Dragons Defenders Of Berk Reviews: Episode 19 - Cast Out Part 1

We're on the last two-parter of the season and the last episodes of the series (for now anyway). It'll be June soon, with How To Train Your Dragon 2 well on the way. So let's get this wrapped up, shall we?

Out in the middle of the forest, Gobber and a troop of villagers have catapults ready to fire. Gobber is stretching his old bones, until he sees a bunch of dragons coming their way, presumably to shit on their picnic. Gobber orders the villagers to fire! This turns out to be an exercise for the teens on how to deal with Catapults I suppose. Gobber's catapult malfunctions, but he smacks it until it works, nearly taking Ruffnut's head off. Tuffnut asks Gobber if he can do that again.

Hiccup decides that the shit's gotten too heavy and orders the others to retreat. Snotlout thinks that's a bunch of bullshit and moves in to take out the catapults. Hiccup tells him to get his insolent disobedient ass away from them, but Snotlout only lives to be a thorn in Hiccup's ballsack. He takes out a catapult that launches a boulder that hits Astrid in the head and sends her plummeting to her death. 

Nah just kidding, Hiccup manages to save her in time. Astrid wakes up a few minutes later and wants to know what the hell happened? Snotlout lands praising how awesome he is and what an amazing feat he just pulled off, completely oblivious to the fact he fucked up royal and nearly got Astrid killed in a Training Exercise of all things. Hiccup wastes no time in telling him what an utter, pathetic failure he is. And not just that, but he's a stupid, repugnant pile of shit that nearly killed Astrid. Snotlout brushes it off, Astrid looks fine to him. 

I'm gonna rip your balls off and stuff em' down your throat!

Hiccup's decided he's had enough of this bullshit, Snolout's also decided he's had enough of this bullshit. But he wants to know what bullshit Hiccup is sick of. Hiccup's fed up with Snotlout always doing the opposite of everything Hiccup says. Snotlout says he only looks out for he, himself and him. Hiccup points out that that is the problem, and that Snotlout's ass is suspended. To top it all off, Hiccup says Snotlout is also grounded. Snotlout tells Hiccup to go fuck himself, Hiccup ain't his dad!

Snotlout takes off on Hookfang, once again doing the exact opposite of whatever Hiccup says. Tuffnut is confused, because Snotlout is supposed to be grounded but what he just did is more like skying (Tuffnut's words, not mine). Astrid tells Hiccup that he didn't have to do that for her. Hiccup thinks that if Snotlout can't even follow simple orders during a fucking training exercise, he might fuck something up when they encounter Dagur again. 

Well, I mean there's plenty of times that Snotlout came through when the shit was down, but Hiccup does have a point that there's still a chance he might do something incredibly stupid one day that'll fuck them all. And speaking of Dagur . . . 

To any sane person, this would look queer. For Dagur, it's
just Tuesday. 

Dagur is talking to a picture of a Night Fury like a girl might talk to a picture of a hunk on her wall. His men find this to be totally queer, but they keep that to themselves, as this is Dagur we're talking about here. As Dagur is about to talking about ramming something up Hiccup's ass I'm assuming, Savage walks in and reports on the Dragon Root tests. But not before he has to correct his addressing of Dagur to 'You Derangedness". Dagur is pleased that the tests were successful, and Savage suggests waiting on Berk for the right time to plant it. Dagur likes it, it's so simple yet so . . . . . . . Deranged!!

At the Berk Academy, Hiccup flies in to find the Twins doing some work on Hookfang's old enclosure. Hiccup asks them what the fuck they're doing. Tuffnut tells him that since Snotlout was kicked out of the academy, they figured they'd tear down the wall between Barf and Belch's pen and Hookfang's, and perhaps do a little decorating here and there. In remembrance of Snotlout of course, he will be forgotten. 

