Talk:Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World/@comment-39853008-20190618165026

I never did understand all the hate this movie (and specifically the character of John Rolfe) received. I grew up during the Disney Renaissance when the original and many other greats were released, so nobody can claim I don't get the power of the first. I do. I just happen to believe this is an entirely plausible and worthy sequel. People often change over time, as is shown most clearly with Pocahontas and John Smith. Pocahontas has matured from her somewhat thoughtless/impetuous behavior (running off to meet her forbidden love in the midst of a brewing war she was trying to prevent... not exactly wise), whereas John Smith seems to have upped his snark level during his time back in England. (By the way, how exactly did he survive that gunshot wound from the first movie, especially if the local medicine couldn't do anything as is implied? It would've taken weeks to get to back, at least. Dude should've been dead long before that rooftop confrontation with Ratcliffe.) Not hating on the guy, mind, as he still has good intentions, but he seems to have picked up a little streak of cowardice while he's been in hiding. Not writing to Pocahontas, despite ample opportunity, and trying to get her to run away as well after that disastrous Hunt Ball... not looking good, man. Still, he overcomes it and helps out anyway, doubts and all, so there's that.

Now, the major target of hate: John Rolfe. I honestly like him. A touch misogynistic at first in his behavior toward Pocahontas, but he gets over it quickly enough. Other than that, he's nothing but helpful, kind and respectful of her and her culture in ways John Smith never was. As a diplomat versus a conqueror, this makes sense. This is also in line with her own changes as is shown in the Jamestown scene. Their interests both lie in keeping the peace between their two civilizations, as opposed to John Smith whose goal has always been to travel the world, never really settling anywhere.

I'm all for nostalgia, "true love is forever love" and so on, but life isn't usually so accommodating as that. How many people stay with their first and only significant other their entire lives? It's sweet when it happens, but it's ridiculously rare.