Dragons Defenders Of Berk Reviews: Episode 2 - The Iron Gronckle

It's been a while since we had a Fishleg's themed episode. If Five episodes can be considered a while that is. In this episode, Fishlegs discovers some kind of Iron that can be produced by Gronckles, will this be a breakthrough in Viking technological advancement? 

The teens are fast in flight, with Meatlug and Fishleg's lagging behind. Which is kind of strange, seeing as Meatlug seemed to have no problems keeping up with the others before. Is this just something the writers decided to pull out of their asses for the plot of the week?
It seems kinda weird, as even in urgent situations that required speed Meatlug had no problem keeping pace. 

Anyway, the teens are chasing something but appear to have lost it. They set down on a rock thinking this is a bunch of bullshit, how can an Outcast ship outrun dragons? What is this now? Continuity between episodes and a continuation of the main plot in the immediate coming episode? Usually after an episode that involves one of the main villains and advances the main plot, unless it's a two parter, there's a bunch of episodes that act like it never happened and you would almost forget the Berkians are at war. It's nice to see some kind of advancement in the plot without a bunch of filler in between. And ironically enough I was just complaining about continuity in the last paragraph. 

So the teens have lost the Outcast ship they were chasing, and as Fishlegs sets down Snotlout, in his usual Snotlout Doucheiness, blames Fishlegs and Meatlug for being fat tubs of blubbery shit that do nothing but slow them down, even though before there were never these kinds of problems before. Hiccup and Astrid tell Snotlout to hold his whore tongue before they shove it up his vagina. But Snotlout appears to have broken Fishlegs as Fishlegs feels Snotlout has a point and stays behind. After a little resistance to Fishlegs staying behind, Hiccup, Astrid and the others leave him to find the Outcast ship and Fishlegs goes somewhere else. Savage move out from behind a rock. 

Ha ha ha ha,  Suckers!

Instead of looking for the Outcast ship like he said he would, Fishlegs takes Meatlug to some spot littered with all kinds of stones and berries. He complains that the others don't appreciate what they can do. He thinks they can do plenty of impressive shit like hovering, stationary hovering, eating giant ass boulders that are flung at them, and farting. Seeing as only one of those feats is actually impressive and one makes them look more like clowns, Fishleg's starts to think maybe he and Meatlug really are that useless. Meatlug however cheers him up, and Fishlegs eats all the berries he can find and Meatlug eats all the rocks laying around. 

Back at Berk, it looks like they're ready to spill they're guts out through their mouths and assholes. Fishlegs walks towards Gobber's shop and begs Gobber for help. Gobber asks him what's wrong with her, Fishlegs tells him she ate one too many rocks and is ready to explode. Only she can't for some reason. After some rather unnecessary ear wax inspection, he inspects Meatlug's throat. He yells some curse about Odin's shitty diaper and decides the best course of action is to get her to vomit by tickling her belly with a feather. Fishlegs thinks this is a stupid idea. 

Yeah, that was a bit of a stupid idea.

Meatlug vomits up a shit ton of lava, trpping Fishlegs and Gobber on a little stool. But Meatlug seems better so its mission accomplished. Fishlegs then tells Gobber to tickle away, but Gobber tells him to do that shit himself, he only does dragons. 

Meanwhile, in a cave underneath Berk, Savage and his lackey's have landed to check on the Whispering Death's that were planted there. All the eggs have hatched and the baby Whispering Death's are already making themselves at home. Savage is pleased, once these Death's grow up, they'll destroy Berk from beneath. But one of the Lackey's tells him that one of the eggs is bigger than the others. Savage finds that awfully strange, then he looks up to find a tunnel that's even bigger than the others. 

My god, what have we done?!

After they hear a rather menacing roar come down from the tunnel, they decide to get the fuck out of dodge before they find out what it is. 

Fishlegs is giving Meatlug a scrub with a broom when the others get back from Outcast hunting. Fishlegs asks them if they managed to find their query, Snotlout asks him if he sees any Outcast ship. 

Suddenly Gobber comes out of nowhere and asks Fishlegs if he knows what it is. Tuffnut tries to guess, then beats the shit out of Ruffnut when she tries to answer for him. Gobber tells them that what he has ain't no ordinary pissant sword, he throws it to Fishlegs but Astrid catches it and inspects it. Gobber explains that he made this sword with the strange ass lava Meatlug barfed up in his shop. Hiccup is amazed, but Astrid thinks its too light, so light that it's probably a pissant sword. That's what Gobber thought at first as well, until....

How's that for a pissant sword!

The teens are impressed, so much so that they're all asking if there's any left for new daggers, new helmets, the works. Gobber even tells Hiccup that this Iron would do pretty well on Hiccup's new shield. Something which Hiccup can see no problems with at all. Snotlout however thinks Gobber should start by making him a new sword, Gobber tells him he can start by getting his ass in line. 

As the word starts to spread about Meatlug's Gronckle Iron, the whole town shows up at Gobber's shop, all wanting a piece of the new action. You know what this means?

So Fishlegs has discovered a new high-quality product that is now in high demand in Berk. He's the big-shot of the town right now. And all he has to do is tickle Meatlug to get her to throw up. Can this be considered animal cruelty? If it can, PETA would be all over this shit in 5 minutes. 

Hiccup also uses the Gronckle Iron is improve his shield. It's lighter, stronger, and much more pretty to look at. Fishlegs is just caught up in the sensation of feeling important and being a big shot. Then Hiccup asks him what kind of rock he fed Meatlug. Fishlegs hesitates at first, then tells Hiccup that it's a trade secret. When Gobber asks, Fishlegs says if he tells him he'll have to mace him. Fishlegs however seems rather on edge when being asked these questions, Gobber sees that something's fuckey here. 

