Continuity mistake: During the prison fight scene, Silk Spectre's stiletto boot heels are alternatively flat-soled from shot to shot, for the stunt woman's benefit.
Continuity mistake: In the scene where Silk Spectre II visits Nite Owl II at his home, the small mole on her cheek disappears only to reappear again when they leave to visit Hollis Mason (Nite Owl I). It doesn't appear to be a staple of Spectre's makeup in any way and is instead permanent, as it was present when she left Dr. Manhattan to visit Nite Owl (directly before) and on the way to visit Hollis (directly after) as well as through the rest of the film.
Continuity mistake: In "The Ultimate Cut" version of the film (and perhaps the original), Laurie and Dan have a discussion in a restaurant about the attack on Ozymandias. Outside, across the street we see people milling about. As the camera cuts between shots of both characters at the table, then close ups of Spectre, then of Night Owl, and back again, the positions of these people vary randomly, including a seated girl that appears instantly out of nowhere, then a man in a brown jacket walks over to join her, but instantly is seated next to her, then he's seen approaching and sitting down with her. (Timecode is for The Ultimate Cut). (01:41:10)
Continuity mistake: When Rorschach throws the basket of grease on the convict in prison, the convict covers his face with his hands in pain. In the following shot, his hands are father from his face than they were before. (01:31:45)
Continuity mistake: When Kovacs is being interviewed before being given the Rorshach test, a pill bottle is shown on the table in front of him. The front label of the bottle faces Kovacs when first seen, but a moment later, with nobody touching it, the bottle has turned 90-degrees so that the label faces left of Kovacs, toward the camera. (Timecode is for The Ultimate Cut). (01:50:50)
Continuity mistake: When Dan returns home after talking to Mason, he finds Rorschach in his kitchen eating beans from a can. After he has finished eating, he throws the second can on the table where it lands next to another can. When he gets up, the two cans have moved significantly apart. (00:20:15)
Continuity mistake: In the flashback to the Watchmen's initial meeting, the Comedian lifts his cigar to his mouth, but in the next shot, both arms are down by his sides. (00:43:10)
Continuity mistake: When Veidt is explaining how he offed the Comedian and killed the fake assassin, Rorschach launches an attack behind him which Veidt blocks, the shot changes in an instant cut and Veidt is now facing Rorschach. (03:00:35)
Answer: He has spent years as a costumed vigilante despite the fact that it was illegal. He has a very strict idea of what is right ("never compromise") and has proven himself incapable of doing otherwise. So no, there was no real chance of negotiating with him - Rorschach himself made it clear he'd have to die if they wanted his silence.
Garlonuss ★
Death was not the only choice. Doc M could easily have teleported/banished Rorschach to Mars/anywhere secluded in an oxygen bubble. He could have spared his life and just made him mute or manipulate his brain chemistry/atoms to remove the memory of what happened. The point is Doc M is all powerful and could manipulate matter at his whim; death was just a plot device creating a chance of an emotive martyrdom/sacrificial ending.
Ethically speaking, exiling him to Mars or erasing his memory of the event can be considered just as cruel as killing him, because then his agency is being taken away from him. Rorshach's malcontent with the situation poses a problem for the other heroes, and since Dr. Manhattan isn't willing to let him tell the truth of what happened, he obliges Rorschach's demand that he kill him instead.
Phaneron ★