew. And grew some more. With each week of its 10-episode run, viewership increased, eventually tripling its original audience. The little gay pirate workplace and romantic comedy-cum-historical fantasy that could is back for a second season on Max, and fans will be glad to know that piracy power couple Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) and Ed Teach, aka Blackbeard (Academy Award winner Taika Waititi) won’t be parted for long.

The first season of Our Flag Means Death introduced viewers to fictional versions of the real historical figures Stede Bonnet (aka The Gentleman Pirate) and Blackbeard, as well as their respective crews. The two captains instantly forged an unlikely connection. Stede, who decided to exorcize his midlife crisis by abandoning his family and taking to the seas, despite being at best a piracy novice, hero-worships Blackbeard and is thrilled to make his acquaintance. The fearsome Blackbeard, who among friends goes by his real first name, Ed, is taken with Stede’s commitment to enjoying the finer and frillier things in life, marveling at his new friend’s on-ship library and massive, beautiful wardrobe.

While the two captains are an odd couple, each of their crews regards the other as an entirely different species. Aboard the Revenge, Stede reads bedtime stories to his crew and encourages them to use their words when conflicts emerge, while on Blackbeard’s ship, Ed’s first mate Izzy Hands (a deliciously scowling, jealous Con O’Neill) rants that his captain is now a shell of the terrifying legend he used to be. Over time, Blackbeard’s crew begin to appreciate the healthier work-life culture on the Revenge, where there’s room for romantic and collegial dyads to form and pair off.

Of course, the path of true love never runs smooth even for a couple as invested in each other as Stede and Ed. At the end of the first season, the crews are split between ships and land, and Ed believes Stede has permanently abandoned their relationship for his original family, causing a heartbroken Ed to revert to his fearsome Kraken persona. As the second season opens, Stede is frantically trying to get back to Ed and explain that he’s all in on their relationship. Ed’s behavior has been swinging erratically from depressed to murderous, even toward Izzy, and when the two captains and crews meet again, there’s an extra twist: Stede and company have been co-opted by the far more capable and successful Chinese Pirate Queen, Zheng Yi Sao (Ruibo Qian).

On the eve of the second season’s three-episode premiere, creator and showrunner David Jenkins reflected on the series’ approach to workplace dynamics, male friendships and romance, and the character arcs he’s most excited for fans to see.

The first three episodes of the season premiere feature a bunch of breakups and reshuffling of romantic and work relationships—not just Stede and Ed. Were you chasing anything in particular, narratively, by splitting up so many dyads?

Definitely. To watch the effects of Stede and Blackbeard’s relationship reverberate through everybody's lives is so interesting. Their separation doesn’t just happen to the two of them, it’s happening to all of them, because they’re a family. Just as the breakup reverberated throughout both crews, getting back together is going to do the same thing.

That makes sense.

The goal was just being true to the character beats and finding ways to make them ring true. Oluwande (Samson Kayo) and Jim (Vico Ortiz, they/them) are friends who got romantic. It rang true to me that they’d watch each others’ lives move forward, and then come back together to find that they still care about each other, and each of them is also happy for the other person. I've seen that happen in real life a bunch of times, but I don't see that dramatized a lot. I think there should be a lot of different flavors of relationships in this show. And there's so many different pairings that you get a lot of chances to be like, “Oh, how are these two different from Stede and Ed?”

How does that relate to your interest in exploring tenderness and vulnerability in male characters? In previous interviews, you’ve referred to Our Flag Means Death as examining the burlesque of masculinity. What does it bring to your work to be exploring it over the course of many hours of storytelling?

That’s an area where Taika’s and my interests overlap a lot. There’s something so understated about his sensibility—I think some of it derives from his New Zealand accent, actually—that suits asking questions about masculinity. And it's fun to look at pirate stories, to play against that genre’s whitewashed, heteronormative conventions. Growing up as a guy, you get a lot of pressure to be just one type of a guy, the guy who refuses to feel things. Men are in terrible trouble in that way. We’re getting better about talking about feelings, but there’s so much more to cover—body dysmorphia, vulnerability, not just talking about feelings, but understanding them and having this whole range of emotions—those are always the things I want to watch.

Do you have favorites among on-screen stories that make room for a broader emotional palette?

Heat and Midnight Run are two really lovely Robert De Niro movies where characters have these very big emotional lives. It’s a similar thing with Robert Redford and Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I like extending that. We can push it further, because there's so many different ways to be a man! Not everything has to be a shoot ’em up action thing where people don’t have feelings. A lot of men feel like they need permission to just be their weird selves, to be funny, to dress differently. Try some different things! Maybe wear a color! Put some product in your hair! Don't worry about it, it's gonna be fine. You're gonna be fine.

