OHHHH, THEY KILLED NORRINGTON. THEY BLOODY WELL KILLED HIM, and I AM MAD!
(can you tell?)
I agree with everything you have said about poor Norrington. His death was... I feel, badly handled. Bootstrap? You've got to be kidding me. Norrington did not have to die. It would have been better if he had escaped with Elizabeth, and even just been in the background for the rest of the film. I could have coped with that. But his "redemption"? Sure he made a few mistakes, but no need for him to get run through. BY BLOODY BOOTSTRAP.
And yea... where did all his scenes go? I swear Groves (?) got more screen time than Norrington, and that is Not Right. Especially seeing he was one of the most MAJOR secondary characters in the first two films. The leaked script had him having far more scenes than what he got.
At least I got a Norribeth kiss. Thank heavens for small mercies.
There had better be deleted scenes on the DVD this time around.
And yes, he could have hung out it the background! That would have suited me fine. Hell, if they brought snarky Norrington back he could have been comic relief (seriously, Norrington at a pirate council - the eye rolls alone would have been gold). And there could have been a really good moment between him and King Elizabeth.
“Why are you smirking?” "They made you their king.” “You question the wisdom of the appointment.” “Of course not. I actually approve. Devine appointment it’s not, but at least I know our great leader is someone who can read a chart.” "You should know, you taught me yourself...So out with it then, what's gotten you so amused?” “I question the wisdom of going into battle with people so easily fooled by a pair of trousers, your majesty.”
*Cries for all the potential lost Norrington moments*
And you are right. They could have done so much more with him, and shot themselves in the foot really. You should have written the third film. The fans should have written the third film.
*misses all the potential lost Norrington eye-rolling and snark* *whimper*
Gaah. Stupid Kiwis. I have insane fangirl jealousy of you right now. I still have 10 hours and 30 minutes to go. ;)
His situation is analogous to Alzheimer’s. Oh! I totally did not get this until you now explained it. This might actually make me care about his character. Instead of wishing he would just get. off. the. screen.
But in the end where they just pop up as pirates and join up with the Pintell and Ragetti was brilliant. That foursome slash fic must be written.
Firstly, where were all their scenes? Did the Governor even get a line before he was killed? Because I can’t remember one. I though they were treated badly in the leaked scrip, but at least they had scenes in the leaked script. Oh, hell.
basically, the one sin that Norrington committed that was worth his character for dying Was the extended scene of Norrington giving the heart to Beckett (that was cut from DMC) and preparing to stab the heart restored in AWE? If so, I think that even negates some of his self-interest.
Careful what you wish for. Seeing before everyone else kind of sucks, I spent most of yesterday with nobody to talk too about it because nobody else had seen the movie.
The extended scene from DMC was cut. We had no Scruffington and Norrington got his sword back randomly when he was already an Admiral cause I don’t know, Beckett was feeling particularly benevolent that day or something (the sword scene just felt hurriedly put in there).
Great to know you have plot bunnies though. I’ve had one eating away at my brain all day (of course now I’ve actually got time to sit down and write it, it’s not coming).
I saw your post last night, and thought it was so cool that the time differences meant I'd get to see reviews popping up on from lj friends around the world as the hours were counted down. ^_^
I agree with pretty much everything you said. I spoiled myself about the finality of Norrington's death, because I knew if I didn't, I'd be waiting the whole rest of the movie for him to pop up. :*( Given that and great acting from the lovely Mr. Davenport, I was actually okay with his death when I didn't think I would be.
Norrington on the other hand, has to die for his sins. Which would be fine if we knew what those sins were.
Sadly, I think his biggest "sin" was loving someone who couldn't love him back. If he had to redeem himself for Elizabeth, as he did, his redemption is death, because there's really no other place to take the character.
I kind of wish I had been spoiled as too him not coming back. Will’s “death” scene was really bad for me, which had little to do with Will and everything to do with that was the moment I realized they weren’t going to pull a Barbossa and Norrington wasn’t going to be coming back. Broke my heart.
The did seem to write James into a corner in this one. His whole presence in this movie was about his relationship with Elizabeth. They could have had him interacting with Jack or Will, two characters with whom he had a different relationship. He didn’t have to die for them. Maybe that could have opened up another place for his character to go.
Will gained everything Norrington had to give, and Norrington ended up dead. I wouldn't say Will came out smelling like a rose in all of this. Here's a guy who's spent very little time actually backstabbing anyone (and yes, Norrington did backstab grandly in DMC, perhaps more than anyone because he basically turned the world over to Beckett - not that I can't see why, I'm just saying), and not only did he lose his life, he lost at least ten years with the woman he loves (depending if you think the curse is broken after that point, or if it goes on forever, in which case it's worse). I daresay Will is the most moral character in this series, and he's the one who has to sacrifice and do this job that is anything but happy and fun, while Jack and Elizabeth get to go off and enjoy life aboard land OR sea and not see dead people all the time
( ... )
Well, I suppose if you put it that way, it kind of does suck to be Will…
Really, the whole bitterness situation could have been avoided should the writers have made Norrington become Captain of the Flying Dutchman. Heck, people I know outside the fandom think that it would have been far better ending to make him captain. Norrington gets a purpose and quazi-immortality, Will gets the girl and a happy ending. Everyone's happy, particularly me.
