everyone gushing about ariel and eric's dynamic in the little mermaid 2023 and how "they have so much in common" kinda makes me sad that it took this long and a live-action movie for people to see them the way i've always seen them. like this is why i've been so insane about them since i was a kid. they have ALWAYS been a match, they have ALWAYS been so alike in the original movie and that's why ""ariel gave it all up for a boy"" but he's really not just a boy. what she saw in him made HER feel SEEN. the first time she sees him, she learns everything she needs to know about him: he feels like he doesn't belong in this company of people who only see him as a prince when what he seeks is adventure, he wants MORE, he is compassionate and empathetic, literally almost died for his dog, and what fascinates her most about him is that he's a prince and she's a princess but HE at least has freedom. she saw him and instantly knew he could give her something nobody in her life and in her kingdom could, which is UNDERSTANDING.