Hiccup explains to them that he didn't kick Snotlout's ass out of the academy for good, he's just on temporary suspension. Tuffnut says that he doesn't really have much of a choice because of Snotlout's blatant disregard for Hiccup's leadership than to merge Barf and Belch's pen with Hookfang's. Ruffnut backs that point up, claiming his only other choice is total expulsion and losing the respect of the other riders. 

Wow, the first thing to come out of their mouths that's
not nonsensical drivel.

Despite what they just said making a semblance of sense, they unsubtly try to cover up the fact they just want to tear down the wall and put some decorations in there. Hiccup tells them they ain't tearing shot down yet! He'll talk to Snotlout when he gets back. 

Elsewhere, Snotlout finds a little Island in the ass end of nowhere and decides to call it Snotland. Hookfnag thinks this is totally lame. But Snoutlout thinks they don't need Hiccup and that stupid Dragon Academy, they've got their own shitty little Island now! Everything on it is theirs, the burned out trees, the rocks, all theirs! Hookfang at least enjoys burning those. Snotlout then points, unwittingly, to a wrecked Outcast ship. 

Back at Berk, Stoick is at the house holding an Ice Cube to his head. Hiccup drops by and asks Stoick how his day went. Stoick says it's been shitty, and being a leader can be a real bitch sometimes. Hiccup returns the sentiment, he doesn't know what to do with Snotlout, whether to kick his ass out, or to not kick his ass out. Stoick gives Hiccup some chiefly advice. Hiccup can't always be someone's friend and their leader at the same time, he's gotta make some tough calls for the good of everyone. Hiccup thinks on this nugget of wisdom. 

Back on Shitland, Snotlout cautiously closes in on the Outcast ship. He signals Hookfang over to him. With Hookfang as his big gun back up, Snotlout springs on the ship, and finds it filled with a big lot of jack shit. Snotlout and Hookfang look at each other in disappointment. Then all of a sudden, a couple tremors come out of nowhere. Snotlout blames Hookfang for bring them to an earth quaky Island. The Screaming Death shows up from under the ground to put that notion in the dirt. 

I'm back, bitches!

Snotlout realises that he and Berk are in the meat grinder, so he hurries off to warn everyone.  But The Screaming Death ain't having none of that shit, it's only interested in one thing; making Snotlout his bitch! The Screaming Death chases Snotlout and Hookfang around until Snotlout is knocked off and unconscious. As the Screaming Death moves in for the kill, a mysterious figure rescues Snotlout. 

Hookfang looks at the figure, who has the sunlight to his back, blocking most of his features. The figure flies Hookfang back to Berk, and presents an unconscious Snotlout to the town. The people wander of he's dead, then get excited at the prospect of Snotlout being dead. But Snotlout snaps out of unconsciousness and lets everybody know he's alive. This disappoints them. Hiccup and Stoick come to investigate, Snotlout says he captured the figure. The figure turns out to be . . .

Oh yeah, I'm back! . . . . Bitches!

Alvin The Treacherous is back, looks like Dagur's Skrill didn't kill him after all. Regardless, Alvin is placed under arrest and brought to the Great Hall to hear all the crimes he committed, Treachery, Attempted Treachery, Premeditated Treachery, Conspiracy to Commit Treachery, Sodomy, and Gobber decides they all get the point. The crowd cheers for Alvin's execution, but Stoick shuts them up. He tells Alvin that his ass is getting thrown in the brig until they figure out what to do with him. 

Alvin asks Stoick if they treat all people who've saved valuable lives like this. The Twins have serious doubts about the 'valuable life' part when dealing with Snotlout. Stoick doesn't believe for a moment that Alvin did what he did for Snotlout, he suspects Alvin has ulterior motives. You'd have to be a complete and utter fool to think otherwise. And indeed Alvin does have something in mind, he tells Stoick he has a proposal but Stoick ain't the least bit interested. 

