Ep 3. Animal House

In the third episode of Dragons: Riders of Berk season 1, entitled "Animal House", the focus is on the dragons' behavior towards the livestock of the village, and how it needs to be managed in order to ensure the safety of both the humans and the dragons.

The episode starts with Hiccup and the other dragon riders learning that the dragons have been stealing the village's livestock, something that severely impacts Berk's food supply. Hiccup is quick to realize that the dragons are not stealing the livestock out of malice but because it is their natural instinct and they view the village's animals as potential prey. Hiccup decides to address the root of the problem by building a dragon-friendly habitat that will act as a safe haven for the dragons. This will help the dragons differentiate between the wild animals they can hunt and the ones they need to leave alone.

The dragon riders quickly get to work on building the habitat, but they find themselves struggling to come up with a design that would meet the needs of all the different types of dragons in Berk. They also learn that the dragons' unpredictable nature makes it difficult to build a habitat that would keep them safely contained.

As the dragon riders deal with these issues, Stoick the Vast, the chief of Berk, realizes that the livestock isn't the only thing under threat from the dragons. He learns that his own son, Hiccup, may be in danger as well. He refuses to let Hiccup visit the habitat construction site, fearing that the dragons may attack him.

Despite his father's disapproval, Hiccup carries on with his work and offers his own perspective on how to make the habitat more dragon-friendly. He introduces the idea of incorporating an element of interactivity in the habitat to keep the dragons from getting bored and seeking out the village's animals. This suggestion helps the riders construct a habitat that entertains the dragons and makes them feel at home.

At the end of the episode, we see the riders presenting the habitat to the dragons, who are initially hesitant but eventually embrace their new home. The episode ends with a sense of relief that the dragons are no longer threatening the village's food supply or the residents' safety.

Overall, this episode of Dragons: Riders of Berk provides an insight into the relationship between humans and dragons. It shows how the riders are slowly learning to manage and control the dragons they were once afraid of, and how these creatures can be understood and accommodated, proving that coexistence between dragons and humans is possible. The episode is also a testament to the power of teamwork, as the dragon riders work together to find a solution to the village's problem. The storytelling and animation throughout the episode are excellent, making it an enjoyable watch for both kids and adults.