In Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, audiences are clearly guided toward rooting for Will Turner or Jack Sparrow, but for some viewers, the real standout was neither. Commodore James Norrington, often dismissed as the stiff romantic obstacle, is actually one of the franchise’s most intelligent, honorable, and tragically underappreciated characters. Far from being a villain, Norrington represents restraint, integrity, and quiet sacrifice in a world that rewards chaos.

Everyone who has seen Curse of the Black Pearl remembers the iconic opening moments where the little girl version of Elizabeth Swann sings on the prow of the ship a song that romanticizes pirates. Out of the fog looms up the imposing Captain Norrington, who smirks and says that most pirates end with “a short drop and a sudden stop.” Seated in the middle of the theater, with my feet propped up and a bucket of popcorn in my lap, I laughed and thought, “I like this guy.”

That “liking” never went away, even though the film wanted me to like William Turner more… or even Jack Sparrow. There is no outshining Johnny Depp as Captain Sparrow, a role that deserved an Oscar if the Academy weren’t such a bunch of stuck-up twits who couldn’t admit that a comedic role has as much cinematic, artistic value as a dramatic one. Will is the ‘moral mouthpiece’ of the story—a polite but angry and stubborn man who always does the right thing. Sometimes not, but only if it’s for Elizabeth. Jack is the “amoral” character, who always does the right thing… despite all his protestations otherwise. Sacrifice myself for the greater good? Well, if I must. Elizabeth is the fierce, opinionated heroine who hates corsets and wants to be with Will. And then… there is James Norrington.

I assumed Disney would go the usual route of having her fiancé be an insufferable bore or a controlling jerk. Imagine my surprise to find Commodore a gentleman, shy and sensitive around women since he doesn’t know what to say, and willing to bend the rules for a ‘greater cause’ when Elizabeth points out it’s wrong to hang Jack Sparrow. More than that, I liked him because he wasn’t stupid. Jack didn’t pull things over on him, because Norrington knew to suspect him and his motives. He knew better than to trust the word of a pirate. I like men who aren’t easily fooled, and Norrington wasn’t. He also graciously gave up the woman he loved when she preferred another man. There was no fight to the death, just acceptance of her heart’s desires and the willingness to stand aside, which shows his strength of character.

The second film took a detour in his personality (an overall decrease in the quality of storytelling, if you ask me) … because a stuffy British aristocrat isn’t as fun as having Norrington turn up covered in pig crap, with a moody attitude about having lost his commission and his respect. My beautiful Norrington turns into a total mess and an opportunist, who STILL gets one over on Jack Sparrow when he makes off with Davey Jones’ heart. (Did I love it he won that round? Why yes, I did.) But one thing remains the same: his sarcasm.

My boy can still snark with the best of them, and has a hilarious comeback for every occasion. After he gets his commission back, is once more polite, gracious, and self-sacrificing. I even got a nice shipper moment between him and Elizabeth (who treats him like trash) and then he… died. Seated in the theater in a packed-out house, I felt my stomach drop. I barely repressed  the “NOOOOOO…” I heard echoed around the theater. Clearly, I was not the only person who liked him. Even the bearded dude in the seat next to me went, “WHY?!?!?!”

I resent this decision. Norrington deserved better. He deserved a feisty girl who liked his stodginess and could get him to button-down a bit. He deserved a position of respect on the island. He deserved a better commission, and a beautiful ship, and… not to die. Even if he did it, protecting the woman he loved. He redeemed himself for aligning with her enemies with his life. Norrington was smart, hilarious, and a good man beneath a sarcastic exterior. I’m grateful to Disney for not falling into a rut with Norrington and for making him well-rounded character with many quotable lines. It’s a shame he never had a chance with Elizabeth but… maybe he was too good for her. Yes, I can live with that.

Written for We Love Pirates Week!

About the Author: Charity Bishop writes historical fiction, historical fantasy, and suspense novels that explores the darkness in human hearts, and the light that refuses to be extinguished. Discover her books.