Fearsome Villain Unleashed: Unveiling the Unforgettable Twist in Our Flag Means Death Season 2
Discover the hidden truth in Our Flag Means Death Season 2 as Prince Ricky Banes emerges as the true villain, overshadowing the rivalry between Stede and Zheng Brace yourself for a surprising twist that challenges the perception of evil in this thrilling pirate adventure
WARNING! This article contains spoilers for Our Flag Means Death season 2, episodes 6 & 7!
Summary
In Our Flag Means Death season 2, Stede's feud with Zheng becomes secondary as a formidable new villain, Prince Ricky Banes, emerges. Although Zheng was once believed to be a potential rival, it is unveiled that Prince Ricky Banes poses the genuine danger to the pirate crew.
Prince Ricky Banes is a cunning and vengeful character, serving as a stark contrast to Stede's journey towards becoming a confident pirate captain.
In season 2 of Our Flag Means Death, there is a surprising twist involving Stede that overlooks a brutal reality regarding the true antagonist of the second season. In the first episode, Stede Bonnet and his crew are in desperate need of money, leading them to work for Spanish Jackie. During their time there, Stede and Oluwande strike up a friendship with Susan, the owner of a "soup kiosk." When Stede and his crew betray Jackie, Susan comes to their aid, revealing herself to be the legendary pirate queen Zheng Yi Sao from Our Flag Means Death. Zheng, as the captain of the Red Flag, recruits Stede and his crew to join her all-female pirate crew, but their time together is short-lived.
Our Flag Means Death Sets Up Stede & Zheng As The New Major Rivals
In the third episode of season 2 of "By Our Flag Means Death," titled "The Innkeeper," Zheng and Stede's relationship becomes strained. The Revenge crew arrives without Blackbeard (played by Taika Waititi), claiming that the infamous pirate captain has retired. However, Zheng and her first mate, Auntie (portrayed by Anapela Polataivao), sense that the Revenge crew is lying and contemplate killing the deceitful pirates. Later, Stede manages to defeat Zheng's crew and escape aboard the Revenge, leaving the pirate queen filled with a desire for revenge. As the second season progresses, Zheng becomes more of a rival rather than a true enemy, with the true villain of season 2 being unveiled in the penultimate episode.
In the second to last episode of Our Flag Means Death season 2, Stede uncovers that he has become the center of attention in the Republic of Pirates after eliminating the menacing Ned Low. Ignoring Ed's warnings, Stede allows the newly found admiration to go straight to his head. He indulges in alcoholic beverages at Spanish Jackie's tavern, ignites a man who threatens him, and even gets his ear pierced. Filled with the sense of being a fully-fledged pirate captain, Stede refuses to tolerate anyone interfering with his rhythm. As issues arise between Stede and Ed, who is contemplating retiring from his Blackbeard persona for good, the former vents his frustrations on Zheng.
Zheng, on the other hand, has reignited her romance with Oluwande. They meet Jim (Vico Ortiz) and Archie (Madeleine Sami) at Spanish Jackie's, who express their eagerness to join Zheng's crew and accompany Olu. When Stede believes that Zheng is poaching his followers, the once-gentleman-turned-pirate challenges the pirate queen of China to a duel. In an uneven match, Zheng proves her superiority in swordplay against Stede and then proceeds to defeat him with a board, exclaiming, "Now the plank walks you!" as a nod to Stede's role in Ned Low's demise. However, their confrontation is abruptly halted by a series of explosive blasts that shake the Republic of Pirates and annihilate Zheng's fleet. Although Zheng and Stede remain opponents, the former does not pose a threat to the latter as an actual villain.
Prince Ricky Banes Is The Real Villain For Our Flag Means Death’s Pirates
Prince Ricky Banes (Erroll Shand) emerges as the main antagonist in season 2 of Our Flag Means Death. Initially introduced in the first episode of the season, this minor prince becomes captivated by Stede's tale of abandoning his riches for a life of piracy and seeks to join his crew. However, in a botched robbery attempt, Ricky has his nose cut off by Jackie. In episode 6, he briefly reappears to deliver a speech on eradicating piracy and later crosses paths with Zheng, who plans to blackmail him as a pirate hunter. Unfortunately for Zheng, she underestimates Prince Ricky Banes and fails to gain the upper hand in their encounter.
Despite his initial appearance as a clumsy fool, the minor prince, Ricky Banes, unexpectedly reveals himself to be cunning and driven by revenge. In many ways, he represents the potential path that Stede could have taken if he had not joined Ed and the rest of the Revenge crew. While Stede's journey in season 2 of Our Flag Means Death revolves around finding his confidence as a captain and establishing himself as a genuine pirate, Ricky transforms from an aspiring pirate to a significant threat. This unexpected twist implies that Zheng was never the true villain of season 2 and emphasizes the necessity for the series' pirates to unite in order to survive.
