15 best Disney mother/daughter moments that melt your heart every time
By Andi Ortiz
10. Merida saves Elinor
If there’s one thing that Disney consistently makes clear, it’s that being a princess is no walk in the park. There’s a certain set of expectations that need to be met. In Merida’s case, the expectation is that she act ladylike, and marry the man who wins her hand. Literally, he has to win her in a competition of her choosing.
None of that is cool with Merida. She’s an adventurous, tomboyish princess, who’s more than capable of taking care of things herself. She doesn’t need a man to help her rule, especially given her selection. The first born sons of each leader are subpar, to put it gently.
Finally, her rebelliousness reaches its peak. Merida sneakily enters the competition for her hand and wins, hoping that it’ll get her out of the whole marriage idea. Unfortunately, all it does is make her parents angrier.
Things hit a boiling point with her mother, and Merida not only slashes the quilt of her family, but seeks out magical help as well. Predictably, the magic backfires and turns her mother and brothers into bears (almost permanently).
After an incredible journey of discovery, Merida does figure out how to save her family, though she’s almost too late. In the end, the spell is broken, and both Merida and her mother have come to understand each other better.
They quickly bury the hatchet and are stronger than ever. It’s a moment of pure love and understanding, and hits the feels every time.