#I do like me some share throwing Stede tho

[deaderthandoubledead]

Other character sets: Buttons / Calico Jack / Izzy 

[skimblyshanks]

It's. Glaringly obvious that Izzy feels cheated on as stede and Ed immediately spark. Like. Duh. Not a hot take from me. everyone and their bird has noticed this.

This next part is probably also old news? But I want to lay out my understanding/interpretation of Ed and Izzy's relationship. And also this is such a meandering Ramble

Anyway. Izzy sees them as exclusive. He sees them as lovers whether or not he'll admit it. He hates to talk feelings and vulnerability, but only he gets to call Ed by his name.

I don't think Ed gets that Izzy thinks that. I think to Ed Izzy is just. Focused on being bloodthirsty Pirates. And after all, you can't really talk to Izzy about feelings so what bond can you really make with the guy? All the same, he cares about Izzy. He wants Izzy in his life, on his crew.

Imo the "plot to kill stede" at the end of episode 4 was a bold faced lie to keep Izzy on board. It came out of nowhere, it led to nowhere, Ed's face in the final shot is just. Tired. And I think it shows the crossed wires between him and Izzy.

Izzy is leaving not only as an employee but he's trying to say "we're through." But Ed, for all his pulling back and arguing in the episode, doesn't want Izzy to leave. Izzy has been his support for years, maybe decades. This isn't some no-strings, absolutely never any vulnerability situation like Calico Jack, Izzy calls Ed Ed. But anyway. His comments are all v obviously slanted like a lover.

But then like. Ed doubles down. Tells him what he thinks he wants to hear which. It isn't, really. Izzy doesn't want Blackbeard to "die" but. If he orders Izzy to take over as captain, then he will. And if it means this twat getting in their way gets murdered? Bonus.

And the line that highlights that they were each coming at this convo from different perspectives? "You still got it." To Izzy, Ed is finally sounding like himself again. To Ed, he has received affirmation that this mask is still working.

Anyway yeah I think Izzy's resentment over the fact that this promise never came true, and the fact that Blackbeard didn't try and make him stay after the duel, I think episode 6 was his turning point from "I want to get back to what we had," to "You are mine and I am going to make you remember that before these people ruin who you are and what we have."

I do think Izzy values the exclusivity in his homosocial intimacy, see his attempt to blackmail lucius abt drawing fang in the nude as tho Pete would be upset by it, and see his aggression whenever anyone else calls Ed Ed. But Izzy also doesn't want to talk about feelings. He wants to have a level of closeness, doesn't want to maintain it (nor does he think it should need to be maintained with this feelings nonsense), and he doesn't get why all of a sudden Ed is sharing this thing that was once just for them. Just for him. And it's upsetting. It's a betrayal.

But to Ed there was no potential for a proper relationship bc. Why would Izzy ever want something like that. All izzy cares about is pirating and masculinity. No shit he's gonna pursue this other guy. No shit he's going to interpret Izzy's comments as unintentionally gay. Izzy doesn't do feelings. But Stede and his crew do, and Ed has probably been craving that for who knows how long, so he opens up with them. And he introduces himself to Stede as Ed. And he grants the crew permission to call him Ed.

He also prevents them throwing Izzy overboard when he rejoins them. Izzy is the first person he asks to come to his quarters in that moment. Izzy still follows his request to get Lucius.

Izzy doesn't do the "I should have let the British kill you" until Ed challenges him to his face and makes Edward the main face of himself.

Their dynamic is just so weird and yes izzy is a sexually frustrated individual who probably really enjoyed getting his toe fed to him by Ed/Blackbeard but also just. Ugh. Fjjehtjejtjejtnrjektjeo he's just so interesting and Ed is so interesting and their history together and their relationship is so interesting bc they're clearly approaching it with different assumptions that are never actually shared or discussed because Real Pirates Don't Do That