FROZEN: FORCES OF NATURE Podcast – Episodes 1 & 2 – Review, Recap, and Speculation

I’ve been anxiously awaiting the biggest and most FROZEN content we’ve received in almost four years and its finally here. That’s right, the first two episodes of FROZEN: FORCES OF NATURE, Disney’s new FROZEN canonical podcast, dropped this week. Over the next 10 weeks, I’m going to try and review, recap and give a little bit of my own personal speculation about where this podcast is going and also how, if at all, it might lead to FROZEN III. I’ll be reviewing, recapping and speculating every week, so if you enjoy this, please check back!

EPISODE 1 RECAP

In Episode 1, we were first presented with a frame story featuring General Matthias (featured as Lieutenant Destin Matthias in FROZEN II, aka the soldier who was trapped in the Enchanted Forest years ago and who later saved Anna when the dam fell). In this opening, Matthias is working hard commanding a batallion of soldiers working on a dig on the island of Sankershus. One particular soldier is perplexed as to why they are digging, not the job of soldiers, and why they are not back in Arendelle. Matthias explains that the people of Sankershus asked for their help and also that the best way to protect Arendelle is sometimes to do things like this. He goes on to explain that a while ago, the island was devastated by a flood and the people of Sankershus were sheltered in Arendelle. He also explains that Sankershuns were very helpful when they came to Arendelle, including their Queen, Queen Disa, who repaired a broken water mill.

At this point, the story within the frame story, or the podcasts’s main story begins as we are taken back to that time during the Sankershusian occupation of Arendelle. Disa has just repaired the water mill and we discover that Disa and Anna haven’t seen each other in a while. We also discover that Disa has some reservations about Elsa’s magic and its results, specifically Olaf. She is eager to meet Elsa, however, to learn more about her.

Lord Wolfgang of Weselton, the Duke of Weselton’s newphew is also introduced, and he is shown to be apologetic about his uncle’s, aka the Duke of Weselton from FROZEN, actions. He has two talking magpies: the creepy Astrid and the optomistic Magnus. Expectedly, they often quarrel with each other. He also wants to sell copper and appears to be pushing it on folks every chance he gets. He is reprimanded by Matthias, however, who tells him that he will need a permit.

After Anna and Disa go to check out the stars in Arendelle’s observatory, they begin to bond about old times, both shared and in their separate lives. Disa wishes that she could be more prepared for natural disasters that seem to be plaguing the island of Sankershus as well as the region on the whole. She suggests that magic might help and Anna offers to take her to a library in the castle focused on all that is known about the mysteries of Arendelle, including Elsa’s. However, when they begin looking through the books and artifacts under candlelight, a FIRE breaks out, trapping the two, and leading to the close of the episode just as Elsa enters and extinguishes the fire.

EPISODE 2 – RECAP

After a brief recap of the story so far by General Matthias in the frame story, we return to the library fire. Elsa enters the library and uses her powers to extinguish the fire. We are unsure who could be responsible. It appears to be Wolfagang, who was suspiciously near the fire when it happened. Apparently also one of Wolfgang’s unsafe lamps being sold in the marketplace was at fault for the fire. Lord Wolfgang does also recognize a book in the library – which also seems a bit suspicious.

Elsa is more concerned with Anna giving library access to Disa. She thinks it was not a wise idea. And Elsa further questions whether or not Anna should be trusting so many people, including all of the Sankershusians, that Anna has welcomed into Arendelle since she became Queen. Anna counters that she is doing what Elsa asked her to do, she is being a diplomat, a Queen. Elsa agrees that she is right, and that’s why Anna and not Elsa is the Queen.

Disa interrupts their discussion to let them know that their dinner is ready. At the dinner, Wolfgang makes an awkward toast, apologizing again for the Duke but also making a pitch for his copper sales. In a later conversation with Kristof, he admits that he needs help in his copper mining and admits that Disa has helped him making giant drill bits. But Disa cuts him off. Things at the dinner then get a big heated between Disa and Elsa as she presses her on the subject of the existence of earth giants. She wants to know where they live, if they live, how the live. Elsa tries to change the subject but this only leads to more confrontation between Elsa and Disa. Elsa wants to know why Disa wants to know more about Disa. Disa asks Elsa why she left Arendelle. This is all interrupted by Gale – aka the elemental spirit of the wind from FROZEN II – who alarmingly BURSTS in, through a raging storm outside, which ends the episode.

REVIEW

I really enjoyed this return to the world of Arendelle, and hearing Elsa and Anna on an adventure again made me so excited for the next few weeks. Even though these initial two episodes (of twelve) did a lot of setup by introducing new nations and characters, it had its fair share of new lore. It also gave us a much-needed insight into the state of Elsa and Anna’s living situation and relationship post-FROZEN II.

BIG TAKEAWAYS AND SPECULATION

THE MYSTERY OF THE ISLAND OF SANKERSHUS

• What happened to Sankershus between the events of the story within a story and Matthias’ frame story? Was it some kind of natural disaster? Was it more mining? What has happened to place Matthias and the soldiers at the island doing their “dig”. The details are vague at this point, and I imagine appropriately so as the events of the podcast should explain more.

• In an earlier blog, I discussed how Sankershus is close to the name Akershus, the restaurant next to the FROZEN EVER AFTER ride at the Norway Pavillion at EPCOT at Walt Disney World. Akershus takes its name from the site of a historical fort in Norway. There was some initial speculation that the island of Sankershus might be a more militarized or technologically advanced culture. This becomes especially interesting when Wolfgang adds that Disa helped make giant drill bits which assisted in his copper mining. Her quickly cutting him off only adds to that speculation.

LORD WOLFGANG AND THE ARENDELLE FIRE

• Was the fire in the Arendelle castle library caused purposely – or was it an accident? Was Wolfgang actually responsible – or were he and his lamps just conveniently nearby? One thing is for sure, Wolfgang is my favorite new character in this story so far. And Astrid and Magnus are a close second and third. I really hope we get more of them. And I really hope we see a visual representation of them at some point either in live action or otherwise.

DISA’S MOTIVATIONS

• Why does Disa want to know more about magic? Is it a benign interest regarding managing natural disasters? If so, what did her making giant drill bits for Wolfgang have to do with any of her motivations? Why did Disa cut Wolfgang off so quickly when he brought up the topic? Could Disa possibly be at fault for her island’s and the area’s recent natural disasters and why? Disa remains a mysterious character and a big unknown – at least in my opinion. Even so, though she seems highly suspicious in her actions, could her motivation be benign? I have a hard time thinking Wolfgang or Disa could be the real bad guys in this story, though I would leand towards the latter over the former if given the choice.

Overall, I’m enjoying FROZEN: FORCES OF NATURE so far. While I’m not sure if any of it will matter in terms of FROZEN III yet, it gives us Frozen fans enough lore and updates on our favorite characters and adds some really fun new ones. I am really looking forward to the next 10 weeks!