It’s so fascinating to think about the season 4 ending of RTTE. It burns in my mind of how the show was initially green-lighted for four seasons, and later on given two more. I come to think of the Shellshocked two-parter. I feel assured that a part of the ending was supposed to be the Dragon Eye being destroyed, and unfortunately, Viggo meeting his end as well.
I remain insistent that Astrid being threatened, Hiccup throwing the Dragon Eye into the volcano and Viggo meeting his own end similarly, was what wasn’t changed even after the show writers were allowed the extra two seasons. Because it makes total sense, the only way that it could end, was that the Dragon Eye had to be destroyed, and given how they built up Viggo, there of course had to be a resolution with him as well.
And think about how season 5 progressed. We didn’t find out Viggo was actually alive until five episodes in, meaning it took a while for them to decide they were actually going to bring Viggo back to life. In turn, tying in the Dragon Eye’s survival for additional conflict.
Had the show not gotten to six and remained at its four, then that means some parts of the two-parter would have been removed, to allow for enough time to show that Viggo did meet his end, and now the Riders could return to Berk. But because they were blissfully given two more, they managed to wind in other elements and have the season end in a cliffhanger with the volcano exploding. (which given that happened makes me surprised that Viggo actually survived that... but I also don’t wanna complain cuz I’m overjoyed we got more of him. and that he was even given a small redemption)
I also think that the ramping up of Hiccstrid was also crucial, because if that was end, then their announcement of a relationship would be proper lead-in for HTTYD 2. Meaning that Viggo’s discovery and call-out to Hiccup of it was also included. But I also will admit that the inclusion of “my dear Hiccup” leads me to think that the whole scene might’ve been improvised.
What I would like to theorize, is that they elongated the episode plot by having it take longer for Hiccup to accept Viggo’s help. I think of the ending of Shellshocked pt. 1, where Viggo confronts Hiccup alone, and with the handing over of the Dragon Eye, does seem to show that they’ve entered a temporary alliance. But then the next episode starts with the Riders still showing skepticism then coming to lock him in the stables. Perhaps them finding the Submaripper would have occurred earlier instead of what we see where they take the first wave of attack on Dragon’s Edge. I do think a conversation with the Riders was necessary where Hiccup said they were left to accepting their enemy’s offer, although perhaps not to the way we came to see it play out.
There are just theories I remind you. I am considering them, these are racing through my head, because they chose to put in the wikipedia page that the show was green-lighted for a set number then granted more. I love Race to the Edge so much because it seemed well-fleshed out, they truly worked hard in trying to work to bring it to a close that would fit with the events of HTTYD 2. Some stuff was perceivably rushed in seasons 5 and 6, but it was still a satisfying ending. What do you guys think it could’ve been?