The relationship between Ed and Stede builds slowly and naturally, and it manages to feel fragile from start to finish. By episode four, that driving force is aboard The Revenge, excitedly introducing himself as Ed 'Blackbeard' Teach. The first few episodes are straightforward comedies, letting the audience get to know the characters before the driving force kicks in. RELATED: Our Flag Means Death Is A Triumph Of Word Of Mouth Marketing Looking back at the first season of David Jenkins' outstanding pirate comedy, one of the more impressive elements of its narrative is its pacing. Our Flag Means Death is miles in the other direction, creating an immediate favorite in its community by ignoring much of what makes the medium difficult. Often, even when examples do break new ground, they can do so in a sloppy or irresponsible way that only hurts the cause. Representation is a difficult subject at times. With its frank and sincere same-sex romances, multiple healthy relationships, and characters beyond the gender binary, the show's narrative addresses things that almost never make it to the screen. In an age of queerbaiting and carefully edited-out representation, Our Flag Means Death is a bold breath of fresh air.