Edward Teach, Izzy Hands and Autonomy, Part One
(This meta was originally going to encapsulate all of season one, but I very quickly realized just how much is going on between these two. Part one will primarily cover Discomfort in a Married State, and if I feel like it I will continue with the rest of season one.)
What is the actual balance of power between Edward Teach and Izzy Hands?
We could write heartfelt meta about how one of these men (often the indigenous captain) is actually helpless, and about how this is just a simplistic victim-abuser narrative.
Or, here's an idea: we could accept that these two flawed, complicated men offer a dynamic that rarely gets to be explored in queer media, and resist the impulse to water down the nuanced, interesting thing that they have going on for the sake of liking the 'right' things.
It's time for a rewatch, besties đĽ°
In 1x3, we see our first impression of Edward and Izzy's relationship and just our luck: it's a conflict between the desires of these two characters! Edward wants Izzy to go talk to Stede Bonnet and offer him a chance to meet with Blackbeard. Let's see how this scene goes:
DRM? Two screens, dickfuck.
Edward's Desire: Have Izzy make overtures to Stede Bonnet.
Izzy's Desire: Send Fang and Ivan in his place.
Outcome: Izzy makes overtures to Stede Bonnet.
This is the establishing scene of their relationship, and it makes one clear statement: Edward has power over Izzy. Izzy offers a viable alternative, and Edward rejects it, sending Izzy to interact with Stede against his wishes. When Edward and Izzy's desires come into conflict, at least in this first instance, we are to understand that Edward's intentions will take priority.
Exhibit B - 1x04, Discomfort in a Married State - Frankfurters
Discomfort in a Married State starts out with the Revenge fleeing the scene of the battle, with the threat of the Spanish looming. Izzy and Edward's first interaction is the infamous frankfurters scene.
Izzy wants to talk about the plan. Edward, decidedly, does not want to talk about the plan, interrupting Izzy repeatedly before ultimately capitulating and discussing the plan. Talking about the plan is their mutual responsibility, and if they don't do something, the Spanish will kill them.
Here we see some of the nuance in their relationship, and the levers of control that they each have access to.
For Izzy, his primary lever of control is nagging Edward about duty. With enough pestering, he can successfully engage Edward in their mutual duty to keep the crew alive.
We also see the levers Edward engages when he can't escape something he doesn't want to doâavoidant behavior, interruptions, distractions. Izzy won't stop nagging, but Edward can put off the conversation just a little bit longer.
We see these behaviors from both of them repeated in their next interaction, the moment with the little ship.
There's a minor explosion, as Izzy can't force Edward to focus, he can only nagâbut Edward, conversely, can't actually get Izzy to stop nagging when Izzy is in the right about the threat of impending death. Izzy keeps asking Edward to focus, and Edward keeps pushing Izzy away until Edward finally snaps and expresses his existential boredom. Izzy responds that they'll die, expressing his own frustration.
Something interesting happens nextâEdward draws a knife into his hand, mentions that they could try dying, and steps directly into Izzy's space.
This is an implicit threat, clear as day between two old sea dogs, and Izzy responds with a confused, quiet questionâuntil Edward is out of view, and it becomes safe for him to speak his thoughts again.
[I ran out of images making this post, but there's a moment after Edward leaves where Izzy says, "Yeah, cuz that makes sense." Imagine that here.]
Edward makes it abundantly clear he's not interested in being nagged any further, refuses to communicate the plan, and cuts off the conversation. Edward expresses his agency to disengage, despite the threat on their lives and his responsibility to the crew.
It feels abundantly clear that Edward is the one with the power in this interaction.
Exhibit C - "my fucking resignation"
Their next interaction is after the Spanish have been spotted on their tail, and Izzy is panicking, only for Edward to walk out in Stede Bonnet's clothes.
Izzy demands a word, and Izzy states his caseâthe "fucking resignation" scene.
