Cruel Izzy Scene in OFMD Season 2 Has a Deeper, More Tragic Meaning
Our Flag Means Death shows many types of relationships, including toxic ones.
While Season 1 of David Jenkins' Our Flag Means Death (OFMD) was mostly a quirky comedy about pirates, Season 2, currently airing on Max, has turned into a romantic story with deeper messages and darker themes.
Undoubtedly, the most disturbing arc of the new season is what has been happening on the Revenge since Ed Teach, aka Blackbeard, decided to drown his heartbreak and longing for Stede Bonnet in the blood of people he came across on the high seas as well as members of his own crew.
Great Arc Point
No one will argue that Izzy Hands, Blackbeard's first mate, got the worst of it. Starting with Ed cutting off his pinky toe and forcing him to chew it, to being shot in the leg, and finally getting an honest-to-God death sentence for mentioning Stede.
Luckily, the Revenge crew refused to carry out the latter and hid Izzy in a secret cabin instead. As the gunshot wound got infected, they had to amputate his leg in a gruesome scene.
While hard to watch, this scene is actually pivotal to Izzy's arc.
Ed and Izzy’s Toxic Relationship
Although not directly shown as a couple, Ed and Izzy have been pirating together for years and have formed a relationship that resembles a family bond. Izzy even confesses his love for Ed out loud in Season 2.
However, this relationship has always been far from perfect, even before the mutilations and physical abuse began. Izzy loved Blackbeard, the terrifying and ruthless pirate captain, and couldn't accept Ed with his passions, quirks, and twists.
There's no doubt that Izzy's influence caused Ed to fall into his darkest self after losing the love of his life. Just remember how happy Ed was when Blackbeard cut off his toe.
Symbolic Leg Amputation
When we look at the leg-amputation scene from this point of view, it becomes clear that it is a turning point in Izzy's arc and his relationship with Ed.
By amputating the leg, the Revenge crew removed all of the toxic parts of Izzy, the poisoned parts that were associated with and belonged to Blackbeard. Whatever's remaining of the man will be different from now on.
Without his leg ruined by the toxic relationship, Izzy now belongs to the Revenge crew. They are his new family. He already proved this by starting a mutiny against Blackbeard and almost killing him.
That makes the upcoming episodes much more interesting to follow. How will Izzy act now that Ed is awake, and how will they interact?
Our Flag Means Death Season 2 Episodes 4 and 5 will be released on Max on October 12 at midnight PT/3 a.m. ET.