This Is Happening – The show begins with Captain Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) giving Blackbeard (Taika Waititi) tea. Blackbeard compliments him for getting it perfect. Stede asks about his plans. He will sharpen his sword for his next adventure. He reminds him that a ship cannot have more than one captain.  When Roach (Samba Schutte) calls for the captain, Stede and Blackbeard respond simultaneously. Roach alerts them of something bad when Stede interrupts to ask Blackbeard not to depart so soon. He assures him that they enjoy his company. Blackbeard admits he is enjoying it as well. Stede snaps at Roach when he tries to get his attention again.

Roach lifts the lid off a barrel to show Stede there are no more oranges. Stede suggests they eat apples instead. He tells him the oranges are needed to treat scurvy. Stede asks which member of his crew has scurvy. The Swede (Nat Faxon) complains about losing his teeth.

Stede tells his crew there are no more oranges. Wee John Feeney (Kristian Nairn) tells him what he already knows about The Swede having scurvy. The Swede says there is no guarantee it is scurvy. Frenchie (Joel Fry) demands he not breathe in his direction. The crew immediately makes distance between themselves and The Swede. Stede contributes the illness to “bad meal planning.” Roach reminds him of his cake that utilized a total of 50 oranges. Wee John is shocked by the waste. Stede admits he could barely taste the oranges before suggesting they go shopping for oranges. When Frenchie recommends visiting St. Augustine, Jim/Bonifacia warns them that it is terrible, with a humidity problem. She asks if they know how humidity impacts your hair. Oluwande (Samson Kay) says what the big deal. He agrees to wear a cap as she stomps away. The Swede asks the others if they are losing their fingernails.

In a flashback, young Bonifacia (Allyson Juliette) removes a dagger from a man stabbed in the back. Oluwande asks her if she is going to keep it from him. She pretends to not know what he is referring to. He asks why St. Augustine scares her so much. She denies the allegations. Stede arrives back at the boat to alert his crew of a blight that took out the oranges in the area. Pulling a folded paper out of his pocket, he tells them that he has something a whole lot better. Lucius (Nathan Foad) says it is a “treasure map.” When no one shows excitement, Stede assures them it wasn’t easy to get. Lucius admits he paid a lot of more money for it. He guarantees they will get the money back when the loot is discovered. He orders Lucius to fetch his shovel when Roach reminds him of the oranges. Black Pete (Matthew Maher) offers to go on a search for oranges. Oluwande volunteers Jim to join Black Pete.

The Swede asks for something to put his teeth in for later. Frenchie warns him that it is impossible to put his teeth back in. The Swede pleads with Jim to find him some oranges. Devastated, he takes off running.

Stede shows the treasure map to Blackbeard who warns him that treasures just aren’t buried.  Lucius tells him that Blackbeard is saying the treasure map is fake. Stede points out the treasure map has been around. Blackbeard asks why would the lady sell the treasure map if she could keep the treasure for herself. He suggests she is too lazy to put the treasure map to use. When Blackbeard decides to take a nap, Stede orders him to get up because they are going to hunt treasure. As he walks away, Blackbeard asks Lucius if Stede is always “high-strung.”

As they walk down a dirt road, Jim refuses to keep going. Oluwande asks what is going on. She admits to hating St. Augustine.  He accuses her of being secretively weird. Correcting him, she describes herself as “normal secretive.” He accuses her of never telling him where she is from or her favorite color. She asks, what is the point of it. He says friends confide in each other. She relents and tells him teal is her favorite color.

Black Pete suggests he take the lead of the mission instead of Jim. Wee John tells him it is a chore, not really a mission. Frenchie says Jim believes if someone is stabbed, they deserved it. Wee John admits he would like to have Jim stab him. They briefly celebrate after discovering orange trees. Jim warns them not to do it. With a juicy orange in his hand, Jim orders Black Pete to let go of the orange. He accuses her of being jealous. She says they cannot take the oranges.  After removing the orange from the tree, he tauntingly asks if they are “Christ oranges” because of the church. A nun, Nana (Selenis Leyva) hits the orange with her danger, sending it into a tree. Black Pete looks shocked. Wee John describes the move as “bad a**.” Jim removes her hat while the others go through the motions of praying.

Jim identifies herself as Jim while leering at Oluwande. Nana invites them in for a piece of cake. Jim asks if he thinks it is funny. He assures her that it is “fascinating.”

Lucius, Blackbeard, and Stede go treasure hunting. When Stede realizes Blackbeard is covering his face, he asks why. Blackbeard says he cannot be seen hunting for treasures. Just when Stede assures him no one could possibly identify him, a man calls his name. Putting his knife blade against the local peasant’s (Enrique Renaldo) throat, Blackbeard orders him to go. He alerts the others that he will hide until they figure out where to go. Stede forces Lucius to agree to have fun.

