Ah, the infamous sequel to 'Pocahontas'. The one we don't talk about, except in scandalized tones, expressing our mingled outrage and disappointment. But bear with me a moment, and we'll discuss some of the aspects in the love life of Pocahontas, both positive and negative.
In the first movie, Pocahontas meets John Smith and eventually falls in love with him. Despite the dangers of their relationship and the racial tension between their people, they continue to see each other, and try to make the others realize that the other side isn't necessarily their enemy.
After one of the tribesmen is killed by a white man, the chief (Pocahontas's father) declares war on the English, and plans to start by executing John Smith. Pocahontas pleads with her father not to kill John, and asks that the fighting end between the two groups. However, when one of the Englishmen, Ratcliffe, disagrees with the truce, he tries to kill the tribe leader. John pushes the chief out of the way in time, and is shot instead. As a result, John has to sail back to England to receive medical treatment. Pocahontas opts to stay where she's at, and wait for his return.
Which brings us to the second movie, 'Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World'. John Smith is falsely accused of being a traitor by Ratcliffe. After things go wrong when soldiers try to arrest him, he is presumed dead. Pocahontas is greatly saddened by this news, but eventually accepts his death and moves on.
A diplomat named John Rolfe arrives in America, to bring the chief to England for negotiations. When the chief is unwilling to leave, Pocahontas offers to go instead. She sails with Rolfe to England, where she is invited to a ball. Rolfe and his maid teach Pocahontas the ways of British etiquette. Throughout this time, he and Pocahontas seem to be falling for each other.
When things go wrong at the ball, Pocahontas is accused of being 'uncivilized'. She's thrown into jail, and the King declares war on the tribe. A hooded stranger meets with Rolfe, and helps him to break Pocahontas out of prison. The stranger then reveals himself to be John Smith. (Hooray, he's not dead after all!)
Which brings us to the second movie, 'Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World'. John Smith is falsely accused of being a traitor by Ratcliffe. After things go wrong when soldiers try to arrest him, he is presumed dead. Pocahontas is greatly saddened by this news, but eventually accepts his death and moves on.
A diplomat named John Rolfe arrives in America, to bring the chief to England for negotiations. When the chief is unwilling to leave, Pocahontas offers to go instead. She sails with Rolfe to England, where she is invited to a ball. Rolfe and his maid teach Pocahontas the ways of British etiquette. Throughout this time, he and Pocahontas seem to be falling for each other.
When things go wrong at the ball, Pocahontas is accused of being 'uncivilized'. She's thrown into jail, and the King declares war on the tribe. A hooded stranger meets with Rolfe, and helps him to break Pocahontas out of prison. The stranger then reveals himself to be John Smith. (Hooray, he's not dead after all!)
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| "You know, I think Ratcliffe had the right idea. Let's declare war on the Native Americans again!" |
Smith tries to persuade Pocahontas to remain hidden, but instead she takes Rolfe's advice to talk with King James, and attempt to prevent the war. She succeeds in this, and Ratcliffe is revealed as the rat he is. Smith is royally pardoned, and given a ship of his own.
Towards the end of the movie, Smith asks Pocahontas to travel the world with him on his ship. But Pocahontas, having fallen in love with Rolfe, declines. When she prepares to leave, she discovers Rolfe has decided to go with Pocahontas and live with her in America. They sail off into the sunset, presumably to live happily ever after together.
Let's delve deeper into the romance, shall we? In the first movie, Pocahontas was madly in love with Smith in the first movie. In the second, he's believed to be dead, and she begins to fall for Rolfe. Realistically, they probably weren't together that long, and she thinks Smith is gone, so I suppose it somewhat makes sense. On the other hand, a part of you is going, "But Smith isn't dead! And what happened to the passionate love in the first movie?"
And besides that, there's the dreaded problem of The Love Triangle™. You know the drill. Two people fight over someone, and there's lots of jealousy and drama involved. Based on the prior events, it seems Disney is setting up a terrific love triangle. Cue the arguments and bloodshed.
Then Smith does return, and saves Pocahontas. Of course, he also was suggesting that Pocahontas stay hidden, rather than try to speak with the king. Along with other things during the film, Smith seems disappointing compared to the first movie. It's as if the writers purposely tried to paint Smith as the wrong guy for Pocahontas, so the new relationship with Rolfe makes more sense. Come on, people, you can do better than that. It's like he's a different person now.
