A Thank You from Fans of a Beloved Comedy

One of our favorite uses of Kudoboard is providing a space for fan communities to come together and celebrate their passions. Whether a musical artist’s birthday, a streaming milestone, or a celebrity’s special occasion, these boards create connections for audience members to collectively share the moment.

While many of these celebrations are positive, sometimes communities come together for support during difficult times—like the cancellation of a beloved show. These fans are invested in a narrative and the characters that drive it forward, making the show’s finality a difficult time for all. 

Fortunately, these communities have strength in numbers and use Kudoboard to share memories, bid farewell to their favorite characters, and offer heartfelt thanks to actors for their work. That’s why when HBO canceled Our Flag Means Death after 2 seasons, community members created a Kudoboard to support their fandom and give thanks to the show’s star, Rhys Darby.

Rallying the Fans of Our Flag Means Death

The board, entitled “For Our Captain! 💙 🏴‍☠️,” brings the fanbase together to share their love for Rhy’s character, swashbuckling pirate Stede Bonnet, and show appreciation for his work. Over the show’s run, the New Zealand actor and comedian brought a deeply human angle to the privateer, earning him a diverse and passionate group of followers. 

After mobilizing the Our Flag Means Death fanbase via Twitter, community members quickly filled the board with incredible stories of how Rhy’s work has impacted their lives. Sharing personal stories, photos together from conventions, and more, their contributions show a love and admiration for the actor. Some of our favorite messages from his fans are:

“I just wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for your incredible talent as an actor. Your performances have brought so much laughter and joy into my life, and I am truly grateful for that. I recently had the pleasure of watching you portray Stede Bonnet in “Our Flag Means Death,” and I must say, you completely stole the show. Your portrayal of this character quickly became my favorite, and I couldn’t get enough of your brilliant performance.”

“Oh Captain, Our Captain!

Thank you for manning this ship and bringing so much joy and love to all of us. You are such a light and an inspiration to so many and I hope you feel even a pinch of the love and adoration we have for you and your craft. You embodied The Gentleman Pirate and taught us all that kindness and care are our strongest weapons in this world. We love you so much!”

“Allow me to thank you, Rhys. Thank you for filling my life with so much joy! Thank you for inspiring me to be as kind as I can be! Thank you for pushing me to be positive! Thank you for creating a community I now call home! You’ll always be our dearest captain.”

“It has been such a joy to discover Our Flag Means Death and with it, your inspiring and hilarious body of work. Thank you for being such a kind, generous, and funny guiding light for our crew. You have provided a connection for countless friendships and moments of joy. Thank you for everything.”

Creating Spaces for Communities of Fans

Kudoboard creates engaging spaces for communities to gather and rally around the moments that matter. Whether it’s a sorrowful curtain for a beloved show or a celebratory forum for awards, fans can use messages, photos, videos, and more to speak from the heart and tell public figures about the impact they’ve had on their lives.

Through their Milestone board, the Our Flag Means Death “crew” can continue to share as many memories as they please, as well as custom backgrounds to keep the board on brand. As of publishing, the board has 172 posts and counting, and will likely see many more messages as the community extends its reach.

Through his work in Our Flag Means Death, the New Zealand actor and comedian has clearly earned himself a devoted fanbase that will feel his absence. But, when one door shuts, another opens, and it’s clear that the Our Flag Means Death fandom will have strong bonds long after the show’s streaming run comes to a close.