This tie and the red silk are the 2 most iconic pieces of cloth in this show

I never realised he was still wearing it after becoming Blackbeard/The Kraken again. That’s really interesting. He gets rid of everything associated with Stede, even splitting up any couples or friendships from the crew, but keeps the tie and the painting. I wonder why?

Hanging on by a thread

Saw a great meta on tumblr that said the cravat on Ed and Mary represent Stede's hold on them. Essentially: Ed is almost always wearing it after they meet because Stede has such a hold on him from that moment. And when Stede leaves, even though Ed tries to get rid of everything that reminds him of Stede, the cravat remains and is now worn much higher on the neck, symbolizing how Stede still has him in a chokehold even though he's trying so hard to pretend otherwise. Then for Mary, before Stede comes back she isn't wearing one, but when he shows up so does the cravat in her outfits. And the more smothered she feels by having Stede back, the tighter it is on her neck. It only loosens after he and Mary have their talk and begin planning the fuckery. It's still there when Stede leaves again, but much looser around her neck, symbolizing that she's finally found a comfortable place for Stede in her life.

I’ve never been so invested in a piece of fabric, thank you for this.

The neck tie is an engagement ring

I like how Ed ended up replacing one fancy piece of cloth with another fancy piece of cloth, showing how, despite his efforts, he failed to actually fundamentally change anything about himself. He TRIED to literally let go of himself in order to forget about Stede. His true self, before he became the Kraken. The memory of his mother. The idea that he could be more than just a peasant. More than just a pirate, too. The idea that he could be one of THOSE people, if he just outsmarted them all, if he just had someone by his side to show him how. His self-worth. All of that he tried to let go when he let go of his moms silk cloth. But he can‘t let go of Stede. He isn’t ready to, because Stede represents all of these things. Because Stede truly believes all of the things that Ed has only dared to dream of privately. Because Stede treated ED like he was worth something. Not Blackbeard, not the Kraken, ED. And so he keeps Stedes little necktie, even as he throws away all of Stedes books and sneakily wears it like a gay little chocker, because no one will notice. Because it’s not a flashy color, but it probably feels good on the skin. He’s literally going into hiding, suppressing his true self and going back into the closet if you will. Also I‘d like to imagine Ed‘s Moms silk cloth ended up stuck somewhere on the ship, was found by a random Crew member and was made into the bleeding heart on the Flag addition, because I‘m a sap. Besides the thought of Ed wearing Stedes dads necktie is hilarious. The man would literally roll in his grave if he knew his Sons pirate Captain lover was wearing his respectable necktie.

the fact that he's not wearing it while he's planning to kill stede but DOES wear it as "the kraken" is very interesting

if characters can hop in a dinghy and happen upon whatever they're hoping to find then i have hope stede will stumble upon the red silk floating in the water. imagine s2 with stede wearing ed's silk and ed wearing stede's necktie

So if Stede gave it to him- and he’s still wearing it after their “break-up”- it’s safe to assume he’s still willing to forgive stede?? 😰😰 because he still loves him enough to wear the necktie

Whoever made this video needs to be on the subreddit. We've all spiraled to this point 🤣

Ah another detail is that Ed doesn’t do his hair up in a little bun when he’s Blackbeard

When you look at these two characters, at first glance Ed seems to be stronger than Stede. However, after deeper analysis of the characters, we notice that appearances are deceptive. Stede, despite his great sensivity, low self-esteem and a great need for love and acceptance, he is not influenced by bad influences, neither by his brutal father, nor by the boys who persecute him, nor even by Edward. Despite the fact that many people ridicule him, he remains faithful to his beliefs, he is not afraid to make his dreams come true, even if others consider him as a fool. He is mentally strong and nevertheless copes well in his life alone. Ed, on the other hand is much weaker mentally than Stede and therefore he desperately needs protection, tenderness and someone to guide him through life, because when left on his own, he is quickly manipulated, which only makes him unhappy. I think he kept that painting because he wanted Stede to be his lighthouse. After all, lighthouses guide the ships to prevent them from crashing into the rocks.💕

It’s the “you wear piracy well” fabric lol

Holy shit I didn't even pick up on this while watching, but now that I've seen it, I can't help but notice that the tie is _much_ easier to see once Ed's beard is shaved off- once he has given up 'Blackbeard'. The neck is a particularly vulnerable area, so it's a great visual metaphor for how much Ed comes to trust Stede, but also, after episode 9, the metaphor sours, turning into a noose- Stede Bonnet has killed Edward Teach. Of course who knows if any of this was intentional, but it's damn fun to speculate on. Christ I need season 2 like oh my fucking god.

The tie stands for stedes love doesn't it

Thank you for this! I never even noticed. I love details like this, whether meant the way we interpret them or not (although with this show I think it is actually meant the way we interpret them!).

can someone please analyse why in every single pivotal bonding scene between Ed and Stede, Stede is always on the left side and Ed is always on the right? Idk if people already noticed it but I noticed it on my fourth rewatch and thought I was reaching, but it is in fact every scene they're 1 on 1 in :') And seeing how there's symbolism behind a cravat there has to be something here?? 😂

I didn't realize Ed kept the tie even with his leather!!! Omg cute

I love the little details like this, OFMD has so many of them and they make me love the show even more.

can we talk about the sound effects in this show? some of them are grossly realistic, like when the swede pulls out one of his teeth or when nigel gets stabbed in the face

I'm still weirdly invested in this necktie's subplot

Ed may not be someone who deserves fine things but he’s someone who can love deeply and forever 😭😭😭

“Unfortunately we don’t se it in episode 2 or 3.” What on earth do you mean *unfortunately*? That’s when he had his tibbies out for our enjoyment

Doing the lord’s work I see

This is amazing, and thank you for it. I think that tie was Ed’s first real acceptance of these new feelings he’s having. To hold on to something belonging to Stede is showing he wants Stede to stay in his life, but I don’t think he’d quite put it together why yet. At the end, he’s angry and aggressive and tries to quite literally drown his pain in he ocean and in a bottle, but to no avail. He’s in pain, but he’s still in love.

