#ofmd s2 is beautiful

[iamadequate1717]

Some thoughts nearly a month later: OFMD S2 flows together nicely after the first watch. Yes, I would like more room between certain milestones, but I also remember that Ed and Stede were besties about 20 minutes after meeting and were going to run away to China together like 3-4 weeks after meeting. I also remember the first time I watched this show and the style of it.

I first watched it the second week it was out, and I watched 1x1-6 in one go, knowing nothing of it. Like I do with fanfic, I then waited for it to finish before going back in (and was in no fanspace to see the speculation), so I watched 1x7-10 two weeks later. Let me tell you, I did NOT see the romance coming! First watch, I tried to get a feel for the humor and "voice" of the show while lazily trying to figure out the overarching story and what they were building toward; I thought it was going to a bigger emphasis on the English threat (and Spanish Jackie coming back in for a larger role!). Eps 4-6, Ed had the whole "I'm gonna burn off Stede's face and steal his identity" thing going on which made every action a bit sinister and Ed/Stede interaction seemingly tied to how that was going to resolve.

Now, 7-10... ep 7 is nice. Not sure how I didn't connect Lucius' "die alone" comment to a story romance, but I'm aroace and didn't have time to think about it much as I barreled into 8-10! Ed was a fratbro in 8, but he renounced his ways, and 20 audience minutes later, he's kissing Stede and starting this whole go to China thing! Whaaaa? It is absolute whiplash on first viewing if you came in not hearing this called "the gay pirate show." (Don't get me wrong! I liked it!) They just met, they got over that whole face burning thing, and ep 7 was the only breathing room on first run to see their relationship as one more as equals, and they're just immediately going off on a gay wedding honeymoon together?

However, if you go back and watch it, you can see all the details they put into the show and how they were setting up the season payoff. It was brilliant. The show was always breakneck and had things happen offscreen (ex: how hard Ed fell, the early early flirtation of Lucius and Pete), I think. If you need reflection time for S2 events, that is what the pause button (and S3) is for.

S2, the audience really had to adjust to the more "real pirate" tone and jettison the fanon (you know, in theory!) while also absorbing the story direction and payoffs. It is a lot to take in on first watch, like S1 was. Like S1, S2 improves on rewatch, and pacing and whiplash aren't so bad.

[snake-snack-stede]

archie being like “idk if killing all those people crossed a line. this is my first wedding 😀”

I want to send her to therapy with a tape recorder

[blakbonnet]

if a man was also a princess <3

[palaceoftheprophets]

This joke is for the intersecting part of three Venn diagrams.

[saltpepperbeard]

Feels like a storm's coming but I can't see it

[emptyjunior]

Begging them to start a jilted wives club

[captain-flint]

Blackbeard + tears (Season 2) (Season 1)

[edscuntyeyeshadow]

princess edward teach canon let’s fucking goooooooo

[bookshelfdreams]

fr if "this is no longer the queer joy show" for you, idk what to tell you. maybe next time try engaging with the actual story instead of the version of it you made up in your head

[bizarrelittlemew]

So we're innkeepers, then?

[starofhisheart]

IZZY SINGING CONFIRMED AAAAAAAAAAAA

Specifically "beautiful, sad love songs"

Oh its so over

[themistymountainscold]

They are just fucking perfect arent they?

[blakbonnet]

Edward Teach is back, baby! 🎉

[eddie-redcliffe]

[saltpepperbeard]

"Don't do it, Stede. Killing in cold blood...You can't come back from that."

[cheesefleetwood]

Now I can’t be the only person who thought of this, right?