Why do you ship jelsa?
OMG, an ask! I’ve never gotten random asks before–or rather, in a long time!! :O
I’m glad it’s such a fun question too!
I’ve done a lot of thinking about why I like the Jelsa ship so much and I’ve seen a lot of arguments about why it’s good and why it isn’t. My whole thing is… They’re fiction; so as to why people get so crazy about Anti-Jelsa things or why they just aren’t meant to be is mind-boggling to me. I see shipping as more of a fun hobby or entertaining distraction and not as some sort of politic that needs to be defended or refuted which is what it’s seem to become to some in the fandom (and anti-fandom). I’ll go down with my ship but I don’t tend to fight over it. I got too much Jelsa fanart to create. ;)
But as to why I ship them:
1. The play on opposites. Like they say, “opposites attract.” I find the idea of the opposing characteristics of a couple very enduring. Elsa is refined, poised, sophisticated, mature, elegant–characteristics of a proper queen, of course–while Jack is wild, rambunctious, free-spirited, a bit careless, and dare we say, reckless. They could balance one another out. Jack could be the outlet that Elsa would need after being so alone and reclusive got so long. He could show her “a whole new world,” (forgive my Aladdin reference, it just seemed relevant) that would help the responsibility-riddled Queen unwind and relax and enjoy life more. Sure, she has Anna, but Jack could offer his fair share of entertainment and laughs and merriment since he is, after all, nothing but “snowballs and fun time.”
As for the opposite, Elsa could be a sort of stability a free-spirit like Jack could use. Sure, he’s all fun and games but life sure is lonely (even lonelier for him in his case) when all you’re doing is messing around, goofing off, and just being plain impulsive. Elsa could be the one to help ground him a little. That’s it–she grounds him. She would be the rational one, the who would be able to think clearly when he needed it. She’d be dependable and tangible, which is something that someone who’s been so alone for so long would need.
Their great differences could shed some light into their lives and broaden their horizons, change their lives in any little way.
Also, speaking of alone, that brings me to my next point–
2. Their similarities. Here we go! Their “ice powers!!” Of course, their icy, wintery powers is a similar characteristic. Their powers are what, I feel, would lure them to one another. And furthermore, it’s only reason Anti-Jelsa people consider we Jelsa shippers seem to ship them. (Which, even if some do, who cares?? They’re FICTIONAL. Let people ship what they want!) Anyway, I’ll come back to their ice powers later.
My first point, their loneliness. Both, in their lives, have gone through a period of loneliness, willingly and unwillingly. Jack was sent into pure isolation as a result of the Man on the Moon turning him into the winter spirit-a spirit that had yet to be believed in-while Elsa brought it on herself in fear of hurting those around her. Thus, this gives them the ability to understand one another; to understand what it’s like to feel so alone and just what kind of pain it could cause. With loneliness comes depression, which I’m sure both, no doubtably, endured, which is another point the two could understand in one another. The points just made aren’t very positive traits for a couple to have in common but, hey, the best part of these fictional characters is that they ARE flawed and have insecurities and fears just like a real couple would have. So, understanding what one another is going through is a reasonable point to me.
Fine, one could argue that Jack might be bitter at the idea that Elsa had the opportunity to be seen, to be heard, and that it would make him view Elsa as selfish and result in being put off by such a person but there’s my next point.
Their powers! TA-DA!
Elsa, as everyone is aware, doesn’t have the best control over her abilities. Jack, on the other hand, has had centuries of practice. I feel he would, undoubtably, understand her need to cut herself off from friends and family in order to shield them from her powers. She’s honest with herself and knows controlling her powers isn’t her strong suit, especially when they’re so in tune with her emotions which also seem to be difficult for her to suppress.
Jack would be able to teach her and help her manage since he couldn’t very well be hurt by her icy abilities since he’s (one) immortal and (two) has his own wintery touch. Maybe his powers differ from hers but there aren’t many other winter spirits willing to help. They would make such awesome snowy, winter spectacles together and have such a ball. I know I’d love hanging out with someone with a talent similar to mine. You draw too? Let’s draw together! You write too? Let’s read each other’s material! You sing too? Sing with me! In their case, you know how to make beautiful, winter wonderlands too? Let’s make beautiful, winter wonderlands together!
And my last point…
3. They’re hella cute together. I mean, just look at all the fan art of them! I’ll be hard pressed to find someone who says they don’t, superficially at least, look good together. And yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s shallow to think a couple would be together just because they’re both good-looking together and independently. But c'mon!! Elsa is hella gorgeous and Jack is wicked hot–as far as animated characters go. Put ‘em together in a picture, staring longingly at one another and I’m sold! After all, it’s nice when you can be physically attracted to someone as well as emotionally attracted. And as I’ve stated above, I feel it’s far more than just physical attraction.
And I know some folks say “he’s hundreds of years old and in hindsight makes him a creepy old man hunting after young girls!” Or “even though he’s hundreds of years old, he’s forever 17 (and yes, I recognize 17 since Peter Ramsey, one of the creators of the movie-Jack Frost has confirmed it) and she’s 21! Which makes Elsa a pedo!” Here’s what I think: there isn’t a lot of immortal being that Jack could choose from–none that I ship anyway. If Elsa, a mortal, is a choice, why the hell not?? She’s old enough to make decisions on who she wants and if she wants a 300+ immortal, 17-year-old looking winter dude, go for it! And another thing, I feel Jack is way more mature than he leads on, physically and mentally. Sure, in the movie he’s stated as 17 but that voice and that face? You could’ve told me he was 25 when he turned and I’d believe it. And hundreds of years worth of living definitely helps in his mental age, so there’s that.
So there you go! That’s some of the broad aspects of why I ship the two lovely character. Some may disagree but to each his own! I’m not trying to convert or convince anyone to ship these fictional characters together. But I’m all for unity in the Jelsa fandom. I mean, who else is going to swoon and fawn over them with me?
This was probably a much longer response than you were looking for but you can’t say I don’t ship blindly! Thanks for asking! :)
