A Damned Man

**A Damned Man** is the second episode of the first season of *Our Flag Means Death*. It aired on March 3, 2022.

## Synopsis

Stede battles feelings of guilt while hunting for missing hostages. Lucius makes a surprising discovery.

## Plot

Black Pete tells the crew of the Revenge about how he saved Blackbeard's life and became known as his right hand man. He claims that Blackbeard's head is made of smoke and his eyes glow. Nobody but Stede believes him, but the crew are distracted, enough by the tale that the Revenge runs aground on a small island. They discuss resorting to cannibalism, and Buttons suggests that they eat Lucius Spriggs first as "he is young and succulent." Eventually, they agree to hold off on cannibalism until absolutely necessary.

Whilst attempting to push the Revenge back to water, Stede begins to see the ghost of Nigel Badminton. He knows this ghost is a manifestation of his feelings of guilt and inadequacy, but is unable to ignore his taunts and insults.

Stede suggests that the crew enjoy a vacation day, pursuing whatever leisure activities they most enjoy. Wee John wants to explode ordnance on the beach, and Roach wants to torture the hostages. Despite having assured them there is no way they can do this incorrectly, Stede rejects their suggestions as inappropriate. Roach agrees to take the hostages for a walk on the beach instead.

Jim decides to step out of disguise and go for a swim in the ocean. Unfortunately, they are seen by Lucius and they threaten to kill him.

Roach accidentally loses the hostages. Stede, Black Pete, and Oluwande go off in search of them and are captured. The natives are welcoming to Oluwande but put the white-skinned Stede and Black Pete on trial. During the trial, Nigel's ghost continues to taunt Stede until he breaks down and declares himself a murderer. Oluwande explains the situation to Chief Mabo, who decides they are only a danger to themselves because they are mediocre pirates and he lets them go free. The Tribal Elder helps Stede understand the ghost of Nigel is a manifestation of his guilt. Meanwhile the hostages have been sold to the three other pirates who also made land on the island at the same time as the Revenge.

Stede declares "I am adequate!" and enlists Black Pete and Oluwande's help to create a diversion in order to get the hostages back They confront the three pirates. Stede challenges them, saying he believes they "have dibs in these men." Israel "Izzy" Hands introduces himself to Stede by slicing his name into Stede's blouse, and says "This is how you die." Oluwande throws a coconut at Ivan's face, breaking his nose. Stede, Oluwande, and Black Pete manage to fool the pirates into thinking they are surrounded, and they hand back Hornberry, keeping Wellington.

The Revenge is pushed back into the sea and the crew prepares to sail away. The Tribal Elder who counseled Stede at the trial tries to dissuade Stede from a career in piracy, advising him that some men are not built for adventure as "they are more gentleman than pirate." Stede misunderstands his meaning and decides that "The Gentleman Pirate" should be his brand. The elder invites Oluwande to remain with the tribe, warning that Stede is going to get them all killed; although Oluwande agrees, he declines, as he has feelings for Jim. They sail away from the island, leaving the ghost of Nigel yellng on the beach.

Back on their pirate ship, Ivan and Fang watch The Revenge sail away. Izzy orders them to follow; when Fang begins to complain, Izzy grabs his beard and says nobody asked him to think. Fang says "I can't believe Blackbeard wants to meet that ponce." The camera pans up the mast to show Blackbeard's flag.

## Cast

### Starring

* Rhys Darby as Stede Bonnet
* Ewen Bremner as Nathaniel Buttons
* Joel Fry as Frenchie
* Samson Kayo as Oluwande Boodhari
* Con O'Neill as Israel "Izzy" Hands
* Nathan Foad as Lucius Spriggs
* Vico Ortiz as Jim Jimenez
* Matthew Maher as Black Pete
* Kristian Nairn as Wee John Feeney
* Guz Khan as Ivan
* David Fane as Fang
* With Rory Kinnear as Nigel Badminton

### Guest Starring

* Nat Faxon as The Swede
* Samba Schutte as Roach
* Michael Crane as Officer Wellington
* Connor Brannett as Officer Hornberry
* Gary Farmer as Chief Mabo
* Boris McGiver as Father Bonnet

### Co-Starring

* Francesco Toby as Jean Luc
* Daniel Olson as French Warship Captain
* Jamie Nations as Guard
* Toneey Acevedo as Tribal Elder
* Arthur Redcloud and Honu Asuncion as Mabo Warriors
* Theo Darby as Young Stede
* Eden Grace Redfield as Alma Bonnet
* William Barber-Holler as Louis Bonnet

## Featured Music

* *Messa da Requiem: Dies Irae* by Giuseppe Verdi plays through the end credits.

## Quotes

**Stede:** Don't trifle me! ...You're trifling!
## Trivia

### Behind the scenes

* Vico Ortiz revealed that filming the scene where Jim swims naked in the ocean got the production in trouble with the Malibu police - when in water, Vico would roll their wetsuit off so it wouldn't show above the water and police didn't like that their chest was visible.
* Gary Farmer (Chief Mabo) plays Uncle Brownie in the show Reservation Dogs, which is also produced by Taika Waititi.

### Historical inaccuracies

* The drink that Oluwande is given by the native tribe - consisting of rum, coconut, and pineapple - is probably meant to be a piña colada. Although the drink does originate in the Caribbean, the earliest known stories of it being made come from the 19th century, while the action of the show takes place in 1717.

## References

1. ↑ An Unofficial ‘Our Flag Means Death’ Soundtrack List & Analysis
2. ↑ Emerald City Comic Con 2023 *Our Flag Means Death* panel at 55:55