#httyd riders of berk

[toothbrushfingers]

this height difference is killing me

[layersofmania]

Surprise, goofy snotlout for your dash :P

[krattgirl124]

Call me Tuffnut but I just really want a Whispering Death

[reviewinghiccup]

RIDERS OF BERK | HTTYD SERIES | BREAKING DOWN HICCUP

Blog Post Series: Breaking Down Hiccup

Title: Breakneck Bog

Ep/Season: Episode 17, Season 1 (Riders of Berk)

Premise:

Hiccup and gang set out to the mysterious, maybe even dangerous Breakneck Bog in search for something once lost.

CHARACTER DISCUSSION

HICCUP HORRENDOUS HADDOCK III

(1) THE FILIAL SON

Stoick, Gobber, Hiccup, Thornado and Toothless go on a journey to find Trader Johann who is late and carrying a parcel on his ship Stoick really wants. When the mission fails, Hiccup decides to venture out on his own, to retrieve the lost treasure for his father.

Stoick didn't tell Hiccup that the treasure was actually a gift from his mother, knowing that if Hiccup knew that, he would've gone out of his way to get it back. However, what Stoick probably didn't bank on was the fact that Hiccup would do anything for him, regardless.

note: I need to get me one of those Berk crested satchels. Looks like it can carry a lot.

Of course, Astrid will come to find out about it and because our boy here cannot lie to the girl he likes, he told her everything. Well, that and more because, Astrid reads him like a book.

(2) UNHEEDED WARNINGS & STUBBORNNESS ISSUES

It felt like the running theme of the episode was unheeded warnings. Hiccup decided to find Trader Johann, even though it wasn't his father's wish for him to handle the operation on his own.

Snotlout got everyone to join the expedition despite being warned to keep the scout-group small.

And the decision to go into Breakneck Bog itself was stubbornness disguised as adventure.

It's so funny how Hiccup has no control over his group sometimes. No, sorry, its hilarious.

TRADER JOHANN

I open this question to the floor, do you think this incident was planned by Johann or did he really suffer an accident?

I mean, what are the odds that a valuable item to Stoick and Hiccup would be found on his ship the day he just had to pass Breakneck Bog. Do you think Johann planted it? I mean, it's not uncharacteristic of an evil mastermind to do so.

But that would mean, he knows them scarily well and planned to get rid of the riders this way.

Why I ask this question is because he was found on a plank, stranded in the middle of the ocean. We don't see any other ships or people nearby to help him. Did he really go that far to disguise his disloyalty?

Again, it wouldn't be uncharacteristic of him to do so. But still, no one can fault the dude for his dedication. Or acting.

THEME, MESSAGE & STORYLINE

"Most people are afraid of things because they don't understand them. For me, it was dragons. Then one day that changed, and my greatest fear became my best friend." - Hiccup

Just like Breakneck Bog and the elusive Fog Monster, there was great fear in the unexplainable. However, when the "cover" is blown and what was suppose to be scary ended up being nothing but a facade, we truly see where fears lie, in ignorance of truth.

A fear of dragons was the downfall of the village, until they started understanding them. Then they realised, like Hiccup did, that dragons were just like them. Scared, nervous, strong, independent.

That was also Valka's message which we learn in HTTYD 2. I liked this episode because it combined all my favourite bits of the show. The heartwarming family values, the bond of friendship, adventure and their overarching lesson, that you don't have to be afraid of the things you can't yet understand.

The episode is shrouded in mystery, i.e., Breakneck Bog, the Lost Treasure, the Fog Monsters. But the best part about it is how it is uncovered. And what "treasure" means to someone, is completely how we attach value to it.

Further, inasmuch as you can hate on Snotlout or be annoyed with the twins, you can't help but know that as a group they work well together and they will be there for each other.

In terms of comedic timing and pacing, this show definitely hits as one of the better ones. It's a mix of adventure, humour, family - in essence, what the entire franchise is about, but as a series it was a lovely bite size piece to enjoy.

