The Surprising Trope I Noticed Linking 'Wednesday' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean'

While watching the second season of Wednesday, I suddenly noticed a hilarious déjà vu moment that instantly reminded me of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. The resemblance was so striking I couldn’t resist sharing it here.

The Airport Scene in Wednesday

In the very first episode of Season 2, Wednesday arrives at the airport. As she goes through security, the metal detector inevitably beeps.

What follows is pure comedy: she starts pulling out weapon after weapon, surrendering them one by one from every pocket, bag, and hidden spot. The gag keeps stretching, making you wonder just how much she’s carrying with her.

Elizabeth Swann’s Endless Arsenal

That exact rhythm of humor appeared years earlier in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Before entering Sao Feng’s bathhouse, Elizabeth Swann is asked to hand over her weapons. One sword turns into two, then daggers, pistols, and an entire absurd arsenal.

The Trope of 'Extended Disarming'

This isn’t just a coincidence between two favorite characters — it’s actually a classic cinematic trope often called 'extended disarming'. The joke works because the reveal goes far beyond the audience’s expectations, escalating with every new weapon.

And it’s not unique to Wednesday or Pirates:

• In The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Fili unloads an improbable heap of weapons when captured in Mirkwood.
• In The Mandalorian, Din Djarin hands over weapon after weapon before boarding a civilian transport, until the stack is comically oversized.
• In Torchwood (Season 2, Episode 1), the team forces John Hart to disarm, and the sheer number of hidden weapons he produces becomes its own punchline.

I love spotting these hidden echoes. Who would expect Wednesday, Elizabeth Swann, dwarves, a Mandalorian, and even a Torchwood rogue to share the same gag? Different worlds, same timeless joke: it’s always more weapons than you think.