Okay my lovely Crew, can we talk about this scene for a minute? Specifically, Ed's thoughts at this point?
This scene is when Ed says he's thinking of moving on to the next adventure. I think we focus a lot in this ep on Stede's perspective—he doesn't want Ed to leave, so he throws together a ridiculous outing to keep him around. But what about Ed?
At this point, they've had that moment in the moonlight, when Ed absolutely knew he wanted to kiss Stede, but it wasn't clear that Stede wanted the same thing. They've had the moment in the bathtub, when Ed opened up and Stede accepted him and called him his friend. And they've had the duel with Izzy, the person who's stuck by Ed probably longer than anyone, who is now gone.
When Ed and Stede first talked, back when Stede had just woken up, Ed said he was looking for drama and life. And for a while, he got that with Stede. He got lessons in how to be part of Society and he got to show Stede how to be a fearsome pirate and he got to flirt with him under the moonlight. It's been fun, and it's been different, but it's not going anywhere. They're just sort of drifting around, drinking tea and lounging.
Ed literally says that this isn't enough. He's "not built for sitting idle." He needs the chaos and the theater. As nice as it has been spending time with Stede, if this is all it's going to be, Ed will move on.
And then even when Stede scrambles to create an adventure for Ed (which is heartbreakingly sweet, because even if he doesn't realize he's in love with Ed at this point, he knows he wants to keep him nearby and do things Ed will enjoy), it's still not enough for Ed until Lucius points out that this isn't about having an adventure, it's about spending time with the man Ed cares about.
And that, I think, is when Ed really figures out that he's in love. Because the chaos, the drama? It doesn't increase very much. Stede digs up an orange. Calico Jack shows up and they get drunk on a beach. There isn't really drama until the English show up. But Ed stays. He stays because he realizes the life he was looking for isn't one of exciting, adventurous piracy. He's had that, and it's never satisfied him. He knew it wasn't enough, and even after he met Stede, he was still searching for what was enough. Lucius, bless him, finally says, "What you're looking for is right there, having a small meltdown because he wants to impress you and you're not impressed, so you need to wake up and figure out what you two have," and from then on, Ed is prepared to do whatever it takes to be with Stede, provided Stede wants him to. He leaves with Calico Jack only because he thinks Stede doesn't want him, that Stede is rejecting the parts of Ed that Ed fears define him (and that make him less than Stede, in his mind).
This episode is just so important for Ed's character because it's when he really starts throwing off the mantle of Blackbeard. Blackbeard would never go treasure hunting, obviously! But Ed would, because Ed loves Stede and that's what Stede wants to do. Blackbeard would never shave his beard and work for the king and fold stuff. But Ed would, because that's what it takes to be with Stede. Blackbeard wants to be the most feared pirate in the seven seas. Ed just wants to be by Stede's side.
Sorry, I know I had a point to make and I don't think I made it very well. I just love this show and these stupid idiot gay pirate sweethearts so damn much, and I think their romance arc is one of the best ones ever committed to film.
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