The Fandom Around Our Flag Means Death Is Inspiring Me To Make Art Again
Goddammit, it's SO NICE.
Perhaps you’ve noticed, but the past two-years-and-change have been especially dark. Between—to name a few things—the continuing ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic, very depressing laws being passed all around the country, historic inflation amid widespread job frustration and low wages, and whatever soup of trauma and/or mental/physical health issues you’re personally facing, it’s been a rough time. For me, one byproduct of this time has been that my creative drive has been spotty. Starting new works has been tough, and finishing old projects has maybe been even tougher.
Enter the warm-hearted sincerity of Our Flag Means Death, proudly shouting, “I AM THE GENTLEMAN PIRATE!” in an immaculately clean, all-white get-up. The show alone inspired me to pick up projects I’d left by the wayside, because it reminded me that watching a show can make you feel really goddamn nice. For hours! Even after you’ve finished watching it! (Largely, it inspired me because the aforementioned wayside product is a pitch bible for my own show which I am now determined to ask Rhys Darby to be in. So, Rhys—can I call you Rhys?—if you’re reading this, I’ll be in touch. I hope. Also, hello.)
As I’ve cozied into my own warm feelings about the show, it’s also been my distinct pleasure to watch the fandom of the show blossom on social media. Gorgeous fan art exploded onto Twitter. But what made me feel a faith in the goodness of humanity that I haven’t felt in years is that the cast and crew have been responding to, praising, and re-tweeting fans’ art. An intimate community has emerged between the fans of the show and the people who make it. I’ve never seen anything like it, at least on this scale, with a show this popular. What’s more, each party seems genuinely grateful for the other. It’s a pure joy to behold.
One of my favorite “incidents” has been when Samba Schutte (who plays Roach, the ship’s cook) posted the recipe for Roach’s 40 Orange Glaze cake. Fans quickly made the cake, and Schutte responded and congratulated every last person who posted a picture, as far as I can tell. When the amount of 40 Orange Glaze cakes coming in surpassed the number of messages a human being can reasonably respond to, Schutte still made compiled images of all the cake pics he’d received. Just … goddamnit. It’s so nice.
Have I become so cautious around other people (in my defense, the US pandemic experience re-triggered some trauma for me), so expectant of callousness, that I forgot about the kindness and mutual appreciation that good art can inspire in people? Or about how art can create a supportive and loving community? I guess the answer is “yes.” Because where I absolutely lose it is all the messages I see on Twitter of people saying Our Flag Means Death helped them feel comfortable with themselves, or helped them come out to friends and family. Again, I forgot that art can be not just soothing, but actively healing. I forgot that’s why I, who grew up in an alcoholic household, wanted to become a creative in the first place. And again, when various members of the cast and crew responded to these emotional, highly personal notes of thanks with thanks of their own, I just … goddamn it, I forgot humans can be so beautiful and nice!!
I would still very much enjoy it if HBO Max got their sh*t together and renewed the show, please. But in the meantime, to the entire cast and crew behind Our Flag Means Death, and to the “crew” (to use showrunner David Jenkins’ parlance—love it) of people who have poured into this fandom with so much generosity and sincerity… Thank you for reaching down into my jaded heart and reminding me of the beauty of art and of people. And thanks for reminding me that art can give people courage to be themselves. And now I still stop writing before I get too corny.
(image: HBO Max)
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