Happy TBHK S2 To Anyone Who Celebrates.

I'm re-watching Dragons: Defender's of Berk on episode 13 Scouldy. Hiccup is discussing the dragon classes he teaches with the twins while trying to encourage and help Ruffnut to train the scouldren. It reminded me of some moments in Race to the Edge when the twins talked about the different people who tried to instruct them over the years. (Example: The wedding axe episode, when Toughnutt failed to complete the Mariage Officiation course) I just had the thought that Hiccup is probably one the few, if not only, teacher that never gave up on them. He always valued the twins and all the riders for their unique qualities. Hiccup is a wonderful person and a great leader.

Is it just me or is Valka’s character so…confusing to me?

I don’t get her character at all. In writing sense, in the way she’s presented, how everyone reacts to her?? She’s a walking contradiction.

I need to rewatch HTTYD2 and do a full analysis of her character and writing because she refuses to leave my brain. Full analysis coming because I NEED to pick her role apart.

I’ve been reading the fic Defiance for a while and Adora’s new look in it gave me inspiration to draw. I LOVE winged people. So much. 400k words in and I don’t remember if they mention lighting scars but I gave it to her anyway.

Also they didn’t mention what type of bird wings she has so I gave Adora Elliptical wings! They are used for short fast bursts of flight and are good for quick maneuvers :)

As much as I love pondering what the httyd cast modern jobs are and what they do or study in college, we are ignoring the REAL question.

Who falls for the classic Nigerian Prince money scam?

Hiccup: Almost does fall for it. He’s smart but way too trusting of people. He would be suspicious but go along until he finds out it’s a scam either from Astrid or the Twins.

Astrid: Would see right through it. End up sending threatening messages back.

Snotlout: Would fall for it. Before he’s scammed, he brags about becoming rich. Afterward, he ignores everyone for 2 weeks.

Fishlegs: Would not fall for it. Politely declines.

Ruffnut + Tuffnut: Would end up convincing the scammer to actually give them the money. Succeeds.

Stoick: Ignores the email.

Gobber: Would fall for it right until giving the credit card info then scold them over email.

Heather: Would personally track the scammer down. Or would ignore it. There’s no in between.

Dagur: Falls for it. He’s threatens the person into giving him the money back. Gets more than what he gave away.

Viggo: Creates an elaborate scheme that ends up with the scammer losing everything they own, including the money that they tried to scam out of him.

Ryker: Ignores the email.

Johann: The scammer.

I’m only on s3 of rtte so if these don’t sound canon, that’s because they probably aren’t.

I love seeing people call whatever is going on between Astarion and Gale as "toxic old man yaoi."

Because if you told them about it, Gale would look sad and say, "Toxic is a bit of a strong word. Everyone in this group has their own issues and-"

Meanwhile, the 200+ year old vampire shaking with rage behind him would shriek, "OLD?!?!?!"

Astrid’s importance in Hiccup’s life is often questioned, I've seen posts on how she has schemingly separated the inseparable HiccTooth and how toxic she is towards Hiccup among others. What people fail to realise that her squirm towards the idea of marriage did not arise from her jealousy towards Toothless, but Hiccup’s over reliance on him which resulted in her betrothed’s inability to measure his own worth and capabilities beyond the dragon. She had not been toxic to Hiccup ever since they entered into a relationship and has been his biggest support system ever since. She has been the first one to believe in him and ever since has been his right hand throughout. The compassionate lady who beneath her tough exterior is anything but is the one to hold onto Hiccup throughout the worst of phases in his life. The girl who trained from her childhood to be an incredible Dragon Slayer to bring back the lost glory of her clan went onto become one of the finest Dragon Riders in the history, beside her husband: to give the fearsome beasts a chance to prove themselves after being convinced by Hiccup. Astrid Hofferson Haddock is incredibly talented: acing anything she puts her mind to, be it dragon slaying or training and even drawing! She bloomed like a lotus in his love, and continued to spread the love but didn't lose her sight or practicality in love. She divided his schedule into manageable little stacks for him to analyse and review, fought alongside him to protect their island and the dragons. She had been nothing but a source of strength, hope and unbridled joy to her then betrothed, now husband. As a mother she is gentle yet firm, proud yet concerned, and just always available for her kids. Astrid is the love of Hiccup’s life, his wife and the mother of his children. The strong Valkyrie deserves nothing but respect for being a fabulous friend, a wonderful wife and a marvelous mother and an awe inspiringly skilled Shield Maiden, General and now the Chieftess of New Berk.

“He thinks he has to lead alone… because his father had to”

That scene left me somewhat sour when I first saw it, and it still does. Valka is trying to give Astrid advice as she was the woman married to the Chief. As Chieftess one would assume Valka had responsibilities as well, and her first duty was to her husband.

But like, I don’t think Valka had the right to be coaching Astrid? First of all, the reason Stoick was left alone was because of YOU, Valka. Hiccup has this impression of his father because Valka was never there. Hiccup figures that if his father, who would always be mourning the death of his wife, could do it, so could he. And honestly, I think Hiccup doesn’t like to mess up, not necessarily that he thinks he has to lead alone. He can be in his head sometimes, but we’ve seen him incorporate other’s ideas (in RTTE which was totally not taken into account in THW) and I don’t think Hiccup has ever admitted that he thinks he has to lead alone anyway. So I’m not sure why Valka thinks she’s right. Unless it was said offscreen, but what would that matter if the audience didn’t see it.

The movie lacked any real scenes between Valka and Hiccup imo.

And then Valka suggests Astrid console him, as though Valka knows Hiccup all that well. I know she means well, and had known Hiccup for a year, but I don’t think she had the right to play parent when he’s a grown adult who’s leading the village.

I get Valka is the voice of reason like Stoick was to Hiccup and Astrid (we see that mainly in RTTE between him and Astrid), but personally, she didn’t earn the right to give advice regarding the son she left behind for twenty years.

You wanna play wise parent now? Too late.

Again, I know she means well and is able to recognize her husband’s challenges in her son, but I just think the conversation was unnecessary. Astrid already KNOWS what to do with Hiccup. Astrid’s really the only person that can get Hiccup to spill and he’s always honest with her. Astrid knows how to handle him, and she knows how to communicate. Heck, Astrid knows Hiccup better than Valka does.

I’m sure the writers must’ve realized too late that there weren’t any scenes between Valka and Astrid (which sucks because I feel like Astrid would hold some resentment towards her on Hiccup’s behalf, and that would’ve been an interesting conversation) and they needed to come up with a scene. I don’t see Valka as wise as Stoick was. She’s cool yeah, and this post wasn’t made to bash her, but her character overall was just not handled right from the start.

I like to think that Hiccup would be more of an affectionate father because he somewhat wished that Stoick was. Hence the birth of this sketch. I also love the more domestic side of Hiccup and Astrid, and can’t resist drawing cute family moments lol.

p.s.

Zephyr hates her father’s affection.

Youve been reading too much fanfiction

Absolutely. Probably. Most likely. 😭