Most fans of the cult hit TV seriesOur Flag Means Deathknow about its fantastic LGBTQ+ representation, but some may not know that many of its characters are based on real historical figures. People like Stede Bonnet and Captain Blackbeard actually lived during the golden age of piracy, although the show greatly fictionalized their stories. Yet more than that,Our Flag Means Deathfeatures eight characters based on real people, including Jim Jimenez, who was also inspired by a real pirate.
InOur Flag Means Death,Jim is a member ofStede Bonnet’s pirate crew. Sporting a false nose and beard, the only person who knows Jim’s true gender is Oluwande Boodhari, their closest friend. Over time,Jim reveals that they are non-binary, and the other pirates are supportive and accepting of the revelation. While the name Jim Jimenez won’t be found in any history books, the person they are based on is a fascinating historical figure.
Jim Was Loosely Based on Mary Read
While figures like Blackbeard are well known,there are also some famous women who were pirates, including Mary Read. Like Jim, Read disguised herself as a man. She joined the British military and later became a pirate, befriending another famous pirate woman, Anne Bonny. While Bonny lived openly as a woman, Read continued disguised as a man.
In 1720, Read’s ship was seized and all the men were sentenced to death and executed. Read and Bonny both claimed to be pregnant, so their executions were delayed. Read died in prison of a fever in 1721, and Bonny was later released (viaBritannica).Although both Mary Read and Anne Bonny appeared as characters in a season 2 episode ofOur Flag Means Death,it’s clear that Jim’s character was initially based on Read.
What Our Flag Means Death Changed About Mary’s Story
Although Jim’s character may have been loosely inspired by Mary Read, their stories are vastly different.While Read became a pirate as a means of supporting herself after her husand’s death, Jim’s tale is one of revenge, which began when their family was murdered by the mercenary group, Siete Gallos. Taken in and raised by a nun called Nana, Jim was taught how to use knives so that they could avenge the death of their family.
Years later, Jim succeeded in killing one of the members of Siete Gallos. Unfortunately, it happened that this man was the husband of Spanish Jackie, a dangerous pirate in her own right who vowed to kill the person who murdered her favorite husband. Oluwande and Jim fled, with Jim donning a disguise, and the two joined Bonnet’s crew.
How Jim Provides Excellent Non-Binary Representation On Our Flag Means Death
He Gets His Time In The Spotlight & Is Played By A Non-Binary Actor
Besides providing lots of laughs,Our Flag Means Deathis highly praised for its authentic depiction of the LGBTQ+ community. Both of the main characters are gay men, as are several of the supporting characters. More importantly,Jim has plenty of time in the spotlight, rather than being dropped into the background as a token non-binary representation. With them, the show has a thoroughly fleshed-out non-binary person with a compelling storyline.
Our Flag Means Death’s Cancellation Continues A Disappointing Trend For LGBTQ+ Shows
Our Flag Means Death’s cancellation comes after a long string of TV shows canceled, of which many provided positive LGBTQ+ representation.
DespiteOur Flags Means Deathbeing canceled before its time,the show did a lot of things right, including hiring non-binary actor Vico Ortiz as Jim. The creators could have easily hired a female actor to play Jim, or could have written the character as a woman. Instead, they hired a non-binary actor to play a non-binary character, delivering important representation and diversity.
Our Flag Means Death
Cast
Created by David Jenkins and starring Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi, Our Flag Means Death blends romantic comedy with period drama on the high seas. Loosely based on real historical figures, the series chronicles the adventures of Stede Bonnet and the crew of the pirate ship Revenge, detailing their often hilarious exploits and encounters, including crossing paths with the infamous Blackbeard. The series received praise for its extensive and positive LGBTQ+ representation upon the first season’s release.
