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I mean, I wish, girl. You know how happy you've just made so many people and then sad I am off the rails already. Caitlyn has fallen overboard. All right, episode 4, I am lightheaded. Are you OK? Yes, I am wonderful because I love this episode. I especially I mean I love I know five I really like as well. But you all requested one O 4 as a reaction video for us and I'm so glad you did because we this is when we really get to see Steve's previous life. I'm choking.
Hold on. It's Kaitlyn's almost wrong he can't handle. That so choked up. All right, so we really get to see how his life wasn't what he wanted. And I really love the opening shots with Steve and Mary because you basically see that they both don't want to be here. They're like, why do we have to do this shit? I want to marry for love. And the way the shots pan, but Mary and Steve stay on their respective sides with the people they're talking to.
And it just it goes, it's just it's beautiful. Go watch it. All right? But it conveys how they are from two other sides, like they're not on the same. Sounds and Paige thank you they're not even in the same stand together they're. Not in the same universe, no. So Mary is to marry Steed because he has money and Steed has to marry Mary for acreage. I don't know what that means. Oh. You're land. For land. OK, basically so like it's a so it, they're aristocrats.
So this is an aristocratic marriage. Like, she's a woman and women can't inherit. Inherit land. Yeah, that's the word. So or money or have jobs. So like she has to marry a man who's at her social status or above to keep the family where they're at. Steed basically like. And so like the the thing that makes her attractive quote in this society is the fact that her father can be like, she comes with a bunch of land. So Steed's family gets to expand
their empire. So like, that's why these two strangers are they like, we've never even met. We don't even know each other, but it's like it's a marriage to consolidate power basically is what's happening. And you can see very clearly it makes neither of these people happy. Yeah, it's essentially just a business transaction. Yeah. Literally, it is a business transaction.
Yeah, and Steve makes a comment saying that he always thought that he'd marry for love, and his dad says only peasants marry for love. Would you know? Let me be a peasant then? Well. Yeah, and and that's because like peasants don't own land. So like they they're not worried about acquiring more land or keeping their land. Like they he basically is like they have nothing to lose or gain. So like sure, let them marry for love. He's like, you need to grow the family business by acquiring
more land through this marriage. So yeah, it's fucking shitty. And it it shows you it's like at the expense of these two people's quote happinesses. It's like the society where each of it is really fucking stupid, but like. That's usually how a ranged marriages go, unfortunately.
The, OK, if we ever took the statistics of this and really looked at this, the, the number of people who are happy about this and they're like the people of the people getting married and people who are just like, I feel like we'd be very skewed, you know? Just a bit. Or the bit for me though, the crushing blow by his father or like Steed's father always really gets me. Like even here we get the impression that like Steed is
this romantic slash dreamer. So the fact that he's like, I wanted to marry for love, like coming from a man is very interesting and adorable and I love it. But like, he wants to, like, enjoy his life and love his life at the end of the day versus, like, his father's, Like, no, you need to go through the motions and do what I'm telling you to do, which is, like, the patriarchal family structure they're in. Yeah. And it's a business transaction that makes nobody happy.
Like, they're marrying strangers. Like it sucks. Whenever I hear the word patriarchal like my brain immediately goes bullshit. Yeah, well, this is the type of bullshit that like comes from this and like, no, you can see nobody is happy in this arrangement like. And it doesn't get better than that because when we first see them together in the same shot, we get this beautifully awkward moment. Whereas Steed goes, hi, I'm Steed and Mary's just like I know. And then he goes, just like, I
don't want to touch you. Oh. My God, his little fingertips on her shoulder. It really sold it. Yeah, and my only thought is, oh darling, you are so gay. But I also love that, like, they're not just sitting like that, like they're having their first portrait taken and that's the pose where like Steed's like barely touching for this hacker going forever. And like the the beautiful thing about like this is the fact that like, while this is happening, Steed is just slowly dying.
And like Blackbeard is like, huh, that's interesting. Continue on. Yes. Oh my God, yeah. We're being shown, all of us after Steve gets like, stabbed in the abdomen. So like, yeah, high stakes, low stakes, low. So funny. Yeah, then. So from there, we're still visiting a stage past life through his nightmares, I'm assuming. Oh, damn it. Oh. Caitlyn couldn't take it. Shit.
I got way too excited. OK, so they then have a fantastic wedding on the beach where they received the wedding gift of graves or tombstones, at least Tombstones. And like the the hilarity of that is like, like throughout, like the decades, gravestones, grave sites have always been astronomically expensive. So it's kind of a sweet gift and as fucked up as it is. Oh my God, no so right it also. Shows that this marriage was dead in the water on initiation.
It also shows the extent to their wealth because back in the day they would just pile bodies in one mass same grave if they were related. So this just kind of furthers like the extent of both Mary's acquired wealth from her family and then as well as Steed's because they were able to afford two separate graves rather than the one mass grave, which I think is a nice little historical note.
