The hit queer pirate rom-com Our Flag Means Death has been cancelled by HBO Max after two seasons. Loosely based on the real-life 18th-century pirates, Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard, the series followed the two leads, as they fall for each other and attempt to navigate a relationship whilst dealing with the turbulent nature of a life of piracy.
The show’s creator, David Jenkins, confirmed the cancellation in a heartfelt Instagram post, stating: “The bad news is clear. OUR FLAG won’t be returning for a third season. We’ve sailed at the pleasure of the fine people at Max, and it brought them no joy to see this journey come to a premature end.”
Jenkins also earnestly thanked the crew and fans:
“We’ve spent two seasons in a bizarre, beautifully-rendered world populated by some of the greatest actors and creatives working. And the second season was made possible by the enthusiasm of one of the most likable fan communities in the history of this medium. Your voices made a difference, your art made a difference, your viewership made a difference in securing more OUR FLAG. Getting to share this show with you and watching you make it yours has been a dream come true. […] Our Flag Means Us. Loving one another, pulling off some pretty weird and beautiful shit, and talking it through… as a crew. 🏴☠️🦄🐈⬛💜”
The cancellation prompted confused reactions from fans. The series was well-received, with season two scoring a monumental 96% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. It was highly praised for its queer representation, with the majority of the characters identifying as queer, and the second season featuring a (suggested) polyamorous relationship.
Furthermore, David Jenkins had spoken publicly about his plans for a three-season arc for Ed (Taika Waititi) and Stede (Rhys Darby). The creator spoke to Entertainment Weekly about his plan for the third season to focus on Ed and Stede dealing with the implications of a more mature relationship, asking, “How do you make that relationship work? It’s not just happily ever after. You have to work at it. And that’s a story I’d like to see.”
A spokesperson for Max said: “While Max will not be moving forward with a third season of Our Flag Means Death, we are so proud of the joyous, hilarious, and heartfelt stories that creator David Jenkins, Taika Waititi, Rhys Darby, Garrett Basch, Dan Halsted, Adam Stein, Antoine Douaihy, and the entire superb cast and crew brought to life.”
They added, “We also thank the dedicated fans who embraced these stories and built a gorgeous, inclusive community surrounding the show.”
Love Our Flag Means Death? Read Emily’s review of season two right here!
Although Max will not be moving forward with the show, there is still hope for a third season. Other previously cancelled series have found homes on other platforms, such as popular sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, supernatural drama Lucifer, and sitcom One Day At A Time. With fans already passionately campaigning for a third season, the pirate comedy could still dock elsewhere.
Words by Emily Nutbean
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We will happily dock elsewhere— anywhere, really! Personally, I would subscribe to any streaming service just for Our Flag Means Death. It’s so important to me! And I want other media companies to know that the “representation” we want is more than ticking boxes. Our Flag Means Death has set a wonderful precedent of showing characters from marginalized groups such as racial minorities, people with disabilities, people with mental illnesses or disorders, the gender-diverse, or people who are *not straight* living fulfilling lives, full of joy, pain, and growth. That’s what we want. Please #saveofmd #renewasacrew