Our Flag Means Death is not a casual show. It’s very funny and playful! But there is not one single frame of the show that plays it cool. As an artist, what’s the significance of qualities like sincerity and earnestness?

I hate coolness, it’s so ungenerous. And I like that you said that it’s not casual. I’m not a casual guy. This is a deeply uncool show. There’s something so special about seeing comedic actors like Rhys or Taika, who are so used to coming into a scene, being incredibly funny and destroying, and then leaving, having to use their earnestness, and not using their weapon of immediately diffusing it by going for a laugh. When I see that, it makes my heart leap. There’s something particularly special about seeing a comedic actor do it.

It’s really fun to watch comedic actors dispel the notion that dramatic acting is 180 degrees away from comedic acting.

Characters that call for that type of performance are a lot of what I love about Robert Altman, Christopher Guest, and Harold Ashby movies. They’re comedies, but those characters really grow and they experience pain, and the pain they feel is real. And then the funny shit that they do is even funnier because of it. Those are the things that bring me the most joy.

Tell me about Zheng Yi Sao, the Pirate Queen. She’s such a good foil for Ed and Stede—her ambition, competence, and leadership style are all so distinct from theirs.

Zheng Yi Sao is the most competent pirate captain on our show, and was the most successful pirate captain in history. She lived about 100 years apart from these fellas, and she was so successful that China had to cut her in and do a treaty with her so she would move on to some other field. She wound up making another fortune in gambling!

One thing that jumped out at me in these first three episodes of the season is how much therapy-literate dialogue is used—where did that come from?

I just think it's funny. The thing about a workplace is that they all see everything that’s going on with others, because they're all on top of each other all the time. I don't want to go l too far with it, but it’s fun that some of these characters can see that one of their friends is in a weird relationship with his boss, and then say “hey, you might want to look at that.”

Where do you think that comes from for the characters themselves?

There’s a level of care on that ship that Stede almost infected them with in the first season, and now those ideas are more alive because of how Stede built the Revenge’s culture. You can see that that spirit is still kind of alive when Jim tells the story of the wooden boy to Bang to calm him down. That’s a little bit of Stede’s kindness being alive in the world still, and of Jim needing and being able to call on it now that everything’s so dark. For them to go from an “every person for themselves” ethos to thinking “there was a time when life meant something on this ship, it doesn’t have to be this way” is interesting growth for the character, and is true to Vico as a person. There's a real kindness to how they carry themselves—they’re one of those people that just makes everybody feel safe. It’s nice to see some of those character traits bleed through to Jim.

Without getting too spoilery, what’s coming up over the rest of this season that you can’t wait for viewers to see?

I’m really excited for Izzy’s journey. Con O’Neill did such beautiful work, and getting to see where that character goes and how he grows, I think is one of the most exciting things of the season. To see where Ed and Stede’s relationship goes is gratifying—to see how they navigate each other and find, hopefully, a more mature way of being together.

Jim's relationships with Archie (Madeleine Sami) and Olu develop, too, and more broadly, the crew coming together as a new kind of family, now that Mom and Dad are getting back together. I also like that Lucius (Nathan Foad) is back, and has an angry young man thing going on that he has to process. For Lucius to go through something really harrowing and have to grow up with it is so interesting, because he had all the answers in the first season.

We can’t not talk about the mermaid sequence at the end of the second episode. How did that come about?

We really have to pick our shots on the show, so that was very storyboarded out. I knew I wanted Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work” for the scene, so that was incorporated in it. Unfortunately, Rhys had had a really bad near-drowning experience shooting in a tank before, but I didn’t know that until we were working on the stunts! But when Rhys saw the gorgeous tail, and it looked so cool and beautiful, he decided to go for it. He knew the scene was going to look awesome. So he navigated that costume, which is basically a big flipper that he needed to move his entire core to make it work, and Taika’s there with all this glue to keep his wig on underwater all day. When it’s humming and all the departments are working, everyone feels safe. It gives everyone a feeling of “let’s do it—let’s jump in!”

Speaking of jumping in, what degree of pressure did you all feel coming into the second season, knowing how high the expectations were from the show’s incredibly passionate fan base?