No, that's a really good point. Other thing, though, from Steve's point of view, saying this, he's like, this is basically the rest of my life. Like, it's just gonna end like this. Like this is it. Like it seems so final, like they're they're starting their journey and they're like, this is the end. Like there is no getting out. Yeah, I'm pretty sure they marry. They talk about eternity like they're really playing like this is the rest of your life.
But I mean, at least they didn't give them a death date on the tombstone. Yeah, that would have. Been wild. No, this is literally it. Also the date is wrong, I know. Oh, is it? Yeah, from historically accurate. The wiki told me that. I get all my fun facts from the wiki right now, so that's where. They're coming from. That's a womp womp. Other thing I love about their wedding is just like how fucking gloomy the weather is. Like, everything about it is just like doom and gloom, like
all of this. Which another hilarious little lore fact about that is, and many like cultures, if it rains on your wedding day, that's a sign of like good fortune and like wealth and prosperity for the relationship. Because it's kind of like the heavens are like like they're weeping and like tears of joy and stuff like that.
So it makes it even more funny that they decided to go to the route of OK, well it's all doom and gloom foreshadowing their relationship, not the other side of the coin. Yeah, that's such a really good point. Oh, I love that. Yeah, definitely. This is a ton of foreshadowing of like the Marian Steed. But the the rest of the previous life montage is rounded off. Now they they have kids. Yes, boy and a girl, I think
yes. Yes, but so Mary is basically forcing Steed to play with the kids, which I don't think that that's that's the actual problem. Like Steed would totally play with them but Mary's like and please do not play pirates with them. But then we get a scene of them playing pirates and and we get to see that his daughter is trained to be the best pirate ever and will most likely become the Chinese conquerors. Shang. I don't I don't know how to say the ZH Jang like Jang. Jang.
Jang I don't know. We'll look it up in between the next episode and definitely by Season 2. So I think the daughter's going to become her second by the time she is on her own. That that's my. But they're really good at playing pirates and it's really cute because he is into it like he is. But unfortunately he wants his own life. And that does create a divide between him and his kids.
And the, the art piece that episode 4 is we get this truly awful but beautiful match smash cut of the daughter taking the sword and like plunging it into Steed's stomach. And then it cuts to when Steed got the sword in the stomach the the episode before. And it's just truly awful 'cause it's just like feels like the daughter did it, but I don't know, it's just. It's. A mindfuck. Oh, for sure.
But also like I love what it implies because it's like if 'cause you're like you described Caitlyn when when Steed was playing pirates with his kids. Like it's make believe, right? And like, if you notice, like the lighting in the scene, it's very like warm and like happy and there's just a lot of joy and and Steed seems like he's in his element playing pretend. But here we are. And and it cuts to like, OK, this is the reality of being a pirate.
You're actually getting stabbed in the stomach and now you're like dying actively. So it's like, is this still make you happy, Steve? So it's kind of like a how did I get here a moment, you know, for Steve. But yeah, love the shot. It's again the cinematography in the show is. So so so. Oh, it's absolutely glorious. Because like the way that I took it with it showing like seeds like old life with him, like squabbling with Mary with him playing with his kids, then it
cutting to him getting stabbed. It's kind of like the life flashing before your eyes trope. So like. Really beautifully well placed for this scene. Damn, that's such a good point. And that's why, like, the graves were really ominous too, because, like, now he's on his deathbed when in the present, like, quote. Yeah, kudos, Kudos to everybody involved. That was really, really great. Yeah, this whole show, it's just really great. The masterpiece the.
Masterpiece One more thing to add to like the the Marion steed past life kind of montage. I really like in the end when Marion steed are in so steed relives like his last day slash night with his family and Marion steed are in bed before he leaves like for real is gonna leave. And she tries to reason with him one last time and basically says all we have is this one life. We at least have to try.
And that's when Steed pretends he's asleep, like, his wives are wide open and he's snoring, and she's like, whatever. And she goes to sleep. But it's really obvious that this sentiment really resonates with Steed. And I think in the moment, he's like, yeah, then what? I'm. My decision to leave is, is correct for me because, like, he only has, and we both only have this one life. He's miserable. He doesn't really fit in with his family.
Like, if you notice, like anytime they have like sitting at dinner at the table he's super far away from, and the three of them, Mary and the kids are clustered. It's like showing he doesn't fit in in his life. He doesn't fit in with his family. Yeah, they love each other and stuff, but he does not fit in here. And so I like this line for Mary because I think it's something that everybody and his family have in common. But what it means to be happy
just is not. It's not the same picture for for all of them. Like Steve has to lead leave for him to be happy and for them to ultimately be happy. Like when we come back and revisit them. So like, I really love this parting line from Mary. It's so like poignant, I think. And yeah, I think Steve needed kind of needed to hear that to be like, yeah. And then what I'm doing is right, even though this hurts to
leave them. And it's very impactful, even though like ultimately, like what Steve did was semi selfish, just outright leaving his family to chase like a frivolous dream. That dream worked out. Everything worked out in the end. But like still like it's it's a lot to like, let's sink in with like the scope of things because given Mary wasn't the best wife, but she was a fairly good mom. She absolutely adored her kids, would do anything for them.
