I was surprised that you didn't mention Viggo in your mental illness analysis. I've always thought that he seemed like a high functioning psychopath, perhaps an example of the Dark Triad (psychopathy, Machiavellianism and narcissism). He is ruthlessly cruel to dragons, infects people for profit without remorse, and has a henchman executed in his first appearance. He also seems to have lacked genuine affection for his own brother. Like Dagur, I found his redemption unrealistic.
The post prompt did ask specifically for dragon riders, which is one reason I wasnāt putting Viggo on the radar, but I suppose I also interpret Viggoās personality from a different angle than you do. While it is true that Viggo can be cruel to dragons (though not out of the norm for Barbaric Archipelago society!), can be very self-confident, and is interested in his profits, I also find Viggo to be someone who operates under a sense of gray morality rather than a psychologically diagnosable, consistent disregard to others. He especially isnāt someone I find who acts with something like Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) - it takes more than being greedy and putting oneself first to have NPD. There are so many neurotypical human beings in this world who act with both greed and disregard to certain populations (like non-human animals), and Viggo is someone I think who manifests a drive for profits - but not someone who has an excessively inflated sense of self-importance or an inhibition to comprehending othersā emotions.Ā
I find Viggo a neurotypical individual, as with most of the villains in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise - Alvin the Treacherous is also someone who does horrible things without care to other individuals, Krogan has far less interest in other human lives, but that sort of treatment of other humans comes from many avenues, not per say personality disorders. What experiences we have in life and how we respond to them shape how callous or kind we are to people, and thatās what happens with Viggo. I mean, even siblings loathing each other is something that happens with far more frequency than the psychological conditions detailed in the DSM.
And in truth, beyond a discussion of mental ailments, I also donāt think that calling Viggo extremely callous and lacking remorse is a full picture of what his personality is. I see Viggo as a character who is willing to go into more āgrayā zones than others with conscience do, but heās also someone who doesnāt give up his conscience entirely. He even admits that as a kid he was someone who thought a lot more along idealistic virtues. So heāll do brutal acts, yes, but needlessly brutal? Not as much. And the more time Viggo spends with Hiccupā¦ the more we see instances of mercy.His very introduction sets the stage as someone who sees a gray zone of morals (rather than no conscience)Ā andĀ is willing to learn the techniques to win from anywhere he can.Ā Itās through this sense of conscience, and this sense of learning techniques from whomever he canā¦ that he comes to respect Hiccup. I think that his redemption was written in a realistic, gradual-growing manner.
Viggoās redemption arc grows in two main fronts: his disenfranchisement with Krogan, and his growing respect of Hiccup.Ā
Setting the Stage: Viggo and Ethics
In Viggoās character introduction,Ā we see how Viggo talks about the blur between societyās typical assessment of good and evil. He furthermore mentions something interesting - when he was a child, he wanted to be theĀ āhonorable Vikingā himself.
Viggo:Ā Maces and Talons. I began playing with my grandfather when I was just a boy. I always insisted upon being the honorable Viking chief. I could never understand how he bested me time and time again. For years I assumed his skill transcended mine.Ā
When we are young, weāre often more idealistic, be it anything from dreaming how far weāll succeed in life, to believing how people will (or should) act in difficult situations. Society can have a sense of an idealĀ āgoodā morality framework that makes you act like the honorable Viking in every circumstance, doing nothing that would be even the slightest bit morally gray. We learn that Viggo had that sense of conscience and idealistic good in him as a boy, a desire to be that honorable and morally upright being who never stepped into questionable mud.
But what Viggo learns in life - and which many of us do, honestly - is that moral choice isnāt so easily black and white. What actually is the right choice is more convoluted in context, circumstances, means, ends, goals, values, starting states, ending statesā¦ so many factorsā¦ that itās sometimes legitimately hard to weigh all the pros and cons and make what you believe to be morally best. Do you do something some people would considerĀ āsketchyā to reach the great, moral end goal? Or do you avoid getting that great moral salvation moment at the end because you cannot tolerate doing somethingĀ āsketchyā at the start? Or do you just play it by whatever your conscience feels at the time? Deontology, teleology and utilitarian-type ethics, virtue theoryā¦ thereās a reason why philosophers have posited so many different frameworks by which to evaluate moral theory and to try to arrive at an understanding of what morality is. Itās because itās tricky as fuckĀ in the real world.
