ad astra per aspera

this first scene he's defending his decision to arrest jack to elizabeth, and the second (deleted) scene he's defending his decision to go to isla de muerta to governor swann.

you can see the clear change in tone. the first he's coming off his big fancy ceremony and the adrenaline from his proposal, and arguing with elizabeth against her wishes for her own safety. he's defiant, but could be persuaded, and still willing to hear elizabeth out. and the second, he's devastated by that proposal being accepted, but going along with elizabeth's wishes against his better judgment regarding her safety. he's resigned, anxious to face her father, and doing his best to juggle both their approval in front of an entire ship full of men. he cares so much about what they think! he's so nervous about crossing either of them even if it's for their own good!

consider further that he almost always uses eye contact unflinchingly, even when he's at his worst:

norrington is stuffy, proper, and restrained — but his eyes are so emotional in every scene.

20 years late is still fashionably late, right? So I just finished season 1 of Supernatural and dare I say I have a favourite brother 🫣