WARNING: Spoilers Off applies to this page. Proceed at your own risk.
- Toothless' first scene. He just lays there in the Forbidden Forest, with the rope still around him, like he's sleeping. When Toothless sees Hiccup, he didn't try to attack him or react, as if he's given up any hope on escaping, and is fine with being killed.
- And of course that doesn't stop the terror when it actually comes down to it. When Hiccup raises the knife, Toothless's leitmotif plays in an absolute terror-stricken key evoking the last moments (although they thankfully weren't) of this magnificent creature.
- How about when Hiccup came back from the scene where he just finished drawing Toothless? It's raining outside, so he's completely soaked. He has to hear about killing dragons after he's forming a friendship with one. And as he gets his meal for the night, everyone (excluding Gobber who asks a question that's relevant to dragon training, Astrid who's being honest, and Fishlegs who's just eating) gives him a hard time; Ruffnut makes a smart ass wisecrack about his problem being that "he was there". When Hiccup gets his chicken leg and drink, Snotlout lets Hiccup know that he's not welcome to sit with them, all while wearing a really slimy grin on his face. Kind of hurts more when you realize that Snotlout is Hiccup's cousin (if going by the books), and is vehemently shunning his own blood.
- And during all of that, Hiccup doesn't even try to sit with them, knowing that it will be useless. A subtle implication that this kind of thing has always happened to him so much that he has become used to it.
- Stoick, after learning of Hiccup's accomplishments, praises him for it and even tells his son on how he thought Hiccup would be "the worst Viking that ever lived". Then, you can see Hiccup with a shocked expression and then looks down at the floor with a sad expression. Stoick was trying to make Hiccup feel proud, but ended up (in a way) hurting his only child's feelings.
- Even sadder? Hiccup always knew that his father wanted him to be different, but it never crossed his mind that his DAD considered him "the worst Viking".
- Hiccup's gut-punching, sad reaction to his father's words, as seen here.
- Hiccup's whole life in his village. He was considered an outcast because he was scrawnier than average and he thought differently. All the kids (sans Fishlegs) around his age repeatedly made fun of him and ostracize him. His only friend was a man thrice his age, but even he didn't understand him. Than comes his father. The Chief. His own father who wishes his son could be different. Stoick wants him to stop being himself, and Hiccup has made it very clear that he knows how his father feels. To have your whole village, peers, and even your ONLY parent think that way your whole life. It wouldn't be surprising if Hiccup had severe depression. Which makes the whole ending even more of a happy tearjerker.
- What's worst about this is that Jerkass Has a Point in this case, regarding Stoick's views on wanting Hiccup to be different. From his perspective, his son's escapades during raids are suicidal and cost the village valuable food and supplies. It'd be one thing if Hiccup had done this once or twice, but Hiccup has been doing this long enough for Stoick to roll his eyes at the beginning of the film when he sees a Monstrous Nightmare attacking his son. Hammered home when during Stoick's Establishing Character Moment he pulls Hiccup out of a fireball's path and yells at him to get inside. How many times has Stoick wondered what would happen if he couldn't save his son?
- You get another Heartbreaking in Hindsight moment when you find out from Valka in the second movie just why Hiccup is so much smaller than the other Vikings: he was born premature. In a world far removed from any of the modern facilities we have. In a place like Berk. They were both probably terrified for his survival from the very minute he was born. And the kid keeps throwing himself into the path of things that could kill any Warrior.
- A very subtle one after Stoick returns from the first attempt to find the Dragon Nest - Gobber says his parenting troubles are over, and he is congratulated by various villagers. If you consider things from his point of view, it leads to a rather tearjerking chain of logic, with the inevitable conclusion being that Hiccup was killed. 1. Hiccup was in Dragon Training, which is highly hazardous and illegal during the events of the movie. 2. By all indications, he is gone. 3. Everyone seems to be HAPPY about his evident death. 4. Not only did Hiccup want to go to Dragon Training for quite a while, Stoick was the one who finally granted his wish. His face as the villagers walk past really helps drive the point home not to mention the tone in his voice when he asks Gobber.Stoick: He's gone?
