One Piece Fans Need to Watch HBO’s 4-Year-Old Sleeper Hit

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I’ve been a huge fan of One Piece for years! It originally started as a manga created by Eiichiro Oda back in 1997, and then got turned into an anime just two years later. What’s amazing is that after over two decades, it’s still incredibly popular – we’re talking over 1000 episodes, tons of movies and games, and a huge fanbase all over the world! The series follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they journey across treacherous waters in search of the ultimate treasure, and honestly, it always leaves me wanting more adventures just like it.

One Piece is a special show because it mixes over-the-top humor, touching stories, strong bonds between characters, and exciting pirate action into something truly memorable. But it’s not alone in this genre; the 2022 HBO series Our Flag Means Death offers a similar energetic spirit. While the shows appear different—one is a long-running anime and the other a live-action series—fans of One Piece will likely enjoy the story of Stede Bonnet.

Our Flag Means Death Has Just As Much Pirate Chaos As One Piece

But Beneath All the Jokes, The Series Are About Two Pirates Figuring Out Who They Are

The comedy series Our Flag Means Death, from creator David Jenkins and stars Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby, centers around Stede Bonnet, a wealthy man who unexpectedly decides to become a pirate captain. Completely out of his depth, Stede attempts to lead his crew with compassion and collaboration, rather than intimidation. This leads to a uniquely quirky group of pirates – a bit like the diverse and often clashing, but ultimately close-knit, Straw Hat Pirates. The crew of Stede’s ship, the Revenge, is made up of very different personalities who, despite frequent disagreements, form a strong bond.

Similar to One Piece, Our Flag Means Death starts as a funny, lighthearted comedy but quickly becomes much more meaningful, particularly after the introduction of Blackbeard. The relationship between Stede and Blackbeard drives the show’s emotional core, turning it into a surprisingly moving story about loneliness, figuring out who you are, and finding yourself. Like the popular anime, Our Flag Means Death balances silly visual humor, wild adventures, and comical mishaps with moments of real sadness and honesty. Both stories also share a focus on freedom – Luffy wants to be Pirate King to achieve ultimate freedom, while Stede and Blackbeard both grapple with the pressures and expectations put on them.

Our Flag Means Death Became a Surprising Sleeper Hit

Word-of-Mouth Marketing Earned the Show a Huge Fanbase & Dedicated Following

When Our Flag Means Death first came out in 2022, it didn’t have a lot of viewers, but critics and fans loved it – Season 1 earned a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and Season 2 got 96%. The show quickly grew in popularity thanks to people sharing it and enthusiastic fans online, eventually becoming known as one of the best LGBTQIA+ shows ever made. When HBO unexpectedly cancelled the show due to changes in their programming plans, those same dedicated fans protested. The cancellation became a high-profile example of the problematic “Cancel Your Gays” trend.

Even though Our Flag Means Death has a shorter run than One Piece, fans of the latter will likely enjoy it. The show features believable character connections, a comforting sense of camaraderie among the crew, and genuinely funny moments that lighten the mood. While the two series have different styles, both One Piece and Our Flag Means Death share themes of freedom, loyalty, and the journey of self-discovery – whether it’s through sailing the seas or navigating pirate life.

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2026-05-17 18:05