Nana and Oluwande enjoy each other’s conversation. She asks Jim if she is married to Oluwande. Outside, Black Pete and Frenchie are repairing a church wall. She orders them to put a rush on it. She calls them “idiots” for accepting oranges for pay.

Blackbeard is irritated by the flies. When Lucius swallows a fly, Blackbeard says at least he got lunch. Stede discovers a rare insect, Dryocampa Rubicunda. Holding the tiny insect out on his finger, he says it is a “candied melon silk moth.” Lucius calls the treasure map “useless.” Stede points out that it led them to the moth. Blackbeard heads back to the ship while Stede accuses him of being too uptight to have fun. Lucius tells Blackbeard that Stede is right. Blackbeard pretends to relax when a snake falls out of a tree on top of him. He angrily hacks at the snake. Stede tells him the treasure map alerts of snakes. They cook the snake for lunch. Stede and Blackbeard discuss what Blackbeard’s restaurant would be like if he owned one. Lucius stares at them strangely.

Stede tells Blackbeard he has a piece of snake in his beard. When he can’t get it out, Stede does it for him. Shocked, Lucius says, “Oh my God this is happening.” The treasure map catches on fire.

Jim practices throwing her dagger. Oluwande asks Nana if they pray at the church. She admits to only teaching Jim how to be silent. In a flashback, young Bonifacia catches a mouse in her bare hands. She butchers an animal and throws her dagger. Back to the present, Oluwande questions what she was training her for. Raising her voice, Nana says to take revenge. She and Jim say a quote in unison. She tells him about the death of the Jimenez family before asking Jim if she ever got revenge. Jim acknowledges she revenged the death of her family. Nana pleads with her to provide her with the details. She is disappointed when she realizes Jim only got revenge for one of the killers.

Alfeo de La Vaca eats an orange. Oluwande tries to calm Nana by saying Jim killed the one with the family dagger. Nana calls her a “disappointment.”

Stede tries to repair the treasure map. Blackbeard complains about Stede when Lucius suggests he not act like a “dick.” He says Stede worked hard putting the treasure hunt together because he cares about him. He warns him that if he refuses to change his attitude, he will be a “middle-aged sad sack” who dies alone in a pile of piss. Instead of hitting Lucius, he gives Stede some encouragement. He points out that the remaining piece of the map has a tree and river on it. Lucius agrees. When he tells him it was sweet, Blackbeard threatens to stab him.

Oluwande catches up with Jim who shows him a tree planted specifically for her at birth. She tells him the house is where she was raised. During a flashback, Jim talks about the arrival of Alfeo de La Vaca. Papa Jimenez (Jonathan Medina) offers him all the oranges he would like. The man stabs her father while she watches. She claims to know nothing else about what happened until she woke up holding a dagger. Back to the present, Oluwande assures her she is a well-adjusted orphan who was raised by a “killing machine” nun. He offers to be her family. As they prepare to kiss, Stede, Blackbeard, and Lucius unexpectedly show up.

When Stede digs at the base of a tree, Jim demands to know what he is doing. He gets excited when his shovel hits something. He examines it to discover it is nothing more than a rock. Blackbeard washes the rock to discover it is a petrified orange. Stede is excited about his find. He gives it to her, but she refuses to accept it. Relieved, he describes the petrified orange as his new “favorite thing.” When they head back to The Revenge, Jim remains behind to avenge her family’s death.

Wee John, Frenchie, and Black Pete load up their oranges before heading back to the ship. Nana asks Oluwande about Jim. He tells her that she refuses to return with them. She apologizes for his pain.

Stede decides to utilize the petrified orange as a paperweight. While they share a glass of bourbon, they discuss a ship having two captains. They agree to be co-captains.

Izzy Hands (Con O’Neill) tells Spanish Jackie (Leslie Jones) about Stede fawning over Blackbeard when Admiral Chauncey Badminton (Rory Kinnear) and his men arrive. He describes the pub as being “awful.”

Badminton speaks with Jackie about Stede. Izzy Hands asks if he is out to get Stede. Jackie tells him about Sede breaking her nose jar. Izzy Hands claims Stede messed with Blackbeard’s head. Badminton accuses Stede of murdering his brother. Izzy Hands offers to turn Stede over to him in exchange for a price. Badminton says, “Name it” as the episode comes to an end.

 

Our Flag Means Death Review

The episode was not as good as the previous episodes, but entertaining, nonetheless. The dialogue lacked satire like previously. The acting and cinematography are always good. While the scenery is great, I would love to see more.

The show touched on Bonifacia and her parent’s death. It was nice to see Oluwande support her as she relived her tragedy.

Stede has earned respect from his crew. Lucius challenging vicious Blackbeard took courage. In the meantime, Izzy Hands and Spanish Jackie plot Stede’s kidnapping.

The episode deserves a 5.5. Get more Our Flag Means Death recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking on the link to learn more.