Blurb:
What qualities make relationships flourish or flounder? Explore deep relationship dynamics with Hiccup, Astrid, Stoic and Toothless against the backdrop of Catholic spirituality.
Excerpt from episode:
“Dear friends, the quality of our relationships determine the quality of our lives, and the longest running Harvard study of adult development, begun in 1938, renders this conclusion absolute. I’m convinced that one of the reasons why How to Train Your Dragon has such a special place in our lives is because it’s about navigating relationships. Now How to Train Your Dragon itself is a truly wonderful work of art. I recently watched the live action of this DreamWorks classic, and as far as remakes go… I think they totally smashed it! I was totally taken back into the world of Bourke and Hiccup and reliving the test flight scene again. Seasoned Myth Pilgrim listeners will recall that in Episode 38, I recorded “Mastering your greatest fear in How to Train Your Dragon” and that was fun, and inspiring to put together. This time round watching it though, what struck was yeah, how well written the relationship dynamics were … and it made me put on a new set of glasses into how to appreciate this film. There are many relationships going on in the film:
- Hiccup and Stoik his father
- Hiccup and his dragon Toothless
- Hiccup and his love interest Astrid
- Hiccup and his trainer Gobber,
- Snotlout and his father
- The dragons vs the Vikings
… and many more! Perhaps the fact that this live action remake preserved and even amplified these relationships is what gives this film soul. It is to these, I will do a deep dive today.