Unveiling the Delectable Secrets of Our Flag Means Death Season 2's Gravy Basket!

Summary

The Gravy Basket is a nether realm between life and death in Our Flag Means Death season 2, where pirate captain Ed Teach finds himself.

In this pirate purgatory, Ed confronts his insecurities and fear of unworthiness while navigating peculiar encounters and decisions.

Ed's time in the Gravy Basket leaves him feeling adrift and uncertain, struggling to discern what is real and what is fantastical. He must come to terms with the repercussions of his choices and discover a path towards progress.

In season 2 of Our Flag Means Death, multiple characters frequently mention a realm known as the "Gravy Basket." This concept is not just briefly mentioned, but rather introduced in the third episode of the season when Ed Teach, heartbroken after Stede Bonnet's departure, reverts to his ruthless Blackbeard persona. Ed directs his anger not only towards random seafarers but also towards the Revenge's crew.

In Our Flag Means Death season 2, Ed almost kills Izzy Hands when the crew expresses concerns about the "toxic atmosphere" aboard the Revenge. Additionally, Ed purposely steers the ship into a dangerous storm, forces Jim and Archie to fight each other for his own entertainment, and even threatens to fire a cannonball at the Revenge's mast. As a result, the crew naturally retaliates, leading to Ed being mutinied and sustaining life-threatening injuries that result in his journey to the Gravy Basket.

Why Our Flag Means Death's Purgatory Is Called The Gravy Basket

After overpowering the death-seeking Ed, the crew of the Revenge leaves him stranded on an unfamiliar island. It is on this island that Ed encounters Captain Benjamin Hornigold. In season 1 of Our Flag Means Death, it is indicated that Ben played a significant role in shaping Ed's path as a ruthless pirate, and that Ed gained power by overthrowing this mentor figure. Through a series of strange interactions, Ed eventually realizes that he is trapped in a state of purgatory, which Ben refers to as "the Gravy Basket."

Rather than sending Ed to the pirate afterlife of Davy Jones's Locker, the series presents the Gravy Basket as a realm between life and death. However, being stuck in this pirate limbo is far from enjoyable for Ed. Firstly, he comes to the realization that Ben is actually a manifestation of his own self-hatred. While in the Gravy Basket, Ed confronts his deep-rooted fear of being unlovable. After Ben forcefully pushes Ed, who is tied to a stone, into the water, the pirate is faced with a choice: to die and escape life's burdens, or to return to the realm of the living and learn to love himself.

Why Ed Is “Unmoored” After Being In The Gravy Basket

The not-quite-Davy Jones's Locker refers to a realm in which Ed's mind and soul venture while his body remains comatose on the Revenge. Despite Stede's assistance in guiding Ed back to consciousness, he continues to feel distressed. Nathaniel Buttons, the ship's resident expert in supernatural matters, explains to Stede that Ed's cold and resentful attitude stems from being "half-dead." To put it differently, Ed's arduous journey to escape the Gravy Basket has left him feeling disconnected and adrift.

These harsh realities have a profound impact on Ed's perception of himself and life as a whole. In addition, the bizarre nature of his near-death experience, including the visions of Stede as a mermaid, has left him uncertain of what is real and what is merely a creation of the Gravy Basket. In season 2, episode 5 of Our Flag Means Death, titled "The Curse of the Seafaring Life," Ed begins to make progress in comprehending the consequences of his actions and, more importantly, determining the best way to move forward. Nevertheless, it is highly likely that the Gravy Basket will continue to play a significant role in the narrative of Our Flag Means Death.