Our Flag Means Death on troubled waters (season 3 cancellation/renewal update)

Our Flag Means Death just wrapped up a pretty good second season on MAX. But can this unique pirate comedy make it to a third year? Here’s what we know!

Caution: This article contains SPOILERS for Our Flag Means Death season 2.

Premiering in 2021, Our Flag Means Death is loosely based on the story of Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby), an 18th-century gentleman who, on a lark, decided to leave his wealthy family and seek his fame as a pirate. The show plays it as a comedy with how Bonnet has little idea what he’s doing, and his bumbling crew isn’t quite up for the task.

A major plotline is Bonnet meeting the infamous pirate Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard (Taika Waititi), their relationship eventually blossoms into an unlikely romance. Season 2 had Bonnet and his crew trying to find their way back to each other and Bonnet reuniting with Blackbeard. The finale saw the pair deciding to leave the pirate life behind and open up a small inn together.

Speaking to Variety, creator David Jenkins said that if the series does get a third season, it will likely also be the last.

"“I love things in threes. That first act, second act, third act structure is so satisfying when it is done well, and you don’t overstay your welcome. I think this world of the show is a big world, and if the third season is successful, we could go on in a different way. But I think for the story of Stede and Ed, that is a three-season story.”"

So Jenkins seems hopeful that the series can wrap up in a third year, but will it happen?

The chances of Our Flag Means Death getting a season 3

There’s still uncertainty about the series getting a third season thanks to both the SAG strike and the behind-the-scenes shifts at HBO. At a recent conference, HBO and Max Chairman/CEO Casey Bloys talked a bit about the possibility of Our Flag Means Death getting a third year.

"“What’s a little bit different in a linear world than here is… how a show performs over a longer period of time than three weeks or something. So we’re figuring out how it’s doing, what it’s looking like.”"

Bloys added he enjoyed the series. “It’s certainly an incredibly funny, well done, poignant show. I mean, it is a great show. We’re trying to figure out, does it make sense [to renew]? So I don’t really have an answer for anybody at this point.”

So right now, the fate of Our Flag Means Death is up in the air, although fans are hopeful it can set sail one more time.

Our Flag Means Death seasons 1-2 are streaming on MAX.