WARNING: This description contains heavy spoilers for the entire episode
The episode begins with the villagers of Berk getting the Academy ready for the annual Thawfestival games--"Thawfest". In Raven Point Forest, Gobber is training Hiccup for the games in various tests of strength and endurance such as pulling trees out of the ground and running with a sheep on his back. Sadly, though, Hiccup doesn't really triumph in physical activities like...Snotlout.
Snotlout, too, is in the forest being trained by his father, Spitelout, and he's doing fairly well. Hiccup expresses his anger and annoyance at Snotlout's cockiness especially during the Thawfest games, for Snotlout has bested Hiccup at the games every year. Hiccup, though, is relieved that this year dragons will be included in the Thawfest games and he might actually have a chance to win with Toothless.
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| Snotlout's metals |
In the Academy, Gobber reiterates that three additional dragon events will be added to the games, and everyone is rather excited. Snotlout flies into the Academy in a showy manner on Hookfang and shows off his large collection of Thawfest metals, annoying everyone else as he blabs about how he's brought glory to his family every year while Hiccup has only brought embarrassment.
That night, at the Haddock House, Hiccup is working on some measurements on Toothless when Stoick enters, quietly looking over Hiccup's work before expressing a little awkwardly that it would be nice to best the Jorgenson clan (Snotlout's family) at the Thawfest games now that Hiccup has Toothless. Stoick does his best to not pressure Hiccup, though, and Hiccup appreciates the offer and agrees that it would be nice to finally beat Snotlout.
The next morning the Thawfest games official begin. The endurance tests are up first.
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| Hiccup embarrassing fail |
First up is the Sheep Lug where all the teens place sheep on their backs and run a short distance. Who ever makes it to the end first wins. Snotlout easily takes first place, Astrid taking a close second, but Hiccup, Fishlegs, and the Twins all make an embarrassing loss, Hiccup falling over in exhaustion before he can even make it to the end of the race.
Second is the Log Roll where the teens all have to run on a spinning log elevated above a bed of pillowed sacks and who ever is the last to get knocked off wins. Snotlout, still, easily takes the win, but Hiccup does last a little longer until his legs trip him up. He lands in the pillows and Toothless helpfully pulls him out, though both of them look a bit dejected.
Last of the day is the Axe Throw, which is rather self explanatory in which the teens throw axes at a target and "precision is key". The twins of course, while powerful axe throwers, don't have very good aim. And Fishlegs ironically messes up Astrid's throw and his own in the process. Hiccup makes a good effort, but his axe doesn't even meet the target, and, of course, Snotlout takes another win, having the power and accuracy to sink his axe and two other axes into the target.
Hiccup is annoyed by Snotlout's showing off as is Stoick with being embarrassed at Spitelout's bragging. Spite calls out to Stoick to just give Snotlout to metal now and to save Hiccup the embarrassment, but Stoick has him take a seat and be quiet.
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| Snotlout's points |
A little after the first day's festivities are over, Hiccup is staring at the scoreboard. All three points of the day going to Snotlout, as usual, with Hiccup at dead last. Snotlout, of course, takes this chance to brag some more, provoking Hiccup to mention that he'll best him tomorrow during the dragon events. Snotlout is too confident to even be scared by that threat and claims that he and Hookfang "are like boy and dragon have become one" and calls them "SnotFang" Hiccup replies that the next day they'll have to face "HiccTooth", which gets a weird look from Astrid.
Astrid asks why Hiccup's getting caught up in Snotlout's provoking and Hiccup just expresses that he finally has a chance to beat Snotlout and "quiet him down". Astrid does support that it would be nice to see someone else win the games for once, and flies off, leaving Hiccup to get all rallied up to beat Snotlout the next day.
The next day, the dragon events of the Thawfest games begin.
First up is the hurdles, the dragons and riders have to fly under them without hitting the tops. The twins and Fishlegs all get stuck during their run, and Astrid only hits the top once. Snotlout, on the other hand, doesn't do as well as he did the previous day and hits the tops of every hurdle.
