PUNISHMENT IS NOT ACCOUNTIBILITY, STEDE! | Full Reaction Our Flag Means Death Episode 9 

The 5 stages of grief were so accurate here! Welcome to the pain of season 1

I think that Stede Genuinely struggles with the concept of someone wanting him around, which is something I really relate to. When you've gone long enough feeling like no one likes you it is truly baffling when someone confronts you with love, yet another concept I don't think Stede completely understands. I understand what that is like on a deeply painful level to the point where even now as an adult when a friend mentions how much they like spending time with me there is a part of me that just doesn't believe them. And don’t get me started on love. Like, you're telling me that for most of my life everyone found me totally annoying and you not only want to be around me, but love me? What even is love? So yeah I get Stede. He wasn’t in a good state of mind and he made a shitty decision influenced by a lifetime of rejection. One thing I also found interesting on the other hand is that Ed didn’t go looking for him. He waited for him, sure, but he didn’t go back to check if something had gone wrong. When Stede didn’t show up he assumed that Stede had abandoned him. In a way that's just another side of the same coin. I just wish Stede had gone and talked to him. It’s so frustrating.

I had the same reaction to the end of this episode. 😂 I think it's interesting that Stede and Ed actually did the same thing when confronted with the idea that they are bad for other people. Ed tried to leave for Stede's sake, too. He probably would have, if Calico Jack hadn't spilled the beans and the English hadn't attacked.

I completely get what you're saying about Stede, being abandoned without a word is the absolute worst, and it's a terrible thing to do. Stede is in a totally irrational state of mind though, I think, and it's twofold. Firstly, he thinks he's poisonous, and every second he's with someone he puts them in danger/destroys them more and secondly, he truly doesn't think Ed will miss him. He's so bewildered at the thought of anyone wanting him around (because no one ever has) I assume he just thinks Ed will go back to having the Magical Adventures he was having before they met. The downfall in that, is that he hasn't actually heard everything Ed has been telling him, in actions AND in words. Your reactions are great! You're so insightful - picking up immediately on Ed's signature etc. Excited to see what you make of the finale. 💕

I was sooo pissed at Stede when I saw this episode originally, I've mellowed out on it since then, I can see how he wouldn't have been in a good place to think things through, but poor Ed suffering as a result breaks my heart every time. I listened to Perfect day for 3 days after I saw this, too, the music in this show just gets me so emotional now.

The way that Ed returned to The Revenge fully expecting to die. Either _for_ Stede (since we see him trying to confess to killing Nigel) Or _with_ Stede (Ed looks _very_ relaxed when they're both sentenced to death) He only starts freaking out when _he_ gets pardoned & Stede is set to be executed alone Even then, he gives up his freedom for Stede & is _so calm_ about it to! Just content to be with Stede (alive) Only to end up having to go on without him anyways

Poor Stede, in trying to fix his first fuck up he has just fucked up in exactly the same way! It's extra heart breaking because we can all see the actual right thing that needs to be done but the characters just bloody won't do it. Going home is just going to compound the problem, no matter how much he'd like to undo everything (especially the twin's deaths) he never can. Ed and his little beardless heartbroken face. You can absolutely just see the "I should have known I don't get to be happy (it's not for people like us)" in his eyes. Damn you Taika. I keep thinking about you mentioning the 'angels on shoulders' about Izzy and Lucious. The entire crew keeps trying to get rid of Izzy, he is purely toxic to everyone but especially to Ed and it's Izzy he asked to bring him tea even after the betrayal and the punch.

I still think Stede believes, by the end of the episode, that Chauncey was right and he'd further "ruin" Ed by being near him for even another second, and that's why he ran away. Or maybe he knew subconsciously that he would be talked out of going. Or maybe he was in such a blind panic that he just bolted and kept going until he was at his old house. It's going to be interesting to see how season two endeavours to bring the two of them together again when they're in such different places both literally and metaphorically! Hope you feel better soon, and uh, enjoy the finale, I guess?

A fun fact, the guards that tried to talk Chauncey down were the kidnapped men Stede had! And one thing that they said was that "If you let me go, I will nake sure you don't die by the hands of our King" or something along those lines. So, Stede setting go of hose hostages came back! Also, I saw in a video that said better than I could that this episode really shows the societal thoughts of gay people. Chauncey was saying how "You defile beautiful things" and "you brought the greatest pirate to ruin." In his eyes, Stede ruined everything beautiful because of the way he is. But how we see it and since we know Ed's story, that's not true but Stede believes he's some demon, ruining lives and making it difficult for everybody to live. It also goes back to Ed's story of "why can't we have nice things?" It can also go the way of "You can't have nice things because that's not how it works." or "You can't be gay because it's not right." Ik it feels like I'm stretching, but like I said, there's a YT video that explains it better, I just wanted to spread it around! If I find the video, I'll link it

Another great reaction. Ugh, I was so mad at the end of this episode when I first watched (but at the writers for doing this to us). I'm looking forward to seeing what you thought of the finale! I completely agree with you that the show could have been longer. There was a (unfortunately very unrealistic) part of me that was hoping that they'd get 13 episodes for season two, but we all know what an absolute shitshow HBO Max is right now.

I absolutely love this ofmd reaction series, like a weekly happiness boost!! (Maybe this episode wasn’t all that happy but still..!)

I'm really excited/worried for your reaction to ep 10. Let's just say, something happens with/to Izzy, that not a lot in the fandom had empathy for which I found...concerning.

Chekov's journal! I love it!

I'm lost on the Sherlock part, but nice reaction.

Omg u got it soo right 5:44

This has nothing to do with this show, but I just wanted mention that the second season of Vox Machina is all out now. I don't know if you knew, and you seemed to enjoy that show, so just wanted to mention it :)

It still traumatises me 😖 💜🌈🏴‍☠️