I don’t feel pressure from the fans, I just feel unconditional love and acceptance, and I think that the writers room feels that too. We all want it to be good, and we want the storylines to be cool. But it’s less pressure, and more just the level of freedom that it gave us, knowing somebody’s watching. It makes doing all the hard work a joy, because you know it’s going to be appreciated. Some people will have critiques, and that’s fine.

I just know that this—the fan reaction to this show—will be the honor of my career. The fan community is so kind and nice and talented—it's just a good vibe, and it’s been safe and affirming for everyone.

We’re all basking in the glow of the adoration of the show from our fanbase. It’s infectious—when we all get together, it saturates every element of the show, and it's a very special thing for all of us.

Source: The Daily Beast

#rhys darby #ofmd #our flag means death #taika waititi #david jenkins #ofmd s2 spoilers

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sjw-dipper · 3 months

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i know this isn’t proof or evidence since these are run by different staff than the CEO but this looks bad that tumblr is promoting this:

(taika waititi is a zionist — no i’m not saying that just because he’s jewish — and theres a ton of issues with this show, i dont watch it. they cancelled our flag means death but hbo max is having so many issues. buncha ppl from the last of us — which i love (and hate a lot of the second game because of this which i didnt know initially lol) — are zionists too but they aren’t cancelling that either.)

i mean tumblr is this the time. especially with all the other suspicions surrounding your staff.

also ofmd fans on here seem so out of touch. i read a post like “WHAT IF IT HAPPENED TO YOUR SHOW”… no i’d be fine if they cancelled the last of us over zionism because surprisingly i care more about Real Genocide than fiction

"what if it happened to your show" ??? as if shows aren't regularly cancelled over much less harmful things all the time? what.

#asks #foxtraveler

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beheworthy · 5 months

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Hi, there was something I noticed when going through the anti taika waititi tag and I was wondering if you could answer my question. It seems to me that there are quite some anti-tw people who are also anti Chris Hemsworth. Do you know what that's all about?

There are a few but very vocal people who think:

1. Chris changed Thor's entire course as a character just so he can play himself - a mean jerk.

2. He orchestrated this whole change because he was jealous of side characters and wanted to get back at them like a petulant child. So he 'made' Thor3 so he could finally shine in his own film.

(I think these people should go outside and touch grass. This particular vein of hatred is only seen on this hellsite. No one is that delusion in the real world.)

3. He got his fRiEnD Waititi so he can make the movie he wants - playing himself and degrading others to shine.

(Chris had nothing to do with Marvel hiring Waititi even though he knew him. He has collaborated this enthusiastically with every director he's worked with.)

4. They call him 'Chris Odinson' ('Thor Hemsworth?') in an effort to degrade and debase him but in turn reveal how mature and classy they are.

In reality, Chris vouched for this change because he personally wasn't satisfied with what he was doing with his character and he personally wanted to do something different. End of. I've always maintained that I personally think he went about it the wrong way and it makes me sad that he doesn't enjoy 'serious' Thor.

But at the end of the day, Thor is a fictional character and Chris is a real human being. His health, mental health, needs, and wishes are always above Thunder Guy. He plays him. He can do whatever he wants with him, and as fans, we can say we loved or hated it. And only keep it at that.

But this - assuming he's an insecure petulant child, assuming what he's like in real life, and calling him childish names just because their favorite side characters got sidelined really just reveals these people's character, not his.

#answers #anonymous #chris hemsworth #thor #thor odinson #anti taika waititi #that one popular post that goes 'chris odinson go f yourself' very classy

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twiststreet · 1 year

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It’s always fun to see nerdy movie audiences adopt comic fan postures. This one is “skipping that story because that story doesn’t matter now that a reboot is coming”-- just a classic one, one of the standards, that one’s in the great American songbook.

Or I saw a headline the other day that was like “TV audiences are waiting for shows to be renewed before watching them”-- that one’s just “I’m waiting for the trade.” People saying “Watch the whole season so Netflix doesn’t cancel us immediately” is just “preorder your comics-- don’t just take our art to enjoy your life, because actually, consuming our product makes you a member of our team.” Or of course, we’re coming up on “Ezra Miller maybe did bad things but it’s okay to just love the Flash”-- that’s your old school “DC fans will lecture you all day long about the morality of fictional characters while ignoring the grotesque immorality of human beings”-- that’s DC fandom 101. “The people who made this is my friend actually, we’re friends now, and how dare you talk about my friend that way”-- they brought that over for Taika Waititi and especially Brie Larson. Defining “fun” to exclusively refer to disconcertingly awful garbage-- that’s an easy check.

