#ashesandmint

[ice-bjorn]

How do you feel the ending of frozen 2 goes with the book? Where in the book the solution was stay together while the movie was not

Yeah, I mean…it’s definitely a bit jarring and disappointing, given that Forest of Shadows leaves off with Elsa saying they both belong in Arendelle- with the sort of implicit understanding that they’ll share the responsibility of ruling together.

But we always knew it would have no bearing on the canon, even if it takes place in the Frozen universe with the blessing of the creators. I think most of the supplemental material can be looked at as little snapshots of their lives- for the most part they don’t seem to contradict the canon, but flesh out their daily lives a bit more, which is always enjoyable.

As others have already pointed out, we don’t really get enough lead up to Elsa’s suddenly deep yearning to go out into the world and find the source of her powers; her motivation changes half way through singing Into the Unknown-from wanting to stay with the people she loves (which she has been longing for and dreaming of her whole life) to feeling like she doesn’t “belong”. (Even though we can see how at ease she is with her powers- the entire castle is decked in ice, and the townspeople are clearly comfortable with her magic- she even delights the children with gifts made of ice).

One wistful glance from the balcony and hearing a voice a few times doesn’t really build a foundation for her feeling like she doesn’t belong, at least, not for me. (Especially when you contrast that with all the set up in F1 we got for everyone’s motivations).

But I will say, like most in the fandom, I’m not in any way against Elsa being free to express herself and find her joy/ passion/ purpose in a completely unencumbered way. It’s beautiful the transformation she goes through in the enchanted forest and Ahtohallan, and I want nothing less for her. I think it’s just the way we got there that feels as if a few pieces are missing (perhaps on the cutting room floor- like the “I Seek the Truth” outtake song).

However, all that is to say, I don’t think the situation need feel permanent. The end of the movie doesn’t feel like Elsa must stay, no matter what, in the forest at all times, forever. Especially the way Anna words her letter- she says “Arendelle is doing just fine, keep looking after the forest.” To me that indicates that Elsa perhaps won’t always stay in the North. To say “keep” means: continue to do so- meaning for the moment. Essentially: Arendelle has transitioned smoothly and there’s no immediate need for you to be here while you’re still exploring the North/ Ahtohallan/ the Northuldra. Anna doesn’t say “please come visit me, hope you’re doing well in your new permanent home” you know?

So to me anyway, it feels like the door is still open for many possibilities- including perhaps, Elsa even returning at some point to rule alongside or help Anna with governing Arendelle.

My personal head canon is that, since we don’t actually see or hear Elsa abdicate/renounce her title, she’s still technically queen, just that her first role is as a ‘protector of the realms’ of sorts, and a queen second- whereas Anna is queen of Arendelle first and foremost. But if the need arises they can rule together. Call it my personal wish fulfillment, but that’s how I like to see it haha

[professorspork]

I was going thru the frozen tag n thinking about all the things this is to me. Me my sister, her mental illness our pushing the other away, our confusion and all our loneliness. And all my longing, for more friends for more time for more connection and all this movie is in unwavering hope, and rebounds after loss and REBUILDING. And Love. And love. And going thru ur frozen tag, reading more takes. Making this movie MORE to me than it already was(which is: all the world) —cont

But also im still deeply reeling from the sequel. Which, while it has great great parts. Kind of feels like a rug being pulled out from underneath the healing of the first movie. Which. Cause this is my comfort movie. I’m kinda taking it hard. Idk. I just needed to share this. Separation anxiety and idk.. fear that eventually I won’t be enough for people around me and they’ll go other ways. I just. I’m too lonely for the *reconciliation* movie to turn to be abt still needing more

You said it was alright to post publicly, so here goes:

I can't tell you how moved I am that you'd come to me with this. I have a lot of things to say, and I think ultimately very little of it has much to do with Frozen 2--though I'll get around to that, so just flagging to everyone that the Read More is there for spoilers as well as length.

I'm not sure that everything that I have to say will resonate, so please feel free to take what helps and leave aside what doesn't. Know that every word is meant with all the tenderness in my heart. I ache over what you're going through, because it's as real a feeling as any of us will ever encounter.

First, I want to say that I've stood where you're standing--many, many times. The series finales of How I Met Your Mother, Warehouse 13 and Pitch felt like such slaps in the face I have never to this day been able to muster up the same love for the hours upon hours worth of episodes that preceded them, no matter how much they once meant to me. And just a few months ago, Endgame ripped my fucking heart out, tbh.

I could write a whole essay about the similarities between Steve and Bucky and Elsa and Anna, but luckily I don't have to because a bunch of my favorite people have gamed that out extensively. But the things you talk about, about how the most important things from the first movie-- the miracle of these two people finding each other and choosing each other after so much time apart, and how much that meant to you--I relate to that so deeply. And I can see how, in the face of that, the fact that after everything Anna and Elsa take steps in different directions, away from one another, can feel like the most cutting betrayal. I want you to know that I understand that, and that you don't have to justify that feeling to anybody, or apologize for it. It's not a childish reaction, nor are these childish notions. Learning how to be in the world and how to value others and be valued in return is what we turn to fiction for. We see us; we learn how to be an us. So like. If you take nothing else away from this, please know that. I feel you, buddy. I hear you. And you may feel lonely, but you're not alone.

