The Official Eric Enthusiasts' Thread

[WickedElphie]

For all of us who love him as a character in his own right and feel that the love story between him and Ariel is one of the most intriguing aspects of TLM and wish we saw more of him in the sequels.

Any line of discussion or lingering question is welcome as long as it is about our favorite mermaid-loving prince and it is positive in its intent.

Wanna talk about how you think Urchin is the better (mer) man for Ariel or how "boring" you think he is as a character?-This is not the thread for you, (though please feel free to make your own on whatever topic you desire).

To start off our thread, go ahead and introduce yourself and how you came to like Eric as a character. If anybody wants to start up a discussion topic, go for it!

I'm WickedElphie. I'm a mod in the fanfic forum and occasionally I write fics of my own. Now, I'm young enough that my earliest memories of seeing TLM are from when it wa son video, but old enough that I did see it in theaters. I'm pretty sure I've always liked Eric. He just comes off as kind, but smart and brave too, and I liked that. BTW isn't it interesting that as viewers we actually see Eric and get to know him a bit before we even meet Ariel?

Just to be clear, Ariel is easily my favorite Disney Heroine, heck one of my top female characters in general. But in my head she's part of a pair: Romeo & Juliet, Lizzy & Darcy, Sailor Moon & Tuxedo Mask, Buffy & Angel, Ariel & Eric. And that's just how it is.

[Aquisha]

First of all, thanks WickedElphie for making this thread!

Second: My name is Aquisha and I am a frequent contributor to the fanfiction thread and also an all around fan of this site. I am actually young/old enough that TLM was my first movie in movie theatres and I saw it four times, that I can remember! I can't really remember when I first started to love Eric in his own right, but it had to be even before TLM 2 came out because I was mad about the shaft they gave him.

What I do know is that now I adore Eric! In the movie I just think that he's a perfect match for Ariel; they're both adventurous, attached to a world they can't be a part of (for Eric, it's the sea), and a little lonely in the confines of their station. I especially love to write about him because there's just enough information about him in the movie to give a good character framework, and just enough info lacking that you can be creative with him!

But really, I love Ariel and Eric together. Don't get me wront, like WickedElphie, I am a huge Ariel fan! She's definitely my favorite princess and she's propably the most realistic of all of them. In fact when I was younger, I wanted her to be my big sister! I just happen to like Ariel best when she's with Eric (i.e. the tour of the kingdom scene). They're wonderful together and it's just fun to watch.

So, I wish this thread well and hope that people who like Eric share their thoughts and that comes to be a nice open environment for everybody!

[grablegal]

When I saw this thread, I knew I had to write something. My name is Danielle, and I love the Little Mermaid, not only for Ariel, but I just love the relationship between Eric and Ariel. To me they are a match made in heaven, and when I was growing up my dream guy would be someone like Eric. I was glad to see him in the second movie, and even though I enjoyed the third, I was a tad bit disapointed that Eric wasn't in it. I doubt that a fourth movie would ever happen, but if it did, I really think that the focus should be on Ariel and Eric. I do love to read fanfictions about them, and I think Aquisha really has some wonderful stories on this board. I always look forward to reading them.

[fridamoonbeam]

Well to quote Prince Edward "What's not to like?" LOL

But, I've been a LM fan since I saw it the week after I turned three in the theater. I, of course loved Ariel; for that she challenged what she was brought up to believe. She knew there was more to humans than the ones around acted like there was. Again, what’s wrong with that? S

She never intended to hurt anyone or put them in danger, she just thought she was only risking herself. Not to mention, she went to Ursula after her father destroyed her things, and he was doing what he thought was right. She was very sad and hurt, and a lot of people make bad decisions in that state of mind, I know I have. I could get into another huge thing about Ariel, but this thread is for Eric! LOL

And well, I've always thought Eric was brave and sweet, not to mention VERY nice to look at :: see icon:: lolz But as I grew up I saw more and more fasites to him.

Eric in return, falls for the girl who saved his life. He has many girls he could have but, he wanted the brave and loving one who saved him. Then he meets a mute girl, takes her in, thinking she was in trouble. After a little time he finds that he really likes her, but is torn between her and the one, whom he thought had saved him. He doesn’t even kiss her until he’s sure how he feels. Just when he was about to forget about the “dream girl”, for the girl who is “warm” and “caring”, he has a spell put on him. What Eric represents to me, is the picture of "the good guy”. Disney should have given him more background.