Astrid and Fishlegs have come to inform Hiccup that Snotlout wokeup, and he said that Alvin wasn't the only big nasty thing on Shitland. The Screaming Death is back, and it's closing in on Berk. Hiccup is fed up with crap, but he knows he has to act fast. 

Back at the academy, the Twins are busy decorating Hookfang's former pen while Hiccup, Astrid and Fishlegs are busy practice scrapping and preparing of the Screaming Death. Snotlout then flies in and knocks Fishlegs down. 

Did you losers miss me?

Dammit! Why can't he just die already!

Hiccup tells Snotlout that he's glad he's alright, but Snotlout's arrogance really makes him reconsider what he just he said. Regardless, he tells Snotlout that he broke the rules and nearly got himself killed, so his ass is still suspended. Snotlout doesn't take this well, the Twins take it very well and go back to decorating. 

Snotlout thinks this is a bunch of bullshit, he found the Screaming Death and he captured Alvin the Treacherous! Astrid however points out that his stupid ass was unconscious the whole time, Snotlout says he was unconscious like a fox, which doesn't even make sense to the Twins. Hiccup tells Snotlout that this don't change shit! Snotlout is still suspended and Hookfang is getting locked up in his pen. Dagur watches this spectacle from afar, reveals his plan and unlocks a box containing a Dragon Root (the plant that makes the Dragons go nuts from episode 15 in case you forgot)!

Later, Hiccup decides to drop by the prison which is surrounded by angry villagers calling for Alvin's head. Hiccup heads on in and confronts Alvin. Alvin tells Hiccup the little proposal he was going to offer Stoick. Dagur is a loose catapult and off his rocker, he forced Alvin off his own Island and he wants that shit back! And he'll take it, with Berk's help. Hiccup thinks this is bullshit, why help get Alvin's Island back fro him just so he can get back to destroying Berk?

Oh come on man, I was a little pissed off, that's all.

For 20 years?

VERY PISSED OFF!

Alvin tries to make the claim that losing everything made him see things a bit differently, he's a changed man. Hiccup brings the conversation back to the proposal, he wants to know what's in it for Berk. Alvin says that the Berserker's will be gone, and the Outcasts will be their allies. An intriguing and very beneficial proposal, that is if Hiccup could trust the other party. 

Back at the house, Hiccup and Stoick are having supper. But Stoick notices the funny looks Hiccup's giving him, so he tells Hiccup to spit it out. Hiccup asks Stoick what Alvin did to get cast out of the tribe. Are we finally gonna find out? Not today it seems, since Stoick doesn't want to talk about it and gets really defensive when Hiccup presses him for answers. Stoick tells Hiccup that Alvin is their enemy, and that will never change. 

At the Academy, the dragons are sleeping peacefully in their pens. The Berserker's swarm the arena and open the gates. Dagur himself walks into the arena and signals to Savage to bring in the Dragon Root. With the Dragon Root in place, they open the pens and let the dragons out. 

FUUUUUCK YOOOOOUUUUU!!!

Back at Berkian Alcatraz, Snotlout decides to pay Alvin a visit. Snotlout tries to downplay Alvin's rescue, he could have gotten out of there himself. Alvin decides to go along with it, and even tells Snotlout they're both very much alike, motherfuckers don't appreciate the way they get shit done. Snotlout wholeheartedly agrees, and calls everybody stupid. Alvin asks Snotlout if he thinks it's right to let him rot in a jail cell, Alvin could have just left Snotlout to die, but he didn't. Alvin thinks that Snotlout owes him the key's to his cell at least, but that'll have to wait, as the warning horns start to sound. 

Hiccup wakes up and Astrid tells Snotlout that Dagur's been spotted by the arena. Snotlout runs off to save Hookfang, but not before Alvin tells him he can help defeat Dagur. Meanwhile, Hiccup sees the dragon root in the arena. He tells the others to go into the arena and distract their dragons, while Fishlegs and Meatlug jack the Dragon Root and haul ass out of there. Snotlout tries to tell Hiccup some important, but Hiccup doesn't have time for what Snotlout has to say. 

