Post by predxeno on Dec 18, 2013 15:17:13 GMT -5
Summary at the bottom for those too lazy to read the entire thing. 
It's been a year and a half since the show first debuted and now that the second season is in its winter hiatus with a second movie fast approaching, I thought I'd take the time out and do something I'd been wanting to do for awhile; write an analysis of the show and its relation to both the original movie and the source material (aka books).
The first season's plot style was rather mediocre in comparison to the movie (unlike the second season, which actually works to improve on this); many of the stories told in individual episodes seemed shallow, clichéd, and sometimes repetitive. The first three episodes of the first season highlight this fact where focus on these episodes was stated to concentrate on the transition of a dragon-free society to one that has adopted and even built on these creatures. As touching as this idea sounds in theory, it doesn't lend itself very well in practicality where many viewers will want to see more action (which the movie is renowned for) rather than a simple rehash of themes found in various other television shows.
The fourth episode is also guilty in this regard where Hiccup places favor in a brand new baby dragon rather than listen to his friend, Toothless. The first movie focused on Hiccup developing a profound and deep emotional connection with his friend, but in this episode he is shown completely incapable of interpreting Toothless's warning of a danger approaching Berk and instead mistakenly believes his dragon is acting out in a jealous rage. Not only is it completely unbelievable given Hiccup's past history with his dragon, but it's an insult to his character as well.
Hiccup is quite prone to making common mistakes (in the first season) which many viewers will obviously know better to watch out for; his inability to interpret his dragon (The Terrible Twos), his reckless trust in a stranger over a close friend (Heather Report Part 1), etc. It seems that the writers of the first season wanted to give Hiccup's character some room to grow and evolve, but what they clearly hadn't realized is that the movie has already done that, therefore it is quite redundant to redo it in the TV show as well. The producers, however, appear to have gotten the message by the second season as Hiccup is now placed in the row of a mediator who tries to fix the problems between other characters as opposed to battling them himself.
The original movie focused on the character dynamics and developments of three principle individuals in the story; Hiccup, Astrid, and Stoick. The TV show tries to expand on this concept by including the lesser characters as well; Fishlegs, Snotlout, and the Twins. However while sounding good in theory, this idea also doesn't lend itself very well in practicality. In the movie, central attention is placed on the three characters stated above, the TV show's attempts to better introduce the other characters is, while admirable, simply not as interesting as the central trio. I have seen a few threads where people have stated that characters such as Fishlegs and Snotlout have been interesting, but ultimately the general consensus seems to agree that they are not as great as the central characters featured in the movie. The reason for this is most likely due to poor character development on the part of these lesser characters.
The character developments of Hiccup, Astrid, and Stoick in the movie were based on dramatic elements and dangers that forced them to grow in ways that defined them. In the TV show, such dramas are nonexistent and replaced by childish comedy attempts thus eliminating many possibilities for the audience to better appreciate the lesser characters; examples include Fishleg's lack of understanding regarding social cues (this is actually a lesser problem compared to the other characters), Snotlout's inability to command his own dragon (while funny, it hardly gives us much respect for him), and the twins' constant antics that often produce more trouble than good (they set the forest on fire [Zippleback Down] and released a Skrill for no reason but to satisfy their own curiosity regardless of the fact that it was hostile and that it gave enemies of Berk an opening to capture it).
A TV show should focus on the story of the movie(s) and take it in a new direction, this TV show seems intent solely on milking the HTTYD cash cow with hastily put together plot designs and lazy character moments of whom bear little resemblance to their movie counterparts. The lesser characters in the movie never had much background, in fact their entire existence seemed solely to promote the concept of a "fickle" society (with the exception of Fishlegs who was more Hiccup's friendly associate) that went with the flow as opposed to standing up for their own beliefs.
At the beginning of the film, Hiccup is ridiculed by many individuals for his incompetence in Dragon Fighting but as Hiccup improves via training with Toothless, his enemies soon become his friends thus demonstrating a very fickle nature. While the feeling of popularity can be a pleasant one, such relationships aren't actual friendships and having the TV show trying so hard to create a friendship out of such a frivolous relationship is not only insulting to the viewer but as one can clearly see it's also very poorly done. In fact, I think it may be more productive to simply shelve many of these lesser characters until the next movie installment as I don't see them providing anything substantive to the group dynamics for a television show.
In the books, Tuffnut (there was no twin sister, Ruffnut) is barely even mentioned by name and who is only referenced as one of Hiccup's peers. In the 2nd book, How To Be A Pirate, the entire class cheers for Hiccup during a fight between him and Dogsbreath (an antagonistic bully) because of his heroic deeds in the 1st book, however when it becomes apparent that Hiccup will likely lose the battle, the class cheers for Dogsbreath instead (preferring to cheer for the winning side) thus returning Hiccup to an underdog position in the story. In regards to the movie, there isn't much difference between the two versions of the character where Tuffnut and the class once ridiculed Hiccup for his failures, but an inversion of the book storyline has them praise him because of his deeds rather than whom he really is.