She just was trying to work with a bad situation that she had. And same with Steed. Steed was just kind of like more out of the picture when it came to it, kind of like a in a dissociative manner just because he does not like women, hence the shoulder touch. The shoulder touch, no well thought. And then also like from like their societal norms. What he did was terrible. He like got up and abandoned his whole family and like he's the only one that can earn money. So like had they been in a
poorer financial situation? Like when he contrasted that with Ed later when his dad is gone and out of the picture, like Ed is now the breadwinner at like 11. And like versus in Steed's, Steed's case, like his family can be comfortable because he like once he's quote dead, Mary can now inherit the money as the widow. So like, they're kind of OK financially and like, you know, but like, what a what a shitty thing for Mary to be like my
stupid husband. Like I didn't like him and the bitch left me. Like, yeah, it seems very selfish and, and it is like it is a selfish thing that he did. But ultimately like it does work out for all of them like you
said. And I do like the historical accuracy of a gay man still going through with a marriage with like, to like hold up the like illusion that he's straight, especially with like the lines of like even like, even like the not like statistics, but like the history of like a lesbian woman and a gay man getting together and still having like outside relationships, but being together solely for like the benefits of being married.
So like, I really like the whole aspect that they chose to do that with just because it is, it is historic, historically accurate. Like it's very, very nice to see that. Cause not a lot of shows kind of like mention that when it's kind of like a mockumentary, a historical like type of thing. So it's always nice seeing like it always. It always makes my heart happy when they decide to mention that part of LGBTQ history.
Yeah, no, absolutely. Like and and then, you know, that is what happened with Steve, Steve Bonnett, you know, in real life and stuff too. But yeah, I agree. Like bearding was a reality because like, legally that's how you, you know, had legal benefits, I guess. Yeah, at the time, which, you know, we're fortunate in some places to have them now for like, marrying whoever you want
kind of deal, which is cool. Speaking of marriages, let's, let's let's shoot over to Ed and Steve and the first time they ever meet because Steve is coming conscious basically in this moment. And Ed's been watching Steve the whole time basically while he's kind of like having fever dreams after the abdomen stabbing. And I love that Ed is like instantly enamored with Steed and vice versa. Like when Steed is well enough to start talking to him.
Like it's very evident that like each of them have qualities that the other one lacks. And it's very much an opposites attract situation like from the like first interaction. That they have, yeah. Steed is an enigma to Ed. And. He is just trying to figure out his life while Steed is talking in his sleep. I love how that's their first meeting and basically Ed's being a good boyfriend and watching over him making sure he's OK but Steve has no idea what's happening.
And like in reality, you can also look at it at the like through the angle of it's not really like a caring manner because deep down we all know that Blackbeard is that way when he's like up front as Ed. But it's it can also come from the angle of who is this barely conscious dead man? I, I'm going to be nosy because I don't have anything else better to do as a pirate with my life at sea. So this is this is like television for me.
He's 100% nosy. He starts going through all of Steed's stuff and he's like, look at this cool model ship, Izzy. Like, look at these things, Izzy. And he's like, why do you feed the fucking cafe right now? What the hell? And focus. He's so nosy. Oh my gosh, I love he's like this is the life I want. Literally, he's just like, why would a pirate have this on their ship? Like, what possessed him to do these things? Yeah, he's an enigma.
That's a really good word. And truly, like, the title of this episode, like, really like, sums everything up really nicely. It's discomfort in a married state. So like, we start with Steed and his literal marriage and how he's uncomfortable. And then Ed is uncomfortable in his quote marriage with Blackbeard, which is the mask that he's wearing, the persona
he's inhabiting. And so yes, Ed is very intrigued by Steve's behavior and the reputation he has is the gentleman pirate because what does that even mean? And so, you know, he's going through all of his trinkets. He's like desperate to talk to him because he's like, wow, like who are you? Why do you do these things? And. He's just, he's just 'cause he's so. Bored. He's like if he was a typical pirate captain. Like I already know how this plays out.
I, I, I'm at, he's at the point where Blackbeard can't lose. Like anytime Blackbeard gets into a skirmish, Blackbeard wins. Like it's not fun anymore. He's like, this is so boring. He's just like itching for change. And like, instead of a wife, Ed has Izzy who's like trying so hard to keep Ed trapped in the box of Blackbeard and just keep the status quo going 'cause he's like, listen, I joined this crew because of Blackbeard. And if there's no Blackbeard, what the hell is my life about?
Feel like he's having like his own midlife crisis. I don't know how they're there. But like his, his own existential crisis. And then like Ed is also having an existential crisis and Ed, he's trying to like keep Blackbeard Blackbeard while Ed's trying to like be Ed and not Blackbeard. So it's this whole hot mess of the situation. And then like here comes Steed who's just like throws everybody off their game, even Izzy. And I think Izzy hates that about Steed and Steed throws him
off his game too. And it just it, he's like this catalyst, her change for like everybody, like Steed's crew, Blackbeard, Izzy, Steed's, Ed's crew. And it's just like amazing. He gets everybody out of their rut and like, he's this just like exciting person that no one knows what to do with. He's just new and he just changes everybody and it's really beautiful how that unfolds. I just really like Ed's. Reaction to seeing the tiny replica of the ship.
