Recap / The Little Mermaid S 3 E 5 Heroes

Triton receives word that Apollo, the hero of the Sargasso War, is going to be returning to Atlantica. Triton describes how before Ariel or any of her sisters were born, Atlantica was attacked by an army of Octopans from the Sargasso sea. The Octopans were armed with a trident almost as powerful as that of Triton, and in the battle, the leader of the Octopans managed to disarm Triton with a blast from this trident. Apollo hid in a clump of sargasso weeds and managed to ambush the trident-wielding Octopan, causing the trident to break when the Octopan dropped it against a rock. Without their superweapon, the Octopans were soon forced to retreat. After the war ended, Apollo left Atlantica to explore the seas.

In her crystal ball, Ursula the sea-witch sees that Apollo has returned to Atlantica. She relishes the chance to pay him back for ruining her plans years ago.

Everyone in Atlantica welcomes Apollo, and Triton tells him there is going to be a statue of him built in the palace and a banquet held in his honor. Apollo seems to be embarrassed by all the praise he is getting and says he will have to be leaving soon for his next adventure: finding Valhalla, where the Mer-Vikings dwell. Ariel asks to go too. Triton is nervous about her going off on another adventure, but Ariel points out that she should be safe traveling with a hero like Apollo, and Triton agrees. Apollo is reluctant to take Ariel and Flounder along but accepts the King’s request.

As the adventurers travel along, Ariel sees what looks like the shadow of a giant octopus and tries to push Apollo to safety. The shadow turns out to be a giant plant that resembles an octopus, but while jumping to safety Ariel and Apollo accidentally get stuck in slow sand. Ariel tells Flounder to use the underwater plants to pull them to safety, and soon they get out of the slow sand. Apollo thanks Ariel and Flounder, but suggests they return to Atlantica for their own safety.

Ariel: (Cheerfully) Oh, we aren’t afraid, Apollo! Everybody knows the legend. One must be brave to find Valhalla. All we have to do is cross the Plains of Dread, then get past the Funnels of Fury.

Apollo: (Deadpan) I can’t wait. (He swims off)

Flounder: He’s so brave!

Ariel: (Thoughtfully) Yeah, but he doesn’t seem to be having much fun.

As the adventurers continue towards Valhalla, Ursula watches their progress in her crystal ball.

The Funnels of Fury consist of a passage through a volcanic area with a series of lava spurts. Apollo thinks the group should turn back, but Ariel soon figures out that they can swim past in between lava bursts. The group makes it through, and Apollo even smiles when they reach the other side. Next, they swim through a coral structure that resembles the skeleton of a dragon.

Once she sees the group enter Valhalla, Ursula decides to send word to the Octopans that Apollo is out of the way.

Ariel, Flounder, and Apollo reach Valhalla, but they are lassoed and captured by the Mer-Vikings.In the Mer-Viking’s prison, Ariel asks Apollo if he has a plan. Apollo admits to Ariel that he’s not the hero everyone thinks he is. During the Sargasso War, Apollo was afraid and hid in the weeds not to ambush the enemy, but out of cowardice. When he got tangled in weeds, he accidentally fell on top of the Octopan leader, breaking the trident by sheer dumb luck. He left Atlantica because he was ashamed to be called a hero by everyone when he knew he wasn’t brave at all.

Ursula meets with the vanguard of the Octopan army and arms them with 8 magical tridents. Since the sea-witch has to divide her magic 8 times, the tridents are less powerful than Triton’s, but by sheer force of numbers, the Octopans will have an advantage. The Octopan general is concerned that “the great Apollo” might ruin everything again, but Ursula shows them that Apollo is in Valhalla.

Ursula: Valhalla has my favorite kind of cave entrance: the kind no one ever comes out of alive. (Laughs)

Ariel and Flounder try to cheer Apollo up, saying that everybody has to deal with fear, and they don’t think any less of him for it. The Mer-Vikings try to decide what to do with their prisoners. The leader of the Mer-Vikings suddenly recognizes Apollo, having seen statues of him and having heard many stories of Apollo’s bravery. He offers to let them go if they defeat the sea dragon that has been bothering Valhalla.

Triton hears that the Octopans are invading again, and he prepares himself for battle.

The adventurers are forced into the sea dragon's lair, which soon comes after them. Apollo nearly runs away entirely, but then he takes a whip from one of the Mer-Vikings and charges back into the dragon’s lair. Just as the dragon has Ariel and Flounder cornered, Apollo loops his whip around the dragon’s jaws, preventing it from breathing fire. Apollo rides the dragon like a bucking bronco, until finally it gets all tired out. Apollo rides the now cooperative dragon through Valhalla, and the Mer-Vikings praise his courage and heroism.

With their many tridents, the Octopans force the Atlantican army to fall back, but just when it looks like the battle is lost, Ariel and Apollo come riding in on the dragon to save the day. The Octopans quickly flee before the dragon and the Atlanticans win the way.

Ursula is furious to see her plans thwarted again, but she remains certain that one day she will be Queen of the seven seas.

Triton, Apollo, Ariel, Flounder, and the dragon swim in a triumphant parade through Atlantica to celebrate their victory over the Octopans. Apollo thanks Ariel for helping him find his courage.

Apollo: Well, it’s time for my next adventure, and this time, I’m going to enjoy it!

Apollo rides off on the dragon to find another adventure.

Tropes

• Accidental Hero: During the Sargasso War, Apollo defeated the leader of the Octopans entirely by accident when he got tangled in weeds and fell on the Octopan, knocking the trident out of his hands.
• Becoming the Mask: With help from Ariel and Flounder, Apollo finds his courage and becomes as heroic as everyone thinks he is.
• Big Damn Heroes: Just when it looks like the Atlanticans have been defeated, Ariel and Apollo arrive on a fire-breathing dragon to save the day.
• Breaking the Fourth Wall: After Ursula shows the Octopans Apollo entering the gate to Valhalla she looks at the screen and says “Instant replay.”
• Defeat Means Friend Ship: After Apollo rides the dragon like a bucking bronco, the dragon becomes much better disposed toward him, and continues to be his mount after the adventure.
• Dragon Rider: Apollo becomes a rare underwater example.
• Karma Houdini: No one ever finds out that Ursula is the one who has been supplying magical tridents to the Octopan army.
• Kick the Dog: The Mer-Vikings laugh as they suggest various ways to torture intruders.
• Mickey Mousing: The lava bursts in the Funnels of Fury are synchronized to intense brass music.
• Quicksand Sucks: Ariel and Apollo get stuck in “slow sand,” which is described as being like quicksand, but slower.
• Running Gag: Sebastian tries to prepare a speech to welcome Apollo home to Atlantica, but Apollo keeps leaving before Sebastian can give it.
• Shoot the TV: Ursula destroys her crystal ball when she sees the Octopan army has lost.
• Shout-Out: The Funnels of Fury are a volcanic area with frequent lava spurts accompanied by brass music in a very similar manner to a scene from the Rite of Spring section from Fantasia.
  • The sea dragon looks almost identical to Maleficent’s dragon form.
• Summon Bigger Fish: The Octopan army may have more tridents, but they are completely unprepared to deal with a sea dragon.
• Swimming The Seas: Apollo has been wandering to try to avoid the accolades of being a hero, since he is ashamed to be given undeserved praise.
• Water Is Air: The dragon is still able to breathe fire underwater. Maybe dragonfire is just that special.