Instead of trying to force old characters to be things they are not, the TV show should move on and concentrate on adding new characters instead. The Isle of Berk is a very big place and it seems impossible that the teenagers in the movie are the only teenagers on the entire island as the TV show seems to imply. One character that I would like to see more of is Heather; for those who don't remember, she appeared in the middle of season 1 as an unwilling spy for Alvin, however despite this sordid back-history of her, there is much more to this character than most people would see on the first viewing.
The introduction of Heather was perhaps the most anticipated event of the first season, fan boards were awash in how this character would affect the character dynamics of the group, especially Hiccup's relationship to Astrid since it was stated that Heather would be a rival for Hiccup's attention in this regard. Upon Heather's arrival on Berk, it is apparent that there is a connection between her and Hiccup, emphasized when Hiccup forgets about a race he was supposed to have with Astrid and instead takes Heather for a ride on Toothless, much to Astrid's annoyance. The tension between Astrid and Heather increases as the former finds the latter sneaking around town and prying into things she shouldn't be prying into.
Heather and Hiccup
The character dynamics of Hiccup, Astrid, and Heather are a very intriguing part of the plot, made evident not only in their personalities but also in their appearances. Upon close inspection, one can see a myriad of similarities between the physical appearances of Hiccup and Heather; both wear similar clothing including a vest over a long-sleeve shirt that has stitching on the front collar, all of which feature down-to-earth colors that are rather modest possibly suggesting similar personal traits, this is revealed when Heather helps Hiccup create a shorter connecting rod early in the story indicating that both have an experience in engineering. Astrid, on the other hand, wears brighter colors which underscore different traits that neither Hiccup nor Heather have.
Heather, Hiccup, and Astrid
The dynamics of physical appearance between Heather and Astrid are actually more different than with Heather and Hiccup, this suggests different points of view for both characters. Perhaps the most important dissimilarity between the two is how they wear their hair; while Astrid's braid is worn behind her head and over her back to emphasize a warrior's style, Heather's braid is slung down to the left of her front-side thus suggesting a more domestic individual. These traits are further highlighted in the way the two characters dress; as previously mentioned, Heather's clothing is more down-to-earth and even patchy in certain areas while Astrid's clothing is adorned with metal and even animal skulls to draw attention to her abilities in combat.
The relationship between Hiccup and Heather is unique, perhaps more in-tune than Hiccup's relationship with Astrid. One interesting idea is to have Hiccup break up with Astrid and be with Heather instead (Disclaimer: I'm not saying that this is what I want, I'm merely saying it would be an interesting concept for the story); the original movie is very much focused on mature themes and the producers admit they like going into territory no other animated feature has gone before (Hiccup's missing leg). Hiccup breaking up with Astrid and being with Heather can be one way this series matures in ways other shows don't; break-ups aren't fun but they are a very real part of life, having this series emphasize that can speak volumes to its potential.
Of course if Hiccup and Astrid do break up, Astrid will HAVE to stay on the show, she can't merely be cast aside. Many shows in the past have replaced female characters with new ones on a constant basis if only to attract a larger audience. If HTTYD wants to emphasize on this possible maturity then it needs to keep Astrid on the principle cast to demonstrate to audiences the effects break-ups can have, but that there are ways to work around them; this is a theme very similar to that of confronting your problems as opposed to running away from them.
All in all, the Heather story arc ends with Heather leaving Berk with her parents after thanking our heroes for saving them whom say, "Maybe we'll see each other again sometime," to which Heather responds, "Maybe we will." I would have preferred that Heather come back to Berk and become more integral in the future stories told throughout the series as one of the new main characters; she has more character dynamic (as explained above) than most of the principle cast and it would be interesting to see her clash with Astrid again in different arguments.
Having Heather come back could also be utilized as a way for her to redeem herself for what she did in season 1, not only finding a way to make a reappearance on the show but also to give the character herself more respect from the audience. Instead, it's been over a year since we last saw Heather and it seems less and less likely that she'll ever return, all that remains is a bitter memory of anger and betrayal toward this individual for her past deeds; a poor legacy for such a potential character.
A second character I would like to see make an appearance on the show is Camicazi (a character from the books). I'm guessing most readers haven't read the books and therefore won't know much about this character so allow me to describe her. Camicazi is a member of the Bog Burglars, a separate tribe from Hiccup's own (the Hooligan Tribe) who recently develop friendly relations with the Hooligans. Like Hiccup, Camicazi is the only child of the tribe's Chief, Big Boobied Bertha (yes that's her real name), whose boobs are the Terror of the Archipelago. 