It's like there's a tiny replica of the ship. And I will say though, they definitely do a good job at capturing Izzy's codependency with Blackbeard. Because like, while Ed's like struggling with like the aspects of like monotony and like, as in a sense, like, kind of like dealing with his own like mortality, like he's having his own as, as you said, existential crisis. Because at this point they're past the age of midlife.
Yeah, realistically this time. But yeah, I definitely, they definitely do a good job of showing like Izzy's jealousy because of his codependency. And if Blackbeard's not Blackbeard and he's just Ed, who am I? Where do I fit in the picture? Which inevitably causes him to lash out in later episodes, which karma does bite him in the
ass. But it's it's purely just the trope of like slightly toxic boyfriend that does good things every now and then but as soon as you try to move on it's full blown narcissistic temper tantrum. Yes, in A1 sided relationship, yeah. Yeah, that's Izzy in the beginning. Izzy goes on quite a journey. I love Izzy's overall arc but like. He has. He's in one. So much in season one. It's just the codependence, the jealousy, everything you just said. Yeah, one of my favorite scene.
This hasn't doesn't have to do with Izzy. But back to Steve and Ed. I love what Steve is actually conscious and they meet. He asks if Ed works for Blackbeard. Yeah. You just see Ed Paws. And. First, I think he really doesn't understand why Steve doesn't know that who he is. But this this does give Ed the opportunity to be someone else from and like, be who he actually is now. Yeah. And it's also. He's like, yeah, I work for him,
yeah. But like, he does kind of work for him because he's Blackbeard's controlling him. Exactly. I think that that is an app, I think. And when Ed really thinks about it, he's like, yeah, no, that is my situation. Like that is a very good way to describe where I'm at right now in life. Did you have something to say, Zoe? I'm sorry. Really good you're. Good, you're good.
But yeah, no, it it was definitely kind of like a sweet scene just because for one, there's obviously like the like cockiness of I can't believe this motherfucker doesn't know who I am the most like arguably one of the most feared pirates. You don't know who the fuck I am.
But at the same time, like Caitlin said, it gives them the chance to just kind of be like, OK, well, let's take off the mask, take a step back and like see how this plays, See if I can like potentially use it to my advantage. Because that is one of like Ed's qualities. He, he always tries to do like a risk analysis and see if like something will directly benefit him before participating in it.
And we when we definitely see like he tries to kind of take like advantage of the fact that Ed or Steve doesn't know who he is, especially with like him being like, yeah, put on my outfit. Well, let's, I'll, I'll, I'll help you pretend to be like a good pirate and I'll and like how he just puts on like Steed's like one of his many outfits in
his fucking walk in closet. Which like, if you didn't know Steed was gay up until this point, no straight man has a walk in closet organized by like color coding and shit like that. Let alone like. Like Steve? But so like, I think the best part of the the first day they meet is Steed showing Ed the hidden closet.
And it just, it really shows that they both let each other in because, yeah, Steed doesn't know about Blackbeard, but that means Ed's showing him who he is and Steve being willing to show him this hidden closet that the crew, I'm assuming the crew doesn't know about. No, he says that he has many secret compartments. Nobody knows about it.
So he meets Ed right away and there's this instant connection that he feels safe with Ed. But when they're in the closet, Izzy is trying to find Ed, which makes Steve asks if that's Blackbeard and Ed just casually says no, I'm Blackbeard and Steed's face is everything. It's. Amazing. Yeah, one of my one of my favorite little moments that happens in that episode is when Ed is like, why the fuck would you have books on a ship near a fireplace? That's not a good idea.
It's so impractical. You're crazy, man. Yeah, well, that's the thing. I think Ed. Immediately before they even met found or or yeah, found Steed intriguing. And then when they meet, the first thing he says is do you work for Blackbeard? Like doesn't even know who he is. And so I think that that question, I agree with everything you guys said about it. I think the other thing to it is that only made him more intriguing to Ed. The fact that he's even asking
him. Blackbeard does. So I love that from the beginning, Ed chooses to be Ed and then Steed is just very Steed. Immediately he's like, wanna see my? Clothing closet? Like unapologetic there. Yeah, they're unapologetically themselves immediately. And like, I think it's significant to note that Ed never wore the Blackbeard mask around Steve.
Like never. And so the fact that like they form an instant connection that that basically, you know, forms into something more, I think is so important that it was it was them. They were being themselves the whole time, you know. And so it's a very organic real bond that they that they make and maybe the first true one for both of them, because Ed is always Blackbeard and then Steed always has to play the niceties in society, you know, and both
of those are performative. So like this is not. So it's just, I love that it's very organic, the way it just like plays out with the two of them just being themselves. And they're just like bonding over clothes and like how impractical Steed is as a pirate and like all this stuff. And like Ed's never judgmental. He's like, that's cool, man. He's like, I need to do some of these things cause like nobody's, you know, again, he's just change.
