Ah yes, ‘good’ old Waternoose.
I think that while Waternoose does belong in the ranks of ‘fatherly, elderly characters which turn on you’ I think what is surprising about him is the fact unlike the three others (Muntz, Stinkey Pete, Lotso), there’s a much longer or deeper history with the main protaganist (Sulley) even if connections can be made in the case of the others. Pixar really showed the relationship well and subtly as well as stating it outloud through Sulley himself “You’re like a father to me sir.” It appears that Sulley has, especially as a ‘rising star’ who could potentially break the scare record but even from the offset as a trainee, had a good relationship with the CEO for a long time- or at least so Sulley thought. Sulley felt he could trust Waternoose when he went to tell him about Boo.
But evidently, Waternoose is not someone you can trust.
I think what makes Waternoose all the more devestating is that with his exile of both Sulley and Mike it shows that either he (partially or fully) fabricated the Sulley-Waternoose relationship on his end or he was willing to sacrifice someone he cared for on that level that quickly- either version is rather disturbing. He didn’t try to attempt to you know ‘tempt’ him into the idea. In the end Waternoose and Sulley are almost mirrors. Sulley had to stand up against his father figure in order to be a father figure himself in a way (to Boo), though personally things went off the deep end what with Randall’s exile and all.
Thus it interests me the idea they could go back to that interesting wide open plot thread, and one of the few things the comics did right- Sulley fearing he’ll become a Waternoose.
Waternoose knows people but most of all he knows Sulley and that’s what give him his true power. Sure the chase scene with Waternoose is scary but that’s not ultimately where the true fear of Waternoose perhaps comes from. We’re taught of ‘stranger danger’ as children certainly but Waternoose wasn’t a stranger to Sulley nor openly antagonistic to him like Randall.
Instead he was someone considered a long time friend and mentor to Sulley rather than someone he’d met recently like with the others or had come to expect some friction with. The closest which comes to it is Muntz, who Carl admired as a child, but that pretty much lacks the punch and shock of someone the protaganist it seems, trusted and thought he knew for years.
It’s kind of a child’s (and heck parents or anyone’s) worst nightmare in a way. That someone you trust in your time of need or vunerability simply turns on you just like that. Trust is not always something freely given- and Waternoose built up a lot over the years when it came to Sulley only to do that. But there are people like that in real life and ultimately human versions of Waternoose are very believable. The situation of Waternoose and the company and an energy crisis while having some fantastical elements is a tad closer to home too.
I wouldn’t like Waternoose if I met him, he creeps me out despite also having some semblance of pity in a way (he’s pretty twisted after all and has the pride and family name isuues most probably on top of everything else) but overall he’s a fascinating character to me in any case. Plus his betrayal just hits a lot harder than other ‘fatherly characters’ which ultimately turn on the protaganists.
Though to be honest I would like it when Pixar finally goes the other way- the protaganists thinking a character is eeeevvvillll when it turns out it’s way more complicated than that. I love those kind of twists.
I just assumed since the DVD was already out, we didn’t need spoilers. That’s what happened with TS3 and HtTYD, so I thought it would be fine.
But whatever…
