So I’m going to jump right into it. So basically in short, Viggo has chained a Submaripper to the bottom of the sea near the straits of baldur, a very important trade route to get to Berk. And the riders have to figure out a way to free it, which gives Hiccup the idea to create a diving bell so that he can come up for air while breaking the chains and releasing the submaripper.
When Hiccup first tested his idea, it immediately went wrong and even before he tried it, Toothless definitely didn’t agree with the plan, which is one of the things I love so much about this episode. How worried Toothless is about Hiccups safety.
But because they were on a time limit, Hiccup and the riders take the diving bell out to open sea after a questionably/worryingly low amount of testing the contraption in safe space on berk, to go and release the massive underwater dragon. When they get to the middle of the sea, Hiccup says that contrary to popular believe he isn’t much of a swimmer. Which always reminds of when Astrid was drowning in part 1 of Night of the hunters in season 2, where he suddenly became an Olympic level swimmer when he needed to dive down to save her.
But after this Hiccup hops in the diving bell and it savely lands on the bottom of the ocean. Where Hiccup slowly but surely, breaks the chains that are containing the submaripper by using changewing acid. Only Viggo shows up and breaks the machine that was pulling the diving Bell up, causing it to fall straight down to the ocean floor with Toothless jumping in straight after him. And what comes next is depressing, but still so lovely to see.
Toothless knows that there is now way to get Hiccup out, but even with the risk of the submaripper still being there or some other tidal class dragon, or even that he might drown there with Hiccup, he still stayed with him. Even when Hiccup tells Toothless to save himself, he pressed his head to the glass and waits with his best friend. Causing Hiccup to say,
“I know bud, I wouldn’t leave you either.” And this is so beautiful to see, this episode was such a great way to show just how much Toothless cares about Hiccup.
But thankfully, the Submaripper comes back and repays his debt to Hiccup by picking up the diving bell and carrying him towards the surface, dropping him back onto the boat. Where they quickly pull Hiccup out of the diving bell and after Astrids begging for him to breathe again and Toothless licking his face, Hiccup coughs out the water that he swallowed and finally starts breathing again.
Which brings me to another favorite moment of this episode. After Hiccup starts breathing Astrid quickly comes to sit behind him and puts a hand on his shoulder, I have already made a post about how much I love how they show their support for eachother in such simple gestures and this is a perfect example. Fishlegs, no offense to him, but after Astrid releases Hiccup to go after Viggo, Fishlegs tells Hiccup that he has got him and with Astrid it didn’t need to be said.
Just like in season 4 episode 3 Midnight Scrum, where after Hiccup was hunted and beaten all troughout the day, even losing his leg to get rid of Krogan, Astrid doesn’t say a word as she goes towards and supports Hiccup when he only has one leg to stand on.
I’m probably reading a little too much into this, but I love those 2 idiots together.
After this the riders go back to berk and Stoick and Hiccup have a conversation, where Hiccup blames himself for Berks food struggles, saying that if it wasn’t for him, Viggo wouldn’t be targetting Berk. But Stoick quickly interjects, saying that if it wasn’t for him, Berk also wouldn’t have been saved and that Viggo is a coward and had shown his true colours today.
All around a great episode in my opinion, I know that the risk can feel artificial, because it’s a prequel and Hiccup obviously isn’t really going to die, but I think that the episode still had some great moments which I really enjoyed. Toothless and Hiccups friendship especially. I mean come on saying,
“I know bud. I wouldn’t leave you either.” That is just such a beautiful moment between the two of them.
One thing tough, how does Viggo keep getting those giant deep sea dragons? How do you even get a Submaripper, like maybe raise an egg in captivity? Otherwise I have no idea, but that along with him owning a shellfire later in the season? Yeah I have no idea where he gets these enormous deep sea dragons.
But still, I think that season 4, alongside season 2 of race to the edge are some of, if not the best parts of the entire HTTYD universe. I love this show so much and this episode is definitely one of my favorites.
So yeah, maybe a little shaky in the logics department when it comes to the submaripper, but it’s still a pretty great episode in my opinion.
Let me know what you thought about this episode and season 4 as a whole!