Steve is change. Well I agree with what you said. There is one notable time where Ed put on the Blackbeard mask and it was the French aristocratic boat party. When Ed means his shit, that is the one main notable time. That is true. That was a stressful environment for Ed. That was a stressful environment for a lot of people. Oh indeed, indeed. Besides Olu and Frenchie Oh. My God. Yeah, those two are. Amazing. That was amazing. Well, we will get there.
But steed and black bear, we've basically, but it's been talked saying this the whole time, but they are a foil for each other and they bond over this foilness. So they're both tired of the monotony of their lives. I won't get too much into it because we basically talking about that entire time. But they want to be like each other. They both have each other's ideal lives that they think is ideal. So Steve doesn't want to be a coward. He wants to be respected and be important.
While Ed is tired of people giving up so easily and not having a challenge anymore. Like how I can't even imagine being that feared that people or just like I surrender right away. I don't. I wouldn't. I would hate that life. You would actually be scared. Yeah. So they wanna, they wanna be like each other so much that they swap clothes and pretend to be each other in front of the crew. Obviously it doesn't work, but it like it makes everyone confused. How are? You doing?
Nice, like little comedic relief. Yeah, but like seed and Ed are just having fun too, which I think is important. Like Ed is like, this is ridiculous, but it's fun, you know? I wonder. Go ahead. I I was just wondering if this is the first time that Ed let himself be him, Ed instead of Blackbeard, and if that's why Izzy responded. Like, what the hell is going on? Yeah, sorry. Go ahead, Zoe.
No, you're good. I was gonna say as to like how this is like their first of many dress up montage moments. Essentially, yes. Oh my God, yes. Which? Wardrobe is on point in the show. Always, always. Speaking of which, go check out our interview with Gypsy. Yes. We're.
Filming it later, but it will be available to you before we're even in it. OK, so I I feel it's a really cute sequence when Steve is learning tips on how to be a good pirate and he's like taking notes and in return gives Ed tips on living a higher life, especially the pageantry of fine dieting and. I. Also don't understand why there's so many freaking forks and spoons and knives and why just use the same.
One, because the higher you go in society, the more impractical your eating becomes, and that equals civility somehow. It's insane. Pretty. Much the arbitrary bullshit rules of a high class society. And like Steve even admits that it's like absolutely absurd when he's like talking to Ed about like the fucking oyster spoon and like the lobster fork or whatever. And he's just like totally out of it. He's like, what the fuck is? Why am I letting this man teach
me how to do this? But the most important thing is that they make each other feel seen for the first time because they're both misunderstood people in their lives. Like they have to be a persona basically. And you can tell that they they both yearn for the domestic life. And Steed may not have liked it previously, but that was because he was forced to be with Mary. And you know he's gay. You want it. Damn it, gotta rewatch that, you know? Yeah, I. Thought that whatsoever.
And what else do they have in common? What else does every single character in this show have in common, but these two definitely haven't? Trauma Capital TI. Dead ass thought she was like all right, time out. No, that's I literally don't just hit pause because that is her time out thing. You can't do that. You literally asked me. My finger is over the pause button right now. All right, this for trauma. This trauma I. Got to have a a hand gesture for trauma now so often.
Caitlin's face just dropped. So sorry, Caitlin, it's the trauma, isn't it? What gave you a trauma anyway? Let's get into the trauma first, starting with Steve. So like, it started in the pilot where we got flashbacks of like the beheading of the bird. And it's some, it's a, it's a like a core memory, I think for Steve, because he flashes back
to it a lot when he's triggered. And I think that it's clear even as a boy, like when he was witnessing, like his dad decapitate a bird that they were gonna eat basically, which like, you know, that's, you know, there were no grocery stores where you would get, you know, this already done. Like, you had to do it at home, basically. But the dad had had Steve there to be like, this is man's work.
You need to learn man's work. And like, Steve's horrified, rightly so. He gets sprayed with blood. That's scary. Yes, I know. We've seen it many, many, many times. I will say though, that also kind of speaks for like the the classing system that they had, because if you had, if you had X amount of wealth that's serving work, the the master and mistress of the house, they would not be caught dead decapitating a chicken or any other type of bird.
So that kind of speaks for and of itself that while they did have some like standardized class, they were in like a good like wealthy chunk because they have their own like fortune land, etcetera. They didn't have enough to have servants. They didn't have enough to have
the people to do The Dirty work. So they had to kind of cut corners and do it themselves, which is really interesting that they decided to have that tape to it because that kind of shows that Steed wasn't like like, obviously it's obviously he wasn't coddled as a child, but like it also shows that he wasn't as like snobby compared to like his other like
classmates. He went to school with specific like specific point in case the the captain that he accidentally killed him and his him and his twin brother. Like that's that's a good fucking example right there, because that shows that they didn't have to deal with that kind of dirty work. They just had people doing it for them. So inevitably they have to kind of play the role of doing The Dirty work as a captain by
taking charge. So like it's very nuanced in the sense of those types of things with like the historical accuracy and like the historical context and like it just. I love it so much. Yeah, that is a really, really good point. So it is funny that they steed ends up like unfortunately on the other end of like murdering
things eventually. But like, but like, even if a kid like you can see that he clearly doesn't have the stomach for like quote traditional masculinity, which is kind of what his dad is trying to show him too, is like be a man, like kill the bird, like this is man's work or whatever. So like, you see that his personality is not really super compatible with like what's expected of him, I guess.