Once it's Hiccup's turn he makes a "perfect run" and Toothless even flips upside down halfway through just to dazzle the crowd. Spitelout isn't as happy with this turnout, but Hiccup cheers as he gets his first Thawfest point...ever. Though his time to be excited runs a little thin and he easily crosses over from patting himself on the back to gloating--which confuses both Fishlegs and Astrid as they've never heard Hiccup gloat.
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| Hiccup gloating |
Snotlout isn't as happy, obviously, and claims that Hiccup can take the win but Snotlout still has two more chances to win and only needs one more win to end the games and take the metal. The odds are still in his favor but Hiccup pays no heed, his head is too in the clouds over his win. When Astrid gives Hiccup a troubled look Hiccup just says that Snotlout started it when he and Hiccup were five.
The next event is the Freestyle where the teens and their dragons get to show off in tricks to impress the judges. First up, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Barf and Belch, attempt to balance on their zippleback, Tuffnut standing on both heads with Ruffnut balancing on his shoulders in a trick called "The Iron Split". But the trick goes awry when Tuffnut is forced into an actual split...that doesn't go over well for him.
Then it's Fishlegs and Meatlug who are attempting a trick called "The Extreme Butterfly" and spin in a lot rapid circles, but they spiral out of control and crash...as expected. Astrid and Stormfly do a trick that entails her to do various gymnastics all while flying Stormfly. The judges seem impressed.
Hiccup then does a series of high speed aerial stunts, and the judges are extremely impressed, giving Hiccup a perfect score from each judge.
Then, it's Snotlout's turn, and he's attempting a trick called the "Rings of Deadly Fire", Hiccup looks a little worried that Snotlout might be able to pull it off but once Snotlout begins his routine Hookfang doesn't seem to want to go through the set up rings and flings Snotlout off, burning his butt in the process and earning him no points from the judges. Spitelout is angered and ashamed and Snotlout is beginning to feel the pressure.
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| "Do not!" "Do too!" |
During a break, Snotlout is looking up at the scoreboard, he's still in the lead, but Hiccup is now only one point away from being tied with him. Sensing his insecurity, Hiccup goes up and comments on how mad Spitelout looks and Snotlout is offended by this. He says that Hiccup has no shot at beating him, though Hiccup begs to differ saying that he's the best rider and he has a night fury, so how could he possibly lose? Snotlout can't really give a decent response so he just storms off. Astrid apparently witnessed the conversation and asks Hiccup "what was that all about?" he just says he was "rattling cages".
Astrid is still confused and now a bit worried since when does Hiccup "rattle cages"?
In the final dragon event of the day, it's an course called the "Fly and Shoot" in which the dragons and rider teams must shot down the wooden remakes of outcasts, but not the remakes of children or villagers.
Hiccup and Toothless make another perfect run, as expected, but Snotlout and Hookfang don't have such a clean run. They shoot down the first Outcast remake but it's over a bed of flour sacks and they happen to explode in Hookfang's face, blinding him a bit. Next shot he takes ends up hitting villager remakes and the flour in his face seems to confuse him even more. Hookfang flies around the course uncontrolled, shooting fire at everything he's not supposed to. Spitelout grows even more agitated as Snotlout could've taken the win of the entire games if he had just made a clean run on that event.
Instead Hiccup, once again, takes another point, making the games become tied between Snotlout and Hiccup. Mulch announces that they'll have a tie-breaker course the next day to choose the winner of the games.
As Hiccup and Snotlout stand in the center of the ring and wave happily to the crowd they begin to mutter threats to eachother, as Hiccup particularly says that Snotlout's winning streak will go up "up in flames just like his rings of deadly fire". Astrid is a bit appalled by Hiccup's actions and gives him a hard glare, saying that one thing she always liked about him was that he was a "gracious loser" but now he's being a "lousy winner". Hiccup doesn't seem too convinced by her words, but mulls them over as she walks away.
That night in the blacksmith's forge Hiccup is up late working hard on modifying Toothless's tail for the race. He makes everything "lighter" and "thin as paper but stronger than before" so assure them a definite win against Snotlout. But at that point even Toothless is becoming worried that Hiccup might be a little too obsessed with winning.