Some things seem out of reach-- “nattering constantly about whether writers or artists matter more, endlessly” doesn’t seem likely to translate to popcorn buyers (p.s. correct answer is artists). Or “the Japanese are loads better at this in every possible way” is just animation and Godzilla/kaiju only. “Why can’t I buy this in convenience stores anymore”-- no translation. “This legendary person and/or their entire family is just greedy when they complain how they were mistreated”-- can’t think of a translation. “We just don’t think women want to create or consume our product”-- Colin Trevorrow tried to take that one for a spin but people didn’t buy it. “Oh wow, that person is the biggest wildest hippie in our industry -- you can tell by their Batman comics and how they’re a member of the *British empire* and rushed to defend their corporate employers’ history of impoverishing others-- but hey, they smoked a marijuana cigarette once and saw an alien”-- an equivalent does not come easily to mind...

But Rome, a day, etc.

#Worst Hobby or Worstest Hobby?

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cinephiles-delight · 2 years

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‘Thor: Love And Thunder’ Embodies Every Marvel Detractor’s Biggest Critiques–And Is All The Better For It

Crackling into theaters with all the ferocity of a mid-summer thunderstorm, “Thor: Love and Thunder” boomed up big bucks at the box office, racking up yet another runaway success for director Taika Waititi.

As anyone who’s seen the previous installment in the Thor franchise, “Ragnarok”, can attest, this newest film continues its predecessor’s predilection for heart-pounding, kaleidoscope-colored sci-fi action sequences set to an undeniably show-stealing classic rock setlist. The film is not without its levity and balance, however, as Waititi is careful to counterpoint his god-tier clashes with both his signature off-beat humor and, as the title would suggest, a healthy amount of romance.

This combination of x-factors is all but guaranteed to send a summer blockbuster rocketing to the top of the polls, but not all viewers may see it as a net positive for the cinema. In fact, the very same feel-good, fun-loving escapades on which “Love and Thunder” capitalizes so well are more often than not precisely the reasons for which many in the filmmaking community and moviegoing audiences alike disparage the seemingly ubiquitous Marvel tentpoles.

To a degree, it seems almost as if this Thor flick were written and produced specifically as a coup-de-gras aimed at all those (high-profile and otherwise) who have been quick to dismiss the films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as, to quote famed director Martin Scorsese, not quite “cinema”.

Detractors of the MCU levy several claims against the popcorn flicks, most of which involve some variation on the following arguments: “they’re all the same, why would I want to watch the good guys win for the 23rd time?”, “there’s too much humor, it feels out of place in an action movie”, “they’re just pandering to audiences”, or even “those are kid’s movies, not serious adult fiction”.

To boot, if you spend enough time on any of the online meme sharing platforms, you’re bound to come across some version of the classic “Marvel fans when Marvel makes another two-hour-long CGI fight scene where the hero wins” meme. In such cases, the somewhat ironically uninspired tagline is then paired with an illustrative gif or image portraying the Marvel fan as a buffoon, simpleton, or–worse still–a “soyjack” (and if you don’t know what that is, I envy you).

These arguments all boil down to expressions of the same basic complaint: the movies aren’t sophisticated pieces of adult media with dark underlying themes and a self-serious tone.

Now, anyone familiar with Taika Waititi’s work knows that this man has made it practically his life’s mission to make movies that are, quite literally, diametrically and fundamentally opposed to that sort of filmmaking ethos–the belief that “good” and “mature” must be synonymous.

His films “Jojo Rabbit” and “What We Do In The Shadows” fly in the face of both reverence and self-seriousness, questioning the filmmaking communities’ predisposition to treat certain genres and topics (including, but not limited to, the Third Reich) with reserved and calculated maturity. Waititi opts instead to use these taboo or otherwise mature subjects as unlikely sources of raucous humor, transforming them into spectacles of a very different nature (for an amusing demonstration of this fact, I’d challenge any arthouse theater programmers reading this to schedule a “Jojo Rabbit”/”Schindler’s List” or “What We Do In The Shadows”/”Bram Stoker’s Dracula” double feature and let me know how it goes).

“Thor: Love and Thunder” is nothing if not an extension of this philosophy: take what was once sober and laden with gravitas (I’m looking at you, “Thor: The Dark World”) and turn it into something magically entrancing by injecting it with just the right dose of disembodied talking heads (no, not the band), mildly overweight Greek Gods, technicolor fantasy worlds, screaming goats, and enough Guns & Roses (yes, the band) to shake the luxury recliners’ bolts loose in all the Dolby Digital Theaters out there.