I wish I had advice for you on how to get to the other side of these emotions. If you can, I hope you can talk to your sister about how you're feeling--and if not, to other family members or friends. (I also don't know if it's an option for you, but I can say from experience that therapy was super helpful for me in sorting through my own expectations for myself and the world around me and how to cope when I couldn't make them match up.) We're strangers, you and I, so I can't be as specific or as helpful to you as I'd like. I don't know you very well.

I do, however, feel like I know Anna and Elsa. And maybe talking that part out a bit might show you a facet that makes this a bit easier to swallow. (And it's fine if it doesn't! Feel free to take with many grains of salt, or to not take at all.)

I think something that's important to remember is that, before her coronation, Elsa hadn't left her house--had barely left her room--in over a decade. She wasn't just estranged from Anna, she was estranged from the whole world, and from all of the experiences that being in the world entails. When we catch up with them at the start of Frozen 2, she's had three years of a mended, tight-knit relationship with Anna. But whether it's through the responsibilities of being Queen or her own doubts, she hasn't built that bridge any further than her immediate circle--Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven. When she sings "Everyone I've ever loved is here within these walls," to me that tells me everything I need to know. They've opened the doors, but only just long enough for Anna to step in. They're still not confident enough to leave the castle that was a cage for both of them for so many years until they're forced to.

And when they are forced to, they learn that they have duties to other people outside of their immediate family. Not duties in the royal sense, but in the moral, ethical, "what we owe each other" sense. They learn that community means acts of loving service, to others and to yourself. Your mileage may vary, but I don't read the sisters' decisions as pulling the rug out from under their healing. To me, it's building upon that healing and sharing it with others. They're now secure enough in each other, in that bubble of love and safety that they created, that they can start to expand it. They can take the tools they developed to repair themselves and each other, and use them to repair the whole world. It's not that they're not enough for each other--it's that they realize they're overflowing with it. They have so much to give it has to carry on and out to everyone around them.

Or, to put it another way--just because Anna and Elsa are moving in different directions when we leave them at the end of Frozen 2, doesn't mean they're on different paths. No matter where they go in the world, they'll always find their way back to each other. And in the meantime, they walk together even when they're apart, because each carries the other with them. You know? To me, it’s not an “or.” It’s an “and.”

[apicturewithasmile]

And someone's sneakin' around the corner Could that someone be Mack the Knife?

[elsasanna]

Ok I know you said next chapter’s in January but like.. ughhhhh man now i want this year to be over so quick 😭 i can only begin to imagine the fallout when everything comes to light ohhhh it’s gonna be so delicious

ahhh i know i’m so excited to keep writing the rest and see what u guys think! also tbh if i finish the chapter before january i will post it asap i just have a ton of stuff to do over the holidays so i wanted to warn yall before the pitchforks came out hahaha

[roominthecastle]

Can i just say that i am SCREAMING!!!! a deleted s6 scene: Liz: [my mom loved RR too much to do that] Also Liz: then again im [very] fond of Reddington and I!!! Put him on trial. !!!!!!! screamingggggg at liz comparing her mom’s love for RR to her love for Reddington

[cont.] Jfkfkgnvbfnfmfk she said REASONABLY FOND of Reddington…. “”””reasonably”””” yeah.. sure liz…             

ah NICE. a little nuance! and it sure goes well w/ the other parallels btw RR/KR and Red/Liz. ;) I also love the phrasing “I put him on trial” bc ppl keep forgetting that that’s what Liz was responsible for, death row was the result of Red’s arrogance. too bad this was cut. why was this cut, tptb??

[anextrapart]

May i propose other options for the too-read-into liz juice scene? She’s (due to their close entanglement) picking up on his habits? Trying to be healthy but also to show Reddington? A way to catch his eye? She wants to get fit for him (why was she so pointedly drinking it???) Ok u know what I surrender and give up The people in charge like to fuck with us (see: the hard cut to liz when red says girlfriend—)

Oh absolutely! I vote we come up with as many explanations as possible and I love this one!

“Red. Red, look. I’m drinking the dumb green juice, Red. It disgusting but I’m doing it for you, Red. NOTICE ME, RED.”

[joons]

U should take pride in having made me a drakgo shipper lol. used to watch the show as a kid but surprisingly never caught on the tension betwn them (i used to ship housexcuddy before i even knew what shipping was because of all their BANTER) anyways yeah now u made me rewatch it and GOD all the FEELS. I literally cannot with the capable hot woman who is snide and snarky 24/7 sometimes uses it to cover up the fact that she has FEELINGS. and the sweet and soft yet creative villain who needs her.

I was the same -- I don’t think I shipped them when I was first watching the show. I loved them, but I just didn’t think it was on the table as an option? But when I learned that they kind of went for it in the last season, I rewatched and fell in love with the show again and totally tripped out on Drakken/Shego. (HAAAA, I loved House/Cuddy too)

Also: “Emotion Sickness” ... EXISTS and it ruins me every time hahahaha.

[elsasanna]

ashesandmint

replied to your

post

:

ghosts of arendelle past is SO pretty i love the...

Especially when it ends with a somber riff on “but not too far or you’ll be drowned” musical motif

YES especially in the scene when its followed by elsa then immediately jumping into the scary danger pit