thetiredcaptain

[thetiredcaptain]

Can we talk about when Stede called Ed a good man?

They’ve just met and Stede is confiding in Ed that he is a bad pirate. Ed tells him he’s doing a hell of a lot better than the pirates he knows because they’re all dead and at least Stede is still alive. And just the way Ed looks after Stede calls him a good man, he knows he’s not.

This is not the face of a man who’s like wow thanks for the compliment. It actually makes him feel like shit because he doesn’t believe he’s a good man at all. Which later we get to learn how badly he feels about not being a “good man”.

#our flag means death #ofmd #edward teach #stede bonnet #stede/ed

[thetiredcaptain]

im punching my desk at work i fucking love characters whose entire personality is consumed by symbology

stede’s a FUCKING LIGHTHOUSE and we’re told this all season. not just the good elements, but ALL elements of a lighthouse. his family was torn up on the rocks. he guides, but he hurts the incautious. hes blind to everything he isnt directly looking at, but even then, his perspective is always skewed by his own light that he brings into any situation. even ed isnt prepared and nearly destroys himself trying to get close to stede. the last frame of the entire season is his arm raised to mimic a fucking lighthouse. he has always been some level of lonely and misunderstood. im punching my fucking desk

#yesss #this is what im talking about

[thetiredcaptain]

Why Ed Throws Lucius Overboard

Okay first of all, obviously Lucius isn’t actually dead. But more importantly, I definitely think this scene is more about symbolism than actual events. Lucius has been someone Ed can look to for advice. As far as Ed and Stede supporters go, Lucius has been number one since the beginning. It’s Lucius who says “this is happening” in episode 7 “This is Happening”. At first glance it may not seem like Lucius really did that much to help Stede and Ed get together but really he’s been cheering them on and helping from the sidelines the whole time. 

When Ed decides to leave with Calico Jack, its Lucius who stays with Stede and helps him through his “breakup”. More importantly, when Ed leaves with Calico Jack, it’s Lucius who goes to Ed and tells him “Did you know he really liked you? I hope you know that.” Which I can’t actually prove is directly the reason Ed changes his mind but it certainly contributes. 

Then of course when Ed returns after being abandoned by Stede, it’s Lucius who’s there for him. He comforts him and tries to understand him. 

“Why are you hanging on?” Lucius asks Ed after he tells him his lyrics.

“No that’s not about me, yeah it’s someone else holding on.”

”Yeah?” 

“Someone entirely fictional.” 

Obviously the joke is that it’s obviously about Ed but the point is Ed is in denial.

“And this fictional character he's having a hard time?”

Ed gets emotional as he says, “yeah maybe.”

The point of this scene is even though Ed is in denial, Lucius is able to see exactly what’s going on with him and is trying to help him but he does it in a way that’s not condescending. He doesn’t say you are the fictional character, he goes along with what Ed says by referring to him as the fictional character when asking if he's having a hard time. 

So that brings us to Ed turning back into Black Beard. He lets go of the silk cloth from his mother, the one Stede had showed him that he was worthy of nice things (it’s kind of a symbol of their love). Then he brutally throws Lucius overboard. Now you can look at this in a literal sense but I choose not to. This is about how Lucius has been an integral part of Stede and Ed getting together. Ed wants to purge himself of everything Stede gave him, everything Stede changed in him, and part of that has to do with Lucius. Because without Lucius would Ed have ever confessed to Stede? Lucius is also the only one who seems to be able to see through Ed’s bullshit. Something he can’t have while he’s trying to stay in denial.

#our flag meets death #ofmd #stede bonnet #edward teach #blackbeard #stede/ed