PERSONAL FAVOURITE MOMENTS

A) EVERYONE UPSET THAT THEY HAVE A CONSCIOUS

B) HICCUP'S SIDE EYE WHEN SNOTLOUT CALLED ASTRID'S GRANDFATHER STUPID

C) A SCARED FISHLEGS OFFERING HICCUP HIS MOTHER

D) SNOTLOUT CALLING OUT JOHANN

Given Snotlout's distrust, he is actually someone who calls Johann out constantly. One thing Hiccup does fail to discern is the true nature of people. Which is a flaw that leads him to most of his problems.

E) ASTRID AND HICCUP'S HERO POSE

[sothisisablog]

One of my favourite How to Train Your Dragon fun facts is that they had the idea to make the sometimes child (the Screaming Death) of the Whispering Death more terrifying than it’s parent.

But forgot that the Whispering Death is already a living nightmare.

[laughingwith-bluelips]

In this moment of my chronological httyd rewatch ™ I think its ok yo say this:

I have watched rtte before and I disliked it

This was in 2020. I was very much mad because I already watched thw an though why would I watch this if I know how this is going to end all the way through the series. Also, at that time I had only watched some snippets of RoB/DoB on public television when I was a kid, so my distorted perception reality was convinced that those series were better. And I mean, sure they're good but I don't think that anymore.

I don't remember the later seasons bc I was mad. I resented HTTYD as a whole because they gave us a shitty finale and I wasn't buying any content from the DreamWorks franchise.

I read the books, on the other hand, and I did the worst I could do: I compared them to rtte. And that made the series feel even worse.

Anyways, this year I decided I wanted to watch it again. You know, many httyd content in social media and specially that Audrie Greywind video where she talks about Hiccstrid for about 5 hours. I realized i hadn't watched most of RoB/DoB so my opinion on that wasn't accurate. And RttE. Well, I don't remember most of the later seasons so, yeah, I needed this rewatch.

And, 4 seasons in, I love it. I found myself loving these episodes, caring about the characters and loving the most intrascendental things. Like, one of my favourite episodes now is Gruff on the edge and I don't think it has any impact on the season. I just like it.

I think quarantine me was right to be mad, but rtte doesn't have the fault of what happened in THW. I won't forget my criticism of my first watching, I think it's an important first reaction, but I know I was wrong for judging the series in base of other products.

Someday soon (sorry, uni still exists) I will start the last two season. And man, I feel nervous if I haven't watched then before

[andreacelestemoreno]

Astrid Hofferson being jealous of the girls because of Hiccup part 4

[thedragon-and-hisboy]

was anyone going to tell him that broken noses bleed... a lot?

[nervousloveheart]

Someone else might've already said this, but consider this.

We all no that there are a few inconsistencies with the httyd movies and tv series, most of which are character based. and that really upset me because I love the movies and shows so much, and they're a big part of my kid's life as well as mine because I enjoy them.

So a came up with a theory that makes me a little more comfy watching the movies and shows in chronological order.

Alternate universe's. the movies and show's come from different universe's, and that's why the character's act differently in both media's.

Of course I understand that this little theory wouldn't work for everyone, and admittedly it doesn't fully satisfy me, but my kids liked it and I thought I would share the idea. I also understand that movies have less time to go through things thoroughly than a tv series would, but, eh.

[thereweredragonshere]

Astrid should have had a more realistic build. Fight me. FIGHT ME.

[toothbrushfingers]

I was reading your post about disabled Hiccup and wanted to add that the first episode of Riders of Berk he says “Everything hurts, even this” as he lifts up his prosthetic leg. Although it’s very brief and supposed to a funny bit in the show it can be an implied reference to phantom pains. However I also wish that aspect was explored more in the series. No wonder why during my free time I try searching for fics that involve Hiccup experiencing phantom pains and how his friends and family respond to it.

literally 💀

it’s something that’s never touched on even tho it’s very real and very common with amputees.

i get why they didn’t as they can be brutal, but it’s not like they haven’t touched on brutal stuff before (kidnapping, branding, drowning to name a few)

[dragonnnfly]

I will never EVER forget this iconic RoB moment

Cause it really was that relatable, Hiccup really went “everything is fine” and Stoick smiled at him knowingly for about 4 seconds before Hiccup went “FINE YOU WIN” and proceeded to completely loose it

[krattgirl124]

After watching RTTE, I really do think that he had a knife in his boot.