And like in terms of like hit the societal norms that his dad wants him to like adhere to. And later, like he's haunted by he he ends up, you know, like he mentioned Zoe accidentally, accidentally killing both of these brothers. But the first one where he stabs him through the eye, like when he hits him on the head and he gets impaled basically as a result of that, that haunts Steve for a very, very long
time. And he only breaks free of that in episode 2 when he's successful in his first encounter with Izzy where he basically like that's when they have, I think actually what happened? He but anyway, he he outsmarts Izzy when like they steal his one of his hostages and then like he has to get the hostage back. And he like they're in the woods and he's like, he has some crew members making a bunch of noise and he's like, you don't have that many crew members.
And he's like, do I do you want to test me? And Izzy backs off, He outsmarts him. Whereas like the traditional male role would have been like fight Izzy one-on-one, like challenge him to a duel, which Izzy does later, but no Ed Ed Steve uses his like cleverness and his wits to like outsmart all these men. So it shows that like he is capable of like being successful in in these like get your hands dirty kind of roles. But his methods are different because he has a different
personality. So I I love that aspect about Steed and it's unfortunately that like he's a clearly a disappointment to his father. And that's like something that kind of haunts him a little bit too 'cause like to his father, he's the first born son, he's going to inherit everything. And he has this conversation with Steve when he's younger and he's like, you're going to inherit all this, not because you deserve it, but because you were born first.
You won the lottery. And so like poor Steed, he's like, he just, I think he feels like unworthy a little bit in his, the current life that he's in. He's like, I did nothing to earn this. Like it's not satisfying. I think for somebody like Steed who's like emotional and like takes pride. It's like, remember when they find the petrified orange, he
was so proud of that. He's like, look, I found this versus like he was handed all this wealth and he's like, and his dad's like, you didn't earn this. It's just, you know, you're, we were born first.
That's it. It's also a very like small detail but I I absolutely love how they decide to show off like they like they showcase like his like fragility and like him slightly embracing like his femininity and emotional vulnerability when he would like flow flashbacks of him as a child because they show him holding flowers. I don't know if y'all caught that but like they they show that in multiple different scenes and like. Again, that's not a tradition like masculine thing, especially
like for like this time period. So I think it's like a really nice like, again, nuance type of like like symbol that he's dealing with, like his dad constantly condescending him, telling him that he's not like worthy enough, trying to be forced into the masculine role when he wants to just be himself, embrace femininity when he wants to. And so like the flowers just kind of like the it's like the cherry on top of the trauma cake.
That's so true. Yeah, 'cause Steve just, he wants to be happy and he's like, these are pretty and make me happy. Exactly. Yeah. Same with Ed. Yes. Literally. I think Steve's conversations with his dad was the beginning of him not feeling like he was good enough for anyone. Like he just wants people's approval as well, which is why he's like trying to be the gentleman pirate and he wants people to like be impressed by that.
He wants to impress people, but it it doesn't really go his way. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's that's accurate. So yeah, Ed also has past trauma with his dad. Oh, does he? Liora has a lot to talk about, but this is episode 6. But we're on Episode 4. So basically an overview. You know what, we'll get there in Episode 6. Just all that you know is that Ed also has trouble with his
dad. Absolutely. And his Mama, yes. And I is this in this episode, I wrote my notes differently, but we'll get into this one right now because the order doesn't have as much to say about it, apparently. So Ed we see flashbacks of Ed growing up poor with his mother and something that is very that comes back multiple times is that she tells him that they aren't the kind of people who get nice things and they never will be. And I think the never will be is
what sticks in Ed's head. And he's like I that that's what he thinks success is now like this, the finer things the the silk. And we see him continuously look at a piece of silk and. Yeah. And that just kind of elaborates like Ed's curiosity, cause in a sense that's exactly what his mom was talking about. Like Steed is the embodiment of that because Steed has everything that Ed wants, including silk, including like a library of impractical books, including like a hidden walk in
closet. Like it's not stuff that Ed is verbalizing that he wants, but it is the nicer, the finer things in life. And it's just very interesting that it's like, like it's, I, I think like a good analogy is like a crow looking at or a crow or a Raven looking at like something shiny and like gravitating towards it. Yes. No, absolutely. But when Steed folds the scarf that Ed keeps looking at and keeps close and puts it in Ed's pocket and tells him that he thinks that he wears things. Fine.
Yeah. I have much to say about that when we get to that episode. But yes, that's the fancy party episode. Yeah, I did just wanna point out for episode 4, I did absolutely thoroughly enjoy the whole. Not to take away from Ed's feed, but the whole like a side like side quest essentially with like Jim and the crew and like the crew being convinced that like Jim is a mermaid.