Waititi understands not what makes a superhero movie “cinema”, but what makes one fun. The entire “Thor” cast and crew seems to know just what it is that makes watching a superhero movie the mind-numbing, awe-inspiring, heart-pumping experience that, at its heart, it always should be.

Sure “Love and Thunder” is no “Usual Suspects” or “Good Will Hunting”, but that’s not why it was written, that’s not why Disney paid to produce it, and that’s certainly not why it made over a hundred million dollars last weekend.

No, all of those can be traced back to the fact that, at the end of the day, it’s sure hard to think about whatever it is your boss has been nagging you about or your teacher has been bugging you about when you’re watching a 6’3” muscled Australian dude in a cherry-red bedazzled vest beating the snot out of furry, nameless aliens with “Welcome to the Jungle” ripping through your eardrums.

It’s just plain fun, and the cinema is all the better for it.

So… from the bottom of all our hearts… thank you Taika Waititi for making “just another Marvel movie” as only you can.

#thor #thor love and thunder #taika waititi #chris hemsworth #Natalie Portman #marvel #marvel cinematic universe #MCU #Christian Bale #Movie Reviews #movie review

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londonspirit · 7 months

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The Big Picture

The second season of Our Flag Means Death takes a unique approach to the trope of separating romantic couples, exploring the emotional ramifications instead of resolving it quickly.

Season 2 delves into the heartbreaking consequences of the split between Stede and Ed, showcasing Stede's pure affection and Ed's descent into self-destruction and violence.

While their reunion is a melodramatic and intimate affair, the emotional reconciliation between Stede and Ed will likely unfold over time due to the aftermath they have both experienced. The show's strength lies in its intentional pacing and character development.

Tropes are tropes for a reason: when done with clever forethought, they're a comforting delight. As with anything recycled a hundred times over, however, there are the Bad Tropes; the "please, beloved media, don't fall into that lazy writing trap." One of these Bad Tropes surrounds break-ups. When a series separates its main romantic couple, the split tends to lack lasting consequences or finds itself resolved altogether too quickly. Exploring the emotional ramifications for each character, let alone those on the periphery, takes a backseat in favor of restoring things to the status quo. It shouldn't be a surprise to fans of Our Flag Means Death that Season 2's first three episodes didn't take the expected route. Nevertheless, the relief that the first season's intelligent writing didn't vanish overnight burns as bright as the fictional pain that cuts like a knife.

David Jenkins' period pirate rom-com could've easily, immediately reunited the unlikely star-crossed lovers Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) and Edward Teach/Blackbeard (Taika Waititi) or smoothed over their climatic separation. Season 2 does neither, avoiding that temptation. It forces its own storytelling to earn their reunion in a way as slow burn as the romance's development. For a series already acknowledged for its insightful writing, that's the smartest move David Jenkins could've made.

‘Our Flag Means Death’ Season 2 Earns Its Darkness

Season 1 of Our Flag Means Death was aggressively revolutionary in its quiet normalization. It shattered Western television's long-established history of queerbaiting (teasing an LGBTQIA+ relationship for attention but never confirming it) just by existing. Our Flag Means Death's romance between Stede Bonnet and Ed Teach wasn't just unambiguous, it was a tender takedown of toxic masculinity, an intimate exploration of male vulnerability, and a story of two opposites stumbling into their perfect compliment. By seeing beyond the other's unconventional exterior and expressing tenderness, Stede and Ed become one another's safe space: their lighthouse in the dark, if you will.

Then the Season 1 finale ate fans' dreams for (temporary) breakfast. Shattering a happy couple usually means drama for drama's sake; said decisions aren't concerned with character growth or arc resolution. Not only are those the express purposes behind Stede and Ed's split, Our Flag Means Death Season 2 forces us to witness all the bloody misery, psychologically vivisecting both characters. The differences in each man's perspectives have never been more heartbreaking than charming; now it's the reverse. The pure simplicity of Stede's affection is just that: pure. He writes Ed love letters. He dreams about being a traditional pirate who exacts violent revenge before running into Ed's arms along a sunset beach. He's a man reveling in his first love, and he's gloriously smitten while also painfully yearning in his loneliness and regret. Even surrounded by members of his crew, without Ed nearby, Stede's skin doesn't quite fit his exuberant body. It's the same revolutionary gentleness Our Flag Means Death displayed in the crafting of their romance.