[reviewinghiccup]

RIDERS OF BERK || THE SEASON FINALE | HTTYD SERIES | BREAKING DOWN HICCUP

Blog Post Title: Breaking Down Hiccup

Title: We are Family I & II

Ep/Season: Episodes 19 & 20, Season 1 (Riders of Berk)

Premise:

It's Bork week! The riders were tasked to do a Dragon Air show in conjunction w the festive week. The Nadders had a synchorinsed air glide, the Gronckles were gonna arrive in a steady formation and well, Hiccup started feeling a little left-out for Toothless who might need to do the show alone.

Newly entrusted w Bork's papers, i.e., the originals drafts making up the sacred Book of Dragons, he stumbles on a couple of sheets revealing the mysterious Isle of Night, an island filled with Night Furies.

Desperate to find Toothless a family of his own, Hiccup and gang sets out to look for the island, but stumbled into something else.

THEME & MESSAGE

PRESERVING GENERATIONS

The Vikings are a very proud people. Proud of their culture, background and ancestry. They all come from a long line of dragon killers. As far as we know it, no one apart from Hiccup has tried to make peace w the beast. And so, it is a huge deal that this year's Bork Week is celebrated along side the dragons instead of against them.

Bork the Bold is Gobber's great, great grandfather. He has inherited all his trinkets and keepsakes. The journey of collecting and collating the information found in the Book is discussed in Dreamworks Dragons' limited series Book of Dragons.

Maybe that's why Gobber is such a dragon expert himself. It runs in his blood.

Now, we know times have changed and the village has now accustomed themselves to having dragons around. As part of their daily life, culture and community.

That was the one of the main objectives of the Dragon Academy & the aim of the dragon riders. And they’ve done well in securing this new sense of life.

"Traditions' a fine thing Mildew, but things have changed. Better if you asked me...We've come a long way from the time when it was us or the dragons, you might be a little less crusty if you get used to that Mildew."

And if you think about it, how many senseless deaths had occasioned all these generations long because the vikings couldn't or weren't intuitive enough to understand dragons?

So, yes, things have changed for the better.

The council agrees that it is time for Bork's notes to be stored in the academy and placed under Hiccup's charge so that it can be utilised and improved upon. It is, to them, the right place for it now.

Being the nerd that he is, Hiccup spends the entire night sifting through old manuscripts and diaries till he stumbles upon notes on an island full of Night Furies.

FINDING TOOTHLESS A FAMILY

Lamenting earlier in the afternoon, wishing Toothless had a family to belong to, Hiccup was excited to get hold of these notes, embarking almost immediately on a journey to find Bork's cave and retrieve the exact location of the Isle of Night.

This journey was so funny. I mean, Snotlout is such a jerk to the Twins, but it counterbalances because the Twins couldn't care less about Snotlout. The entire scene when he was held hostage by the wild changewing is so unserious its funny.

This adventure was pretty remarkable. I mean, Bork sounds like a pretty elusive character. His cave is revealed by sunlight. It's perched on the side of a steep cliff. I know that I said, Hiccup is the first one we know of that rode dragons, but who knows, towards the end of his life, maybe Bork did as well, he just didn't record it? (This is just my theory. I'm not fully convinced but I do wonder.)

It's also amazing that this was the episode Hiccup discovers Toothless's echolocation.

Let's have an honourable mention for the Isle of Night's location carved into the topside of the cave. Aesthetically pleasing for an adventure this big. (I wouldn’t get too attached though, y’all know why).