Astrid sets down beside the shop and tells Hiccup that another Outcast ship was spotted. They rush off to find it, but Hiccup asks Fishlegs if he wants to come. But Fishlegs is too busy being a big shot to come so they leave him behind. Gobber then tells Fishlegs that the Iron is running low and for him to do his magic. 

What the fuck am I supposed to do with that shit?

Fishlegs is in a bit of a hot spot, he's discovered a quality product that's now in high demand, but now it's run out and there's no way to fill the demand. Gobber thinks its time Fishlegs let him in on his little trade secret. 

They head to the place where Fishlegs and Meatlug ate that day. There's a number of different rocks littered on the ground, and Fishlegs picks up a few and tries to recall which one it was. At this point, Gobber's suspicions are confirmed. When it comes to the rock that makes Gronckle Iron, Fishlegs don't know shit! Fishlegs of course doesn't flat out admit it, but after pressure from Gobber he breaks down and admits it. Gobber tells him to calm down, they'll just take all the rocks here and try them one at a time. 

Back at the academy, the teens complain about having lost the Outcast ship again. Hiccup thinks that some low-speed hovering might have been useful in this situation. Snotlout like "Oh fuck, you gotta shitting me, you're suggest bringing him along now?". Ruffnut and Tuffnut are confused who Snotlout is referring to. Hiccup and Astrid think they need Fishlegs. Snotlout says its Hiccup's fault for making Fishlegs quit. This makes Hiccup noticeably hurt even though Snotlout was the one who drove Fishlegs away with his assbaggery. 

I may have been the one who made Fishlegs quit,
but you're the one who made him quit Hiccup.

Back at Gobber's shop, Gobber and Fishlegs empty the wheelbarrow full of rocks in front of Meatlug. Meatlug doesn't even know where to begin. Gobber gives her stones that make glass (which Gobber foolishly thinks is worthless), and one that nearly makes her explode. Getting absolutely nowhere, the town residents are becoming outraged. 

The others are outside trying to get Fishlegs to come with them on their next hunting mission. Hiccup calls Fishlegs by name, but this only give the townsfolk the idea to cheer him on. Gobber tells Fishlegs a very reassuring tale how a mob once ripped a man limb from limb, and this is how it started. Fishlegs is willing to do anything to save his skin right now, and suggest a combination of rocks might do the trick. But after they feed the rocks to Meatlug, she becomes a giant magnet. Attracting all kinds of metal and weapons to her skin, she freaks the fuck out and tries to run. 

Meatlug runs through the village causing all kinda of chaos. 

That last one is more just deserts though.

After causing so much chaos in the village (and no doubt giving Rudd and Tuff their daily dose of shits and giggles) Hiccup and Toothless manage to herd Meatlug out into the forest where there ain't no metal. But they seem to lose her in the trees, only to find her again at the edge of a cliff. Hiccup tries to clam her down, but Fishlegs arrives and tries to tell him something, but Hiccup tells him now's not the time. Fishlegs then reminds him that he has a metal leg! Which then get attracted to Meatlug. Meatlug then flies off with Hiccup.

Fuuuuck meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Toothless is in a state of panick seeing his best friend being taken away. He looks at Fishlegs, who asks them if they both have the exact same idea. Turns out they do. 

Ride me bitch!

Toothless turns his back toward Fishlegs, something Fishlegs was afraid of. He climbs onto Toothless but wants Toothless to calm his fury. He wants the Night without the Fury. But as soon as Fishlegs locks Toothless' tail, Toothless unleashes the Fury. Fishlegs yells to him that there's too much Fury. But eventually he gains confidence and manages to catch up with Hiccup and Meatlug. 

Yo!

Yo!

How's it going dawg?

Better than expected.

As Fishleg attempts the get Hiccup out of his ridiculous predicament, Hiccup tries to apologize to Fishlegs for leaving Fishlegs behind, even though it was Snotlout being a shit-tree that put the nail in the coffin. Fishlegs says they can talk about this shit later. But the situation becomes much more complicated when Savage and his Outcasts appear and spot them. 

Hiccup however has an idea, would we expect any less of him? He gets Meatlug to cruise alongside the Outcast ship and pulls all their weapons right out of their hands. But now the situation's gotten a little tricky because now Hiccup has a bunch of weapons flying after him. But Fishlegs manages to tickle Meatlug and make her barf up the magnetic shit, which sinks Savage's ship. 

Oh fuck me.

Fishlegs and Hiccup switch Dragons and head back to Berk. Gobber is waiting for Fishlegs at the shop, but Fishlegs tells him he has duties with the Academy. Gobber accepts that and gives Fishlegs a little gift as well, the very first Gronckle Iron sword he made. Fishlegs at first doesn't want to accept it, but Gobber tells him that anybody who drives off and Outcast ship is worthy of the sword. A nice little moment. 

Hiccup then tells Fishlegs that the Academy needs him, Fishlegs feels good about feeling needed. All in all, a successful day. 

Summary

This episode was pretty good. Although the issues Fishleg's face in this episode haven't appeared in any shape or form before, and Meatlug had no problem keeping up with the others before. But it was still pretty awesome seeing Fishlegs be the centre of attention then have it turn on him so fast. And I hope this Gronckle Iron isn't a one time thing. Because this is actually a pretty big deal, the start of dragon related products that they could trade and grow rich off of, the possibilities! 

And also for once, the main plot was continued without there being a long line of filler in between. Savage checked on the Whispering Death eggs and we saw what appears to be a very huge hole, this should lead to something good. Toothless' interaction with Fishlegs was golden, he just oozed character when he gestured for Fishlegs to get on his back. 

7.5/10