Dragons Race to the Edge Season 3

Season 3! Came out very a fortnight ago and it’s great! Admittedly, I don’t know if there’s anything that the series could do to make me think that it isn’t great, but I really enjoyed it. I will say right now there are going to be some spoilers. I’ll try and coat things in generalities, but some stuff will slip out.

So, we start with a twist surprise, and old enemy turning out to actually have a change of heart! And the new enemy, oh my dragons the new enemy is kind of scary, and dangerous, and really, really clever, which is so nice to see. It’s someone that even Hiccup has trouble pitching his wits against! And just when you think he might have figured him out, bam! Turns out the guy was thinking six steps ahead of them the whole time. Just, so very well done that evil genius.

People and dragons from previous series turn up, along with the customary new dragons introduced, although it’s not quite one an episode as it was with other series. Still, the imagination and creation of these new dragons is amazing, and it’s great to see what they come up with next. I quite liked the episode where Gobber meets Grump (the dragon he has in the second movie), it’s very sweet.

Speaking of old people, Heather! I always like seeing her, and the interaction between her and Astrid. Easily the most competent people in the team. Well, Hiccup and Toothless as well. But having the girls be the main combat force? Excellent.

Overall, I really enjoy this next instalment of the series. 13 new episode in total, and there will be a season 6, so I’m just ready and waiting for that. How do I know there’s a season 6? Well, for one, the internet tells me there will be, and two – they end the series on this AMAZING CLIFFHANGER. Seriously, it pains me that I will have to wait dragons know how long to find out how that’s going to resolve itself, let alone all the other stuff from the series.

All in all, I am very happy, and there is yet another dose of dragons in my life.

Dragons: Race to the Edge

So, those of you who like dragons, especially the How to Train Your Dragon series, or those of you with Netflix, might have noticed that there is a new series out. Mild spoilers incoming, just so you know.

Dragons: Race to the Edge is the next instalment in the screen half of the story. Season 3 has 13 episodes currently out on Netflix, with 13 more to come and another season announced. I’ve been trying to find more dates, but as of yet no luck. The first 12 episodes came out last Friday. Why has it taken me this long to watch you ask? It hasn’t, I watched them all last Friday, I just wanted to watch them all again before doing a review about them.

Chronologically, this series, like 1 & 2, also takes place between the first a second films. Three years after the events of Riders/Defenders of Berk, and things are quiet. Very quiet. Hiccup is trying to explore all he can, finding new dragons, but he’s run out of places to explore. The entire Archipelago has been mapped, and the only new dragon is the twins playing tricks.

However, a certain someone decides that jail is not for them, and breaks out. The dragons riders gather together for the first time in a while to go search for them. In doing so, they come across some long forgotten wrecks, and in it, a long forgotten treasure – the dragon eye.

This device is full of information, maps, new dragons. And thus, the new season gets underway.

It’s great to see all the characters again. There’s a measured difference between them in the first two seasons and this one. They’ve grown, the animations have changed to reflect this (but the voice actors are still the same, which is great). And because we’ve seen the second movie, we know where they are heading.

And speaking of the second movie, oh the references. There are so many references to stuff which happens in the second movie, stuff to come! It’s hilarious to watch, because from the character’s point of view, they’re oblivious. And of course they talk about stuff that has happened before. One episode including a dragon they have encountered before, one which Snotlout came off worse for, is filled with Snotlout ranting and raving about how it’s out to get him. It’s hilarious to watch all the personalities in the same rooms again.

The new dragons are pretty great as well, very imaginative. My favourite is the Night Terrors – a flock of tiny dragons which work together to form the appearance of a huge one, so cool. And they can learn new shapes as well 🙂

It combines the great animation, with some new stories, but familiar setting and characters. I am absolutely in love with the new series, and cannot wait for the next half of it to be out.

Dragons: Defenders of Berk

So, still ill. Or at least recovering after being ill. The flu really hit me hard and I can’t do much at the moment without instantly tiring myself out. Took a walk to the shops and that’s my exercise for the day.

On the plus side, this does mean that my activities are limited to low energy things, such as sitting at my computer and writing. Well okay, not writing. I should be, but I can’t summon the brain power needed to do writing and plot thinking. Being ill really really sucks.

What I have instead been doing is watching Dragons: Defenders of Berk. It’s the second series of the TV shows which tells the story of the young vikings on the island of Berk, picking up from just after where the movie finishes. After learning that the DVD isn’t going to come out in the UK until three days before the second movie, I decided I wasn’t going to wait that long and resorted to our long time friend the internet to help me out.

I’m going to try not to spoil anything just in case anyone else wants to watch the series but hasn’t yet, but I do want to talk about the dragons.

I love the dragon in this continuity. The books as well, but in the shows they are very well developed. They have classes of dragons: Boulder, Stoker, Strike, Fear, Tidal, Sharp, Tracker and Mystery. Dragons  fit into these categories based on how they look, what they eat, attacks and other characteristics.

The dragons that are featured in the series all the time are: Deadly Nadder (Astrid), Hideous Zippleback (Ruffnut & Tuffnut), Monstrous Nightmare (Snotlout), Gronkle (Fishlegs), and of course the Night Fury (Hiccup). All of them have their own personalities, and are well matched with thier human trainers. I do love how individualistic all of the dragons are from each other. Every species feels different and unique and have their own quirks which you discover throughout the episodes that they appear in. Changewings are some favourites of mine, since they are chamleons and cause so much trouble. They also have these cool little fronds and acid breath. Terrible Terror are also fun because they are they are tiny and terrible and cause so much mischief. They also come in useful on occasion and a variety of colours.

My favourite dragon is the night fury. Not just because it’s the mascot dragon (dragon of the lead character, lead dragon and all that) but because it is well propotioned in body, looks comfortable to ride, has four legs and two wings (my preffered body type), intelligent, friendly, black and most important, has an awesome breath weapon.

Also it’s called the Night Fury. It is such an awesome name. And this is awesome as well. I am saving up for one.

That is all I have to say. And if you have not seen How to Train Your Dragon, then I recommend it. And if you live in America then I am jealous of you, because we in the UK have wait until July 4th for Hot to Train Your Dragon 2.