Oh my God, yes, yeah, we we talked about Jim's coming out seeing basically in the other episode, but Oh my God, the way the crew is just the lovable gang and they're just adorable. I do want to just say one thing real quick, but just, I just want to like reiterate that Steed is just basically everything Ed wanted. Yeah, we talked about how like, yeah. So go ahead, continue.
I will say though, if you do want to see Vico, the lovely, lovely Vico talk about Jim and the character development that they helped put into the character. We also have that interview already uploaded and they do touch upon the mermaid, both Rise and the metaphorical mermaid that the crew thinks Jim is. So definitely go check it out. Yes, Vico is a lovely, lovely human being. But you know what else was lovely in this episode was the lighthouse trick.
Very, very clever. He was very clever. So in this episode, the Spanish dots are heading towards them. This is the dots episode, Caitlin. And it's basically Spanish shifts that are heading towards the revenge who are sitting ducks thanks to a leap year. So Ed's like ah fuck. So he goes to Steve's room to get drunk, and it's kind of like their final hours.
Steve pulls out the painting of the lighthouse, the one that Mary made him, And he's reflecting on this failure to be the beacon of hope that the lighthouse represents. And I love this sequence because he's like, I was supposed to be a beacon of hope. And Ed's like, you're supposed to avoid lighthouses. What are you talking about? Because it shows you their mindset. So Steed, the refined man thinks figuratively about things. A lighthouse in literature represents direction, safety and
hope. I remember that was drilled into my hand as a kid when we read The Great Gatsby. And they're like the lighthouse. It's hope. It means his hope. It's Gatsby's hope. But to a man like Ed, who's been a pirate, he's like, no, no, no, no. That's telling me in practical terms that there's rocks and I could lose my ship if I get too close to it. That means stay away.
So I love the way they kind of use this because like those the the way Steed is looking at the lighthouse, he's like, oh, those are my failures. Like like Steed the landowner. I was, I was not safety for my family. I was not hope for them, blah, blah, blah. But I would argue that Steed would describe Blackbeard the pirate as his direction, safety, and hope, because that's the thing he's been romanticizing and fantasizing about. And so it really shows that Steve does not think
practically. He thinks very figuratively, abstractly. Whereas Ed, who's been a survivalist his whole life, since he was a little kid, and even as a pirate's a life of survival, it's not really a stable career, stable lifestyle. It's a survivalist lifestyle. So he only thinks practically. He's like, what's going to keep me alive from one minute to the next?
Avoid the lighthouse, right. So I do love that the way one thinks figuratively, the other thinks like literally and in a way like that that dichotomy of the lighthouse is just so perfect for like Ed and Steed because like Steve can't see the danger of being a pirate because he only knows the what storybooks have said. Well, Ed has only seen the danger of that life and for so long he's lost. He doesn't know what safety is and hasn't had hope in a very
long time. So I love that it like kind of summarizes their kind of situation right now and how they're kind of like opposites. I was gonna even say like it's it's very like like poetically written because Steed is the lighthouse and Ed and Ed is the rocks protecting the lighthouse. Because Steed is a new found venture for Ed.
And while he does have curiosity like most would around a lighthouse, he also has his guard up and realized that this could either go horribly wrong or it's like you said, a chance for hope. And there's there's land ashore, there's finally like a spot for them to dock their ship and just relax and chill. And then on the aspect of Ed being the rocks, it's purely like we've seen a lot of people
fuck with steed. We've seen a lot of people get shot the fuck down and kind of like get the sassy Ed Blackbeard's coming out to protect him. So it's very like poetically written and then like for this like White House rock analogy because it's very fitting for their personalities. Yes, I love that. Oh my God, Sassy Blackbeard is the best too. And so the only thing I love is. So then. Unless you had something to add, Caitlin.
OK, so then they execute. So after they've had this conversation about the lighthouse, then they execute the lighthouse plant again to save them from the Spanish. And not only is it just everything we said about lighthouses, it's the perfect bonding moment for NC because they literally and figuratively ward off the danger, IE the Spanish, and ensure the safety of the whole crew. And they find direction by, like, working together.
Like you see how well the two of them work together, like, and I think they gain hope for a new life through this partnership. Hence at the next day, like they're just sitting eating marmalade and like making plans to learn from each other while like, quote, the dawn of a new day is breaking over the water. And I love in that moment where they're doing that. And Ed admits he's like, that's the most fun I've had at sea in
ages, like. But also, Steed had to trust Ed right away 'cause Ed's like and they'll blow it into a fire. Like what the hell? Like that's gonna make the fire I. I'm assuming they knew that knowing Steed. Most likely not. Yeah, knowing Steed, he never had to. Probably. Do that had no, he just yeah, to your point, Caitlin, he it shows how much Steed trusts Ed because why wouldn't why would he not trust Ed? He's like I see this like murderous Blackbeard that
everybody is talking about. I only see Ed and Ed is really great and Steve feels safe with Ed. And so to have Ed be like, you wanted to be a pirate. Let me show you how to be a pirate. I'm he cause like Ed is like teaching him and he's like, you're gonna have to like get low and like, we're gonna have to time this. And he's like coaxing him through the plan and like Steve is learning quote, fuckery and
piracy like in this moment. And you can see how like Steve is so into it and he's like, yeah, OK, I'll do it. I trust you. That's very cute. I love it. And they they just, they just work so well together. It's just this was all impromptu. They didn't plan this. They're just like, we got to do this now. It also gives we John. Feeney a great opportunity to moo the whole time. My God, we John as the lighthouse man. I will say though. It definitely does show like that.
