Review: Dragons: Defenders of Berk “Cast Out pt. 2”

Is there a big, epic finale in this episode of Dragons? Find out after the jump!

Spoilers!

Back on Outcast Island, we have an overly sarcastic Dagur giving Stoick an earful. Back on Berk, Hiccup is forced to  act as Chief since Stoick is hostage. The people want nothing to do with peace, they want their Chief back. Meanwhile, Fishlegs is on the trail of the Screaming Death. Hiccup is back at Gobber’s, Gobber gives him a real good pick-up speech, and some background between Alvin and Stoic. Fishlegs comes back, tells them that the Screaming  Death is close, and Astrid hands him an ultimatum from Dagur. Everyone but Hiccup goes to help Berk from the Screaming Death, and Hiccup is going to find a way onto Outcast Island with Alvin.

Hiccup, Toothless, and Alvin are on their way to Outcast Island. He gets to talking about Stoick and himself, saying that there are parallels between him and Stoick, and Hiccup and Snotlout, giving more insight to the problems between Alvin and Stoick. Hiccup finds the “mother” of the Screaming Death, and then it clicks. He sends a message home, and goes to their dragon arena. Hiccup and Toothless are caught by Dagur. Back on Berk, the riders get the message, and try to figure out how to lure the Screaming Death back to Outcast Island. Speaking of which Hiccup’s plan comes together when he has Alvin and Mildew start digging holes under the arena with Whispering Deaths. Toothless is freed by Mildew, and Alvin frees Hiccup and Stoick. Unfortunately, the arena collapses on itself, leaving Hiccup hanging, with Toothless fighting off the Berserkers underground.

Hiccup falls off, with Toothless getting him and they coast lightly to the ground. The other riders come, with the Screaming Death in tow. Fishlegs almost gets eaten by it, but it farts, and ignites inside the mouth. The Screaming Death finds its mother, but Dagur traps the Whispering Death. When Snotlout comes by, he lights up the Berserkers, freeing the Whispering Death. The Whispering Death goes to its kid, and they calm down. The Screaming Death thanks Hiccup in it’s own special way, and they all fly off. Dagur makes one last ditch effort to get Toothless, but gets knocked out by Alvin. Everything works out. Alvin and Stoick seem to be getting back on terms, Snotlout’s suspension is lifted, and he and Hiccup are back on the same page.

After watching this, Cartoon Network is pretty slick. The preview put us off on the plot of the story. Alvin’s only interaction with the Screaming Death was that he forced its birth. The only thing it was looking for, was its mom. Thanks, Alvin. There was a missed opportunity with the Screaming Death, but nothing major. I was just looking for some annihilation because of it, or at the very least, it attacking Berk. However, in the context of the story, it works.

Alvin really pulled through in this as well. I thought he was going to double cross everyone (again, thanks, Cartoon Network), but he came through, in a pretty heroic way. He saves Hiccup, frees Hiccup and Stoick, gets Hiccup on Outcast Island, and as of the last episode, makes the turn to hero. Oh, and before I forget, the amount of detail on his face during the episode is astounding. Just take special note of his scars on his face. This should keep you satisfied until June when How to Train Your Dragon 2 comes out.