Netflix Retrospective - Dragons: Race to the Edge - Season 1 Episodes 4-6

 

When Darkness Falls

We open with Snotlout and Hiccup running from some boars, all 4 of the threatening things. Snotlout tries to take Hiccup’s leg when he suggests they need a weapon but the argument is quelled when Astrid arrives on Stormfly and scares off the boars.

So the hunt for a new island base continues, they quickly dismiss an island that has poisonous flowers, one filled with whispering death holes and another one. The next one looks promising but Tuffnut seems to have a bad feeling. It’s naturally ignored. They land and somehow Hiccup gets left out of a discussion group…

So they camp for the night but Toothless seems to hear something, before Tuffnut puts him back to sleep. Tuffnut is woken at night to some creeping sounding noises, he hears something flying overhead and finds a chicken, but it’s the classic ‘look behind you’ situation as behind him is a dragon, or rather a swarm of little dragons in the shape of one big one.

He runs back to the others but instead of being clear, in his panic he babbles on about a giant chicken. Hiccup agrees to have them check it out but they only find the chicken, which seems to satisfy the others, the chicken seems to follow Tuffnut. The next morning everyone has different ideas for the outpost.

Snoutlout wants something s-shaped, Astrid wants a well-defended fortress, Fishlegs wants a serene relaxation outpost and the twins want a boar pit. Hiccup suggests they all create designs for their outposts and vote on a winner, Astrid seems to think there’s an ulterior motive which Hiccup dismisses. Tuffnut and Chicken are officially on the hunt for the dragon, Tuff falls down a cliff to his death… we should be so lucky, he climbs back out… Only to fall down another seconds later

Snotlout and Fishlegs get into a row over a rock and destroy each other’s designs. Tuffnut returns but the fact that he spent all day looking has Hiccup reconsidering his position. Ruffnut still believes it’s all a hoax so they set up a ‘Thornston challenge’ sick of watching the others argue, Hiccup comes along as an ‘impartial judge.’

This search lasts all of 2 seconds of screen-time before the dragon shows up, and it’s heading straight for the campsite. It’s at this point that Tuffnut seems to develop a relationship with the Chicken. We confirm that lots of little dragons thing I mentioned before, and see that there’s a white dragon amongst the black ones that leads them (I’m not touchin’ that one). The twins capture the white Dragon, believing that ends their problems, Hiccup is not so sure.

The team agree to name them Night Terrors, based on their kinda sorta resemblance to the Terrible Terrors. They hear some screaming and find that the black dragons are under attack by Changewings, which have camouflage abilities. They manage to scare off the first wave but there’s another mass of them coming.

They’re calling the white dragon Smidvarg…

…

Hiccup frees him and he and the twins cover him so he can rejoin the rest of the night terrors, so they can resume flying in formation and scare off the Changewings.

With that done, Hiccup presents a new plan for a base, combining elements of everyone's ideas, allowing them each their own area to implement their designs, and connecting them with bridges and zip-lines, and the name: Dragon’s Edge. Guess they’ve raced to the edge already, it’s only episode 4 of season 1. They’ve also created a perch for Smidvarg, so the Night Terrors will act as an advance warning system.

As for the Thornston challenge, apparently whoever loses has to swap clothes with the winner… sounds about right. The Night Terrors take the shape of Toothless for some reason

It’s OK, and finally gets the set up done for the edge.

Rating 6.5/10

Big Man on Berk

So, now they’re all set up on the Edge, they’re all heading back to Berk for some reason. Apparently Stoic has asked them to move a Scauldron out of their fishing lanes. Their plan goes awry when Fishlegs sneezes, alerting the Scauldron, sending Meatlug out of control into Snotlout, who is knocked off his dragon. He’s caught by the net but they have to abort.

Once they return to Berk, Fishlegs is feeling itchy and continuing to sneeze. Hiccup suggests he might be allergic to something. The twins start testing for allergies, which can only end well. The tests are inconclusive but Fishlegs resumed sneezing the moment he’s around meatlug, making them assume that’s what he’s allergic to. Allergies can appear out of nowhere but I can’t imagine this being a thing.