This mission was also special. It wasn't a scouting mission, a rescue mission, a mission against the enemy. It was instigated to find Toothless a family. And everyone went with Hiccup. The Twins, Snotlout, Fishlegs and of course, Astrid.

This just goes to show, that inasmuch as they get on each others nerves, the five of them will always have each others back.

UNFORTUNATELY,

For those who watched the final instalment of the HTTYD franchise, The Hidden World, you would know that all Night Furies were hunted down nearly to extinction by this guy...

It was peculiar that the notes specified unruly and hostile behaviour of Night Furies in herds.

Yet, based on that information, Hiccup went alone to spare the others from danger.

The longer it took for any Night Furies to show-up, the more suspicious I was and, on my first time watching, I remember yelling "GET OUT IT’S A TRAP!"

This whole time, it was a ploy by Alvin and the Outcasts to kidnap Hiccup and force him into training their dragons.

MILDEW'S TREASON

I had an inkling that this old man had something to do with something. But I don't know why, when it was reveal that he had a hand in this, it surprised me. I knew he was a grumpy, horrid old sod, but I never expected him to be cunning.

AND, the most interesting part about this treason was how well it played out.

When Mildew was thrown in prison and it looked like Alvin had tricked him too, I thought it was genuine. Who knew it was a charade to get Hiccup to teach Mildew the tricks of the trade?

I mean, Mildew played two cards; (1) Hiccup’s knack for adventure; and (2) Hiccup’s forgiving disposition.

It’s like Mildew knew Hiccup was in search for other Night Furies for Toothless. And I wondered how he knew that was the case to be. Though, on hindsight, maybe he was just taking a swing at Hiccup’s innate desire for discovery.

He further played with Hiccup's sympathy and used it to gain his trust when “trying to escape.”

Though don’t you think it’s ironic, that Midlew is the one from Berk who ends up learning and training dragons on Outcast Island? Doesn’t this deserve an irony of all ironies stamp?

Whatever the case may be, the whole Mildew fiasco was dramatic to say the least:

HICCUP THE UNAFRAID

I don't think I have ever seen this boy flinch at danger or bad guys. He flinches when Astrid's mad at him (which is adorable), but not at Alvin, or anyone whose kidnapped him before. And he has been kidnapped many times.

He just walks through the prison barracks as if its nothing. He is the perfect example of never judge a book by its cover.

We think, from the 1st Movie, that Hiccup is a coward. But no, he is a different kind of fighter. And a testament to his own father, Stoick who is also brave and unflinching when it comes to danger UNLESS the danger befalls someone they care about.

He is more Stoick’s son than meets the eye. And just because he doesn’t look large and compelling doesn’t mean he isn’t.

This adds to what I've been talking about this whole time, that courage, perseverance and leadership takes many different forms. And Hiccup is in a state of his own.

THE RIDERS OF BERK

And in line with our topic on "things aren't as they always seem," it took Hiccup two episodes to realise that Toothless had found his family… in him.

Family doesn’t need to fit the conventional standard of blood relatives or similar species. It can occasion from bonds of brotherhood, friendship and care. The question is, whether you are there for each other no matter what. And the answer to that is, definitely!

This little family is completed w a blonde, warrior Princess and her Deadly Nadder. An arrogant yet loveable (sometimes) dweeb and his Monstrous Nightmare. A tough an tender dragon knowledge geek & his Gronckle. And a pair of eccentric twins on their Zippleback.

RIDERS OF BERK ended w a final lesson - Defending the people you love.

The dragons carried out their mission to save Hiccup and Toothless in the absence of command.

They transitioned perfectly from simply just protecting their riders to actively fighting for them.

Moving on from being riders to defenders, #iykyk.

The whole season dealt w lessons for the dragons and it’s riders. Everyone had so much to learn about themselves and each other. And we get a lovely insight into the whole process.

PERSONAL TAKE & THANK YOUS

ROB lifts the curtain on the day-to-day lives of Berkians because it was a story on how these dragons were going to assimilate into their world.

