Genuinely amazed that Our Flag Means Death was able to take the one element of Homosexuality that has consistently been used as a symbol of disgust for bigots: ‘Buggery’ or male on male penetration; and make it poetic and romantic.
Thusly destigmatising, romanticizing and beautifying homosexual intimacy with the same respect and dignity that heterosexual intercourse has been afforded in symbolism.
The ‘run me through’ scene and other examples of Ed and Stede being penetrated in symbolic and poetic ways serve to subtly imply that it’s OK to be penetrated. To let your guard down, to be a different kind of man and not require toxic masculinity. To be penetrated by another man was always implied to have your masculinity taken away. But one of the biggest motifs in the show is the benefit and beauty of gentle masculinity.
Not to mention the fact that it (penetration) is something that needs to be learned; (an element of anal sex and the homosexual experience that is often under discussed and ignored in fiction) that there is a right way to do it, and to be careful. That Stede asks “did I do it right?” After getting penetrated by Izzy’s sword, almost like he’s asking for re-assurance during sex.
Additionally it was Ed, somebody more confident and clearly aware of their Queerness, teaching Stede; somebody who is still in the closet (again something literally symbolized in the scene where Stede shows Ed his secret closet) how to safely participate in gay intimacy. Which is another historical element of the Queer experience. Finding other people who help guide you through your identity and often for men one (typically older) partner taught the other how to engage in intimacy (at least before the internet and comprehensive sex education)
Maybe I’m reading into it too much but this show had so much symbolism and poetry in it I can’t think the creators didn’t at least consider the implications of two men ‘sword playing’ a euphemism for gay sex, and literally teaching one another how to safely be penetrated…
There was no sex scene in the show but I think the ‘run me through’ scene was the shows sex scene, it was very intimate. Ed looked pleased that Stede had gone through with it, and Stede had the nervous jitters of somebody loosing their virginity.
I refuse to feel shameful for reading into this scene so much, the entire show was just packed with symbolism, it’s absurd. So much queer history and imagery conveyed through theme, metaphors and poetic imagery. A silly pirate comedy does not deserve this much heart, soul and intellect, but it’s so amazing. I’m actually obsessed.
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