"First frost" arrives in Outer Space, and Gobo and Wembley go to the Storyteller for an annual tradition: hearing the story of Icy Joe, a legendary Fraggle explorer who went missing hundreds of years ago. Afterwards, they attempt to retrace the path on which she disappeared, only to find her still alive and frozen in the ice. They thaw her out and introduce her to Fraggle Rock, throwing a party in her honor, but it turns out that she is mean to all of them and only cares about herself. In the end, her and Gobo are caught in another avalanche, during which she apologizes and the two become friends, after which they are rescued by Wembley.
Meanwhile, Doc tries to stay awake while writing a paper. Junior Gorg continues work on his father's fountain.
This episode contains examples of:
- Accidental Misnaming: Icy Joe can't get anyone's name right apart from her own. It's specifically shown that the reason is because she doesn't really care enough to make an effort to remember. When she begins opening up, she starts getting names right.
- Blue Means Cold: Icy Joe has blue skin, befitting both the icy caverns she explored and her initially cold demeanor.
- Continuity Nod: The Gorgs' fountain, which Junior began building two episodes previously in "The Glow", figures into the plot again.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Icy Joe, who turns out to have acquired that nickname not for her daring explorations of icy regions, but for her harsh, unfriendly personality. She begins thawing out at the end of the episode, noting that "personal growth is exhausting."
- Gender-Blender Name: Icy Joe is a female Fraggle. This never commented or addressed at all.
- It Will Never Catch On: During the First Frost, Red advocates playing "a new kind of rock hockey, but instead of greaseberry leaves we slide on ice!" Gobo immediately dismisses the idea, claiming (in his trademark Canadian accent, no less) that hockey on ice will never work.