All of this gives the powerful impression that the romance was done all wrong in 'Pocahontas II'. To quote one of my characters, "It's nearly as bad as the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Fortunately, neither of us have died." Well, the plot issues didn't kill us, but I won't tell you that it was great. But underneath all the insanity and issues, there's a ray of light.
Hold on, don't close that browser tab yet! Hear me out a moment while I explain. There was the umpteenth love triangle, of course. Now the two lovers of Pocahontas have met, and Smith starts to catch on that something's up between Rolfe and Pocahontas. Eventually, Smith and Rolfe bring up this subject. We're preparing for the fireworks. Surely, Smith will be jealous and wind up hating Rolfe, or get angry with Pocahontas like "How could you do this to me?! Falling in love with some other guy?!"
And then... he just accepts it. Pocahontas is in love with Rolfe now. He takes this revelation well, and makes no big scene. Rolfe isn't being a jerk about it either, rubbing it in Smith's face or acting all smug and annoying.
Considering all the stories you come across where love triangles are filled with drama, it was a refreshing change not to have everything blow up when Smith and Rolfe discover they both love Pocahontas. So while the romance was poorly executed, at least the love triangle wasn't agonizing like it usually is. Honestly, if more love triangles were done this way, without the drama and fighting, maybe we wouldn't moan and complain so much every time they appear in a story.
Towards the end of the movie, Smith asks Pocahontas to travel the world with him on his ship. But Pocahontas, having fallen in love with Rolfe, declines. When she prepares to leave, she discovers Rolfe has decided to go with Pocahontas and live with her in America. They sail off into the sunset, presumably to live happily ever after together.
Let's delve deeper into the romance, shall we? In the first movie, Pocahontas was madly in love with Smith in the first movie. In the second, he's believed to be dead, and she begins to fall for Rolfe. Realistically, they probably weren't together that long, and she thinks Smith is gone, so I suppose it somewhat makes sense. On the other hand, a part of you is going, "But Smith isn't dead! And what happened to the passionate love in the first movie?"
And besides that, there's the dreaded problem of The Love Triangle™. You know the drill. Two people fight over someone, and there's lots of jealousy and drama involved. Based on the prior events, it seems Disney is setting up a terrific love triangle. Cue the arguments and bloodshed.
Then Smith does return, and saves Pocahontas. Of course, he also was suggesting that Pocahontas stay hidden, rather than try to speak with the king. Along with other things during the film, Smith seems disappointing compared to the first movie. It's as if the writers purposely tried to paint Smith as the wrong guy for Pocahontas, so the new relationship with Rolfe makes more sense. Come on, people, you can do better than that. It's like he's a different person now.
All of this gives the powerful impression that the romance was done all wrong in 'Pocahontas II'. To quote one of my characters, "It's nearly as bad as the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Fortunately, neither of us have died." Well, the plot issues didn't kill us, but I won't tell you that it was great. But underneath all the insanity and issues, there's a ray of light.
Hold on, don't close that browser tab yet! Hear me out a moment while I explain. There was the umpteenth love triangle, of course. Now the two lovers of Pocahontas have met, and Smith starts to catch on that something's up between Rolfe and Pocahontas. Eventually, Smith and Rolfe bring up this subject. We're preparing for the fireworks. Surely, Smith will be jealous and wind up hating Rolfe, or get angry with Pocahontas like "How could you do this to me?! Falling in love with some other guy?!"
And then... he just accepts it. Pocahontas is in love with Rolfe now. He takes this revelation well, and makes no big scene. Rolfe isn't being a jerk about it either, rubbing it in Smith's face or acting all smug and annoying.
Considering all the stories you come across where love triangles are filled with drama, it was a refreshing change not to have everything blow up when Smith and Rolfe discover they both love Pocahontas. So while the romance was poorly executed, at least the love triangle wasn't agonizing like it usually is. Honestly, if more love triangles were done this way, without the drama and fighting, maybe we wouldn't moan and complain so much every time they appear in a story.
Anyway, that's my take on the romance in 'Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World'. Learn from its weaknesses and strengths, and you shall go far. We could all use more Smith/ Rolfe maturity, both in stories and in real life.
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