FROZEN: FORCES OF NATURE Podcast – Episodes 9 & 10 – Recap, Review, and Speculation

So this week is the penultimate drop, if not necessarily the penultimate episode, of the FROZEN: FORCES OF NATURE podcast. Big things often happen in the penultimate episode of a TV series, so will FORCES OF NATURE follow that tradition? Sadly that was not entirely the case here as most of the episode felt like a nearly 30 minute presentation of something that could have taken 5-10 minutes max, although the final few minutes had a very exciting turn. Let’s talk about it.

Over the course of the first 8 episodes, we saw a number of automatons set loose into the Enchanted Forest, their purpose, to divine copper. When they began to disrupt the equilibrium of the four spirits, Anna had to step in. Eventually, Elsa and Anna discovered that the automatons were made by one of their two guests, Lord Wolfgang, nephew to the Duke of Weselton. However, they were incorrect, and the person responsible was actually their other guest, Queen Disa of Sankershus. Disa and her people were welcomed to Arendelle when torrential rains and a flood ravaged their home island.

After apologizing, Disa helped Anna and Elsa contain the automaton issue, and the three all met up with the imprisoned Lord Wolfgang who was promptly freed from incarceration – but who had written an opera while jailed. The group dined together, and later Wolfgang actually directed a performance of his opera, but Disa left at the last minute, seemingly somewhat disturbed. When we last left the action in Arendelle, Anna was frantically searching for Queen Disa who had absconded onto her ship, the motivations for which were not clear.

If you are looking for previous recaps, you can find them here:

• Episodes 1 and 2
• Episodes 3 and 4
• Episodes 5 and 6
• Episodes 7 and 8

If you liked this recap and review, please leave a LIKE or even a comment if you didn’t. I love getting feedback from anyone and everyone!

Episode 9 – Recap and Review

Anna seeks Disa out on the chip “The Capella” where Anna finds Disa altering the lamps again – to make them use fuel more efficiently and not “run around” (the lamps have a mobility factor that was discussed way back in Episodes 1 and 2 when the magical library was on fire). Disa has also used Bruni tech to improve the functionality of the lamp and specifically their color. The following day, Queen Disa distributes the lanterns to her people – one for every family as the delegation mulls what to do as Sankershus is still completely “under water” (and I’m guessing Matthias’ troops and their digging in the frame story will likely have something to do with the current state of Sankershus).

Meanwhile, Elsa makes ice treats for the people of Sankershus, which seem to bring much more joy and happiness to Disa’s people than her lamps. This leads Disa to question her purpose. She has a heart-to-heart with Kristoff, who is helping her load her ship, and wonders how she, a person of science, can be anything or amount to anything in a world where magic seems to be taking precedence. Kristoff sees the automatons in the ship’s hold, and the two discuss Disa and Anna’s fractured friendship (which honestly seems fine per the previous scene). She tells Kristoff that she is planning on reworking the automatons, but for now, they will stay in the hold. Just then, a gale kicks in, and some lumber that Kristoff carries falls away from him, knocking against an automaton, which turns it on. It begins running around the ship as the episode comes to a close.

Episode 10 Recap and Review

Disa and Kristof chase the automaton around while it seemingly also chases them around. The chase eventually leads to a hold in the ship which starts to take on water. The story then goes back to Lord Wolfgang working on his opera alongside Magnus, Astrid, Olaf and General Mattias. There’s some comedy bits. The trio of Wolfgang, Matthias and Olaf all notice the ship on fire. Matthias surmises that the ship will soon sink if they do not act quickly.

Disa and Kristof are trapped on the ship. They are given a rope from Matthias’ troops, who have now arrived on the scene. Disa and Kristof manage to swim off the ship. Disa realizes that all of her automatons will soon be at the bottom of the Fjord. They make it to the shore safely. Astrid reminds Disa that “she can’t escape her fate no matter how far she swims.” Just after saying this, the ship seeming rises from the Fjord through the use of the entire army of automatons that have now been activated. Elsa and Anna see the army marching towards Arendelle as the podcast episode ends.

This was honestly my least favorite installment of this series so far. Overall, this really felt like two episodes that could easily have been combined into one. Still, there was some good here – a lot, in fact. We got more character introspection and explanation from Disa and where her mind is in all of this. And I did enjoy the final imagery of the automatons marching out of the fjord and into Arendelle. And to be completely honest, I’m still quite excited for the final two episodes, even if these two episodes were treading water – like their characters stuck in the fjord – for most of the episode.

Speculation Time

I know we’ll get some kind of resolution for the advancing automatons, I only wonder if it will be one of magic, science, or some combination of both, presumably from Elsa and Disa – and potentially Anna, all working together. Considering Disa was contemplating her place in this world, I really could see them all working together so that Disa, who has generally been portrayed as a good character with a guilty conscience, has some redemption as this tale finishes next week.

Also I legitimately wonder if Lord Wolfgang factors into any of the series’ resolutions going forward? Was he somehow haphazardly responsible (probably not)? Will his opera somehow prove helpful in stopping the automatons (also probably not)?

Last, there’s still time for the Duke of Weselton or Hans to make an appearance (not a chance tbh). I can hope!

Also I am really going to try and get my recap and review and speculation (whatever there is at least) on Wednesday or Thursday at the latest for the finale. If you’ve joined this blog hoping for more FROZEN content, there is already more planned. If you are a reader who loves comic books and STAR WARS, more of that is coming soon, maybe even in the next few days. Thanks for reading and sticking around with me for all of the things that I love and hopefully you love as well.

See you here next week when we recap the final two episodes of FROZEN: FORCES OF NATURE.