Seive

I saw the latest movie the other day.

I did miss Will and Elizabeth, but Philip and Syrena worked for me. Really, really worked for me.

They are similar to Will and Elizabeth in a few ways. It's young love (thinking CotBP), a do anything you have to for the other type love.

And it's also a tragic love. That's why I'm so drawn to it, I think. Like Will and Elizabeth, Philip and Syrena end in a way that's not the happy ending, ride off into the sunset type of love story. Both men are close to death. Both men have death averted by the actions of the women they love ... Elizabeth making the decision with Jack to save Will at any cost, Syrena pulling Philip under with her mermaid's kiss. I do believe that he survives. How he survives, in what form, is rather up to the imagination.

And both couples face a future that is less than perfect. Will and Elizabeth are separated for 10 years, while he serves out the sentence imposed on him by the saving of his life. Philip and Syrena must find a way to be together as well ... does she choose to live on land, does he become changed into merfolk, do they both stay as they are and find ways to wrestle a life together from their separate identities?

None of it is easy, by any means. But these are strong women, in love with wonderful men. They'll figure out a way to be together, to make it work.

I've always loved Will and Elizabeth. I don't think that Will gets nearly the credit he deserves of being the only man who not only understands her need for freedom, but has always supported her, believed in what she can do, helped her gain the tools she needed in a man's world to be able to hold her own ... including how to fight with a sword, if that's what she wanted (and he wanted it for her, too, because he wanted her to be able to depend on herself). Will did all these things for her .. not some flashy bad boy with moments of nobility here and there, who popped up in her life every once in a while, and did absolutely nothing for her after that first saving of her from drowning (he didn't even know who she was, so that was an altruistic moment on his part). Will was there for her from day one. And he let her be herself from day one.

Philip and Syrena, though, are going to find a niche in my heart, I can tell already.

I'm drawn to two things, I think. Angst by the boatload, and guys who will do anything for their women. Will and Philip have that in spades.