The way I see Viggoās comment, he started with a pretty idealistic deontological framework as a boy. He believed that he could always do the right thing and that the means would always be just as pure as his ends. Deontology in moral philosophy is the belief that actions in and of themselves are good and bad, and that you canāt use any action to reach a greater goal at the end (the ends do not justify the means, essentially). But Viggo found out, through Maces and Talons, through the trials in life, that this maybe wasnāt the best way to approach lifeās challenges. And indeed he continues on to say:
Viggo:Ā But you see, in Maces and Talons, as in life, the line between good and evil is often unclear. Black and white can become gray so easily. What one soul considers evil another might consider righteous. The honorable chief who fails to see this is found to be the fool.
Viggo isnāt saying that any action is permissible. What heās saying is that heās moved from a deontology-based ethical framework to something more utilitarian. That is, he thinks the ends canĀ justify the means. Sometimes you have to do something that might raise a few eyebrows in order to reach that better end result. Thatās what heās saying aboutĀ āWhat one soul considers evil another might consider righteous.ā Someone who is a deontologist would frown at a utilitarian individualās course of actions, but both people legitimately believe they are doing the morally upright choice.
Now, Iām not saying that Viggo believes heās always in the moral good. I donāt think he does. He knows heās made moral mistakes and has crossed the line. But I also donāt think heās saying,Ā āMeh. All actions are okay. Nothing is evil!ā Viggo is just saying that youāre naive if youāre going to try to act life as a deontologist. And that is indeed how we see him act throughout Race to the Edge. Heās not going to do somethingĀ āsketchyā without remorse and reason, but heās also going to take a few steps down theĀ āgray pathā that the strict deontologist wouldnāt.
This setting the stage is important to understanding Viggoās character as he comes in contact with Hiccup. Hiccup is someone who still holds the ideals Viggo has discarded as unsatisfactory and incomplete. Itās one reason why Viggo might think Hiccup isnāt a threat at first. But as you watch Viggo develop, you realizeā¦ Hiccupās ideals being theĀ āhonorable Viking chiefā are going to hark to Viggoās internal interests, too. And as Hiccup still manages to get things done without being played for a foolā¦ Viggoās respect in him will grow.
Viggo has a sense of mercy for the people around him, too. Itās not readily available in his opening introduction - thatās a rather ominous and worrisome moment. However, it sets the stage for how he continues developing. We know Viggo is someone who once believed in being theĀ āhonorable Viking chiefā - and now his introductory scene shows how he has removed himself from what he believes is a naive perspective.
When Viggo learns about the hunter who takes inventory without permission, he first holds a sword in front of the man. Many other villains in the HTTYD franchise would have been crueler to this man. But Viggo, instead, after terrifying the man by holding a sword to him, puts the sword away. He doesnāt punish the man, lets the man go away, and says,Ā āWeāre not animals.ā His first appearance isnāt executing a henchman; itās granting the henchman a second chance. The man, as he leaves Viggoās tent, breathes out,Ā āOh, thank you, Viggo. Thank you.ā Viggo is a harsh boss who is willing to do some scare tactics to get people to pay attention to him, but he isnāt going to kill someone for a minor infraction like that.
In fact, Heather, whoās used to seeing lots of barbaric people in the archipelago, is surprised to see Viggoās mercy. Heās acting a lot kinder than many of the villains sheās come across before - including her brother.
Heather: You forgave that man. I wasnāt expecting that.Viggo: Forgiveness. Not exactly a sound business practice, now, is it?
Now, this isnāt the full story. Youāre right. If youāve been reading this far and are raising your eyebrows, thatās because you know weāre not done. This sceneās not as cute and clean as that. We hear the man screaming after heās taken away. Clearly the man who thought he was forgivenĀ wasnāt brought out free - heĀ wasĀ punished. Clearly Viggo isnāt asĀ forgiving as his first action makes him appear.Ā
I personally am not convinced the man necessarily died. Maybe he did, maybe he didnāt, but since itās a long, sustained scream that we hear in the distanceā¦ the man is likely to have survived. The man would have been suddenly punished, given how he was deceived, but a quick execution would have created a cut-off scream. Regardless, the end result of Viggoās conversation with Heather isnāt the nice-sweet-mercy-thing we originally thought. Heās giving her an ominous threat about what could happen to her if she ends up being a traitor. She could get taken out before she even realizes that sheās being punished.
