So we got a good pilot episode that tackled realistic issues from the ending of the movie. Judging by this episode's title, this is a continuation of that plot point. WARNING: Spoilers ahead.
So the episode starts off with a brown and white flashback with Stoic on a fishing boat, with a nice rendition of John Powell's score from the movie. Then they show a clip from the movie as a flashback which probably wasn't a very wise decision on the creator's part.
We then get a flashback to a dragons attack of the past. Gobber is smithing and repairing weapons, and goes out to fight himself. He tangles with a Monstrous Nightmare which breathes a pretty bad fire effect.
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| A screenshot doesn't quite convey it. Does it? |
Flash forward to the present and Dragons and Vikings are now living together peacefully thanks to Hiccup and Toothless. Again, just like the last episode, this episode deals with some negative effects of bringing humans and dragons together, or even just change in general. This time dealing with someone whose livelihood depended on the war against the dragons.
Poor Gobber's blacksmith skills are no longer needed, seeing as weapons no longer have to repaired or replaced as often (if at all). So that leaves him without work.
But more important things are going on at the new Dragon Academy as the teens are.... just sitting around and answering questions in a competitive game (there's a game I'm thinking of, but I just can't recall what it is)?
Hmm, I kinda thought they would be doing something a little more interesting. Like, I don't know, going out and studying dragons, finding Dragons weak spots, or hell even teaching new students how to train dragons. Its called the Berk Dragons Training Academy! I thought maybe they'd take in students or something. Maybe they just want to learn more before they do?
Well, there's still some funny dialogue exchanges in this scene, but I just thought they'd be doing something a little more productive than going over what they already know. Anyway, Snotlout tries to get on Hookfang and the dragon goes aflame. Foreshadowing?
Meanwhile, Gobber, trying to find a new livelihood, tries to sell off his swords and maces as kitchen utensils and his catapult (which he calls Big Bertha) as a home defense tool. That goes about as well as you can expect. Hiccup watches this spectacle obviously feeling guilty about it. Mildew is also watching and rubbing it in Hiccup's face to make him feel even more guilty about it.
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| You know Mildew, I have quite enough on my concious without you pouring more salt in the wound |
Hiccup of course does not regret bringing Dragons and humans together, I mean why the hell would he? However, Gobber is like family to him, and this was an unfortunate side effect of his achievement. Gobber made his replacement leg, and taught him everything he needed to know to make Toothless' tail. Hiccup, and in extent Gobber, is in luck though. Stoick comes home and tells Hiccup about his rough day, and wishes there was two of him. Hiccup jumps on the opportunity and suggests to Stoick that he should make Gobber his right hand man. Stoick agrees as he also feels bad for his best friend.
Though Gobber isn't the most diplomatic person, apparently. One tiny little problem I have with this episode is that Gobber seems a little out of character. In the movie he was rather reasonable and he certainly wasn't stupid. This episodes makes him out to be a bit dumber and more of a brute than in the movie. But honestly that's just a nitpick, because what he does is hilarious. He names a baby girl Magnus. The parents wanted Hildegard , but Gobber says "Oh don't worry, she isn't going to look like one". That one especially is just gold. He gives weapons to Bucket and Mulch to duke it out over the thievery of a sheep. And he patches up a holed ship with Iron which causes it to sink.
Stoick is, obviously, not impressed at all.
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| Do you have any idea what this is going to do to my reputation?! |
Stoick fires Gobber and tells Hiccup that he is going to have to find Gobber another job. Hiccup decides to bring Gobber into the Academy. Which makes sense. Gobber used to work in the arena, and he even trained Hiccup and the other teens to kill dragons in the arena. The dragons are not very comfortable with this and understandably so. Gobber even brought along his dragon killing tools for good measure. The Dragons are like "Holy shit! Let's get the fuck outta here ya'll!" and fly off.
When they return, the teens complain about being uncomfortable when flying their dragons. Hiccup says he's never had problems. Astrid points out that's because he has a saddle. No shit. Hiccup then offers Gobber a saddle-making job. However Gobber doesn't use Hiccup's designs and when Hiccup protests Gobber tells him that he may have taught him everything he knows, but he hasn't taught Hiccup everything he knows.
So the next day Gobber reveals the saddles he made for the dragons. At this point I probably don't need to explain how it goes.
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| Wow Gobber, this is not what I had in mind - Hiccup |
Hiccup is cleaning up in the academy after what can be assumed was total chaos. Stoick says the arena looked better when they were killing dragons. Hiccup is unsure what to do with Gobber. Stoick says he should tell Gobber what's what. Hicup calls him out on the fact he just dumped Gobber on Hiccup. Stoick says that is what a Chief does, he delegates. Sure.
So Hiccup goes to tell Gobber the bad news. He holds out hope that maybe Gobber is making the saddles better. But it's rather futile. Gobber just replaces the weapons with multiple smaller weapons. Hiccup tells Gobber that he needs to take him off the saddle project. Gobber takes it pretty hard in what is actually a nice little emotional moment.
Hiccup feels awful, wandering how it could get any worse.
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| Spoke too soon. |
It turns out Hookfang is rampaging through the village for some unknown reason. Snotlout said he rubbed his head and went crazy. In another sad little moment, Snotlout says his dragon hates him. He keeps rubbing the side of his head on the ground. They try to feed him, calm him down with the hand-to-head technique, but nothing works and Hookfang continues to rub his head against the ground. This'll sound completely crazy and "out there", but I think he has a tooth ache. Just a theory.
Stoick goes to find Gobber to deal with Hookfang. Gobber is depressed, but he claims he's just chopping onions (I use that excuse all the time). But Stoick snaps him out of it saying they need him. As the kids are still trying to figure out what to do, Gobber comes out PACKING!
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| Hasta la Vista, Baby! |
Hiccup and Snotlout protest, but although they now live with dragons, they're still not willing to risk people's lives by letting a dragon get out of control. But just as Gobber is about to spill Hookfang's guts on the ground and use his bones as back scratchers, he notices something in Hookfang's mouth. After a brief tussle, Gobber manages to pull a bad tooth out. Called it!
So, with the threat taken care of, Gobber goes off to put his weapons away. Hiccup stops him and gives him a suggestion. We end the episode with Gobber becoming the Island's official dragon dentist.
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| I got my axe, and I got my mace, and I love my wife with the ugly face, I'm a Viking through and through - Gobber |
Summary
This was a great episode. Gobber is hilarious in this, it tackles another issue that would come out of the peace with the dragons, and there was some emotional moments as well.
However, Gobber did seem a bit out of character in this episode. He seemed reasonably intelligent in the movie and this episode made him out to be dumber than he actually is. But that's just a nitpick as Gobber is still great in this.
And I also thought that perhaps we'd be seeing something more interesting being done with the academy, but I suppose later in the series we'll see something more being done with it.
8/10
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