Netflix Retrospective: Dragons: Race to the Edge Season 2 Episodes 10-13

Shock and Awe

New Dragon episode, it’s been a while, let’s see what this has to offer.

A storm has washed up a lot of Rocks on the edge, except the twins are playing pranks because it’s Loki day. Yay… Fishlegs hear a strange sound in the water of the lagoon, initially thinking it’s another prank but when the twins arrive behind him, he’s not so sure anymore.

He explains it to the others, but Snotlout thinks it’s a prank, and Hiccup and Astrid are sceptic, so he goes out fishing. It doesn’t seem to work for a day but when Fishlegs falls asleep, the dragon strikes, knocking Fishlegs off Meatlug and in full view of the dragon, which electrocuted him back onto Meatlug. They close off the Lagoon because otherwise he won’t be believed. I figure Fishlegs is normally smarter than that but he’s excited and literally 2 seconds ago he was electrocuted so I’ll give it a pass, this time.

He calls in the others, but Snotlout is reluctant to help, thinking it’s a prank. Naturally he’s the next to get shocked, and Fishlegs immediately recognises the dragon as a Sea Shocker, I’m guessing that was info from the Dragon Eye? Tuffnut pranks Ruffnut so Ruffnut promises revenge. Hiccup wants to open back the cove, but Fishlegs is a bit reluctant, wanting to make measurements.

The Sea Shocker gets agitated and attacks, getting injured by a spine shot from Stormfly in the process. Fishlegs tends to the Sea Shocker whilst the others blast the wall Fishlegs created but in doing so attract Scauldrons, the natural predator of a Sea Shocker. Their attempts to help come into difficulty when Astrid falls for another Loki prank.

This gives Hiccup an idea, using fish to attract an electric eel to draw the Scauldrons off the scent, which works temporarily but with another Scauldron approaching the lagoon, Fishlegs rides the Sea Shocker and gets it to use the move it used earlier to stun the Scauldrons. Once it’s clear of the lagoon it’s pack arrive to fend off the Scauldrons permanently.

Finally, the twins are put through a Loki day assault course the culminated in Astrid moving their house atop on isle of rocks.

Not a bad episode, but I’d hesitate to call it great either

Rating 7/10

A Time to Skrill

The crew arrive on outcast island, finding it completely abandoned, the find scorch marks that imply the Skrill had attacked. Why they’re arriving on Outcast island isn’t explained yet, but they go to the island where they sealed the Skrill back in Defenders of Berk, and surprise, surprise it’s gone. They quickly surmise that it’s following the storm, and the storm is heading straight for Berk. The team arrive finding the backup team already mounting an attack. It does not go well.

Toothless is immediately aggressive towards the Skrill, until countering one of it’s attacks knocks Hiccup off. He uses his wings to fly to Skullcrusher, since Stoick is now in the air as well and reunites with Toothless. We find that Spitelout has lost his voice… oh the blessed relief. Not because of David Tennant, but we don’t have to hear words from him.

The find that only Stoick’s hut was attacked and arrive at the conclusion that the Skrill is hunting Hiccup and Toothless in particular, starting with Outcast Island where it last saw them. With that in mind, Hiccup decides to use himself as bait. Spitelout tags along for the ride so we can get some comic relief with Snotlout.

The plan is to seal the Skrill inside the ice again, but it catches on, sealing Hiccup and Toothless inside. The others distract it long enough for Hiccup and Toothless to get out, and they lead him back to the abandoned dragon hunter boats. Toothless is temporarily downed but as he makes a repair, they come up with a truly awful idea, lead it straight to Dagur and Ryker. They manage to down the skrill, and Hiccup’s attempts to get it out of the water fail because he didn’t just shoot them.

Hiccup returns to the edge, yeah, they’re at the edge now. And the twins, seeing the repaired tail accuse him of treachery, because they’re morons. Hiccup admits he messed up and doesn’t know how to fix it, the twins are shocked they’ve never heard him say that before, and I’m pretty sure I have, it happens in pretty much all of the movies.

Working out they’ll be heading away from the storm, they track the hunters down to a group of secluded islands. Spitelout charges in, and the others are quickly captured. Hiccup makes a break for it, getting Toothless to life the cage out of the water. Suddenly the storm is back upon them somehow so the Skrill can absorb the lightning and break free. It’s tail is still stuck, Hiccup tries to take Ryker’s arrow but ultimately Toothless takes it instead.

The Skrill attacks the hunters until it’s shot down by Spitelout. They’re about to lower the dragon back into the ice but Hiccup ultimately stops that tactic and allows it to go free, ultimately with respect for Hiccup and Toothless. As he leaves, he shoots Spitelout, returning him to normal, unfortunately. Spitelout is not ultimately amused and isn’t happy with Snotlout because… I forget why, or the episode forgot to give us a reason, take your pick

This episode is fine, gives us a bit of catch-up but Spitelout continues to be a drain on everything, and later on he’s going to get even worse, so can’t wait for that.

