Ariel
- Episode aired Nov 3, 2013
- TV-PG
- 44m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
Mary Margaret, Emma, David and Hook attempt to rescue Neal and Gold and Regina begrudgingly agree to work together to take down Pan, as flashbacks show Snow White help Ariel get acquainted w... Read allMary Margaret, Emma, David and Hook attempt to rescue Neal and Gold and Regina begrudgingly agree to work together to take down Pan, as flashbacks show Snow White help Ariel get acquainted with Prince Eric.Mary Margaret, Emma, David and Hook attempt to rescue Neal and Gold and Regina begrudgingly agree to work together to take down Pan, as flashbacks show Snow White help Ariel get acquainted with Prince Eric.
Jared Gilmore
- Henry Mills
- (as Jared S. Gilmore)
- (credit only)
Yvette Nicole Brown
- Ursula
- (voice)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Mary Margaret says that she wants to have another child, it was to accommodate Ginnifer Goodwin's real-life pregnancy with her first son.
- GoofsWhen Snow reaches the cliff edge and jumps in, it is a nice, sunny day. When she lands in the sea, as well as any other close-ups of the water, it is dark and murky. This alludes to the use of an indoor pool being used to shoot the scenes.
- Quotes
Regina Mills: [referring to Ariel] We have history together.
Mr. Gold: Well, that would explain the distasteful look on her face.
- Crazy creditsThe opening sequence shows Ariel sitting on a rock.
Featured review
The Little Mermaid swims onto 'Once Upon a Time'
When 'Once Upon a Time' first started it was highly addictive and made the most of a truly great and creative premise. Really loved the idea of turning familiar fairy tales on their heads and putting own interpretations on them and the show early on clearly had clearly had a ball. Watched it without fail every time it came on and it was often a highlight of the week. Which was why it was sad when it ran out of ideas and lost its magic in the later seasons.
"Ariel" may not be one of the best episodes of 'Once Upon a Time', or of Season 3. Of the previous five episodes of the season the only one to be considered weaker by me is "Lost Girl" (liked that too, despite its unevenness). Still really enjoyed "Ariel" for many reasons, while having a couple of reservations, and it has a lot of what makes me like 'Once Upon a Time' when it was good. That it is different from the original story and the Disney film is insignificant, considering that the whole premise of the show is about turning stories and characters from fairy tales and classic literature on their heads and giving them fresh twists.
Other episodes do better in advancing story elements and moving things forward. Things don't progress that significantly here (the search for and finding of Neal is the closest the episode gets to that.
There is also some over-convenience and corniness in this portion of the storytelling as well, plus some overwrought parts for Emma. It is reminiscent of the show when it first started (still really liked the show when it first started, but it didn't naturally settle straightaway in the writing), and considering that the show had at this stage come on and improved as much as it has since that was disappointing somewhat.
However, there are a lot of pleasures. "Ariel" introduces everyone's favourite mermaid Ariel. Not only is her story very interesting and her chemistry with Snow White affecting and charming, Ariel is very endearing in her introductory appearance, easy to root for and not one-dimensional.
Another element that came over very well was the chemistry between Regina and Rumplestiltskin, that was one intriguing team up that was intense and entertaining.
Personally quite enjoyed the Echo Caves scene. It is a little too convenient sure and some may find it cheesy, to me it was entertaining, surprising and inventive, gave a sense of empowerment, was crucial in resolving a major plot point and was the closest the episode got to forwarding the story momentum.
Can't fault the acting, Lana Parrilla, Ginnifer Goodwin and Robert Carlyle are extremely good as they consistently are but it's Joanna Garcia Swisher who impresses most.
Furthermore, "Ariel" is a very handsomely mounted episode visually, the settings and costumes are both colourful and atmospheric, not too dark or garish and never cookie-cutter. It is photographed beautifully too. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable main theme. Writing has the right balance of humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue on the most part, but with a few tweaks and more thought into the searching for Neal storyline dialogue it would have been even better.
Overall, very enjoyable though not quite one of my favourites of the third season. 8/10 Bethany Cox
"Ariel" may not be one of the best episodes of 'Once Upon a Time', or of Season 3. Of the previous five episodes of the season the only one to be considered weaker by me is "Lost Girl" (liked that too, despite its unevenness). Still really enjoyed "Ariel" for many reasons, while having a couple of reservations, and it has a lot of what makes me like 'Once Upon a Time' when it was good. That it is different from the original story and the Disney film is insignificant, considering that the whole premise of the show is about turning stories and characters from fairy tales and classic literature on their heads and giving them fresh twists.
Other episodes do better in advancing story elements and moving things forward. Things don't progress that significantly here (the search for and finding of Neal is the closest the episode gets to that.
There is also some over-convenience and corniness in this portion of the storytelling as well, plus some overwrought parts for Emma. It is reminiscent of the show when it first started (still really liked the show when it first started, but it didn't naturally settle straightaway in the writing), and considering that the show had at this stage come on and improved as much as it has since that was disappointing somewhat.
However, there are a lot of pleasures. "Ariel" introduces everyone's favourite mermaid Ariel. Not only is her story very interesting and her chemistry with Snow White affecting and charming, Ariel is very endearing in her introductory appearance, easy to root for and not one-dimensional.
Another element that came over very well was the chemistry between Regina and Rumplestiltskin, that was one intriguing team up that was intense and entertaining.
Personally quite enjoyed the Echo Caves scene. It is a little too convenient sure and some may find it cheesy, to me it was entertaining, surprising and inventive, gave a sense of empowerment, was crucial in resolving a major plot point and was the closest the episode got to forwarding the story momentum.
Can't fault the acting, Lana Parrilla, Ginnifer Goodwin and Robert Carlyle are extremely good as they consistently are but it's Joanna Garcia Swisher who impresses most.
Furthermore, "Ariel" is a very handsomely mounted episode visually, the settings and costumes are both colourful and atmospheric, not too dark or garish and never cookie-cutter. It is photographed beautifully too. The music is haunting, ethereal and cleverly used with a memorable main theme. Writing has the right balance of humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue on the most part, but with a few tweaks and more thought into the searching for Neal storyline dialogue it would have been even better.
Overall, very enjoyable though not quite one of my favourites of the third season. 8/10 Bethany Cox
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 11, 2018
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