Disclaimer: this review solely discusses the three main HTTYD movies and the information provided in them. It does not include things from the books, shows, spinoffs, specials, etc. The main story is enough as a stand-alone, and decisions regarding it should not rely on viewers to watch the extras to understand key information.

When the How to Train Your Dragon film crew finally emerged from their studios and The Hidden World was no longer just a title, nostalgic Berkians rushed to the cinemas to experience what would be the last official movie of the decade-long franchise. Like its predecessors, the third HTTYD film was wonderfully crafted, inspiring, exciting, and emotional. It satisfied the queries of and gave a wholesome resolution to the Vikings of the twenty-first century. However, it also has some aspects that could’ve been improved upon which would’ve created an even better ending to such a riveting series.

Most obviously is the matter of the Light Fury. Like Toothless, the dragon fires plasma blasts, blends into the sky, and seems to be the only one of its kind. Its playful nature and adorable appearance is perfect for HTTYD’s primary audience. Past these characteristics, however, lies a large problem: it is the antagonist to the very moral of the HTTYD narrative.

From the very beginning, HTTYD has always been about Hiccup and Toothless. Although having started on very rocky footing, the two become a unique pair and are inseparable (literally, at times). Hiccup needs Toothless to prove himself worthy; Toothless needs Hiccup to be able to fly. By the second movie, the dynamic morphs into a necessity not just for individual goals but combined ones: humans and dragons must cooperate in order to survive, meaning their chiefs must do the same. Their story is about persevering through the worst of the worst, together. And yet a single dragon is able to take that away?

Toothless becoming immediately enamoured with the Light Fury destroys the seemingly-special bond he has with Hiccup. One could say, “Hiccup has Astrid, why deprive Toothless of the same, especially seeing as his mate-lessness has been brought up before”? Yes – Hiccup has Astrid. But it was always Hiccup and Toothless first – it was Hiccup who made Toothless’s tail. It was Hiccup and Toothless enjoying the mornings in the sky with the new flight suits. It was Hiccup who brought Toothless back to reality, even after what he did to Stoick. Astrid is an important influence in Hiccup’s life but it is unfair to say that Hiccup and Astrid’s relationship can be compared to his with Toothless. To have the Light Fury be what is distancing Toothless away from Hiccup is absurd. She should not be the critical incentive for leaving Berk, nor the reason for autonomizing Toothless’s tail – those can (and should’ve been) attributed to the impending threat of the extinction of the dragons. Toothless is the chief of the dragons and thus must be able to govern them on his own now that Grimmel’s villany is approaching. The existence, or the knowledge of the existence, of the Light Fury also lessened the impact of Toothless’s uniqueness and the emotional loss of the dragons leaving.

There are two approaches that could’ve been taken which would’ve alleviated all of these problems. Rather than completely taking her out of the picture, the Light Fury should’ve been a surprise at the very end of the movie, when she and Toothless already have the triplets. Toothless should’ve flown off on his own, leading the dragons, with Hiccup not knowing about his fate until much older. That way, the importance of friendship would’ve been more poignant – friends can part not by their own will, and friends must do the right things to help each other even if it isn’t how they wanted things to turn out (i.e. with Toothless still mateless). It would have been much more valuable to viewers had they not known of the Light Fury from the posters/trailers either so they could partake in Hiccup’s experience.

Apart from this major (poorly-made) decision, there are two other aspects of HTTYD 3 that should’ve been made differently. One is Hiccup’s point of view. Each movie in the series starts from a different part of Hiccup’s life – as a teenager in the first, and a young adult in the second. The third movie does age-up its characters, but it would’ve been so much better if Hiccup had told this story as a chieftain well in his years. First, it would’ve fit the quote “there were dragons when I was a boy”. While appropriating aspects to a single line of script isn’t always the first thing a writer thinks about when designing their characters, this quote is vital not only for this movie, but for the series itself. It should be regarded with the same attention as the existence of the dragons is, because otherwise there would be no story without it. Second, having Hiccup’s grandchildren ask him about his notebook on Toothless, for example, and having Hiccup retell the story of the dragons in flashbacks would’ve proven just how strong his relationship to Toothless was. It would’ve also shown the stark contrast between life with and without the dragons. To cherish things from one’s childhood right up to seniority, one’s memories for the rest of one’s life, is proof itself of just how meaningful those experiences were. 

The final alteration that would’ve improved The Hidden World just that much more is a different villain. Instead of Grimmel, who is another solitary, angry man (think Stoick, or Drago), HTTYD 3 should’ve had either a female antagonist (a prime opportunity for tension between her and Valka) or a duo/group of villains (all of the same importance, not like Eret). This way, it adds piquancy, an element of uniqueness, to the story, and also amplifies the danger of the anti-dragon rhetoric. Regardless of the overcrowding on Berk and other reasons, the villain(s) alone must show a heightened threat level that has never been seen before which ultimately leads the dragons into seclusion (or perhaps near-extinction, even).

While the third movie is undoubtedly an amazing movie and an incredible end to the series, there were multiple features that needed more deliberation. It is unlikely the present choices satisfied the likes of artistic enthusiasts who created renditions of Hiccup’s chief garb and Stoick-like beard or made (subjectively) far-more riveting trailers for the film. If these three aspects were changed, it would’ve taken How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World to another level. Still, if not quite the version one had hoped for, the movie serves as a reminder of the beauty of imagination – just like the world of Hiccup and Toothless does.

Contributed by Jeanne Polochansky