I feel lot of people are being too hard on Triton.

I feel lot of people are being too hard on Triton. Yes, he made a bad mistake but that was the point. We needed something that will cause Ariel to make the deal with Ursula. Also, Ariel was already planning on meeting up with Eric again before their fight. We also have to remember that Triton is not only a King but also a single father to seven teenage daughters and everybody look to him to ensured their safety. These are no easy jobs. There is also the fact that Ariel kept disobeying his rules or fails to do her royal duty so of course he is going to feel annoyed with her.

This film isn't about one side. It about two family members who despite loving each other, sees the world in a different way. Both were right and wrong. Triton was wrong to assumed the worst of all humans but he was right that not everybody means well and you do need to be cautious about a different race that you don't know much about. Ariel was right to give humans a chance but she also had to faced the consequences that her own rash actions caused and had to understand that her father only acts the way he does because he loves her. The film is about the two coming to see each other point of views and as a result their relationship became stronger as well. Triton took Ariel's curse and Ariel (with Eric's help) saves him and the kingdom from Ursula. So enough on arguing who is the bad guy here. It's two flawed but good characters who both grow.