Set in 1717, the series loosely follows the true adventures of Stede Bonnet, a pampered aristocrat who abandons his life of privilege to become a pirate, despite having zero aptitude for the life on the high seas. Sailing aboard his ship, the Revenge, Stede attempts to manage his dysfunctional, mutiny-prone crew by offering them fine dining, a library, and a softer approach to pirating. His worldview is drastically upended when he crosses paths with the legendary, feared Captain Edward Teach—better known as Blackbeard. What begins as an unlikely partnership blossoms into a deep, tender romance that challenges both men to confront their identities, past traumas, and what it truly means to live authentically.