Critic Reviews

With a series so well-anchored by these two men, the range of the ensemble in place to support them also happens to be a wealth of comedic riches. ... Here, too, lies an example of something that Our Flag Means Death pulls off so well: the blending of comedy and sincerity, especially between the type of people who are still trying to discover the truest versions of themselves.

It’s hard not to feel like Season 2 is the Empire Strikes Back of Our Flag Means Death. It brings emotional, romantic, and comedic depth that never would have been possible without the foundation of Season 1, and it uses that advantage to reach heights both die-hard fans and skeptical viewers won’t see coming.

With this new installment, Jenkins and the rest of the writing team — Alyssa Lane, Alex Sherman, Adam Stein, Eliza Jiménez Cossio, John Mahone, Simone Nathan, Zayre Ferrer, Jes Tom, and Natalie Torres — still manage to strike the balance between lighter and darker elements, which all contribute to a perfect tenor that sings throughout every episode.

What makes the second season of “Our Flag Means Death” special is how much the writing leans into both a greater degree of representation and a consistent theme across all of its subplots about fighting back against societal expectations.

The wickedly mischievous "Our Flag Means Death," one of the more creatively delinquent comedies on TV, has gleefully gone off the deep end.

The follow-up to Our Flag Means Death’s sensational first season retains the reasons legions of fans fell so hard for the show.

Episode three, “The Innkeeper,” makes us wait a hell of a long time to learn the truth of Blackbeard’s fate. .... The episode ends in a true gift for Stede/Ed shippers that’s also in keeping with Our Flag’s gorgeous earnestness. [The score is the average of grades for the first three episodes.]

Sentimental yet satirical, with thoughtful hidden depths: a rare and welcome combination.

Fine, funny, oddly sweet and surprisingly fact-based period comedy.

None of these characters proves an immediate standout, but they each become more amusing as we get to know them better, which bodes well for their voyage’s future. ... Darby and Waititi’s bonkers rapport is the mirthful wind in Our Flag Means Death’s sails, propelling it into ludicrous mismatched-buddy-comedy territory.