Let’s talk about the Leaks.
I want to attempt to ease some minds here about the book that was leaked a few days ago with the apparent “ending” to Frozen II. I have this post tagged and you can choose to keep reading if desired. Not only did I want to ease my own mind, but I hope that if anyone sees this, maybe they will also see something that I did not see. I have included direct phrases from the books pages, so if you haven’t read them, or don’t want to, please feel free to scroll on by. If you do, hopefully we can figure out this whole thing together!
Alright. Some of the rumors I have heard thus far.
1) Elsa will sacrifice herself. (She will come back to life, or she won’t)
2) She is changed after she “dies” and becomes a spirit, ghost, goddess, or even a snowflake. (The 5th spirit)
3) Elsa will stay in Northuldra and Anna will return to Arendelle as Queen = Separation of the sisters.
I know there are plenty more speculations, but these are the ones that I continue to see floating around.
I also recognize that there is some resentment toward the directors and writers of the movie due to these “undesired” endings. The main argument that I have read of is that the whole point of Frozen was to keep family together because they are the bond that can thaw the ice. Why would the writers and directors of the film so quickly trash something that made the first move so iconic and memorable? I understand where people are getting a little upset, I do. But I think we are making some unnecessary assumptions to torture ourselves here. We don’t need to be in pain while waiting to see what is reality. So, let’s take a look!
The entire 5th spirit argument is quite confusing and it’s hard to fully understand what is happening here. Elsa’s magic is “connected to the fifth spirit.” We know that Ahtohallan is the river that Iduna tells of that has the answers to all of their questions. So it is safe to assume that she is traveling to this river to understand where her powers come from. But, wait.. How does Elsa even learn about this fifth spirit? Because she suddenly has knowledge about this spirit, she most likely learned it from the villagers of Northuldra, right? They told her about the elements and that they take forms of different spirits? This is most likely. From the trailers we see that Earth --> rock giants, Air --> wind/leaves, Fire --> salamander/Bruni, Water --> Nokk. Those 4 spirits are VISIBLE in the trailers. We KNOW they exist. But a fifth spirit is never shown (at least not yet). So the question I’ve been asking is, “Has Elsa ALWAYS been the fifth spirit? Or is there a fifth spirit in existence already that she has to find?”
“She thinks it (THE FIFTH SPIRIT) has been calling for her from Ahtohallan.” The way this reads, I’d assume that the fifth spirit is separate from herself. She has to find it and THEN she can transform in some way. The only way this could be false is found in the words, “..she thinks..” She isn’t sure, but has an idea. Maybe she makes it to the river only to find out that the fifth spirit was within her all along. Now, we don’t know how it got there, but I’d assume that when we find out, it will answer the question of, “How did Elsa get her powers?”
Let’s talk about Elsa’s transformation now. Clearly something is going to change within her or about her in entirety. It states clearly on this page that “many characters in fairy tales and heroic myths experience a transformation or a change, by the end of their story.” Can we name any examples of this in storytelling?... Wait.. can you name any examples in storytelling where this ISN’T the case? Characters HAVE to change in order to internalize a moral or theme that is being taught. This is CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT at it’s prime. This is how the characters we know and love “transform.” Think of Frozen I. What was Elsa’s transformation there? She’s filled with fear, anxiousness, suffering.. She hates who she is and can’t bear the thought of who she could become. She’s isolated and is convinced that she is only a monster to the world around her. She doesn’t understand love and decides that she probably never will because of who she is. She transforms because she learns to love herself and what makes her unique (Let it go, anyone?). She transforms because, through Anna’s courageous sacrifice, she learns that love can thaw. She transforms as she walks back into her kingdom and, with family by her side, takes her throne as Queen. TRANSFORMATION! Now, I know I know. It’s safe to assume that the transformation in Frozen II won’t be as simple as most films are. But it’s also safe to assume that much of Elsa’s transformation comes from what she LEARNS. I personally believe that she will stay the same person. But her understanding of her purpose and role is what will change.
The last line of this page says, “Elsa has transformed, and this means Anna has to change her role in Arendelle too.” Because of this line, we can safely guess that something has to happen to our Queen Elsa to make it so she no longer is either fit, capable, or desiring to rule Arendelle anymore. Otherwise, why would Anna have to change her role and become the Queen? Elsa’s transformation into the fifth spirit must make it somewhat impossible to rule the way she used to, therefore passing the torch onto Anna. Here’s where the speculation comes in that Elsa must die and become some sort of a literal spirit or ghost.
“Elsa finally understands her powers and finds her true destiny as the Snow Queen, the fifth spirit.”
Now, I don’t know what route you turn to when thinking of ghosts or spirits, but in my religious upbringing, I’ve never been told that spirits, after this life, have the agency to choose. In our mortal form, we make choices, suffer the consequences, and learn. Obviously, this is just my own personal understanding, but I have a hard time believing that the writers would go as far as to create a character that we know, and completely change her form, leading to the necessary consequences. I don’t see Elsa ever wanting that. The story through the first film and what we’ve seen of the second one thus far has been CLEARLY about Elsa learning to accept who she is. EVERYTHING SHE IS. This not only means her powers, but it also means her ability to control them in her physical body. I highly doubt, after so much development and learning, she would give up all that she has learned for an “easier” route.