They take him to Gothi, who hypnotises him and tells the others to tell him that he’s not allergic to Meatlug. But of course, Snotlout gets to be a jerk and suggests changing him to be stronger and more fearless, things which apparently Fishlegs hears as he’s brought out of the hypnosis. He grabs, Gothi’s staff, insults Meatlug, breaks Gothi’s staff and declares himself ‘Thor Bonecrusher’

So, Snotlout testing ‘Thor Bonecrusher’ results in a house being set on fire, Thor goes and rescues the occupants… I can’t, I just can’t. Snotlout called him TB so that’s what I’ll call him from now on. He then chucks a water trough at the house, putting out the fire in a way I call bullsh*t on.

Another heavily contrived dilemma and TB saves the day, Snotlout adores this. TB also knows a Vulcan neck pinch apparently. He goes to Gober for a weapon, and takes a liking to Stoic’s axe and says if Stoic wants it, he’ll have to take it. He goes to the town hall to tell a very self-congratulatory version of his encounter with the Scauldron and now Stoic returns, wanting his axe.

Hiccup manages to diffuse the situation but Stoic is not known for being patient. But Gothi is unable to re-hypnotise him without her staff. Stoic is stuck with Meatlug as TB and Snotlout have headed out to find the Scauldron. The other riders head out and into a storm. They engage and TB manages to jump onto the Scauldron, he drops the axe and Snotlout falls off his dragon as the others arrive. Hookfang rescues Snotlout and Meatlug flies in to help rescue TB, still intent on having the dragon submit.

The Scauldron pursues Meatlug and this finally brings Fishlegs back to his senses. He jumps onto Meatlug, allowing the others to net the Scauldron. So Scauldron relocated, Axe also relocated (to the bottom of the ocean) Fishlegs back to normal and he didn’t sneeze on the journey home. Turns out Gober was using his earwax on the saddles, it’s that that Fishlegs was allergic to.

This is… fine, a standard kids show plot, nothing too problematic here

Rating 6.5/10

Gone Gustav Gone

Time to check in on Dagur, for about 5 seconds as he’s laying claim to everything of value on the Reaper. He wants the Dragon Eye

Back on the edge, Hiccup is experimenting with the eye’s knowledge of dragon classes, he finds nothing on the Night Fury. Astrid arrives and says they have a problem, Gustav. He believes he’s ready to join the Dragon Riders and proves by being his usual walking disaster area. This lasts several minutes and I’ll do you the favour of skipping over most of it.

He’s tossed about from person to person until he finds himself in Hiccup’s room and sees the Dragon Eye projecting what he believes is a treasure map. They follow the map to an island of caves, that’s very unstable and almost ends up losing the dragon eye, but thankfully Hiccup comes to his rescue.

Hiccup chews him out and says he’s not mature or trustworthy enough to be here. Although with those categories it would really just be him, Fishlegs and Astrid that qualify. Gustav leaves, noticeably upset from all but in his haste gets caught by Dagur. Gustav tells Dagur he can get him the Dragon Eye and then gets fed like a king because... go die in a fire, Gustav! No, I doubt his betrayal means anything, I’m less annoyed about that than him using the knowledge to get himself better treatment.

The riders have found no sign of him on the island but Fanghook (Gustav’s dragon) arrives, delivering a message. Dagur wants a trade, Gustav for the eye. Hiccup rides alone to make the trade and oh, for the love of, Gustav refuses to go with Hiccup after the trade is made, wanting to stay with Dagur. I’m sure his unique charm would wear thin with Dagur in due course. Of course it’s then made clear what Gustav is up to, he promised Dagur that he’d use the eye to lead him to treasure, wink wink nudge nudge.

Gustav persuades Dagur to abandon his men at the edge of the cavern, they head inside and Gustav springs his trap, temporarily blinding Dagur with the Dragon Eye, and leading him right to where Hiccup and Toothless awaited him. Dagur drops the Dragon Eye down a hole in the cave, and Gustav dives for it, Hiccup follows after him allowing Dagur to escape. They head deeper into the cave and Hiccup finds a mysterious treasure chest on their way out.

Apparently, Gustav has to leave now, as his mom would notice… So much for it being a long journey to the edge. Anyway, thank god he’s gone. Hiccup has found a lens for the Dragon Eye, which will prove useful in the days ahead.

It’s… I don’t really care for Gustav, his character is intentionally written as annoying and we have more than enough of that type of character in this show. Still, glad to see Dagur again and the way he’s defeated is somewhat smart

Rating 7.5/10