Edward complains about Izzy being a bummer. Izzy is unswayed, and starts off by laying out, clearly and concisely, three things:
All of his complaints with the current state of affairs (the death of their men in particular)
The value he has brought serving under Edward (efficient execution of plans and protecting Edward from mutiny)
Why he's been happy to serve under Edward for so long, despite these points of stress (our first glimpse at his very real love of Edwardâ"The most brilliant sailor I had ever met.")
Edward responds to all of these complaints dismissively, stating the death of their menâmen who were his responsibility to take care of as captainâwas their 'job' as pirates. He waves off all of Izzy's complaints with "Sounds stressful, Izzy," a strong note of sarcasm in his voice.
Izzy takes a moment to compose himself, and then does something interestingâhe states, openly, how he will do what he needs to do to survive, stepping into Edward's seemingly abandoned role as captain if he must to formulate his own plan. And then he states that when they once again barely survive (meaning this deriliction of Edward's duty is a pattern)âthat's it. He's done, finished, he's offering his fucking resignation.
This is the first strong reaction we see out of Edward, and it's shock.
Izzy, once again, is unable to get Edward to do what he wants him to do. He comes to term with this in this scene, and he informs Edward of how, left with no other choice, he will lean into the role conflict that Edward has created by failing to communicate, and act above his station in order to give them the barest chance at survival. Then, he goes and does what he's said, starting to prepare the crew for a hopeless battle.
Meanwhile, Edward does exactly as he likes. Despite Izzy's final desperate attempt to get him to do his duty as captain, Edward is entirely unswayed, and continues playing games.
The narrative also very subtly points out how it is the captain's duty to protect their crew, and how the death of their crew is a failure.
There is no attempt at control, here. Edward has finally communicated his plan, and Izzy, detail oriented as he is, has immediately pointed out the plan's fatal flaw.
Neither has anything left to say, now that they are both aware of their impending death.
The narrative goes out of its way to show just how quickly the error would have been found, had Edward merely communicated with Izzy in a way Izzy could understand.
Exhibit E - You Were Right
The last scene in 1x4 is Izzy's apology, refused by Edward when he admits culpability. They have a brief, honest conversation about retirement.
And then Edward tells Izzy the plan. Lays it all out, how Stede will be killed in Edward's place, and how Izzy will be made captain. Izzy's surprised, and doesn't even look Edward in the face, visibly pleased as he quickly comes to terms with the promise of impending captaincy.
Edward taps him on the shoulder and says, "I need you here," and Izzy sharply inhales when Edward makes contact. Izzy turns, saying, "Edward. You've still got it."
Edward offers him a smile, but when he turns away, his face is bleak.
Now, what forms of agency were expressed in this scene?
Izzy started the scene preparing a dinghy to leave, and ends the scene believing Edward has his back. He says nothing that indicates any attempt to change Edward's behavior. Pay attention to his body language, especially his eyes. He is truly sorry about what he said.
Meanwhile, Edward liesâyes, liesâto Izzy about the plan in order to keep him from leaving. The truth is in that broken look on Edward's face after he turns away. He may intend to follow through on the plan, but he omits his doubt, telling Izzy only what will keep him (I need you here).
Closing Thoughts - "Discomfort in a Married State"
(added this after accidentally publishing the incomplete draft. oops.)
We end Discomfort in a Married State with a relationship that has broken down. The only time in the entire episode where Edward does something he doesn't want to do is in the very beginning, when he talks to Izzy about the overall plan (without providing a concrete way to survive the Spanish). Meanwhile, Edward successfully keeps Izzy from leaving, making promises that (at least on an emotional level) he was uncertain about keeping.
Izzy isn't entirely helpless when it comes to Edward's behavior, but the power dynamic is very clearly in Edward's favor.
There is so much more to dig into with this episode, especially how Edward and Izzy's relationship narratively foils Stede and Mary's relationship. But there's only so much time in the day.
pixelskylines
gummygunk
jacobvanloon
kianamaiart
kaledo-art
snowghoul
