Ariel (Once Upon a Time)

"Ariel" is the sixth episode of the third season of the American fantasy drama series Once Upon a Time, and the show's 50th episode overall.

Plot
Ariel saves Snow White, who then decides to help Ariel become closer with her love Prince Eric. Meanwhile, Emma, Mary Margaret, David and Hook attempt to save the imprisoned Neal. Regina and Mr. Gold join forces to take down Pan.

Production
The episode will be the first to feature Joanna García as Ariel, the protagonist of the 1989 Disney film The Little Mermaid. Garcia's casting was announced in August 2013. Series co-creator Edward Kitsis, who co-wrote the episode, stated that "once we realized we were going to Neverland, it felt like the perfect place to see Ariel." She was pleased that the series had opted to stay true to the Disney film, explaining that "this is a girl that lives under the sea, that has fallen madly in love with this beautiful prince and will go to the ends of the earth to be with him and… it’s a really romantic notion and I just loved the idea of it... It has that incredible storybook moment where their eyes meet and it’s instant." It was her first acting experience after giving birth to her daughter earlier in the year.