Why You Should Watch the How To Train Your Dragon TV Series

I'm a big fan of How to Train Your Dragon (or HTTYD), both the books and movies. While differences between the two are big, they're both fun.

But this post is about the HTTYD TV series. There are three. The first two, Riders of Berk and Defenders of Berk, take place not long after the first movie, while the third one, Race to Edge, is actually a Netflix series that happens closer to the second movie. A lot of people haven't watched them, but I'm going to give you five reasons why you should.

1. They fill in the gaps

There is a five year lapse between the movies. That's a big gap. If you've watched them, you know there's a lot of change in between. The TV shows give you a look at how Berk and the dragon riders changed from one to the other.

They also give us information like how Berk got used to dragons, where Hiccup got that awesome flight suit and sword, and how Astrid and Hiccup became sweethearts. I mean, who hasn't wondered how he came up with his sword? Race to the Edge especially shows Hiccup growing into the leader he must become later.

2. They're well done

Unlike some spin-off series, these ones were done with care. Many of the actors from the movies are also in the series. All three have won awards for their great job.

The story lines are good too. I don't ever remember thinking that one was predictable or boring. Each one is riveting. While being funny, they also can be serious. The TV series also include cool villains, the best so far being Viggo Grimborn. (Watch Race to the Edge to see what I mean.)

3. More of the other characters

The movies spend most of their time focused on Hiccup, as he is the protagonist. The series also focus a lot on him, but share the time with the other dragon riders. It's fun to get to know them better. They have lots of nuances that never come into the movies. If you've ever wanted to see more of them, this is definitely the place to go.

4. Loads of fun

Each episode in the series includes its own jokes and hilarious lines. My siblings can almost quote whole scenes. The episodes where the twins pretend to be things like playwrights, fashion experts, and detectives are especially funny. These are always great if you want a laugh.

5. Includes information that's not in the movies

The series are full of interesting things that never show up in the movies. Like things about the characters I mentioned before, or cool dragons. My siblings and I are always trying to decide which type of dragon we'd like best. Too bad the Night Fury is taken.

The TV series is also where you first learn the dragon's names and that Meatlug is, in fact, a girl. It shows you more of the archipelago and surrounding areas than you see in the movies. There are also characters that never show up in the movies. Like my personal favorite, Spitlout, the father of Snotlout, voiced by David Tennant. I could listen to him talk all day.

Have you ever watched the HTTYD TV series? What do you think of them? Tell me in the comments, I'd love to know.