Warning: SPOILERS for Our flag means death.
HBO Max Our flag means death follows Steve Bonnet of Rhys Darby, “The Gentleman Pirate”, as he turns his back on the affluent life and becomes captain of the Revenge.
Aboard the Revenge are some very fun pirates, though their instincts aren’t always benevolent or even vaguely logical. Things only get complicated when Taika Waititi’s Blackbeard boards the ship. In addition to being an outstanding show in terms of representation, Our flag means death features a few characters that can really hit the funny bone.
dix Izzy Hands (Con O’Neill)
Izzy Hands is Blackbeard’s right-hand man, no pun intended. He’s loyal as a dog, but he also begins to seriously doubt his captain’s abilities.
Once things go too far for Hands and Blackbeard finds himself off the team, that’s when the character gets funny. He’s a notorious dummy, and his definition of captain is to berate his crew until they repeat tasks they’ve already done to perfection. But there’s a story going around about Hands selling the humor: he thinks he’s a badass, but he’s really two seconds away from peeing his pants in front of the whole team.
9 The Badminton Twins (Rory Kinnear)
The first badminton audience encounters is Nigel, Bonnet’s childhood bully. Neither badminton is particularly enjoyable, but Nigel is the worst. So when his head ends up being impaled by a sword, the audience is both shocked and a bit relieved. While Nigel himself wasn’t funny, the end result is (the way the show plays it).
Nigel’s twin brother Chauncey isn’t much funnier. That being said, his quick, mean, and replicative ending is one of Our flag means deaththe funniest scenes.
8 Jackie espagnole (Leslie Jones)
SNLby Leslie Jones has a major role in Our flag means death as Spanish Jackie, owner and operator of a tavern in the Pirate Republic. Jackie had 20 husbands, 19 now thanks to Jim, and she wants revenge.
The way Spanish Jackie runs her tavern is both intimidating and fun. It’s unlikely that any other individual on the face of the planet, even during the booming years of piracy, would keep a jar full of severed noses right on the bar, next to food and drink purchased by patrons. Plus, the fact that she has no idea how she got the name “Spanish” Jackie is priceless.
7 Pete noir (Matthew Maher)
Matthew Maher is a likeable performer in his own right, but his Black Pete can be a bit grumpy. However, he’s a supportive partner for Lucius, so he doesn’t have to be the funniest guy on the ship.
However, his illustrious tales of sailing with Blackbeard, looting and looting everything in sight, are so insane they’re hysterical. This is especially true once Blackbeard himself boards the Revenge, and some of Black Pete’s heavy fabrications may come true.
6 Barbe Noire (Taika Waititi)
Taika Waititi is one of Our flag means deathMost recognizable cast members and Blackbeard is easily one of its most layered characters.
While Blackbeard himself isn’t a laugh riot, his reactions to alien situations are. This is especially true when Bonnet educates him in the fine art of passive aggression. Blackbeard is more accustomed to shooting and stabbing, and when Bonnet explains how certain complements are the opposite, Blackbeard’s eyes light up as if he’s just discovered the latest advancement in deadly weaponry.
5 The Swedish (Nat Faxon)
Although not exactly one of Our flag means death‘s smartest characters, The Swede is easily one of the funniest crew members in Revenge.
Nat Faxon has been on some great comedy projects in the past, including Reno 911!and he even co-directed The way back with his writing partner Jim Rash. Here, however, Faxon has a much lighter role as a Swede. Fortunately, it’s funny, especially when he finds himself with a nasty case of scurvy.
4 Lucius (Nathan Foad)
Lucius is a comeback machine if ever there was one, and he’s still one of the brightest spots in Revenge.
His Disgusting Hands interactions are where Lucius shines because, as bossy and mean as the former is, the latter has no problem putting him in his place. This is true even when forced to swing over the side of the ship; Lucius just finds a way to get one of Hands’ own men to pick him up. As funny as Lucius’ disrespect for Hands is, it’s a particularly disgusting infection of his finger that makes for the character’s most humorous moment, if only for the way he looks at it.
3 Frenchie (Joel Fry)
One of Our flag means deathAmong the most quoted crew members aboard The Revenge, Frenchie is a master of song. Unfortunately, his songs are horrible.
Music can be great entertainment when trapped on a single ship for days or even months. However, when the music talks about all the different ways they’re almost certainly going to die, it hilariously puts a damper on the proceedings. Frenchie is now bound to be with Blackbeard, who has re-adopted his evil, murderous persona, so some of his songs might come true sooner rather than later.
2 Emplacement Bonnet (Rhys Darby)
Frequently wear some of Our flag means deathBest Pirate Outfits, “The Gentleman Pirate” Stede Bonnet is arguably the best dressed and most well spoken individual in Revenge. However, just because he comes from a passive-aggressive wealthy life doesn’t mean he lives by that code.
Bonnet’s decision to abandon his family in favor of life on the high seas is not sympathetic, but he did not like that a marriage was arranged for him. However, he has no idea what he’s doing, and that might not always make him so likable to the crew.
1 Buttons (Ewen Bremner)
Buttons is practically the pirate with the eye patch and the parrot on his shoulder. However, he is not wearing a patch and the parrot is a seagull named Karl. What heightens Buttons’ humor is how much Bonnet trusts him. Before Blackbeard, Buttons was Bonnet’s right-hand man, although he is often incomprehensible.
Buttons and Karl seem to be having full conversations, and it’s both charming and funny. Having Ewen Bremner on board the project only means that the scenes will sell as well as possible. Buttons spends most of his time contemplating cannibalism as if it’s an inevitability, and the season’s cliffhanger almost gives him his wish.