He also struck me as someone who thought for himself, but also who thinks about things before he acts on them for the most part as displayed in the movie. He was excited about seeing Ariel at first thinking she was the "voice" but then he was disappointed. There was no, "Oh, well I was sure I was in love with the person who rescued me, but hey you're hot!!" And when Vanessa showed up, if you noticed his expression, he didn't get all excited and giddy like he did with Ariel on the rock. A lot of that was because he realized he loved someone else. But he looked skeptical looking at Vanessa, like he didn't have the "feeling" anymore and it was a surprise to him.

Also, Eric listens to people. He is stubborn, true and did argue with Grimsby who I'm sure would have nearly driven him crazy at times, and vice versa. But Eric did love the old guy and did really come to value his wisdom. He wouldn't completely blow off the old man's advice for things HE wanted, even then when he did find his "true love" he taken more than just by Ariel's beauty, the first thing he said after she saved him that really made him all dreamy eyed was-- "A girl rescued me....." <3

But, really this post of mine could get huge XD So I'll stop it right here. lolz

[WickedElphie]

There's a great Eric-centric fanvid here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s00nJFrixOM

[fridamoonbeam]

Oh, yeah, I love that one! I searched on youtube for other videos and saw a lot of Eric/Belle videos some of which where Ariel gets dumped, and I have to find it entertaining for the sheer OOC element. XD

Anyway, what I'd like to know is what was your favorite 'Eric" moment. You can name from the movie, sequel, show, or musical (I personallly haven't seen the musical yet, but am dying too.)

Okay, off the top of my head, mine would be the birthday party scene, since you got to see many different sides to him. It showed that he was humble, romantic fun, pensive and a very hard worker who loved his puppy XD.

I also loved when Ariel jumped the ravine, and he looks absolutley horrified, then he registers he's alive, smiles at Ariel and puts his hands behind his head to enjoy the rest of the ride.

[WickedElphie]

For the first movie, if Eric's in a scene it's probably one of my favorites. XD

In the sequel I love the scene where he says that Ariel should go with her father and they hug and stuff before the transformation.

The musical is like the movie ion that if Eric's on stage I'm enjoying myself. However, the whole scene surrounding and including "One Step Closer" is the most adorable thing ever.

[fridamoonbeam]

Naw, I loved that part in the sequel too. XD And I liked the brief little family scenes (and I do mean brief) where they're trying to help Mel ready for her party when Eric keeps trying to move them along, while he and Ariel make exchanges as if they had done it many times. XD

I've seen the "One Step Closer" preformance on Youtube. It is so ureal cute! I melt everytime. I do plan to see the show, although it'll be hard to contain my excitment. And my urge to ask Sean to marry me. LOLZ

Oh, and might I say--SBDF translation; Sean's Behind Deserves Framing. XD

[WickedElphie]

*Snicker* I bla-thank Wicked for introducing the concept of pretty princes in pretty tight pants.

"Aye, Aye, Captain Tightpants."

First person to guess correctly where the quote came from gets a virtual cookie.

[Aquisha]

Ok, I have a to catch up on!

First, I LOVE "Into the Ocean"! I almost fell out of my chair when I saw that video! I couldn't believe it! Seriously, any song that involves oceans, I think of TLM. Like "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" or "Angelina" by Harry Belafonte, I always think of Ariel and Eric. But that video was perfect!

Second, my favorite Eric moments in the movie. I love it when Eric finds Ariel on the beach. I just think it's an adorable scene, even when Eric is all disheartened when he realizes that Ariel can't speak. My other favorite is when Ariel blows the pipe into Grimsby's face and Eric starts laughing and then feigns maturity. Again, incredibly cute. Then I have to second fridamoonbeam on the jumping over the ravine part of the tour. The look of sheer terror on Eric's face is hilarious! (I've seen an avatar of that face with WTF over it. I laughed hysterically). When he recovers and realizes that they've survived, I love how you can see him casually put his hands behind his head and start talking to Ariel as if nothing's happened. In the second movie, my favorite part is when Eric picks Ariel up and they jump into the water together and she just kisses him. It's the one glimpse of how their life should have been: blissfully happy in their love without an annoying brat of a daughter. In the musical, I could watch "One Step Closer" and the end of the Contest scene over and over again. They're perfect and just how Ariel and Eric should be together. The finale ain't too shabby either.

Third, and finally, a huge YES to princes in wonderfully fitted pants. Let me just say that I saw Taye Diggs in those maroon Fiyero pants when I saw Wicked in 2003 and it was seriously a life-changing experience.

