User blog comment:Googlydoe/Can I have an explaination as to why Dragons: Riders of Berk is "so GOOD"?!/@comment-24621435-20140730003251/@comment-3230751-20140730021411

I really don't feel like discussing it, because I don't like downing the series more than is necessary. Um... just one thing would be look at how Hiccup uses sarcasm in the first movie, then look at how he uses it in the series. In the film, it is almost completely self defense and even in cases it is commically self depreciating. He uses it to give himself a boost after getting slammed by people. In the series, Hiccup is much less humble, and he shows it by using his sarcasm to frequently tear down Snotlout and the twins. He's using his wit to boost himself up above others, rather than to pick himself up off the ground and make himself feel a little better. Anyway, I agree that the series could have been a total train wreck, and it really wasn't, but I also think if you looked up some people who are semi-famous in the HTTYD fandom, you'd find that they don't particularly like the way Hiccup was portrayed in the series. Hiccup seems to be very extroverted in the series, while in the first one he is very introverted. It is not unrealistic for him to be more confident, but to see him change so completely is really unfortunate. Hiccup is easily exasperated and frustrated in the series, while in the film he suffered disappointment after disappointment and would only complain to Gobber, not groan or face palm or make sarcastic remarks. He was overall much more selfless in the movies than he was in the series. Also, all the awkwardness between him and Astrid is silly. He's got a pet name for her in GotNF, and he and her have already kissed publicly by the end of the first film. I doubt they would then suddenly feel really sheepish around each other. Hiccup isn't supposed to be perfect, but having him shoot snark at the other teens knowing that it will go over their heads and make him look better is just not like him.

Oh, and I also have a good deal of experience in character analysis. I got perfect scores in the ACT literature tests. So, I also am Admin of the HTTYD site (the one you are on) and I run a long in in depth fan blog which consists mostly of HTTYD analysis. I have been in contact and contacted people at DreamWorks, and I was talked to pretty frequently by people who worked on the show (Including Sven's voice actor! That was fun). I've been a fan of the film ever since it came out, I've read the books, watched every bit of commentary, own the art book, went to the arena show, and have watched through the film over eighty times. And through all of that I've tried to study Hiccup, Toothless, and the other characters... every expression, every motive. I've looked into what Dean wants to show Hiccup being like. So, if you want to have me toss up badges... which I don't like to do, there they are. And the people I know who don't really think the series did a good job with Hiccup are people who have been named featured fans by DreamWorks (inhonoredglory has had it happen several times). So, I don't know if that is enough for you to take my word on anything, but there you have it. I don't know how many of the people who were not crazy about the series are around right now... I know inhonoredglory is very busy, as is justoffravenpoint, but blackrose could still be on Tumblr. You could look around. The reason I was vague is not because I can't list examples, it is beacuse I don't care to get into a debate. It isn't worth it considering I mostly liked the series. However, I'd advise in the future that you don't ask people to flag their credintials. It's a little uncomfortable... because I feel like it is gonna make me look like I'm bragging. I'd much rather praise people like inhonoredglory. If you found her tumblr and looked to see what her opinion was on the series, you'd get some great opinions and step by step examples. I don't have time for that, and I don't like attacking the series when I don't have to. I just think it was a fine bit of distraction before the second film, but I'm not really intending to watch back over it and analyze it as if it were as cannon as the films. It wasn't careful, it steryotyped Hiccup into a less balanced hero... which is easy to do, and because of that I didn't really come away from it all that thrilled.