Ep 2. Spring

Spring, the second episode of the first season of Frozen Planet, takes viewers on a journey through the Arctic and Antarctic regions during the season of renewal. From the melting of ice and snow to the arrival of new life, this episode explores the changes that occur as the world awakens from winter.

The episode begins with stunning footage of the sunrise over Antarctica, signaling the start of spring. As the ice begins to melt, the penguins huddle together to keep warm and wait for the return of their mates from their long journey at sea. We see the females arriving and the penguins engaging in their elaborate courtship rituals to rekindle their pair bonds.

Moving north to Alaska, we see the melting of snow and ice causing rivers to swell and flooding the forest floor with nutrient-rich water. This in turn prompts the arrival of millions of salmon who swim upstream to spawn. The bears come out of hibernation and can't wait to feast on the salmon. We see a mother bear teaching her cubs how to catch fish and avoid danger. However, for some animals such as eagles and wolves, this is also a time of feasting.

Next, we journey to the Arctic tundra where after months of hibernation, the female polar bears emerge from their dens with new cubs to start their journey towards the sea ice. The cubs are tiny and totally reliant on their mother's milk for survival. As the mother polar bear searches for food, the cubs are constantly at risk of attacks by male polar bears. She must protect them at all costs, even if it means taking on a larger, stronger male.

The program then kind of switches gears and takes a look at the microscopic world of the Arctic. Spring is also the time when the sea ice melts revealing a whole new world beneath the surface. We see microscopic algae blooming, and these form the base of the Arctic food chain. Other creatures such as copepods and krill feed on the algae, and in turn, become food for other larger creatures such as Arctic cod and even beluga whales. As we watch the microscopic life from above, it’s hard to imagine that it will eventually lead to some of the biggest creatures in the world.

We finally head south again to the Antarctic, where once again, spring means finding a mate and starting a family. However, for one species of penguin, the Adelie, this is a race against time. They must build their nests with precious stones, and as the snow melts, they need to move quickly to carry the rocks to their chosen spot before the snow refreezes. As their environment changes rapidly, the perils of daily life become harder and harder. But their funny and quirky personalities always come through, adding a layer of humor to their struggle.

As spring marches on, the time has come for the birds of the Arctic to migrate from their wintering grounds. The newborn chicks are big and healthy enough to join their parents in their long journey towards the warmer south. Flocks of snow geese, Arctic terns, and other birds make their way across the Arctic skies, guided by ancient instincts. Their journey is long and dangerous, and it requires plenty of energy. So, they stop at the tundra to eat as much as they can before continuing their journey to wintering grounds.

Finally, we return to the Arctic, where the sea ice is melting even more, and large areas of open water now exist. The bears continue their search for food but sometimes have to swim long distances to find what they need. Along the way, they come across some of the largest creatures in the world, the bowhead whale. However, hunting a whale is extremely challenging, and bears often end up with only small pieces to eat. The program ends with a mother bear feeding her two young cubs on a small morsel that she has managed to catch amidst a sea of ice floes.

Overall, Spring is an enchanting and fascinating episode that offers viewers breathtaking photography and insights into the natural world in times of renewal.