Then there's Ed. Even with the series' reliable banter and rom-com undertones still in play, it's difficult to watch his parade of slaughter without flinching. He labels himself the devil and is, at certain times, worthy of the moniker. Ed hasn't merely re-embraced his Blackbeard persona through his homicidal actions, he's spiraled into suicidal self-destruction. There's no goal except torment, no outlet save violence. He sprays innocent blood at weddings. He maims his crew via torture and courts their retaliation. And it heals nothing; he lies despondent on the floor clinging to a wedding token that reminds him of Stede. Ed's brutal unpredictability is both disturbing and heartbreaking, especially since he's relieved when the crew of the Revenge mutinies and nearly kills him. Our Flag Means Death never holds back on where the heartbreak of shattered vulnerability might tip a traumatized murderer, both holding Ed accountable and empathizing. This triplicate of episodes marks the best acting of Taika Waititi's career for balancing all the scripts' demands, especially with their unhurried detail. Everything could have been resolved in the first episode, but that would've betrayed all that Season 1 carefully developed.

‘Our Flag Means Death’s Love Story Has Always Been Vulnerable

Underneath the quirky pirate shenanigans, Our Flag Means Death deconstructs childhood trauma: the ricochet effects on individuals' lives and how courageous and healing it is to give and receive emotional vulnerability. Ed views himself as a monster, and this inherent belief in his unlovable irredeemablity, seemingly confirmed by Stede's abandonment, manifests outward into trying to burn down the world. He and Steed were both lost souls, but Ed's outcast state took the too-relatable form of self-hatred. When he decides to live in Episode 3 after actively imagining all the ways he could die, it's a sentiment in line with Season 1's themes as everything else. The moment's earned, and means something, precisely because Our Flag Means Death took its time getting there.

Meanwhile, Stede the daydreamer is left to reckon with Ed's actions. He tries to reason them away; he's never seen Ed reduced to his darkest base impulses-slash-coping mechanisms, so Stede's beloved is just "blowing off steam," surely. It's Lucius (Nathan Foad), the man who survived Ed's murder attempt, who forces Steed to look directly at "the man he loves" in all his shades: beheadings, arson, senseless parades of violence. (When freaking Izzy Hands wants to protect the crew from further "suffering," you had better start paying attention.) Only acknowledging Ed's better side is the same romanticization Stede applied to the entire idea of gentleman piracy. Much like the audience, Stede now has no choice but to either accept Ed or truly reject him and acknowledge his own unintentional culpability. Then, Stede's the only person who refuses to write Ed off as a lost cause. He's seen the terrified, tender man behind the kraken. And this reckoning wouldn't have happened, or would've occurred under less satisfying and revelatory circumstances, if Stede hadn't dashed back home.

Stede and Ed’s Reunion in ‘Our Flag Means Death’ Season 2 Won’t Be Easy, but It Will Be Worth It

Our Flag Means Death keeping Stede and Ed apart for three episodes of reflection also makes their inevitable reunion more effective. One of the things the series does best stays intact: Jenkins both embraces his rom-com inspirations — Stede leaping into the ocean, professing his love over a dying Ed, and a symbolic rescue involving a merman tail set to a Kate Bush needle drop — and twists them onto their heads. There's no instant catharsis, as Stede finds the Revenge a tomb of hate. But he still saves his crew, and he still saves Ed. This Stede Bonnet is assured and decisive, a far cry from the man we met in the pilot. He knows what he wants, which isn't wasting his wealth on the high seas but being with the man he adores more than any treasure. It's only fitting that their reunion is a melodramatic, silly, and achingly intimate affair on both sides. Neither character would know themselves as well or reached an emotional breaking point to rebuild from without having spent time apart.

Having said that, although Stede and Ed are physically reunited, Season 2 has sat in the horrible aftermath for too long for the emotional reconciliation to be instantaneous. This is Season 1's reverse slow-burn echo. Even if the pair "talk it through as a crew," the raw encounter will likely unfold over time. There's too much behind them to rush into the future. Everything in Our Flag Means Death is building toward an intentional conclusion. Its best strengths, namely building character through pacing, are already soaring as high as a raised ship flag.

New episodes of Our Flag Means Death Season 2 premiere Thursdays on Max.

#our flag means death season 2 #ofmd s2 #ofmd s2 spoilers #spoiler #our flag means death #ofmd #beautifully written article by someone who absolutely GETS it!!!#article #review #collider #(they often get it thankfully!)

