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Dragons: The Nine Realms - First Flight (1) (S1E1)
Moving to an exotic new home, an adventurous teenager meets a new group of kids and discovers a dragon in the fissure.
| Runtime (min) | 23 |
|---|---|
| TMDB Rating | 9.0 (41 votes) |
| Air Date | 2021-12-23 |
| Genres | Animation, Action & Adventure |
| TV Rating | TV-Y7-FV |
| Network(s) | Hulu, Peacock |
Storyline
Tom Kullersen relocates with his mother to a remote research station built over a massive fissure in the earth's crust, a move that uproots him from his familiar life and friends. Struggling to adjust to this isolated new environment, Tom meets a group of local kids who are also connected to the station through their parents' work. While exploring the area, Tom's curiosity leads him to venture into the fissure itself, where he makes an astonishing discovery: a living dragon hidden deep within the chasm.
The encounter marks the beginning of an unexpected adventure as Tom realizes that dragons, long thought to be extinct or mythical, still exist in this hidden realm beneath the surface. His discovery sets the stage for a new chapter in his life, one that will challenge his understanding of the world and forge connections with both the other kids and the mysterious creatures living in the depths below.
What kids learn
This episode introduces children to themes of resilience and adaptability when facing major life changes. Tom's experience of moving to an unfamiliar place, leaving behind his old life, and feeling isolated mirrors what many kids go through during family relocations or transitions. His willingness to explore his new surroundings despite initial discomfort demonstrates that stepping outside one's comfort zone can lead to unexpected opportunities and friendships.
The episode also emphasizes the value of curiosity and open-mindedness. Tom's discovery happens because he chooses to investigate rather than remain withdrawn in his new environment. Children learn that being inquisitive and brave enough to explore can reveal wonders they never imagined, turning what initially seems like a negative situation into an exciting adventure.
Additionally, the episode touches on the importance of forming new connections. Tom's interactions with the other kids at the station show that building relationships in unfamiliar settings takes effort but can lead to meaningful bonds, especially when people share common interests or face similar challenges together.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is this show connected to the original How to Train Your Dragon movies? | Yes, Dragons: The Nine Realms is set 1,300 years after the events of the original How to Train Your Dragon trilogy. The dragons have been hidden underground in a vast fissure for centuries, and this new generation of kids discovers them in a modern-day setting. While it shares the same universe, the show features entirely new characters and a contemporary backdrop, making it accessible to newcomers while offering Easter eggs for fans of the original films. |
| Why does Tom's family move to the research station? | Tom's mother is a scientist who has been assigned to work at ICARIS, a research facility built around a massive geological fissure. This professional opportunity requires the family to relocate to this remote location, which is why Tom must leave his previous home and friends behind. The move is presented as non-negotiable, reflecting real-world situations where children must adapt to their parents' career decisions and the family changes that result. |
| How does Tom react to discovering the dragon? | Tom's discovery of the dragon represents a turning point from his initial unhappiness about the move. His natural curiosity drives him to explore the fissure despite the risks, and encountering a real dragon transforms his perspective on his new home. The discovery gives him a sense of purpose and excitement that helps counterbalance his feelings of displacement, showing how new experiences can help children cope with difficult transitions. |
| Are there any scary moments that might frighten younger children? | The episode includes Tom venturing into a deep, dark fissure and encountering a dragon for the first time, which involves some suspenseful moments. The dragon's appearance and the underground setting create tension, though the show is designed for a family audience and avoids graphic content. Parents of particularly sensitive younger viewers may want to watch alongside their children to gauge their comfort level with these adventure elements. |
| What age group is this show appropriate for? | Dragons: The Nine Realms is designed for children roughly ages six and up, similar to the original How to Train Your Dragon films. The show balances adventure and mild peril with positive messages about friendship, courage, and environmental stewardship. The contemporary setting and relatable protagonist dealing with real-world issues like moving and making friends make it accessible to elementary and middle-school-aged viewers, while the dragon elements provide fantasy appeal. |
Writing
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Directing
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| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Moving to an exotic new home, an adventurous teenager meets a new group of kids and discovers a dragon in the fissure. |
| 1 | 2 | Tom forges a friendship with the dragon and discovers an entire world of dragons within the fissure. |
| 1 | 3 | Tom and Jun encounter unexpected dangers and are separated while exploring the Hidden Realm of dragons. Tom introduces Jun to the dragon world, and Jun bonds with a dragon of her own – Wu and Wei. |
| 1 | 4 | Tom and Jun take a risk in revealing the secret of the Hidden Realm to D’Angelo to aid an injured dragon, and D’Angelo bonds with Plowhorn. |
| 1 | 5 | Tom and the others debate how to keep the dragons a secret, even as a rambunctious young “cloaking” dragon gets loose in town and pursues a friendship with a Alex. |
| 1 | 6 | Tom and the Riders try to save ICARIS when it's revealed to be in danger from a monstrous dragon. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | Jun breaks the rules by sneaking a small, adorable dragon out of the Crystal Realm and bringing it home, but finds that her older brother, Eugene, has arrived and watches her every move. |
