Anne Bonny is a guest star character who appears on the “Fun and Games” episode (Episode 4, Season 2) of the HBO pirate romantic comedy, Our Flag Means Death (2022-). While not a full villain and she is a former colleague of Blackbeard’s, her character has antagonistic and manipulative tendencies. Her attire is akin to 1700s “wench” clothing but with pants, as well as a spider tattoo on her bosom. Anne is a retired pirate and friend of Blackbeard’s from her glory days. When the show finds her, she now runs an antiques shop, but that has not dimmed the chaotic fire in her.
While Anne has settled down with fellow pirate Mary Read and opened up an antiques, the two find dangerous ways to spice up their relationship, from physical injury to psychological games with each other, often pulling Ed and Stede unwillingly into their fracas. While she is often flirting with (and sparring with) Mary, we also frequently see her admiring and even making a pass at Stede.
Anne’s bisexuality is also a reflection of her real-life counterpart, who was partnered with pirate Calico Jack Rackham before getting together with Read in both a personal and professional manner in the world of 1700s piracy.
While Anne’s character in the episode may not be the most wholesome, healthy, or positive bi representation in modern television, she does have an unhealthy relationship with Mary. The chaos of Anne’s union with Mary is also spiritually reflective of both the spirit and attitude of her historical counterpart. Our Flag Means Death also makes sure to avoid the #KillYourGays trope, where we not only don’t see Anne or Mary perish (even though Anne has set their house on fire) but imagine for the historically queer couple a semi-happy ending they never got to enjoy in reality.