The title of this episode is based on to the original title of Brave (2012), which was The Bear and the Bow.
Zelena makes a comment about the man who mops in the psych ward, saying he loves to talk. The man is a reference to Chief in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," who was known for his silence and presumed muteness.
Merida's target practice shots outside the witch's cottage is a reference to the scene in Brave (2012) where she splits an arrow that had already been fired into the bulls-eye by one of her suitors. Before doing so, she had split her dress to allow her to draw the bow. In this rendition of Merida, these splits have been covered with patches.