We Gull Way Back

**We Gull Way Back** is the eighth episode of the first season of *Our Flag Means Death*. It aired on March 17, 2022.

## Synopsis

The arrival of Blackbeard’s old buddy leaves Stede feeling like the odd man out. As Oluwande mourns a loss, Jim seeks answers from Spanish Jackie.

## Plot

Given that Jim stayed behind in St. Augustine to avenge their family, Oluwande is visibly upset, and the overall mood on the Revenge is dampened. Oluwande decides to give up the room he and Jim shared together to John Feeney and Frenchie.

Meanwhile, Calico Jack, an old friend of Edward's, shows up in a rubber dingy outside of the Revenge. The two begin causing chaos on the Revenge and disrupt the peaceful air of the ship. Stede becomes anxious when Calico Jack's presence drives a wedge between him and Edward. Calico Jack admits that his crew have mutinied against him and cries.

In order to soothe Calico Jack, the crew of the Revenge take him to Blind Man's Cove. Inside, Stede is confronted by Calico Jack who tells him that he and Edward have had relations in the past. It becomes quite clear that Stede is somewhat jealous of Calico Jack's relationship with Edward.

Back in St. Augustine, Jim pretends they're a priest and takes the confession of a man named Geraldo before taking him hostage. They bring Geraldo back to Spanish Jackie and threaten to kill him if he doesn't tell them everything he knows about the mercenaries (Siete Gallos) that killed their family. Nonetheless, Jackie kills Geraldo and this causes a feud between Jackie and Jim. However, they are eventually able to come to an understanding . Shortly after, Jackie tells Jim that Geraldo was in fact a member of Siete Gallos — this is confirmed by a branding on his back.

Back aboard the Revenge, Calico Jack gets drunk and kills Karl the seagull with his whip. Buttons is furious and distraught, and Stede kicks Calico Jack off the ship. Edward decides that his place is with Calico Jack, and the two leave to Blind Man's Cove. Stede spends an entire night watching them through a eyeglass from his cabin, and in the morning a concerned Lucius comes to check up on him. Stede tells him that he thinks Edward and his relationship is over, and Lucius offers to help him with the "breakup". He brings all of Edward's clothes to him at the cove, telling him that it's a shame because Stede really liked him.

In the cove, Calico Jack tells Edward that he has been sent by Izzy Hands to get Edward out of the way so that Stede can be captured by the British, specifically by Chauncey Badminton. Edward is extremely concerned and afraid at the thought that Stede is in danger, and after screaming at Jack, jumps off their dinghy to swim back to the Revenge. The warning shot that the British fire at the ship's mast hits Jack, killing him.

Stede tells his crew to ready the cannons in an attempt to do something, but Edward comes back and tells the crew to raise the white flag in surrender. The crew are captured by the British, and Edward and Stede are reunited.

## Cast

### Starring

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

### Guest Starring

* Will Arnett as Calico Jack
* Rory Kinnear as Admiral Chauncey Badminton
* Leslie Jones as Spanish Jackie

### Co-Starring

* Angus Sampson as King George I (uncredited)

## Trivia

* David Jenkins revealed that Wee John and Frenchie becoming roommates wasn't in the original script and was written on set around the time *Discomfort in a Married State* was being shot.
* According to a picture of a script page published by Nathan Foad, Blackbeard calling Stede's lavender soap "yummy" was improvised by Taika Waititi.
* Kendall Wells, who acted as Will Arnett's stunt double for the episode, revealed that Blackbeard asking Calico Jack to "whip his balls" was improvised by Taika Waititi, as were a number of other versions of the same scene which didn't make the final cut.
* The foot touch scene was improvised by Taika Waititi and David Jenkins admitted that he only noticed it when reviewing the footage.
* Fleetwood Mac's *The Chain* being used in the episode was David Jenkins's idea and it was the first piece of music that was cleared for use in the show.

## References

1. ↑ Kristian Nairn instagram live with David Jenkins at 17:35
2. ↑ Screencap
3. ↑ TikTok video
4. ↑ Best of 2022 (Behind the Scenes): How *Our Flag Means Death* struck gold with Fleetwood Mac and a foot touch
5. ↑ Kristian Nairn instagram live with David Jenkins at 4:38