Rating 7/10

Maces and Talons, part 1

We open in the middle of the action as Hiccups’ team raid the Dragon Hunter’s ships and rescue the dragons. Ryker suspects they have a mole, feeding them intel. Snotlout and Hookfang get separated by Heather, the twins rescue him but Ruffnut then falls onto Hookfang and they’re both captured. Fortunately Barf and Belch are there to provide the rescue.

Ryker suspects Heather but he can’t act because Dagur would run him dead, apparently. Also, apparently, the ships have been diverted on Viggo’s orders, he’s waiting for them. Dagur describes Viggo as Ryker’s opposite, less gruff and hands-on but smart, and Dagur considers himself a genius so…

Given the close shave Heather had with them, Astrid has become concerned and wants her pulled out. Hiccup is interestingly less willing, since they still know nothing about Viggo. Tuffnut and Snotlout have suddenly become best friends, I’ll let you when something important happens.

We cut to the Dragon Hunter camp, and Viggo’s tent. He goes on about playing a game of Maces and Talons and I’m sure it’s all very interesting but what’s more so is when one of the guys comes through, accused of stealing, and Viggo lets him live, not before roughing him up a bit but…

He and Heather take a walk alone, and we hear the guy Viggo didn’t kill earlier screaming, presumably being murdered. Viggo asks for Heather’s help in exposing the traitor, making her believe that he believes either Ryker or Dagur are responsible. Before that, Viggo asks for her help tracking down a Flightmare.

So, Ruffnut steals the Dragon Eye, and everyone except Astrid and Hiccup are in a cave making shadow puppets or something. Heather tells Hiccup and Astrid and Heather, this is stupid. If you go on a top secret mission known to only you and the boss, then leak the information, the boss will know it’s you. Heather was able to track the Flightmare and gave tracking intel to Viggo. The riders arrive but they find a whole fleet awaiting them. Viggo had set this whole game up to expose Heather, she’s left to fight a f*ckton of clones, but finds Windshear trapped and manages to rescue her to make her escape.

They bomb the ships with the algae the flightmare uses, causing the flightmare to attack the ships. The hunters eventually manage to capture it, so Heather swoops in for the rescue, and unfortunately ends up captured herself. Hiccup decides to introduce himself to Viggo whilst Astrid tells the others to retreat, unable to withstand the repeated onslaught. But when Hiccup lands on Viggo’s boat, he’s already gone.

It’s a high octane episode, bringing us some conclusion to long-standing plot threads built up throughout this season.

Rating 8/10

Maces and Talons part 2

The Hunters retreat into the fog, and have more or less disappeared. Tuffnut almost gives his ‘borrowing’ of the Dragon Eye away but saves it at the last second, which may not have turned out so well, since whilst they were busy, the Hunters ravaged the edge in search of it. Hiccup does his usual shtick of blaming himself for everything that went wrong.

The suggestion of going in Dragons blazing is shot down by Hiccup, who realises how smart Viggo has been and believes they need to formulate a plan. Honestly, it was a smart ploy, but it’s not like it was impossible to counter. Heather tries to appeal to Dagur but that doesn’t work, for the moment. Hiccup and Astrid head back to Viggo’s old ship, but it’s been cleaned out, except for an old Maces and Talons board, it’s a invitation for Hiccup.

Back with the Hunters, Viggo and Dagur are playing a gay with the soldiers serving as pawns I guess. Anyway, it’s a showcase for Viggo’s ruthless streak as he’s willing to sacrifice just about everyone to gain victory.

Hiccup begins his gambit, almost immediately ruined by Snotlout being a dumbass. Viggo has Typhoomerangs guarding the Island, producing a wall of flame for them to cross. Just go around? Hiccup decides to go straight through the fire, into the eye of the tornado like flames to avoid the burning. Viggo is impressed with his efforts, although Dagur and Ryker are less happy about this.

They find a series of cages containing captured dragons, he finds one he thinks contains Heather under a blanket but finds it’s actually Viggo. He uses the Flightmare to freeze Hiccup and Toothless in place and Viggo manages to retrieve the dragon eye. It’s not all good news for Viggo though, Dagur has decided he’s had enough working with the Dragon Hunters, and frees Heather and Windsheer. Hiccup is eventually unfrozen and goes after Viggo, who appears to be using the Flightmare breath as a way past having a snow wraith tooth. I’ll assume Hiccup kept his separately. He releases the Flightmare to chase Hiccup but with Heather and Astrid’s help they manage to scare him away.

Heather has decided she’s not sticking around, and Viggo reveals what I just told you just a moment ago about the Flightmare glow.

As an introduction to a villain, Viggo is by far the most interesting, this episode showcases his skill as a chess-master, anticipation and preparation. Most things go his way in this episode, including the recovery and unlocking of the Dragon Eye. Of course the loss of Heather and Dagur will weaken him slightly and start Dagur’s kinda/sorta redemption arc but that’s for the next season. For now, this was a fantastic episode to end the season on.

Rating 9/10