While smaller than the rest of the characters, Camicazi is very outgoing and is perhaps the most fearless individual of the entire series. Camicazi is essentially what can be described as a tomboy (defined as: a girl who enjoys rough, noisy activities traditionally associated with boys); she is daring, bold, and undaunted, even in the face of certain death (which she has done many times in service of her friend Hiccup whom she admires). In the books, Camicazi has always brought a certain spark to the team, offering a very diverse set of skills (ranging from sword fighting to burglary) while also providing a sense of humor to the story that no other character seems to equal.
Introducing Camicazi to the movie/tv universe may be challenging, however, as some have theorized that Astrid was designed to be a replacement for this character in the script. Both individuals have a dragon named Stormfly and there are a few subtle similarities in their physical appearance as well though Astrid's hair is braided back to underscore discipline while Camicazi's hair is long and wild to emphasize an untamable nature. Another important difference is that while both are very capable fighters, Astrid possesses a romantic relationship with Hiccup while Camicazi's relationship with the protagonist is more friendly than intimate. Despite this, however, I still believe that the inclusion of a separate Camicazi character, unrelated to Astrid, is still possible for the TV show; all it takes is a little imagination.
Season 2 of Defenders of Berk actually finds a way to improve on the mediocre plot of the first season and actually goes into more detail. While the overall feeling between the seasons is the same, it's clear that the second season focuses more on continuity than the first season. Now each episode feels connected to each other rather than being its own separate story with no tangible connection to each other like in season 1. In fact, character dynamics are further built on and enhanced in season 2 thus providing more interesting storytelling than before where both the heroes and the villains grow in a series of interconnecting episodes.
Despite the strengths of either of the seasons, it is clear that the plot ultimately fails that of the movie it is based on. What made the original movie so popular was its ability to appeal to a mass audience; not exclusively targeting kids but also throwing the net wide open to entice the hearts and minds of adults as well; the TV show is blatantly lacking in this regard. Many of the character moments in the TV show are clearly dedicated to being silly and goofy so as to target kids and less emphasis is placed on the concept of drama and character development (which the movie heavily emphasized upon).
I have seen Kung Fu Panda and even though it's produced by the same studio, I can't say I have much respect for the franchise as a whole. Much of the show seems devoted to comedy, especially comedy that ridicules the protagonist to make him "funny", in my opinion it's a very childish show that no where nears the mature themes of How To Train Your Dragon; there are similar elements but ultimately any mature themes are trivialized by the need to make the audience laugh (often by utilizing tactics aimed at children).
It seems clear that the producers of the TV show were hoping to aim at the same target demographic that its other TV shows were aiming on as well. Rather than examine the source material (the bestselling books of the same name by Cressida Cowell), the writers instead based this TV show on the works of other successful shows its studio was churning out thus producing a show that, while popular in the eyes of some, ultimately fails to do its franchise justice. It is simply inexcusable to rely on these genre-inappropriate sources more than the original books, especially since the franchise's core foundations are of maturity, drama, and character development, not comedy.
The books are also aimed toward grade school children and taking references from these stories could just as easily put childish humor into the show, which the producers want, without having to degrade any of the characters to silly incompetence. The original How To Train Your Dragon books are children's novels with big text and pictures (lots of them); therefore relying on stories from other genres rather than giving the books a simple look-through is an unforgiveable infraction.
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In sum, I believe that the TV series should take on a more mature theme in comparison to the often-childish themes spouted by other shows from the same studio. How To Train Your Dragon is so much more than a simple child's tale, it's a franchise that is based on a best-selling book series that not only manages to tell compelling stories but also finds a way to depart very mature subjects to the audience. Finding a basis for new stories in the books will not only pay respect to them as the foundational basis of the movie/tv series but will also provide its own humor that not only will entice kids (its target audience) but do so in ways that don't have to humiliate the character to provoke it.
The introduction of new characters is also a must for the TV series (not necessarily true for the movie series, though). Many of the characters portrayed in the original film barely have any background worth expanding and doing so is not only tedious but of disinterest to many viewers (in fact, shelving these characters until the next movie may be the best idea). Finding ways to grow and evolve the main protagonist in the TV series is also redundant as he has already grown and evolved in the movie series. Instead, the introduction (or reintroduction) of new characters such as Heather and Camicazi may be far more effective than finding ways to expand on characters such as Fishlegs, Snotlout, and the Twins whom often rely on comic relief in order to reach audiences.
Despite the fact that the tv series is already in its second season, there is still time to change styles and themes for the story. The second movie has been confirmed by the producers to be darker and more mature than the first, which has already demonstrated a certain knack for these concepts. A third season, or even an entirely new tv series, centered near the time of the second film can allow the characters room to expand and grow in ways that won't renounce the style of the first 2 seasons. The first 2 seasons can be seen as a time of youthful innocence, and the time nearing the second film can be viewed as a time of growing adolescence. A fitting way to not only emphasize the maturing nature of the franchise, but also an adequate way to acknowledge and respect the series before it.