#ofmd parallels

David Jenkins + gay Sleeping Beauty trope:

OFMD Parallels - 1x05, 2x03, 2x08

The four stages of Ed's trying different identities:

assume the part of [aristocrat/innkeeper/fisherman]

attempt to play the part based on limited knowledge of the role

face mockery/criticism of how the role is being played

get upset by the criticism and leave the role

ngl, I had a little yell when I realised that every single time, Ed is shot from behind before 'beginning' the roleplay.

It puts a whole new significance onto the fact that the first time we see him in the show, he's shot like this:

eta. And how we find him again in S2:

I may be dumb and everyone else may have already figured this out but WAIT

I’d noticed the obvious parallels between OFMD Season 1 & 2 - the moonlight kiss etc

But it wasn’t until I wrote the following out that I realised *every* episode in season 2 is a mirror of it’s counterpart in season 1 (adjusting for the fact season 2 only has 8 episodes) and it’s made me love the show and the writers even more, if that’s possible!

Season 1

1 & 2 - Stede’s spiral. The Gentleman Pirate.

3 - Stede nearly dies. Ed saves Stede

4 - Recovery. Ed & Stede build their relationship

5 - Comic relief, costumes, & moonlight almost kiss

6 - Hilarity & trauma. Relationship deepens.

7/8 - Tension building; Ed leaves & returns

9 - Ed is excited. Stede is hesitant. Heartbreak.

10 - Stede realises he’s in love and goes to find Ed. Izzy creates a monster.

Season 2

1 & 2 - Ed’s spiral. The Kraken.

3 - Ed nearly dies. Stede (kinda) saves Ed

4 - Recovery. Ed & Stede rebuild their relationship

5 - Comic relief, costumes & moonlight kiss

6 - Party & trauma. Relationship deepens.

7 - Tension - Stede is excited. Ed is hesitant. Heartbreak. Ed leaves.

8 - Ed realises Stede loves him back and goes to find him. Izzy releases Blackbeard.

Ed, after being told that ‘Edward better watch his fuckin’ step’.

The informality of Frenchie using his name so casually followed by the chant makes him feel extremely vulnerable. He cannot be ‘Edward’. He cannot be soft, himself. Being ‘Edward’ makes him exposed, in danger. What if the crew think like Izzy? That Edward is an easy target? Edward is worthless. He cannot garner respect… better be someone else. Hide Edward again.

Then we get this scene, the escape from the Red Flag to steal back the Revenge. Stede feels confident enough to act as Captain despite having abandoned his crew and having seen they’re capable of mutiny. But to me it’s Frenchie’s ‘Stedey-boy!’ that is most interesting.

Stedey-boy. Stedey-boy!

It’s just a beautiful symbol of the relationship Stede has with his crew. The informality reflects the underlying friendship which has developed over time, whilst the fact the crew follow Stede’s command without question demonstrates the respect they have for his competency.

It’s a lovely lesson about leadership, and it’s one Ed was starting to put into practice through observing Stede previously, before being brutally threatened and his selfhood undermined.

It was possible to be ‘Edward’ and have the respect of the crew.

As hilarious as all the “how oblivious ARE you?” jokes about Stede are, I think we’re missing the big picture. This isn’t about obliviousness, it’s about trauma.

Stede isn’t ignorant of the fact he’s in love with Ed. he’s been abused his whole life for his queerness and is having trouble conceptualizing that he’s allowed to be.

Notice how Stede immediately has the instinct to walk back his comment of Ed being “lovely”? This is the same man who didn’t even pick up that his very obviously mutinous crew was planning a mutiny, that shit was learned behavior. He’s speaking as a little boy who was tied to a boat and stoned for picking flowers, and as someone who was told mere days ago a man falling in love with him was “defiling a beautiful thing.”

Homophobia/ heteronormativity is alive and well in this world and Stede, being forced to live in the conservative circles he does, would’ve absolutely been painfully aware of it. The fact that he feels the need to ask a woman what it’s like to be in love with a man speaks volumes after he’s already been happily kissed by one and has roleplayed being married to him when lonely. He’s not just casually making conversation then has a eureka moment when he happens to notice the description applies to him and Ed too, he asked specifically to compare them.

It’s him testing the waters and thinking that maybe “they” were wrong. Maybe he’s not broken or pathetic, maybe he never deserved to be treated as such. Maybe he didn’t “seduce” Edward, or “ruin” him, or “defile” him. And maybe his feelings for Ed are just as loving and romantic as Mary’s feelings are for her boyfriend.

It’s such a beautiful moment when he slowly smiles, let’s out that little breath like a sigh of relief, and tells his wife of an arranged marriage with nothing less than wonder in his voice that what he’s found at sea is in fact love. Fuck, it gets me every time.

s1e04 when the crew meets Blackbeard for the first time