How to Train Your Dragon ending explained: Red Death's defeat and the village coming to terms with dragons

If you have already watched the 2010 animated film, How to Train Your Dragon, you know what happens next. The usual. That weakling Hiccup (Mason Thames) shows up at the end with his friends and defeats a massive dragon called Red Death, whom the dragons hypnotically follow.

Red Death is also the reason the village hates dragons. Although they don't know it yet, Red Death causes the dragons to attack the village. If they don’t, they will die at the hands of that large creature. However, this comes to an end when Hiccup and his friends arrive and defeat this source of evil.

But to gain something, you have to lose something. Hiccup loses his leg but gains the romantic attention of his crush, Astrid (Nico Parker), who also feels a bit jealous of him for how easily he bonds with dragons. In any case, everything is resolved by the end.

How'd they defeat the Red Death in How to Train Your Dragon?

To understand how the Vikings of Berk overcame the Red Death, it’s essential to grasp the reason for their struggle: dragons were attacking the village and wreaking havoc.

That is why they hate these creatures. However, Hiccup discovers a nest where the large dragon resides and appears to be controlling the other dragons. They must feed the Red Death, or this domineering creature may eat them. When Hiccup reveals information about this nest, Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler) and others decide to visit the nest and put an end to things for good.

You know how Vikings are. They simply break open the nest and awaken the Red Death. Though strong, they are still no match for this large creature, nor are the other dragons. Would you just look at the size of that thing?

This is where Hiccup and his friends enter the fray, arriving to battle this massive antagonist midair. However, it isn't easy. There comes a time when Stoick the Vast, who isn't exactly thrilled about his son's friendship with dragons, has to save his son, which also helps to mend their relationship.

Back to the battlefield, Hiccup and his Night Fury take flight again, devising a strategy and damaging the Red Death's wing. They succeed, and the threat plummets to its demise. However, the falling dragon still causes some destruction before perishing, and Hiccup loses a foot. If it weren't for Toothless, Hiccup might have died as well.

At the end of How to Train Your Dragon, we see Hiccup receiving a prosthetic leg, which he will wear for the remainder of the story. Additionally, the village is now more welcoming towards the dragons, as they are no longer under the control of the Red Death. Most importantly, Hiccup is now finally in a relationship with his longtime crush, Astrid.