Definitely adds to like Steed's character development because he is very trusting. He doesn't really know how to be a good judge of character because like, like he like, and to a certain extent he can because of like he had him having to do that and like his old life back when he was going to like attending parties and stuff like that and doing business ventures and all of that. But when it comes to him kind of just stepping that aside because
he's like, I'm a pirate now. Like I don't, I don't have to worry about like the snobbery and shit like that. So it very much shows. And like we see it like time and time again. He doesn't start like trusting his gut when it comes to stuff like that until we meet Calico Jack, until we see how that transforms Ed into a more black beardy type side because Ed is also trying to keep up the appearance because of his. It's very.
Between the Lions, but. We definitely know we get some smidge of confirmation that they were a thing at one point in time. So it definitely, like I said, it definitely adds to Steve's character development because he goes from very trusting immediately to kind of apprehensive and trying to be like think more critically about this in terms of protecting his crew as well as Ed. So it's a very, very nice like, like well written character overall. Oh, absolutely.
And like by that. Point, like Ed has learned, sorry, Steve has learned quite a bit from Ed about like, being a captain and pirating and like, yeah, that was a big moment for Steve when he like, not only had to stand up to like Calico Jack, but he like, stands up to Blackbeard too, in a way. Like, yeah, that's a that's a, that's a big episode. But like, it all starts here. And it's so great and they're successful. And I just love that.
Like, it just ends with them eating again, marmalade on a ship. It's a part, part when Ed's like, this stuff is great. And he's like, and Steve's like, yeah, no, I got rid of like half of our ammunition so I could suck the ship with it. He's like, that's crazy. And that's where, like, it hurts even. More so that after they get done with the marmalade, he goes, he sees Izzy, Izzy is kind of like upset that's this episode and he. Goes and says oh.
Well, if Blackbeard were to die, I mean, we we wouldn't have really a problem on our hands. And it cuts to see just up on the, the little post eating marmalade, totally unaware. And you're just having to mentally prepare for like a great betrayal. And like, it's so heartbreaking. Like it's so insanely heartbreaking.
Cause like, it's just like you just spent like the like, presumably like the past couple of days to like a week plus with this man and you're still convinced that betraying him is the only way to go because people have done that to you in the past. And that just ties back into like Ed's trauma. And it's so it's so overwritten. I will continue saying that cause it's so fucking good.
I do love when he. Walks away from Izzy 'cause he basically, he's like, hey, like if Blackbeard died and there was a body that was unrecognizable and we said it was Blackbeard, I can retire. And then you can be the captain, which is what you clearly want, Izzy. And Izzy's like, OK, yeah, I'll go along with this until we can execute that plan. But then when Blackbeard turns away from Izzy, you see that he's very conflicted. So it's very much like, is he gonna do it?
Is he not gonna do it? Is he gonna do it? Is he not gonna do it? So, like, it gave me, the viewer this anxiety. The rest of the show, like watching it, I'm like, is EDD gonna do it? Is he not gonna do it? I love when we get to the point where it's very. Clear. He's not. Going to do it. And he's like, what the fuck, man? You told me you were going to do this and it's very clear you're not going to do this. Now I want to be Captain Foot. Stomp. You promised when he really
didn't. Literally, it's a temper tantrum. Right. And like I said, narcissistic temper. Tantrum. It's gone. But yeah, yeah, this episode is really, really great. I love this episode. This was one of the ones we reacted to, wasn't it? Yeah, this was this was the first reaction. Video and as you can see it was a really good pick because we had so much to talk about it that we only talked about episode 4 in this episode he did. Cause lighthouses and symbolism and stuff. Yay.
And cinematography. It was a it was a beautiful episode. Beautiful episode. Absolutely love it. Just your reminder, check out our Patreon. So you can view the full thing, because we absolutely will not be able to upload this entirety to YouTube. No upload. The normal type of reaction video. YouTube was being homophobic. It wouldn't let us put and let us be gay and do crime. Exactly so butchered. But like we couldn't upload it. That was terrible. I tried. To fight.
It and. Everything. Warner Bros was not having it. I'm sorry. All right well, yes, thank you for coming along with us crew on our journey revisiting episode 4. We will end it here and then next time pick up with episode 5 and see how much we talk and so thanks for coming on this journey with us. We hope you enjoyed until next time stay hydrated for our captain lesbian Jesus. Get your ship together and get. It up all over the place.
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