What I never expected was, being able to find such nuggets of wisdom and character building when I took apart actions and consequences or responses a character had towards their circumstances and fit them into my life creating a moral lesson.

Dreamworks Dragons as a series gets more and more interesting. The adventure thickens. The stakes higher. The losses greater. The bad guys worser. But nothing compares to the heartwarming, soul enlightening, humble beginnings that ROB brings. It’s drenched in nostalgia.

One thing I missed when ROB ended was peeping through Hiccup & Stoick’s relationship for the first time, poking more into their time together. I really wish Stoick didn’t die. It was such a harsh death. I wish he could’ve lived to see his grandkids. He would’ve loved that. He was such a family man.

The story of hope, courage, and finding yourself flows in the veins of this first season of Dragons. It pays homage to the 1st Movie, which is still my favourite. In essence, it is about a boy, and his dragon and finding himself in between.

I have so much more to say, but that might turn this post into a book, so I’ll end by thanking everyone for the opportunity to share my thoughts on this show. My posts are long, and you guys take time to read it. That’s so precious to me, because who am I to be worthy of anyone’s time really?

I’m just an obsessed fan looking for her own voice in a show and I started this blog as a reflection diary not so much realising how strong and interactive the HTTYD community is and has survived. It’s closing in to 13 years since the 1st Movie. Yet it continues to touch, inspire and motivate many.

And isn’t it like life to imitate art. I feel like HTTYD Tumblr is it’s own strong Viking community. Every single encounter or interaction w a HTTYD fan has been delightful and encouraging. It’s like we own this little corner of the universe where a show is studied and enjoyed to oblivion and everyone gets why.

I also believe, especially because I’ve studied Hiccup a lot recently, that if he existed and was stationed here in the 21st century, our boy would definitely be on Tumblr. Wouldn’t he?

- END OF SEASON 1 -

[howtodrawyourdragon]

Hiccup still gets a lot of criticism for his decisions in Httyd 2, but I feel like they make sense and it's because of the tv-shows.

He doesn't want to be chief?

Well, he just spent a whole year mapping the world outside of the Archipelago, that's a lot of freedom. So of course, he doesn't know who he is now and doesn't think his father's lifestyle fits with him.

And in that year, he almost did become chief when Stoick almost died. In that scene when Spitelout is sent out specifically to bring Hiccup home to succeed his dying father, they already call him chief! This, despite Hiccup's plea towards Spitelout to not say it.

Chiefdom for Hiccup means losing his father. (Which is exactly how he ended up becoming chief, too)

He thinks he can change Drago's Mind?

Of course, he does! Alvin switched sides, Dagur switched sides, Viggo saw dragons as something more. And let's not forget Stoick and his entire village, including Astrid and his friends.

In a way, he changed Mala's mind, too.

In a way, he changed the minds of the dragons about humans.

He tries to end a war by talking to a warmonger?

Again, of course, he does. He ended their war with the dragons, fought in a war with the Outcasts, then the Berserker, then the Hunters, then the Flyers.

Of course, he thinks he's just as capable of making the most responsible calls in war when he has fought in several ever since he was 15. This, although Stoick has decades more experience and actually met Drago before.

Not to mention that all of the bloodshed was on the side of the enemy, and RttE confirms this. Hunters and Flyers are dying in those battles.

If anything, Hiccup talking to Drago first is him giving Drago a chance to save himself and his men. Something Astrid pretty much confirms when she threatens Drago that he better not lay a hand on them or Hiccup and Toothless will blow his fleet to splinters.

Which, in the tv-shows, they do. And then Drago did end up dead at the end of the movie.

[violet-moonstone]

just realized that there's a bit of a difference in ruff and tuff's dynamic between movie 1 and the tv series. in httyd, we see them constantly trying to annoy each other (its actually mostly tuffnut annoying ruffnut), meanwhile in the shows, they work together to annoy other people

i wonder if flying barf and belch brought them closer?