Edward Teach, the pirate played by Taika Waititi, can be read as asexual. The show does a lot of work to include a lot of identities, most often by casually introducing characters and relationships rather than by producing flag pins or oversimplified explanations of identity during conversations. In lieu of explicitly introducing identity-based discussions, there is instead a nuanced and careful exploration of the act of queerness that is pervasive throughout the show. The vibes are not good.
Ed's entire public persona is performance, which has all the vibes of an ace person moving through the world masking allosexuality because it is what the world expects. This is stated in the conversations of Blackbeard. What if Ed gets to go to a party in fancy clothes, and he is just Ed? What if he has the choice of how he presents himself, or how people see him? He stares at a picture of himself in a book and asks, "Is this really what people think of me?"
It becomes clear that Blackbeard is at a crossroads if we interpret this as a reflection of his character and identity. This is the point where he has to decide if he stays as he is or if he changes what people think of him. He can see all the different ways that people can present themselves and can interpret their expressions when he enters the closet. It is not lost on me that the only character who gets multiple outfit changes on the show is Bonnet, while the rest of the pirates are stuck in their physical appearance. There is a change in Blackbeard when he starts dressing in Bonnet's clothes, and when he wears his robe during his post-breakup depression, just for a moment.
The metaphor of Stede's closet is an ace metaphor. A full closet! There are a lot of ways you can be queer. With sexual attraction! Without! With buttons! Without buttons! Big puffy sleeves! On certain occasions, with some sexual attraction. Ed can play around, pull out what feels right, put it on and slip into the closet. When Blackbeard sees the one piece of identity Ed has been holding onto since childhood, he is afraid it is incomplete.
This is a very important moment, and Epstein does not understate it. That is the most romantic moment in the show. That is being watched. That is being made whole. There is a moment after this where it looks like these two men are going to kiss, they are alone on the deck, and they are standing in front of each other. We are moving on. They are not ready.
If we continue the metaphor of reading too much into clothing, we must recognize that Blackbeard wears shades of black, white, and purple, the colors of the asexual flag. In a show that has considered the effect of costumes beyond just their historical accuracy (or inaccuracy, as it stands), it feels right to read this decision-making among the subtle codes that would indicate Blackbeard could be read as ace.
The fact that Stede Bonnet was flirting with him was told to Blackbeard multiple times. In one of his best guest appearances in a long time, Will Arnett's character, Calico Jack, says that he and Blackbeard have queerness, and that the pirate's obliviousness cannot be accounted for. He is surrounded by casual hookups, queer sex, and flirting.
When Blackbeard and Bonnet are on a treasure hunt and trying to open a restaurant, Lucius Spriggs looks between them and says, "Oh my god, this is happening." There can't be two captains on a ship. He doesn't know that this is a different kind of split.
Everyone and their mother knows that Ed is having a relationship with Stede. The Calico Jack still wants to fuck Ed. Everyone knows this. Is Ed aware of this? Ed does not know this. Ed didn't notice the treasure hunt was on a date. Your honor, ace culture. I rest my case.
It's true that Izzy Hands is very clearly in love with his captain, and that he has an uncomfortable ability to mispronounce. The show needs a foil who can't get a win. In a piece for the Daily Dot, Gavia Baker-Whitlaw said that Izzy wants to return to the violent, macho persona of his glory days. He becomes a kind of self-perpetuating homophobia machine.
We have a figure trying to push Blackbeard in one direction, which is deeply related to the continuation of a performance and the restriction of presentation, and we have a figure offering another option. It's not lost on me that the moment in episode nine when they finally kissed is an act of acceptance and not lust for Blackbeard. He says that what makes him happy is Stevie. It's an expression of love and understanding, but it's still a representation of the ace experience, when you finally realize that being around someone else makes you happy.
The deep fear in Ed's life is that he will die. She said that there is something fundamentally incomplete about him, and that she doesn't miss that. ace people can be in healthy, fulfilling, sexual relationships with no invalidation of their identities. The interpretation of our flag means death paints Blackbeard as queer and asexual.
Do I think Our Flag Means Death will give me a gay-ace? Is it true in my heart of hearts? Absolutely.
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