On a side TLM musical note, I still don't like the Eric ponytail. It's just strange and uncalled for to me. He's still awesome though!

[WickedElphie]

See, the ponytail kinda works for me. IMHO it's sort of a subtle nod to the fact that Movie!Eric and Musical!Eric aren't quite the same character. Musical!Eric is a little bit less of a sailor and a little bit more of a prince, if that makes any sense. *Shrug* Both are rather loveable though, so it's all good.

[fridamoonbeam]

lolz, The ponytail is growing on me. At first I hated it! And thought it didn't really go. That wind-swept, shaggy hair IS him to me.

And I just love him being more of a sailor, though I haven't seen the musical yet so I can't say which one I'd love more. But to me apart of Eric's charm is that he seemed more at home on a ship than in his castle. XD

[WickedElphie]

*nods* Don't get me wrong Musical!Eric loves the ocean too, he's just less...rugged I guess.

[Oceandancer]

I think I kinda have a crush on him. (I've been known to fall for 'toons a lot, but it's lightened up a lot now that I'm older.)

He's relaxed yet adventurous with a sense of humor, and fun, too! I wouldn't mind having a BF like that. Now that I have seen the movie again, I think Eric is my whole reason for being
so strongly into guys with black hair (Or brown, but black is the best) and not thinking much of
most blonde guys. Well...him and Clark on Smallville, but I think Eric got me hooked when I was 5, because only a few of my crushes have been blondes.

...Though my first couple of real crushes were blonde, but those were just the first of many.

Anyway, Eric is pretty cool and I guess I am an Eric Enthusiast.
I mean, how nice and selfless is it to take in a girl who can't even talk and is basically a stranger to him? I've been thinking that there's something deep about that whole scene where they meet again, especially with his facial expressions.
For most people the primary means of communication is through talking, so by taking away her voice, Ariel had to rely on other means of communicating with Eric and I find that just fascinating.
I think you can agree with me when I say that if you were in a similar stich and didn't know sign language, it would be very frusterating, among other things. I usually don't talk much, but if I were around the man I love (assuming I had one) for the first time and I literally couldn't talk, I would be absolutely lost.

I'm sure I'd find away through it, but for the first day I might go all emo on him and just hide in my room or something. LOL!

Anyway, I think what I'm getting at was how Eric had a big heart to do such a thing and was also super patient to be with Ariel when she lost her voice. I mean, as it was he had to do all the talking, right? Wow! What a guy. Too bad he isn't real. :(

Okay, I think that is almost everything, but another thing to love about Eric is how much he loves Max. I love dogs, too, so if a guy
is really attatched to his dog, that's usually a good sign, I guess.
(Not that I'd know being single my whole life thus far, but it sounds like it to me.)

[fridamoonbeam]

lolz, Just as long as they maintain the heart of the character, I suppose it's good. And I'll reserve judgment until I actually see the show.

Oh! I have say I feel bad. It was Sean Palmer's 37th birthday this week! (Can you believe he's that old!?! I thought at first he was like 27 or 28, but I guess he ages like Eric, who still looked eighteen when Melody was twelve. lolz) And I didn't post anything about it.

Better late than never.

Happy Birthday to the beautiful, talented man who plays our beloved sailor prince! ^^

[WickedElphie]

Huh. I figured he was probably a couple years younger (like 30-35), but whatever. Happy belated B-day to the guy, long may he rock the ponytail and tight pants.

[dulcinea]

Oct 1, 2008 18:11:41 GMT -5 WickedElphie said:

"Aye, Aye, Captain Tightpants."

First person to guess correctly where the quote came from gets a virtual cookie.

I am so ashamed that this is my first post, but... it is from the TV show "Firefly".

[WickedElphie]

YES! LOL I had just watached the episode Shindig before posting.

*Gives virtual cookie* You earned it.

No need to be ashamed. Welcome to the forum.

[fridamoonbeam]

Oct 12, 2008 23:02:12 GMT -5 dulcinea said:

Oct 1, 2008 18:11:41 GMT -5 WickedElphie said:

"Aye, Aye, Captain Tightpants."

First person to guess correctly where the quote came from gets a virtual cookie.

I am so ashamed that this is my first post, but... it is from the TV show "Firefly".

Ehehehe! I vote we make that Eric's new nickname. lolz.

And no need to feel shame. ::rolls out welcome mat::

[fridamoonbeam]

Okay new question; Who of the Disney guys do you see him being friends with?

And (Strictly AU speaking) what other Disney girl do you see him as a pair with?