Frozen: The Musical makes a notable change to the finale that fixes a major story problem with Elsa’s song “Let It Go.” The stage adaptation of Disney’s Frozen was a major expansion of the original movie, adding over a dozen songs to the story and tweaking certain characters for better effect on stage. While the core narrative remains the same, these versions of Elsa and Anna are different from the originals in some key ways.

One of the more subtle but important changes to the musical comes in the tweaks to “Let It Go,” Elsa’s ballad after fleeing Arendelle. In both versions of the story, Elsa loses control of her powers while in front of the ᴀssembled court, forcing her to flee into the cold. “Let It Go” builds off her uncertainty but growing self-confidence, depicting a woman letting go of the weight on her shoulders. However, the original movie undercut that emotional growth in a way that Frozen: The Musical (and the subsequent cinematic sequel Frozen 2) were able to address.

Frozen’s Story After “Let It Go” Has Always Undermined It

Frozen Doesn’t Let Elsa Really “Let It Go” After The Song

Although “Let It Go” might be the most iconic part of Frozen, the rest of the character’s arc following Elsa’s showstopper undermines her emotional arc — something that Frozen: The Musical addresses. The throughline of “Let It Go” is Elsa’s decision to break free from the expectations of others, living her life as she sees fit.

It’s an empowering moment of freedom for the Princess, especially after years of self-confinement for her safety and others. However, the plot then forces Elsa to return to the kingdom that fears her, initially as a prisoner and then as a savior once she ends the eternal winter she’s brought to Arendelle.

Despite her stated efforts to escape the expectations of her life in Arendelle, Elsa ends up remaining Queen of a country that turned against her. Elsa doesn’t get the chance to live the life she sang about in “Let It Go” and returns to her former role, suppressing her own desires for the sake of the throne, which undercuts the emotional power of that song.

Frozen The Musical’s “Finale” Is A Reprise Of “Let It Go” Where Anna & The Kingdom Support Elsa’s Personal Freedom

Elsa’s Big Arc Isn’t Ignored By Frozen: The Musical’s Happy Ending

That’s what makes the “Finale” in Frozen: The Musical a better note to end the story with. While Frozen: The Musical does largely follow the plot of the film that inspired it, the musical also takes some liberties with the source material. This includes a tweak to the ending, which emphasizes Anna and the rest of the kingdom accepting Elsa.

In the musical, the “Finale” includes a reprisal of “Let It Go” that reinforces Elsa’s character arc and her desires to break free. “Finale” validates Elsa’s feelings for the rest of the characters, showcasing how letting go and being free with her powers doesn’t mean people will stop loving her. It’s a small but important distinction that improves the story.

Frozen 2 Went A Different (Also Great) Route To Ironing Out Elsa’s Character Arc

How Frozen: The Musical And Frozen 2 Both Address Frozen’s Big Elsa Flaw

Frozen 2 went in a different direction than Frozen: The Musical, but also found a way to ensure Elsa retook her agency following her adventure to save Arendelle. In Frozen 2, Elsa finds herself drawn to the northern expanse and the mystical place known as Ahtohallan.

In the process, Elsa and Anna learned the true history of their family and their heritage in the north. This plot beat is similar to some of the tweaks to Frozen about the origins of Elsa’s magic. In both Frozen 2 and Frozen: The Musical, Elsa is given the chance to find self-acceptance despite her responsibilities to her people.

Even if Elsa’s fate in Frozen: The Musical and Frozen 2 differ, they both address Elsa’s motivations in “Let It Go” from Frozen better than the original film did. While the original Elsa arc in Frozen feels undercut by the events of the plot, Frozen: The Musical lets her keep her newfound agency and actualization, making it one of the best changes from the original animated film.