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smillingcartoonist · 2 years

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Now that I read a lot of Hellboy and B.P.R.D Comics I just keep thinking of how lackluster those Del Toro movies are as an adaptation of the comics !! (Also I think that Del Toro is a really average director that gets too hype up for reason !! Taika Waititi seem like that, but I have not seem a lot of movies of both of this guys, but even so, I feel like I’m still right.)

They read most as kinda like Fan fiction !! the first movie had that Whole thing of Liz x Hellboy, that never was really on the comics (That I have seen !!) also Hellboy doesn’t really have no romantic partner or interest what so ever (Aroace Hellboy) the second movie was so far removed from anything, that one is way more fan fiction, It’s like Hellboy with Pan’s Labyrinth !! it’s really off

Okay, those movies are not really faithful to the comics, but they are good at least ! that movie from 2019 is a fucking Offense of an adaptation !! It’s godawful and a embarrassing attempt of Making a cinematic universe out of Hellboy !! and thankfully it failed !! If you have not seem that movie, you have not missed anything !!

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thisweekinfandomhistory · 4 months

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https://archiveofourown.org/works/51125659/chapters/129173332

Behold, manmade horrors well within comprehension! I don’t go here (OFMD, that is) but from the outside looking in the Izzy Hands situation feels like one of the all time fandom clusterfucks. Basically, a fan-favorite character died and it’s either turned people against the show or set them off into cyclical coping. It’s paired with the internet as a whole falling out of love with Taika Waititi, which means the fanbase is split between those who are extremely defensive of the showrunner and those who think he’s the worst thing to ever happen to fandom culture.

Well, the first chapter OUT OF THIRTY??? at that link already misused the term "microexpressions," so there's that.

(To clarify: microexpressions exist. I'm not denying that. But they're -- and this is the whole thing -- INVOLUNTARY. You cannot ACT a microexpression. You can act in beautiful and subtle ways that hold volumes about your character's true feelings! But you can't make your face INVOLUNTARILY show a FICTIONAL thing. That's... that's what microexpressions are for /debunking/. They're for telling if someone is lying, AKA, acting. Ergo, you can't... act them... I... URGH.

Like, I get that fandom is all about dissecting individual screencaps to look for The True Meaning Behind Everything, but "microexpression" IS A WORD THAT DOES NOT MEAN WHAT FANDOM USES IT TO MEAN.)

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3ndlessgalaxies · 2 years

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Behold, Chapter 9 is FINALLY up! Sorry for the delay this week, it’s been a weird time.

Jim goes for a walk, and runs into Jackie and Anne on the docks, where they discover something they never thought possible...

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chikaras-garden · 5 months

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https://www.tumblr.com/chikaras-garden/736561910354427904/gunn-reminds-me-of-taika-waititi-with-thor-love?source=share

you remember nothing about it because it was trash. Absolutely trash. Gunn and Waititi are both good with the “ slapstick comedy” side of superheroes. But when it comes to serious moments… not so much. Thor is a largely comedic character throughout the avengers series, but after Infinity War and Endgame, he was extremely depressed. Before those two movies, he was an all powerful god, men and women wanted to fuck him or be him, the golden child who had it all, he was happy. But during and after those movies, he lost everything. He lost his brother to Thanos and his kingdom had been destroyed (during Ragnarok), etc. He realised he couldn’t save everyone. He gained a shit ton of weight from depression!

Fans wanted the Thor movie after that to have a more serious tone to it, to show him dealing with the aftermath of not being able to kill Thanos, seeing his brother die, losing Asgard, etc. To see this old and all powerful god crumble and slowly rise up again as a new person… but, no. Taika Waititi fucking ruined it because he wanted “comedy”.

I feel like Gunn is gonna do that with Batman and Superman and maybe WW too. Sorry for rambling about nothing lollll

Wouldn't it have been so amazing if they took a tone like the recent God of War games and had Thor claw his way back while bonding with new characters, learning how to grieve, and forgiving himself? SIGH.

I think that's the thing. A lot of people are like "superhero = lighthearted and funny" meanwhile I (and it sounds like you too) kind of enjoy heroes as allegories for the best of us? I want to see them suffer and grow because they're human (or human-ish) too. It's like...a subgenre of science fiction in a way.

I'm curious if you liked Titans? It's grittier but also super flawed.

#no apologies necessary dearest #i feel like we're in a book club lol #💌— letters for the gardener.#💋— anon.

