Ursula is a character featured in the ABC fantasy-drama series, Once Upon a Time, voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown. She makes her only appearance in the season six episode "Ariel".
She is a legendary Sea Goddess, celebrated throughout the land. Having been unseen for thousands of years, she is thought to be a myth. She grants mermaids the ability to walk on land, once a year for twelve hours. She later makes her presence known to threaten the Evil Queen, after Regina impersonates her.
Background[]
The Evil Queen posing as Ursula.
This first Ursula is a mythical sea goddess who is considered a myth by merfolk as she hasn't been seen for a thousand years. This identity appears in the episode "Ariel", where in the episode, Ariel prays to her for guidance, so she can be able to continue her life as a human and forever be with Prince Eric. Using this opportunity, the Evil Queen appears as Ursula to Ariel and gives her a magic bracelet that gives the wearer Ariel's tail in exchange for their legs. Ariel, in an act of gratitude for Snow White's earlier help, gives the bracelet to Snow so that she can live her life free from the Queen while Ariel gets to be with Eric.
However, Snow White tries to tell Ariel that Ursula isn't real. Much to Ariel's shock, Regina shows up and admits this was a way to get Snow using Ariel. She then gives Ariel an ultimatum: leave Snow with Regina and live happily with Prince Eric, or perish along with Snow. Ariel appears to choose the first choice, but then stabs Regina with a fork and removes the bracelet from Snow, who then escapes with Ariel into the water. After delivering Snow safely onto land, Ariel returns to tell Eric how she feels, but when she attempts to speak, she discovers that her voice is missing. Regina, standing on the docks, reveals she had taken her voice, so Ariel can never tell Prince Eric how she truly feels. Ariel becomes devastated, and Regina proceeds to tell Ariel to leave.
When Regina returns to her castle, she looks into her mirror and discovers Ursula herself, proving that Ursula is indeed real. Ursula then grabs Regina with her tentacles through the mirror itself, threatening a fearful Regina to never pose as her again, or she will prove to Regina "just how real she is", before subsequently letting her go and disappearing.
Trivia[]
- Although Ursula's physical appearance is largely based on her Disney counterpart, her personality is closer to that of the original Hans Christian Andersen tale, being largely a neutral entity.
