I Know There Was A Lot Going On In At World’s End, But I’m Really Stuck On Norrington’s Sacrifice

i know there was a lot going on in at world’s end, but i’m really stuck on norrington’s sacrifice

like. i’m well aware that his death = redemption here. but there is a world where stubborn, capable, clever james norrington survives elizabeth’s escape on the flying dutchman. imagine for a second, if you will, just for one second, that he eschews his pride once more. he duels with bootstrap bill and davy jones just long enough to escape to the empress with elizabeth.

then james norrington goes to shipwreck cove, witnesses the inauguration of Pirate King Elizabeth Swann. he serves as her adjutant, having finally picked a side. james doesn’t have to be happy to be working with pirates, but damn if he didn’t outplay everyone to give beckett the heart of davy jones, one of the finest acts of trickery in the franchise, and hasn’t felt like himself since. damn if he won’t protect elizabeth and grieve her father with her, because weatherby swann was a friend to him until the end. damn if he doesn’t love the swann family. damn if he won’t stand right by elizabeth’s side, king of the pirates or not, to finally tell cutler beckett off.

imagine for a second, just a wee little second, that james norrington fights with elizabeth swann aboard the black pearl in the final fight. he’s a veteran captain and can help barbossa at the helm when the shit gets messy, and, as we know, shit does get messy when the dutchman’s crew starts to board. james is best man at elizabeth and will’s impromptu pirate fight wedding. james helps barbossa keep the pearl afloat in the midst of calypso’s malestrom. recall for a moment that he, y’know, destroyed a royal navy ship and lost his commission after chasing the pearl into a hurricane. how’s that for redemption, disney?? how’s that for bookends, DISNEY?????

sacrifice is well and good and emotionally touching in all the most heart-wrenching ways, but hot damn. imagine, for just one more second if you please, the defiance and satisfaction of james norrington, a man of honor willing to die for his cause, instead living out of spite. imagine him finally forging his own path from the wreckage of his mistakes.