And while I’m sure Will would do his best to make sure Norrington gets a good trip to the other side, can you just imagine the reaction from James when the man his fiancée left him for and his father, the man who murdered him, show up to transport him - “Oh just brilliant. I’ve wound up in hell and it has Turners.” ;)
It’d be the waterwheel scene in DMC all over again within five minutes. Though now one of them is already dead and the other’s immortal - it could go on for a while. :)
Comments 33
(can you tell?)
I agree with everything you have said about poor Norrington. His death was... I feel, badly handled. Bootstrap? You've got to be kidding me. Norrington did not have to die. It would have been better if he had escaped with Elizabeth, and even just been in the background for the rest of the film. I could have coped with that. But his "redemption"? Sure he made a few mistakes, but no need for him to get run through. BY BLOODY BOOTSTRAP.
And yea... where did all his scenes go? I swear Groves (?) got more screen time than Norrington, and that is Not Right. Especially seeing he was one of the most MAJOR secondary characters in the first two films. The leaked script had him having far more scenes than what he got.
At least I got a Norribeth kiss. Thank heavens for small mercies.
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There had better be deleted scenes on the DVD this time around.
And yes, he could have hung out it the background! That would have suited me fine. Hell, if they brought snarky Norrington back he could have been comic relief (seriously, Norrington at a pirate council - the eye rolls alone would have been gold). And there could have been a really good moment between him and King Elizabeth.
“Why are you smirking?”
"They made you their king.”
“You question the wisdom of the appointment.”
“Of course not. I actually approve. Devine appointment it’s not, but at least I know our great leader is someone who can read a chart.”
"You should know, you taught me yourself...So out with it then, what's gotten you so amused?”
“I question the wisdom of going into battle with people so easily fooled by a pair of trousers, your majesty.”
*Cries for all the potential lost Norrington moments*
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And you are right. They could have done so much more with him, and shot themselves in the foot really. You should have written the third film. The fans should have written the third film.
*misses all the potential lost Norrington eye-rolling and snark*
*whimper*
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Why didn't they let you write the movie?
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His situation is analogous to Alzheimer’s.
Oh! I totally did not get this until you now explained it. This might actually make me care about his character. Instead of wishing he would just get. off. the. screen.
But in the end where they just pop up as pirates and join up with the Pintell and Ragetti was brilliant.
That foursome slash fic must be written.
Firstly, where were all their scenes? Did the Governor even get a line before he was killed? Because I can’t remember one. I though they were treated badly in the leaked scrip, but at least they had scenes in the leaked script.
Oh, hell.
basically, the one sin that Norrington committed that was worth his character for dying
Was the extended scene of Norrington giving the heart to Beckett (that was cut from DMC) and preparing to stab the heart restored in AWE? If so, I think that even negates some of his self-interest.
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The extended scene from DMC was cut. We had no Scruffington and Norrington got his sword back randomly when he was already an Admiral cause I don’t know, Beckett was feeling particularly benevolent that day or something (the sword scene just felt hurriedly put in there).
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I am a bit hazy since I just saw it. Oh, James.
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*Sniff*
Great to know you have plot bunnies though. I’ve had one eating away at my brain all day (of course now I’ve actually got time to sit down and write it, it’s not coming).
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I agree with pretty much everything you said. I spoiled myself about the finality of Norrington's death, because I knew if I didn't, I'd be waiting the whole rest of the movie for him to pop up. :*( Given that and great acting from the lovely Mr. Davenport, I was actually okay with his death when I didn't think I would be.
Norrington on the other hand, has to die for his sins. Which would be fine if we knew what those sins were.
Sadly, I think his biggest "sin" was loving someone who couldn't love him back. If he had to redeem himself for Elizabeth, as he did, his redemption is death, because there's really no other place to take the character.
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The did seem to write James into a corner in this one. His whole presence in this movie was about his relationship with Elizabeth. They could have had him interacting with Jack or Will, two characters with whom he had a different relationship. He didn’t have to die for them. Maybe that could have opened up another place for his character to go.
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Really, the whole bitterness situation could have been avoided should the writers have made Norrington become Captain of the Flying Dutchman. Heck, people I know outside the fandom think that it would have been far better ending to make him captain. Norrington gets a purpose and quazi-immortality, Will gets the girl and a happy ending. Everyone's happy, particularly me.
And while I’m sure Will would do his best to make sure Norrington gets a good trip to the other side, can you just imagine the reaction from James when the man his fiancée left him for and his father, the man who murdered him, show up to transport him - “Oh just brilliant. I’ve wound up in hell and it has Turners.” ;)
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CotBP
James: Mr. Turner, do not make the mistake of thinking you are the only man who cares for Elizabeth.
Will: *fuming silently*
AWE
James: I've wound up in hell, and it has Turners.
Will: Put a sock in it, Admiral, and pull that line in. Or I'll make you call me 'Captain.'
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