Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, I'll be straight with you: this show exists because Peacock needed content and DreamWorks had a franchise to milk. The original How to Train Your Dragon trilogy was genuinely special—beautiful animation, emotional depth, characters you cared about. This sequel, set 1,300 years later with a new cast of kids discovering dragons? It's fine. It's safe. It's also profoundly uninspired.

The 5.3 IMDb rating tells the story. Parents and kids alike were hoping for something that captured even a fraction of the original's magic, and instead got a generic Saturday morning cartoon with a How to Train Your Dragon skin slapped on it. The characters are forgettable, the plots are predictable, and the whole thing feels like it was designed by algorithm.

That said, if your 7-year-old is in a dragon phase and you need something safe to put on while you make dinner, this will do the job. It won't traumatize anyone, and it might buy you 22 minutes of peace. Just don't expect them to be quoting it or asking for the toys afterward. And if they haven't seen the original trilogy yet, for the love of Toothless, start there instead.

Age Fit

Best for ages 6-10 who are dragon-obsessed and will tolerate mediocre storytelling for the sake of seeing dragons on screen. Older kids and adults who loved the original films will likely find this disappointing.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

68

The series centers on a group of misfit kids working together to protect dragons, modeling cooperation and responsibility. The premise of keeping secrets to protect something vulnerable is a positive theme. However, the execution feels generic and lacks the emotional depth of the original How to Train Your Dragon films. The characters are fairly one-dimensional, and the relationships don't develop in particularly meaningful ways.

Imaginative

55

The concept of dragons hidden in a geological fissure 1,300 years after the original series is moderately creative, but the execution is disappointingly derivative. It's essentially a paint-by-numbers reboot that tries to recapture the magic of the original without bringing fresh ideas. The 'Nine Realms' concept could have been fascinating but ends up feeling like a cheap CGI backdrop rather than a truly immersive world. Kids might enjoy the dragon designs, but there's little here that invites deeper creative thinking or exploration.

Safe

82

Common Sense Media rates it for age 7, and it's available in kids mode on streaming platforms. The show features typical animated action sequences with dragons and some peril, but nothing graphic or traumatic. No inappropriate content, sexuality, or disturbing themes. The conflicts are predictable and resolved safely. Standard kids' adventure fare without surprise dark turns.

Enriching

48

The show touches on themes of scientific discovery, environmental protection, and friendship, but handles them superficially. There's minimal character growth, and the storytelling is formulaic. The original How to Train Your Dragon series offered genuine insights about disability, acceptance, and growing up; this sequel feels more like content designed to fill a streaming quota. Kids might learn a bit about teamwork, but they're not getting much cognitive or emotional enrichment. The 5.3 IMDb rating reflects audience disappointment—this is background noise television.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Safe, predictable adventure content that won't surprise you with anything dark or scary
Kids who are obsessed with dragons will get their fix, even if the storytelling is meh
The premise of a modern-day dragon discovery could spark conversations about science and conservation
Available on major streaming platforms with kids mode enabled

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What to Watch For

The 5.3 IMDb rating isn't a typo—this show is genuinely mediocre and might bore kids who've seen the original films
Standard animated action with dragons in peril, but nothing that crosses into scary territory
Your kid might lose interest quickly; the characters lack the charm and depth of Hiccup and Toothless
If they haven't seen the original How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, start there instead—it's infinitely better

Conversation Starters

"If you discovered dragons were real, would you keep it a secret or tell everyone?"
"What do you think happened to dragons in those 1,300 years?"
"How is this different from the original How to Train Your Dragon movies? Which do you like better and why?"

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Dragons: The Nine Realms