The teens head in to distract their dragons. Astrid tries to calm Stormfly, but she attacks Astrid instead. Snotlout and Twins aren't faring any better with their dragons. Fishlegs and Meatlug jack the Dragon Root and make for the gate, but the Berserker's close it before they can make their escape. Hiccup demands they open the gate, but Dagur surrounds Hiccup with archers putting him at a disadvantage. Hiccup wants to know what Dagur wants, but Dagur's goal has not changed. He wants what he's always wanted, the Night Fury. If Hiccup hands him over, Dagur and the Berserker's will leave peacefully. It's either the Night Fury, or his friends in the arena. 

Decisions, decisions, eh Hiccup?!

As the teens in the arena are running out of time, Dagur presses Hiccup for a decision. But Stoick, in a completely badass moment, makes the decision for him. They'll run Dagur through and open the gate themselves! With a small squad of Berkians behind him, he charges right into the Berserker's and kicks some ass! He reaches the gate and starts to open it, Savage is about to skewer him. Alvin however, kicks the shit out Savage before he can do so, and mocks Dagur for his mere existence at this time. Stoick throws Alvin a sword and tells him to kick some Berserker ass! Alvin Obliges. 

Stoick then manages to open the gate to the arena so Fishlegs can get out of there. Hiccup covers his ass while he books it. On the way out, Fishlegs accidentally knocks Stoick out during the skirmish. Hiccup closes the gate, as Dagur looks on and sees that his plan has failed. Savage suggests to Dagur that they get the fuck out of Dodge, but Dagur ain't leaving Dodge empty handed. Then he sees Stoick lying injured on the battleground, he orders Savage to follow him. 

The teens in the arena come out from their hiding places and embrace their Dragons who are pretty much back to normal. Tuffnut thanks Barf and Belch for not killing him, but he thinks they could have done with one less nut. Gobber calls Hiccup over to him, Hiccup looks up and sees Dagur and Savage with Stoick!

Nobody move! Or Stoick's ass is grass!

Dagur tells Hiccup they're leaving and if they see any dragon following them, rider or not, they'll be looking for a new chief. Dagur and Savage take their leave and say they'll be in touch. Hiccup makes a plan to cut them off at the beach and smash their boats to pieces before they can escape. Alvin advises against this, if they pack a man like Dagur into a corner, anything could happen. Dagur ain't gonna hurt Stoick, yet. Stoick isn't what Dagur wants. 

Gobber backs up Alvin's point, Hiccup asks Gobber if he lost all sense of reason during that skirmish, why would/should Hiccup trust Alvin? Gobber points out that if there's one thing Alvin knows, it's treachery. Hiccup takes Alvin's advise and leaves Stoick to Dagur, but he promises that he'll get him back, no matter what. 

Meanwhile . . . 

Summary

Well that was an awesome first part to the season finale, and it's shaping up to be an awesome one! Dagur, The Screaming Death, and now Alvin! Shit it's gonna be cool. As for the episode itself, it had a pretty good beginning with Astrid's near death experience. Hiccup had to make a big leadership decision and even had a nice discussion with Stoick about it. Snotlout was as entertainingly repugnant as ever. But the big surprise was Alvin. 

When Alvin supposedly died in A View To A Skrill Part 2, I was actually kinda hoping that would be the end of him. Put him to rest and let Dagur carry the series as the main antagonist. But, I actually loved Alvin's comeback. This one episode managed to make Alvin a far more interesting character than the rest of the series did. I'm looking forward to find what his backstory is. 

Dagur was as great as ever, and this lead to an awesome fight scene at the end. Dagur and Savage taking Stoick hostage has raised the stakes for the season finale. Oh, of course we know Stoick's gonna get out, he's in the next movie for christ sakes! But, it'll still be interesting to see how it all plays out. 

10/10