| 2 | 2 | Tom has to keep his mom, Olivia, distracted while Jun, Alex, and D’Angelo use a new dragon to close off a cave leading to the Crystal Realm, and prevent her from discovering the dragons. |
| 2 | 3 | When Feather is taken by a group of what appear to be zombie dragons, Alex finds her inner hero and rescues her friend. |
| 2 | 4 | Tom and Thunder train a new species of aggressive tidal dragons to help the other riders put out a forest fire threatening ICARIS. |
| 2 | 5 | Tom and D’Angelo must come together to help Alex and Jun escape the clutches of the Spiderwings. |
| 2 | 6 | Tom and the riders go in search of Thunder and must face a gauntlet of dangerous dragons to find their lost friend. Along the way, Tom reveals his big secret to D’Angelo and Alex. |
| 2 | 7 | Tom and the riders help Thunder, who is seeking revenge against the dragons that chased off his family. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | Tom hatches an unorthodox plan to use a Monstrous Nightmare to test Alex's new fire suit, endangering the secret of dragons. |
| 3 | 2 | After a fight with her mom, Jun joins Tom on an adventure into the Fire Realm, where her knowledge of myths saves the day. |
| 3 | 3 | When a tiny Fireworm dragon ends up at ICARIS, Alex must decide between her mom's excitement and keeping the dragon secret. |
| 3 | 4 | During an attempt to get displaced Fire Gronckles back to their native realm, D'Angelo accidentally feeds them Catastrophic Quaken eggs. |
| 3 | 5 | Eugene discovers the Lair and demands a dragon of his own. |
| 3 | 6 | The dragon riders must sneak a very sick Magma Breather into the ICARIS infirmary. |
| 3 | 7 | The Sky Torcher and Flame Throwers invade the Crystal Realm; Tom must conquer his demons and bond with the Fault Ripper to defeat the Sky Torcher. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | Tom and the riders discover the Ice Realm and find Buzzsaw inside. |
| 4 | 2 | Alex and Eugene find themselves at odds with Tom and their fellow dragon riders when Feathers and Webmaster go missing during a blizzard in the Ice Realm. |
| 4 | 3 | Jun struggles to convince Tom to trust her faith in myths over the Book of Dragons when they venture to a place that his book seems to say is extremely dangerous. |
| 4 | 4 | Tom’s leadership abilities come into question by Eugene when his decisions lead to failure while attempting to confront Buzzsaw. |
| 4 | 5 | Tom and Thunder discover a baby Nightlight and must bring him back to Thunder’s home realm. |
| 4 | 6 | When Thunder’s clan of fellow Nightlights is attacked by the Snow Wraith, Tom vows to rescue them. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | While punished, Tom must sneak out to rescue the Riders from Buzzsaw. |
| 5 | 2 | Tom orchestrates a “safe” tour of the realms to convince Olivia that the Hidden World is safe for them to explore. |
| 5 | 3 | A mischievous new breed of dragons called Vine Tails steal the Book of Dragons. |
| 5 | 4 | Tom and the riders must work together to rescue Eugene from a dragon’s nest. |
| 5 | 5 | Tom must rescue Olivia from the Hidden World when she winds up getting herself frozen by a pack of hungry Speed Stingers. |
| 5 | 6 | When a deep freeze puts the lives of everyone in Rakke Town in jeopardy, the riders must attempt to use the dragons to get the humans through the night without being seen. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1 | Tom struggles under the pressure of being the new ‘Dragon Whisperer’ for Rakke Town; Thunder rises to the occasion to help him. |
| 6 | 2 | When the parents leave for the night and tell the riders not to bring the dragons to the surface while they’re gone, D’Angelo and Eugene get locked in the hangar (with the dragons!) after Eugene triggers a security lockdown. |
| 6 | 3 | Jun forms an unlikely connection with Sledkin. |
| 6 | 4 | Eugene’s bond with Webmaster is put to the test when Webmaster leaves the group for a pack of Deathgrippers. |
| 6 | 5 | Tom sets out to prove Sledkin caused an explosion that injured a dragon in the Hidden World. |
| 6 | 6 | When the dragons fall victim to Buzzsaw’s poison darts, D struggles to keep a cool head and find a cure while others panic. |
| 6 | 7 | Tom and the riders “borrow” the bathysphere to rescue a dragon from the depths of the Giant Realm Sea. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | When Phil threatens to shut down D’Angelo’s new dragon hospital and ban dragons from ICARIS, D’Angelo and a little Hobgobbler have to change his mind. |
| 7 | 2 | While Tom struggles with admitting his feelings for Jun, the pair find themselves trapped inside a giant tree with an anxious colony of Woodchipper dragons. |
| 7 | 3 | Thunder must wrangle and lead the Hero Dragons in a desperate attempt to save Tom and the riders from a dangerous new dragon, The Glass Caster. |
| 7 | 4 | When Jun does a Tarot reading for the team, she interprets its meaning to be that the riders will disband! In an effort to defy this fate, Jun forces the group to stick together as they search for a dragon that has breached the Rakke Town eel barrier. |
| 7 | 5 | With the dragon riders disbanded, Eugene attempts to start his own Dragon Club. |
| 7 | 6 | When Thunder accidentally fries Alex’s tablet, Alex goes off on her own and is captured by Buzzsaw. |
| 7 | 7 | Tom and the riders must finally overcome their differences and come together as a team to survive the Dark Realm. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 1 | Tom attempts to defeat the World Serpent by emulating Hiccup. |
| 8 | 2 | Tom and the dragon riders foster displaced Hidden Realm dragons in Rakke Town but things get complicated when Mr. Rakke makes a surprise visit. |
| 8 | 3 | The Dragon riders enlist the aid of Carla and Hazel and their scientific knowledge to help them prepare for a mission to neutralize Jörmungandr so they can return him to his chamber and seal him back inside. |
| 8 | 4 | Tom and the riders must rescue Plowhorn from Sledkin when the villain abducts the dragon to help her find the Gods Realm and the Dragonsite jewel. |
| 8 | 5 | Tom’s overconfidence turns to frustration then despair as he struggles to procure the ingredients for Gronckle Iron in hopes of building a trap to stop the World Serpent. |
| 8 | 6 | After a major miscalculation by Tom in 225 leaves the fate of the Realms in jeopardy, Jun and the riders rally behind Tom and Thunder to face off against the World Serpent. |
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