- The scene in the training ring, right after Toothless rescues Hiccup. He looks so proud of himself and keeps looking back at Hiccup to see whether Hiccup was impressed by his fight, while Hiccup is so terrified that the swarming Vikings will kill Toothless.
- The part where Toothless has Stoick pinned, and is about to kill him. Hiccup begs him to stop, becoming more and more desperate until he just shouts, "No... NO!" Toothless looks back at him, confused, and Hiccup is just staring, looking completely hurt and terrified.
- Right before the above, Toothless hears Hiccup's cry of distress all the way in the valley. Cue Hiccup running from the now enraged dragon, and Toothless trying to climb the walls to rescue his friend.
- The scene where Stoick disowns Hiccup. Hiccup pleads for him to listen for once in his life, is thrown back and told "You've thrown your lot in with them. You're not a Viking. You're not my son". Hiccup's face as he watches his father leave really helped the tears flow, as does Stoick's expression after the door closes behind him. Made a double when not only that, but the fact that Hiccup knows that his father and most of the villagers are going to get themselves killed and they won't listen to his warning.
- And the way Stoick just pushes Hiccup aside when his son tries to reason with him... And he said those words to his only child, right before he goes into a battle where he has a high probability of dying. And Stoick knows. And he knows that the last words he said to his only living relative was beyond harsh. His expression looks like he'll go back to his son, but he can't. He has to be the Chief first. And father second.
- Based on the original books, Hiccup is not only Stoicks' living relative. Snotlout is Stoick's nephew because Snotlout's father is Stoick's younger brother.
- It's a brief moment, but when Hiccup and Toothless were being chased by the Red Death away into the clouds, we get a close up on Stoick looking at the chase. The look on his face just said, "Odin! Please let my only son return safe! I want to fix the bond that I almost shattered".
- Another interpretation is seeing his only child fighting a dragon that can kill him easily, and having no choice but to let him because it's the only way to survive the Red Death. Yes, he comes from a world where teens have to (or had to) fight. But, actually seeing it? That's a special kind of pain and fear.
- Especially his tiny, reckless, premature (according to the sequel) son that literally forced him into being a Papa Wolf just to survive on a regular basis.
- Another interpretation is seeing his only child fighting a dragon that can kill him easily, and having no choice but to let him because it's the only way to survive the Red Death. Yes, he comes from a world where teens have to (or had to) fight. But, actually seeing it? That's a special kind of pain and fear.
- Stoick mourning over his son's apparent demise in the aftermath of the fight with the Red Death. Granted, we all knew Toothless saved him somehow, but the sheer despair and sorrow in Stoick's voice as he grieves over the loss of his only son feels like a punch to the gut.Stoick: I did this.
- Pay attention to Toothless's face as he's watching Stoick; the dragon knows he has Hiccup safe within his wings - more or less - but he does not open his wings up until Stoick apologizes. Toothless is that protective of Hiccup that the dragon will not allow the boy's father near him, after Stoick's actions, hunting the dragon's nest, awoke the Red Death and kicked off the climax. Once Stoick admits his fault, Toothless gives him back his son.
- Look to the background: the reactions from the crowd of Vikings in the background aren't much happier. Even Snotlout is crying.
- The entire scene is made even more of a tearjerker when shown on television, as most stations jump to commercial break RIGHT at that scene, leaving the fact that Hiccup survived to be revealed AFTER the commercial break. If it was the first time someone saw the movie, they'd spend the entire commercial break thinking Hiccup had DIED...
- When Hiccup wakes up and discovers that he's lost his left leg in the battle; it's even more jarring if you didn't hear Gobber imply it earlier. Not to mention, the part Hiccup tries to walk using his artificial leg and immediately stumbles is like an emotional kick to the groin.
- Followed immediately by the most heartwarming moment in the movie, when Toothless catches him and gives him a look that just screams "You helped me, now I'll help you." Fire-Forged Friends, indeed.
- When Hiccup walks outside and sees the Vikings flying with dragons, he says, "I knew it, I'm dead." His dad remarks, "No, but you gave it your best shot." It's been enough time that Stoick is able to joke about the possibility, but he's also being a Stepford Smiler about losing his little one.