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webnewsify1 · 1 year

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Lizzo and Jack Black Team Up for the Unexpected 'The Mandalorian' Cameo

Jack Black and Lizzo both made surprise appearances in the latest episode of the Disney+ Star Wars spin-off series The Mandalorian on Wednesday, April 5. The "Chapter 22: Guns for Hire" episode stars the "About Damn Time" singer and the Tenacious D rocker as The Duchess and Captain Bombardier, respectively. The episode was written by Jon Favreau and directed by Bryce Dallas Howard. When Pedro Pascal's titular Mandalorian searches for the former members of the Bo-Katan crew, he runs upon the wealthy couple (played by Katee Sackhoff). But it's not just that: No other than Christopher Lloyd resides on Plazir-15 as Commissioner Helgait, the planet's security chief. The trio of well-known guest stars even shared a scene with one another as they quarrelled about the political implications of droids. The de facto mascot of the programme, Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, received a knighthood in a completely unrelated scene, which provided the Twittersphere an especially strong rush of the Force, er, endorphins. One user tweeted, "'Baby Yoda gets knighted by Lizzo and Jack Black' was not on my 2023 bingo card," and another added, "I LOVE THEM," over the endearing video of The Duchess and Grogu waving goodbye. Lizzo, Black, and Lloyd join a long list of well-known actors who have travelled to a galaxy far, far away for the science fiction series, including Jason Sudeikis, Taika Waititi, Timothy Olyphant, John Leguizamo, Adam Pally, Horatio Sanz, and Olyphant's Deadwood co-star W. Earl Brown. Disney+ has yet to reveal how the three surprise cameos came about. Here are fan reactions to the most recent appearances on The Mandalorian. https://twitter.com/theatomreview/status/1643522839515918336?s=20 https://twitter.com/ComplexPop/status/1643803586491473923?s=20 Read the full article

#movie searies jackblack lizzo disney starwars themandalorian relesing webnewsify

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intrepidradish · 1 year

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Media: Our Flag Means Death

Year/my age: 2022/32

What drew me to the media:

God, here we go. This was such a blip in time for me, and I'm so glad I moved on quickly. What drew me to the media was the fucking gay, okay? It was the gay. I heard that Taika Waititi was in a gay pirate drama comedy, and I said, "yes, please, I'll watch that."

I was a brand new stay-at-home mother with twins. I was cracked out of my fucking gourd. If you think this is awfully apologetic for some stupid fandom, you're right, but I am very embarrassed I participated even for a second.

It's a cute show. Is it an amazing show? No. Is it super duper funny? No. I honestly think the writing of What We Do in the Shadows is better. I like Taika as a writer better than an actor (even though he is very pretty). I also like pirates a lot, and the historical queerness of pirates is an often untouched upon phenomena. I think like everything in our tired, internet gay community, people went way to fucking far with it as a infallible crucible straight from the mouth of god, and ruined it.

What made me a fan:

It was cute and bored. I downloaded the videos for free. Then I got a trial of HBO max and watched it for free. I thought it was darling. I liked the pining. The kiss was very cute and special. That's it. I was really invested in making sure a season 2 was renewed, and it pissed me off every day it wasn't (this was during the HBO merger that killed all the cartoons, yikes).

I farted around on Ao3 enjoying some Izzy kink fics, because he's a hot little grumpy muppet with a good voice.

This was also just after I finished the latest draft of my original fiction novel, and my writing bone was bent out of shape and formless. I hadn't written anything but the novel for going on several months. So I wanted to fuck around in a borrowed world for a little bit.

Have I written fanfiction for it? Why or why not?

Yup! To practice getting into writing again, I wrote very quick chapters under 1K words to ease myself out of my novel. I got bored very quickly. I also wrote a Blackbeard/Calico Jack that included bad sex, inebriated sex, and toxic masculinity because I knew I could do these topics justice. I wrote the first 'Dalliances' fic, which is a hot button word from the show.

I was really into one of the giant fanfics, but sometimes in giant fandoms, fanfics do this thing where THEY CAN'T END. This frustrates me to no end. Finish the fucking story. Nononono don't suddenly start publishing chapters that are 20K words. Finish the fucking story. I swear to god, you are killing my interest in-- It's dead. I no longer want to read your story.

I've experienced this in a few fandoms. Like. Finish your story. I don't care how many hits you get and how that soothes your ego. Stories have endings. You need to shut the book and spiraling chapters make me very very unhappy as a reader.

Opinion on the fandom:

A mess. Do not interact with these people. I got out of it before it got bad but I have second hand burns from other people. It's a toxic waste dump. Do not enter this fandom.

Would I read it again?

Heh, depends what season two is like tbh.

#my personal take

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