Can I provide a theory momentarily? Do I think Elsa will die? Not a clue. I DO think she provides some sort of sacrifice though. Whether that’s through death or not, I do not know. I imagine her making her way to the river. She’s seeking the fifth spirit remember? She believes it is something she must find and the river is the destination. I wonder if she misunderstands what the “voice” is telling her. “Where is the fifth spirit, it should be here at the river?” Maybe she doesn’t even know that the fifth spirit is her own magical element. Maybe she just knows that there is another one and she needs to confront it in order to bring peace. Clearly she’s done that with every other elemental thus far from what we’ve seen in the trailers.
I believe her “sacrifice” will lead her to realize that she IS the fifth spirit. That she was that person all along. Ever since she was born, it’s who she was and it was within her, she just didn’t know it until now. With everything she’s learned on this journey, in addition to her magical abilities, she UNDERSTANDS what her destiny is. Her entire life, her destiny was to be THE SNOW QUEEN. With that being said, I do not believe she will turn into a ghost, spirit, or a snowflake. I think that her transformation is really just a vivid realization of who she truly is. She’s battled with that her entire life, not knowing where she fits in or why she’s even alive. Her discovery of this truth could be LIFE CHANGING. Therefore, I believe, “transformation” would be the proper word to use in order to convey that immense change in emotion.
Alright, let’s get to the part that people are REALLY upset about though. Will Anna and Elsa separate? I wish I knew. But it is SAFE TO ASSUME the answer is either no, or not permanently. My first thought when I heard that they may separate was.. well why is that so bad? Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always BEEN obsessed with the dynamic between their loving bond together.. But think about it in modern terms. When two sisters grow up, get married, and start their career.. They don’t live together! They go off to college, start a family, and learn about what they are supposed to do with their life! Separation is a necessary part of our reality and I don’t see anything wrong with trying to make that easier for people by allowing two of our favorite characters to go through it themselves.
In all honesty though.. I don’t believe they will separate. Everything within the few pages that were leaked, the words “they” “together” and “each” are used. Those are words that imply connections. Not separation. From the book we learn that the bond they have as sisters is what will bring healing and peace to both kingdoms. In the trailers, we see that the team CANNOT get into the forest until Anna and Elsa hold hands (could be speculation, but Olaf was unable to get in and Elsa was near the fog and it wouldn’t part either). Why would both Anna and Elsa work so hard TOGETHER to open the mist, to work TOGETHER yet apart on their own separate journeys, and to finish TOGETHER to break the curse? It makes no logical sense.
The guards from Arendelle that are in Northuldra, including Mattias, were once Arendellians. I see no reason why after 30 years of being trapped behind this mist and curse, that they would choose to stay. I’m sure they are so desperate to return to Arendelle. Also remember that “something went wrong” and magic and nature could no longer be together. It is my sense that after Anna and Elsa fix what has been broken, Magic and humanity can finally live together in peace! Why is it that Elsa was the only one with powers outside of Northuldra? It’s because Agnarr and Iduna CLEARLY escaped before the mist covered the forest. The rest of magic and spirits and elements were TRAPPED there. I predict that all magic and all of Northuldra will be happy to return to either Arendelle, or at least go exploring a bit.
With this in mind.. What purpose does Elsa have to stay? Who else is there for her? Magic and people have left the forest. I’d assume that she leaves with them and returns with Anna and do you know why? Because their UNITY is what broke the curse in the first place. Also, might I mention this.
In the book, NOWHERE does it ever say directly that Elsa stays in the forest. No where at all. Here is what it says directly. “Elsa finally understands her powers and finds her true destiny as the Snow Queen, the fifth spirit. Anna embraces her new purpose: Leading the people of Arendelle as the new Queen. Each sister has found her role in the world.” Again. Nothing that screams separation at all. In fact, the words used to describe Anna’s feeling about being the Queen after Elsa is, “Anna EMBRACES her new purpose.” Trust me. Anna would be devastated if Elsa stayed. We KNOW THAT. There is no way the directors and writers can just pretend that she would be fine. It’s not in her character, she loves Elsa far too much.
I bet Northuldra and Arendelle merge. Because Elsa is MAGIC and Northuldra is made up of magical beings and elements, she becomes the SNOW QUEEN and continues to rule. Why else would they use that term “Queen?” Why not, snow element/spirit? She clearly has some authority still and is going to be the voice of reason.
Both People and Magic were SEPARATED. Anna is “normal.” In other words she is without magical properties. She is now Queen of the people of both Arendelle and Northuldra. Elsa is “magical.” She understands magic and the elements that create it. She becomes Queen of such spirits and elements, maintaining harmony so that humans and elements don’t have to be separated ever again. The sisters work TOGETHER to maintain the kingdom. One sister over people and humanity, and the other over nature and magic. Again, just a theory, but I feel like this makes the most sense to me, personally. (Also, nothing says that Elsa steps down as Queen). Maybe Elsa decides that she is going to need some help in ruling both kingdoms AND magical elementals and spirits.
Here’s how it would go.
Anna: I can’t also be the Queen Elsa, it’s never been done!
Elsa: I see no problem with there being 2 Queens in one kingdom..
Thus satisfying the need for extra support in ruling, but also satisfying everyone who is desperate for some LGBT representation.
In conclusion.. I don’t think we need to worry. We have been blessed with one full feature film and two animated shorts. I personally saw not a single flaw in either of them. Remember, Jennifer Lee DIDN’T want to make another Frozen movie. She thought the story was over. Only after storyboarding and storyboarding and journaling and hours of thought did she finally decide.. Hey, this is a story that needs to be told. So the crew stepped up and created another masterpiece. Be not afraid fellow Frozen Fandom! We can do this! And We can trust in the creators of a franchise that has never ceased to bring us joy. They have too much at risk to drop the ball now.