I think it represents a character being restricted by their assigned role in life. It kind of looks ominous/like a noose at times. Stede wears it as the beginning cuz he's desperately trying to free himself from that feeling. Stede's father wears it because he followed those same rules and is clearly unhappy, is enforcing them in his son. 'Blackbeard' and Stede swap clothes and after that, we see Ed wearing it. Stede is starting to be more freely himself at sea (sans necktie) and Ed is only just beginning to realize that he wants that for himself, too, in his own way. He literally tries on Stede's role in life as he's trying to figure it out. He's still got the pressure in the background of carrying thru w/his plan to murder Stede, which is expected of him as Blackbeard, by people like Izzy. Stede wears it again at the dinner party because he's back once again in the circumstances that made him feel repressed and out of place / unhappy before. They're sort of walking in each other's shoes (...necktie). Not sure about the moonlit fabric and stabbing scenes- maybe showing they relate to one another in that way, but they're also different, so hesitating on coming together? (lol) Ed still being restricted by his pirate life, etc. They don't wear it during the beach kiss scene, cuz, obviously. Mary wears it when Stede returns cuz he was part of the life holding her back, too. Ed reverts to Blackbeard and his expected role, and it's around his neck again, practically choking him^ (Ed lets go of the red fabric which was given to him by his mother or reminds him of the one his mother talked to him about- I forget rn- and that Stede later tucks into Ed's pocket, saying "you wear fine things well," not just because he wants to forget Stede but because it represents his dream/belief that he deserves and can have nice things in life. Happiness, freedom, self-expression, respect, comfort, etc. Stede made Ed feel like he deserves those things, and when Stede leaves, Ed feels abandoned/rejected and assumes that all of his worst fears about himself are true, after all, and that people like his Dad, Izzy, and the racists are right. It's really heart-breaking.) Curious to see if the necktie pops up again in season 2!! Really interesting detail!

Thanks you just make the s1 ending even sadder

stop oh my god this show just never lets me rest

😍 92.8% of my favourite OFMD fics feature this cravat

Thanks my brain was hurting trying to keep track of this

I'm guessing the tie is their "big boy pants". Whoever is wearing it has to be a big boy in this moment, and take charge of the situation...

no because youre a fucking genius and i love you thank you

3:35 Stede’s wearing a white one, too

i love this show so much

Brilliant work! I was wondering about that tie so I really appreciate this.

I’m crying

I love stuff like this! Thank you for pointing it out ughhh amazing xxx His love is still wrapped around him, he can't bear to untie it *sob*

During the -prosecution- wedding

This is effing genius and now I want to lie down in a puddle and cry.

Wow ❤ This is really an interesting video; I have enjoyed watching it

Omg can anyone confirm whether the fabric that beardless Ed was gingerly folding at the bunk bed was the same tie or it’s just my wishful thinking after this video

I have a slightly different theory. You pointed out the different colors of the ties and the fact that they sometimes wear them at the same time, so I actually don't think it is meant to be the same tie or represent ed's closeness with Steve or anything like that. Instead, I think that the tie is meant to signify whether a character is acting like a pirate or not. Stede wears it through the first episode as he attempts to live out his pirate fantasy and commits his first "kill," is not wearing a tie when he swaps clothes with blackbeard but can't handle the pressure of being captain, but is wearing it when he stabs ed. Ed begins the series disillusioned and bored with being a pirate, and does not wear the tie until he meets Stede who brings light and excitement back into his life. Ed wears it while he plans to kill Stede and during the episode with calico jack, does not wear it in episode 9 when he gives up piracy, and then puts it on again when he becomes the kraken. Even the minor characters follow this rule: Stede's father is as evil and sadistic as any pirate, and Mary wears the tie as she helps to commit a fuckery. So that's my idea. Good work!

Finally someone said it

god this makes me love it even more T-T

my dumbass thought i was just reading a very creative fic writers work but its real its real i htbbhgvvebbvhheghvvf crying sobbing throwing up clawing at the walls

Spoilers omg what if Stede finds the red piece of clothing that Blackbeard released into the sea when he was heartbroken

damn that’s impressive

I know is nothing but ed purple shirt keep irritate me because purple in those time is not easy colour to get like slick so why he keep wearing it casually

how did i not notice any of this 😭

1:32 THATS IT IM DONE OH GOD

What does it mean what does it all mean

the 360p makes it pretty hard to see sadly

The subtitles are too big to see some of things you are pointing out

taika waititi and johnny depp as brothers in a pirates of the Caribbean movie! PLS SOMEONE SHARE THIS AND LETS MAKE IT HAPPEN!

its*

its. Its ITS! IT'S is the abbreviation of "It Is" - to see which version you need, substitute "it is" in your sentence and see if it still makes sense. "It's important" ... "It is important" YES "The tie has it's own history" "The tie has it is own history" NO

That's not a story. That's just a series of observations.