Pirates of the Caribbean Robbed Fans Of Its Best Villain Arc

Though the franchise has had its share of bright, otherworldly villains, the most memorable has been the common man.

An unquenchable thirst for profit drove the actions of pirates, smugglers, and respectable merchants.

One of the main antagonists of the Pirates of the Caribbean was Lord Cutler Beckett, head of the powerful East India Company. Driven by mercenary considerations and a thirst for revenge, he captured the heart of the sea devil and effectively became the sole owner of the Caribbean.

Cutler Beckett was arrogant and cautious, started out as a lowly clerk and made a dizzying career. Captured by pirates in his youth, he vowed to destroy them. He even formed an untrustworthy alliance with the devil of the sea, Davy Jones, showing viewers that he'll do anything to get what he wants.

Gathering a huge armada, Beckett personally led it against the combined pirate fleet, but died along with his ship after the Flying Dutchman – Davy Jones’ ship – marched against him.

Beckett was the director of a corporation, the governor, the supreme commander, and one of the most interesting and versatile villains of the Pirates of the Caribbean.

As the antagonist to the pirates, Beckett represented the law and pursued an essentially noble goal – the eradication of crime. However, his methods were sometimes inhumane. He operated on the principle that the end justifies the means.

Unlike other villains in the franchise, Beckett had no supernatural abilities, but that didn't stop him from being on par with the most vicious pirates.

He didn't have tentacles like Davy Jones, and he didn't fall apart like Salazar, but also wasn't afraid to go over people's heads, blackmail them, and do whatever it took to reach his goal.

At the same time, however, he died according to the laws of honor, the last to leave his ship, even though he knew that meant death.

It was in the ambiguity that lay the appeal of this character, who disappeared from the franchise too soon. If Beckett and his East India Company became the main villain of the franchise, it would inspire more thoughtful historical commentary.

The movies could pit characters against real-life villains of the time, giving their stories historical stakes that might have saved the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise from declining relevance.