The next day right before the race starts Stoick comes up to Hiccup and tells him "no pressure" in a small pep talk. Hiccup still appreciates the subtle methods of Stoick's not wanting to pressure him too much but looks over worriedly at Snotlout. Spitelout approaches his son roughly and tells him that no Jorgenson has ever come close to losing the Thawfest games, so he better not be the first. Snotlout is dejected by his father's idea of a "pep talk" and walks away angrily, not unnoticed by Hiccup, though.
In the Academy Gobber explains the rules of the tie-breaker course. The two are to go through a log dodge and a cliff climb up to their dragons, ride them out to sea around a flagged ship and them go through the "sea stack maze" and make it back to the Academy first.
Hiccup goes up to Snotlout after witnessing his talk with Spitelout and tries to bury some kind of hatchet before the race starts. He holds out his hand and says "may the best Viking win" but Snotlout is too pressured by his father to make any kind of truce. He snubs off Hiccup's attempt to make up and only fuels Hiccup's original competitive spirit more.
As the race starts to the on their marks and begin but Snotlout pushes Hiccup over the second the race starts, already gaining the lead in the log dodge and the cliff climb. Hiccup is lagging behind but still manages to get through the log dodge unharmed. He moves to the cliff climb and is doing well until he looses his grip and begins to slid down the cliff; his prosthetic leg halting his fall was what saved him, and Hiccup finishes climbing and gets to Toothless...long after Snolout has already flown off on Hookfang.
Finally in the air, Hiccup and Toothless burst off, their speed clearly superior and catch up to Snotlout and Hookfang in no time. Once they get to the sea stacks the racing "track" gets a lot more narrow, and with both teams fghting to get the lead they both get a bit out of control, almost crashing into a large sea stack before both going opposite ways. While Snotlout lucks up and gets the correct route back to the Academy, Hiccup and Toothless, unfortunately have to go the long way around.
Still, their speed is superior, and they're able to catch up to Snotlout and Hookfang quickly. Hiccup finally decides that enough teasing is enough and he and Toothless gear forward, easily passing Snotlout and Hookfang and attempt to "end this". As Snotlout sees that Hiccup and Toothless clearly have the speed and means to beat him, he grows sad and worried rambling over and over "I can't lose". Spitelout's pressure is crashing down on him....
Hiccup sees this in Snotlout and finally snaps out of his over-competitive fog that's been fueling him the entire race. He frowns and hangs his head saying "I'm sorry Dad". Hiccup then cuts back Toothless's tail, slowing them down to land in a nearby grassland just outside the Academy. Everyone watching is shocked, seeing it has Hiccup and Toothless suddenly lost control, but Astrid grows a smile...she knows what Hiccup did.
Snotlout and Hookfang come into the Academy and wins the race, a little shocked that he has done so but happy when hs sees Spitelout happily cheering in the crowd. Hiccup and Toothless come in shortly after Snotlout, and as they both walk up to Stoick on the stage Hiccup says that they had a good race. Snotlout almost compliments Hiccup on putting up a good fight but of course has to add that his effort "wasn't good enough".
Stoick gives Snotlout his newest Thawfest metal but subtly makes sure that Hiccup knows he made Stoick proud as well even if he came in second. Spitelout chants at his son's win and Snotlout happily soaks in all his praise.
Hiccup walks off the stage, smiling at Snotlout's happiness before Astrid comes in and punches his arm, claiming to know what he had done. Hiccup tries to deny it, claiming that Snotlout was just "the better Viking" but Astrid says that no one was a better Viking than Hiccup and with that grabs him by the shoulder and plants a kiss square on his mouth. She pulls away a short time later, walking away and leaving Hiccup smiling.
He and Toothless watch Snotlout still celebrate his win, Spitelout particularly proud and happy as well, and he and Toothless share a gaze. Hiccup accepts his second place status if it's to help out a friend. Even if the friend is....Snotlout.
New Information:
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| It's a tie! |
As Hiccup and Snotlout stand in the center of the ring and wave happily to the crowd they begin to mutter threats to eachother, as Hiccup particularly says that Snotlout's winning streak will go up "up in flames just like his rings of deadly fire". Astrid is a bit appalled by Hiccup's actions and gives him a hard glare, saying that one thing she always liked about him was that he was a "gracious loser" but now he's being a "lousy winner". Hiccup doesn't seem too convinced by her words, but mulls them over as she walks away.
