‘Frozen Planet II’ Recap: ‘Frozen Ocean’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Frozen Planet II’. To revisit the series premiere, click here.
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When we think of winter in our world, we think… of bleakness. Of trees without their leaves, and white and pale ice and snow upon the ground. Which robs our world of color and life for that matter as well. Since animals go into hibernation during this period in time and so many others migrate to warmer climates. Leading all of us to quietly believe that cold climates are places devoid of beauty or life. They’re just plain icy and desolate and well, that’s why the BBC America documentary series, Frozen Planet II, is of note. Because it is taking the time to inform us, that is simply not the case. For the frozen parts of our world are teeming with life and for proof… look no further than last night’s episode.
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For ‘Frozen Ocean’ transported us to the chilly arctic circle of the north, to show us what life is actually like in sub-zero temperatures. As it turns out, this is indeed a place where life is thriving. For we were able to bear witness to the many polar bears that go about their day in this place, and hunt seal through the ice when the opportunity presents itself and they even take the time to play and romp about with friends because… this is their home, and the cold doesn’t bother them because they’re built for it. Not to mention, despite the horrible conditions that exist here for humans, many animals can sit in the icy waters of this place and wait out a terrible winter with minimal food because life on Earth knows how to adapt and is sometimes suited for more than one biome. As evidenced by the beluga whales that sometimes find themselves trapped in the ice in the winter.

But when spring arrives, they can forge ahead, dangerously of course since ice is melting everywhere and it is during this season and summer as well… where life is truly teeming in this place. For while it is indeed still cold, it’s warm enough for seals to have puffy little babies that are forced to grow up quick since their mothers don’t stay around all that long. And this is the time of year where walruses congregate atop the warmest places they can find, and fuss and struggle with something as simple as a nap, because that’s just how things go when you’re a walrus. Plus, we were able to see thriving underwater oceans, where whales fed freely on plankton and on each other, since the killer whale hunts in these waters as well. For that is the circle of life and it is one that is being greatly endangered by climate change.

For we also came to learn that those very seals are in trouble because the ice, they need to grow upon, is becoming quite sparse with the waters getting warmer and warmer. Plus, killer whales are able to over hunt because the ice walls that protect more innocent whales are fading from sight. Not to mention, the plucky polar bear is also running into some serious struggles with finding food and staying healthy. For the ice they use to hunt, which used to be plentiful in the summer, is fading fast and so are the animals in that area. Forcing them to risk life and limb to landmasses to find food. With mixed results. A reality that reminds us, we need to act to keep the arctic preserved, so this tightly knit ecosystem doesn’t collapse of our own accord. 

Because we can and should help and do our part, especially now that we are fully aware of the fact that the cold parts of the world that our minds thought were as silent and as still as the human world in winter… are most certainly not. They are instead, thriving and in motion all year round and much like the rest of the world, these frozen oceans feature beauty and wonder and sorrow and loss, because that is how life goes on planet Earth and that deserves preservation and longevity. And now that we’ve come to learn some fascinating lessons about this the frozen tundra at the top of the world, it will be fascinating to learn more about life in the coldest regions of our tiny little home, as we continue this grand and chilling journey through corners of the world, we know little of. Until next time.

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