πππ πππ ππ πππππππππ ππ πππ π
ππ π° ππππ πππ (HTTYD2)
Explanation on why the π"πππ πππ ππ πππππππππ ππ πππ π
ππ π° ππππ πππ"π scene is so important in How To Train Your Dragon 2 (HTTYD2) by Dreamworks.
Valka at the beginning of HTTYD2
Let's start by talking about Valka.
Throughout the film, it is explained how in the past she felt uncomfortable and strange in the human world, as its static norms clashed with her ideals, which is why she ends up abandoning her family.
So she achieves his dream of living in peace and harmony with the dragons, learning everything from them. However, she has paid the price of giving up her "human side" and with it her family.
That she chose to live among dragons rather than remain with her own reveals two things: Confidence and courage in pursuing her dream, but also her fear and lack of trust in others.
She does not feel supported and listened to by her people, but neither does Stoick. She feels caged, so when she gets the chance, she escapes.
The fact that Valka renounces her family is also a reflection of the problems within their marriage. Valka and Stoick had opposing beliefs towards dragons, which would obviously create fights and reinforce Valka's idea that this was not her place. Furthermore, this shows that Valka was extremely afraid of being rejected by Stoick for who she really was, and that this probably led her to show herself to him in a way that she was not in order to protect herself. Not to mention that, being seen as an outcast in Mema for opposing the war and that her love of dragons almost killed her family, she believed she was protecting her son.
Thus, at the beginning of HTTYD2 we find a strong and confident Valka within the world of dragons, but very distrustful and distanced from the world of humans. This is reinforced at the beginning when she walks crouching, imitating the dragons.
Later on, once she establishes a bond with Hiccup through the dragons (but note: through the dragons, not because he is her child. Although this changes later on), she begins to walk upright and behave in a more "human" way.
Meeting with Stoick
Valka's real growth comes when she and Stoick meet again.
It is amazing how Valka crumbles in a few seconds. She goes from a powerful woman who believes in herself to a frightened person, full of remorse and anguish.
After meeting Hiccup, she regrets abandoning them. She regrets choosing the easy way out, but as she says: "Well, what sign did I have that you could change, Stoick? That anyone in Mema could do it? Did anyone listen to me?".
Her body language shows that she is extremely afraid (she backs away until she hits the wall), showing once again the fear she has of being rejected by Stoic, the person she loves, and whom she has to finally confront.
It's funny how Valka is unable to understand his reaction. Anyone else would be filled with anger and frustration, but Stoic's response is β¨sublimeβ¨. He says nothing until he is at her level, while she says everything on the verge of tears. Then he strokes her cheek and says, "You are as beautiful as the day I lost you."
FRIENDS, are you aware of what a LOVE DECLARATION this man makes?
This man has told her: Everything is fine. I accept and understand your decisions, even though they were not the best. I forgive you and I love youπ.
I think Valka cries not only from the stress and emotion of the whole situation, but also that she finally sees that her husband accepts her for who she is and loves her that way.
πππβ¨THIS MOMENT IS PERFECTβ¨πππ.
Little by little, Valka opens up to her human side, which she had repressed, while Stoick supports her in her development with small gestures (this is especially noticeable in their body language).
In this way, Valka realises that she had made a mistake. Everyone can change, even her.
In conclusion, Valka from this moment onwards will begin to understand that her family does not make her more vulnerable, that her quirks are impossible to accept or unforgivable. That is why she wants to return to Mema happy to be reunited with her people and family and, therefore, happy to be reunited with her human side.
What do you think of this scene?
I hope you liked the analysisβ¨.
πΊππ πππ ππ πππ ππππ ππππππ!
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Got high and watched How To Train Your Dragon last night and for some reason it was only then when I realized how heartbreaking Stoickβs lineΒ βWith you doing so well in the ring... We finally have something to talk aboutβ isΒ
Like Stoick wantsΒ to connect with Hiccup. Heβs tried so hard: taking him fishing, teaching him how to take down a dragon, even just living in the same house as his son, but theyβre so vastly different that they canβt even hold a conversation. Until he hears about Hiccupβs successes in dragon training. And heβs soΒ excited. He can finally connect with his son! But that is such new territory that Hiccup feels awkward and doesnβt answer. And Stoick realizes that even now, he doesnβt have and may never have the son heβs always wanted. So he tries one last thing: Giving Hiccup one last reminder of his mother. The only thing they have in common. And even that fails.
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"I should've seen the signs" I feel like Stoick was basically reliving the way he lost Valka.
To him, after a lifetime of wanting nothing but to kill a dragon, Hiccup's suddenly and inexplicably changed his mind. To him, Hiccup saying he can't kill them is just like when Valka refused to and tried convincing others as well, then as a result was 'killed' by one herself.
To him, way Hiccup tossed his weapon and shield to the side then approached Hookfang while speaking about how dragons aren't what people think they are probably bares an uncomfortable resemblance to the way Valka put down her weapon and stared a dragon in the eyes and as a result was taken.
To him, attempting to do anything but preemptively defend yourself against a dragon will only end in tragedy, so he has to do anything he can to stop Hiccup before it's too late.
(And just like with Valka, he unintentionally escalated the situation by trying to protect Hiccup but only agitated the dragon, causing it to panic and react, inadvertently putting someone he loves in danger. again)
Stoick of course, wasn't acting rationally, but it makes sense when you think about how traumatizing Valka's 'death' must've been for him (and how much Hiccup reminss him of her); he watched her get taken, presumably killed, and couldn't do anything about it.
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so I didnβt realize this until now, but in RTTE season 1 episode 8 "crushing itβ thereβs a clip where Stoick is giving Gothi shit for her plowing. It shows theyβre in a field and I didnβt realize which field it was until now. Itβs Mildewβ old cabbage field and his house.
Still has the hole in the roof from when Snotlout fell through it 3 years ago π€£
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