โStede is Fearlessโ
This comment made by Rhys Darby at the con just wonโt leave me.
It was something he stated quite emphatically, but then didnโt get the time to follow up properly. It was in response to an audience question about when Stede realises the man in his closet is actually Blackbeard, he isnโt afraid. I think that question is easy to answer because all Stede can ever see is Ed. But Rhysโ response was about the wider characterisation of Stede โโฆyou have to remember, Stede is fearlessโ. It affected me so much I blogged in real-time.
So, Rhys played Stede with that in mind. And itโs an odd thing because Stede is often very, very afraid. Quaking-in-his-boots, crying-his-eyes-out afraid. But being โfearlessโ isnโt the absence of fear. Itโs living your life, your truth, in spite of it.
Here is my non-exhaustive โStede is Fearlessโ list:
Stede is fearless when he leaves his dead marriage (despite the circumstances in which he does so)
Stede is fearless when he decides to captain a pirate crew and ship without any previous experience of the ocean
Stede is fearless when he believes he can change the culture of piracy to one of kindness
Stede is fearless when he announces himself โThe Gentleman Pirateโ
Stede is fearless when he meets Ed which is why he cannot see โBlackbeardโ
Stede is fearless when he learns historyโs greatest pirate was going to murder him, and then offers the hand of friendship
Stede is fearless when he duels Izzy - I mean what the actual fuck was Stede thinking here?
Stede is fearless when he takes historyโs most brilliant tactician on a treasure hunt with a fake map
Stede is fearless when he stands apart from everyone in his disdain of Calico Jack, and is proven right
Stede is fearless when he takes care of the crewโs emotions over his own broken heart when Ed leaves with CJ
Stede is fearless when he takes responsibility for Nigelโs murder
Stede is fearless when he tells Ed he doesnโt have to sign the Act of Grace to save him
Stede is fearless when he repeatedly asks Ed what the plan is for escape
And yes, Stede is fearless when he realises he cannot go through with the China plan, and returns home to face what he believes is the horror of who he is
He is fearless (eventually) in putting to rights the mess he left behind in Bridgetown
โฆin returning to find Ed even though he has doubts about his own adequacy
โฆin rescuing the crew from the Red Flag as Ed lies dead
โฆin loving Ed back to life
โฆin following Ed in his banishment
โฆin finding a way back with the crew for Ed
โฆin offering Izzy an olive branch and validation
โฆin respecting Edโs autonomy in their relationship
โฆin dealing with Ned Low himself to protect Ed and the crew
โฆin taking the initiative in consummating his and Edโs relationship
โฆin standing up to Zheng
โฆin offering unconditional love when Ed returns
Is he clumsy, sometimes wrong or misguided? Definitely. Part of Stedeโs beauty is his messiness.
But Stede is terrified throughout most of his actions, and bloody does it anyway.
Because Stede is fearless.
