PLOT A: “Pesky Dragons”
Taking place all but probably a few weeks
after the end of the movie, it seems like the peace we saw in the movie’s
finale has been replaced with utter chaos. The Vikings and Dragons really
aren’t getting along too well, and it’s causing the Vikings to resent letting
them reside on Berk in the first place.
Although this plotline is clichéd and
quite expected, it’s a necessary and understandable plot device. Plus, it’s a
lot more believable then the end of the movie where the Vikings are able to get
along with the dragons even though Hiccup had been in a coma for two weeks.
I did enjoy all of the tomfoolery the
dragons were ensuing on Berk, like stealing food, clothes, and generally just
wrecking the place. It’s to be expected since first off the dragons have been
deprived of free will and food as of being in the nest with the Red/Green
Death, and just looking at the size of them and Berk is a pretty small place.
I did wish that this plot had been a
little more flushed out solution wise. I can understand about using a dragon’s
nature to the Viking’s benefit but it came so late in the episode that it all
ended up seeming pretty rushed. But at least it made sense. And according to
further plots, this doesn’t seem like the last we’ll see of Vikings vs. Dragons
in the tv series.
PLOT B: “Go Away Mildew”
Mildew’s your typical curmudgeon of Berk and
obviously has a huge problem with Vikings cohabitating with Dragons. So he
takes him upon himself to stir up the town and get the dragons sent away.
I’m just gonna start off with I love
Mildew’s character! He’s grumpy, he’s old, and he’s a perfect character to get
some genuine angst out of Hiccup.
I did like his speech that he gave the
Vikings about why the dragons are a nuisance because…he was actually correct.
Sure, we all want to root for dragons and Vikings living peacefully, but in
this episode the dragons were running rampant…I would’ve been annoyed as well.
Mildew had a good reason to get the people riled up, but obviously his real
intentions were to just get them off the island instead of trying different
alternatives to train them. Which, of course, he’s the villain, so he has to
have “evil” ulterior motives.
But there’s still so much about
Mildew’s character that we don’t know. Why does he still hate dragons? Why did
Stoick have to move his house behind the Great Hall? And why does he pick on
Hiccup specifically? Hopefully we’ll get some more substance to his character but
as is, he’s a pretty solid Saturday morning cartoon villain. (I mean come on
his “I’ll get those Dragons yet” line should’ve sealed that deal).
PLOT C: “Hiccup the Man”
Hiccup takes it upon himself to bring the
peace back between Vikings and Dragons, but, of course, things aren’t going to
be as easy as he thought.
Although one of the lesser points of
the episode, I still feel Hiccup’s struggle to prove himself even after the
movie is pretty powerful. The scene where he first volunteers to try and get
the Dragons under control because he thinks he’s the “best man for the job” and
yet Stoick says he’s “not a man yet”, I think is going to set the tone for many
of Hiccup’s trials in this season and probably in the rest of the franchise.
It’s nice to see Hiccup’s ability to
take charge like he did at the end of the movie isn’t discarded here, and
despite his and other teen’s history, they seem ready and willing to listen to
Hiccup’s instruction. I’m not sure how much respect he has among the rest of
the villagers yet, but if Gift of the
Night Fury is anywhere near canon, he’ll eventually gain a lot of
credibility for everything dragon-related.
Of course at the end of the episode,
Hiccup puts his thinking cap on and figures out something quick and workable to
make everyone happy, but I’d like to see him eventually face something that’s
not as easy for him to handle, or maybe him just making the wrong choice all
together.
Still it was a good introduction to
show that the days of “Hiccup the Useless” are no more. But keeping that title
off of him will still take a lot more work.
FINAL WORDS:
Overall, I think this episode was a
necessary introduction to the issues of the season as well as a good bridge
from the end of the movie. The tone was a little lighter then we all wanted,
but I’m not sure a more serious take on this would’ve really changed much other
then make it unnecessarily “dark”.
I could’ve lived without the dragon
poop jokes, though. But, if you think about it twice…it’s a pretty good way of
handling that question. Dragons are animals…animals poop….so where does it all
go? Apparently it’s all going on Mildew’s cabbage garden now.
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