That night in the blacksmith's forge Hiccup is up late working hard on modifying Toothless's tail for the race. He makes everything "lighter" and "thin as paper but stronger than before" so assure them a definite win against Snotlout. But at that point even Toothless is becoming worried that Hiccup might be a little too obsessed with winning.
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| Spitelout's "pep talk" |
The next day right before the race starts Stoick comes up to Hiccup and tells him "no pressure" in a small pep talk. Hiccup still appreciates the subtle methods of Stoick's not wanting to pressure him too much but looks over worriedly at Snotlout. Spitelout approaches his son roughly and tells him that no Jorgenson has ever come close to losing the Thawfest games, so he better not be the first. Snotlout is dejected by his father's idea of a "pep talk" and walks away angrily, not unnoticed by Hiccup, though.
In the Academy Gobber explains the rules of the tie-breaker course. The two are to go through a log dodge and a cliff climb up to their dragons, ride them out to sea around a flagged ship and them go through the "sea stack maze" and make it back to the Academy first.
Hiccup goes up to Snotlout after witnessing his talk with Spitelout and tries to bury some kind of hatchet before the race starts. He holds out his hand and says "may the best Viking win" but Snotlout is too pressured by his father to make any kind of truce. He snubs off Hiccup's attempt to make up and only fuels Hiccup's original competitive spirit more.
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| Ready...set...GO! |
Finally in the air, Hiccup and Toothless burst off, their speed clearly superior and catch up to Snotlout and Hookfang in no time. Once they get to the sea stacks the racing "track" gets a lot more narrow, and with both teams fghting to get the lead they both get a bit out of control, almost crashing into a large sea stack before both going opposite ways. While Snotlout lucks up and gets the correct route back to the Academy, Hiccup and Toothless, unfortunately have to go the long way around.
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| "I can't lose....I can't lose...." |
Hiccup sees this in Snotlout and finally snaps out of his over-competitive fog that's been fueling him the entire race. He frowns and hangs his head saying "I'm sorry Dad". Hiccup then cuts back Toothless's tail, slowing them down to land in a nearby grassland just outside the Academy. Everyone watching is shocked, seeing it has Hiccup and Toothless suddenly lost control, but Astrid grows a smile...she knows what Hiccup did.
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| Snotlout is victorious |
Stoick gives Snotlout his newest Thawfest metal but subtly makes sure that Hiccup knows he made Stoick proud as well even if he came in second. Spitelout chants at his son's win and Snotlout happily soaks in all his praise.
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| Hiccup's "prize" |
Hiccup walks off the stage, smiling at Snotlout's happiness before Astrid comes in and punches his arm, claiming to know what he had done. Hiccup tries to deny it, claiming that Snotlout was just "the better Viking" but Astrid says that no one was a better Viking than Hiccup and with that grabs him by the shoulder and plants a kiss square on his mouth. She pulls away a short time later, walking away and leaving Hiccup smiling.
He and Toothless watch Snotlout still celebrate his win, Spitelout particularly proud and happy as well, and he and Toothless share a gaze. Hiccup accepts his second place status if it's to help out a friend. Even if the friend is....Snotlout.
New Information:
- This is the first episode to feature Spitelout, who was in the movies, but he was finally confirmed to be Snotlout's father.
- Snotlout is revealed to be the way he is because his father constantly pressures him to be the best.
- The Jorgenson clan has been winning the Thawfest games for generations (ironically over the Haddocks and the Hoffersons).
- Snotlout seems to have nine Thawfest metals which means he's been competing in the games for the past nine years.
- This episode has the third modification to Toothless's tail in the franchise.
- This episode also has the third kiss between Hiccup and Astrid (fourth if you count the cheek kiss in the cove) in the franchise.
- The Thawfest games seemingly only put the teens of the village against each other, as the adults watch and cheer them on.
- It's never stated whether or not Thawfest has to do with the end of winter, but it's assumed it does.
- A funny quirk in the episode is that during the log roll and the axe throwing events her chance to win was sabotaged by something Fishlegs did, not of her own will.