The reason Iām bringing this up is because it still sets the stage for Viggoās perspective and growth throughout the show. Viggo might have punished this man in a creepy way - be it death or something less - but the concept ofĀ āWeāre not animalsā actually, interestingly enough, remains. Viggo is willing to do some dark, manipulative things - like trick this man into thinking heās punishment-free, then enacting the punishment - and through it intimidating Heather - but heās also someone who pays attention to the gray zone of moralityā¦ and we see that the more we interact with him.
Growing Tensions between Hunters and Riders
Hiccup starts as a toy to laugh at. But as the two interact increasingly more, Viggo finds that Hiccup should not be underestimated. This is the growth that happens between these two from Seasons 2-4.
So. For starters: Viggo doesnāt kill people when he doesnāt need to. He toys with Hiccup when they first meet, but he doesnāt kill the teen - even when he has the chance. This is true even in āMaces and Talons Part 2ā³ before Hiccup influences Viggo. We see from the start Viggo has the internal capacity to grant mercy.Ā
At this point, Viggo finds Hiccup more of an amusing nuisance than anything else - not a threat to be extinguished. Viggo even thinks that Hiccupās reputation plays the young man up more than he actually is. So, at this point, Viggo believes he doesnāt needĀ to kill Hiccup - Hiccup hasnāt done anything toĀ āmeritā that. Itās enough for Viggo to show Hiccup that heās more manipulative and powerful than the boy, and through that, hopefully dissuade the young dragon rider from interfering with his business dealings. Viggo manipulates, without killing, to toss Hiccup off his back before the boy can do any more mucking around with the dragon hunters.
Of course, Hiccup doesnāt get dissuaded. Hiccup decides to continue tackling on and disrupting dragon hunting trade. The kid Viggo initially considers to be an amusing non-problem turns into a real problem. Viggo becomes frustrated - the kid is interfering with his business! (His legitimateĀ business, might I add. Everyone in the Barbaric Archipelago was hunting, fighting, or using dragons for trade goods. Viggo doesnāt necessarily beat dragons cruelly - heās using them as wares like everyone else at the time). And so Viggo transitions from disregarding Hiccup to finding him an actual, annoying, frustrating pest.
NowĀ Viggo needs to deal with Hiccup.
At first, Viggo thinks that he can deal with Hiccup and his increasingly meddlesome behavior by manipulating Hiccup - hence hisĀ āDefenders of the Wingā manipulation tactic. Hiccup can still be of use as he is. The kidās fervor for protecting dragons can be used. But by Season 4 times, Hiccup has aggravated and tarnished enough of Viggoās plans that he reallyĀ needs to do something about Hiccup, and heās going to use increased measures, precautions, and dangerous tactics to do so.
Viggo and Hiccup constantly raise the stakes and circumstances for each other. They continue seeing the capabilities each has. By this point, Viggo no longer underestimates Hiccup, but considers him quiteĀ the adversary. Just consider the change in perspective Viggoās had toward Hiccup from S2Ā āMaces and Talons Part 2ā³ versus S4Ā āGold Rushā:
āMaces and Talons Part 2ā³ - Viggo is not worried about being exposed to Hiccup alone, thinks that Hiccup and Toothless were no problem or danger at all to him, and leaves them alone without any consequence once he has the Dragon Eye he needs.
āGold Rushā - Viggo mentions having extra precautionsĀ about being around Hiccup and the riders, and in fact is planning to kill them and their dragons because theyāve been such a threat to his operations. He goes out of his way to make sure the residents of Dragonās Edge are eradicated.
Itās a growing rivalry with a morphing perspective on Viggoās end.
And by the end of it, Hiccup outsmarts Viggoā¦ and Viggo falls to his near-death.
Viggo, despite having his added gray morality choices (compared to Hiccupās limitedĀ āhonorable Vikingā ideology), is overcome.
Viggo has learned to see Hiccup as someone to not be underestimated. Viggo has seen Hiccupās inventiveness and abilities to get the task accomplished. As someone like Viggo who takes tactics where he can, it makes sense that his frustration of Hiccupā¦ turns into begrudging respect of Hiccup. He can respect someone clever wherever he finds them.
We see Viggo starting to take some of Hiccupās ideas to level the playing field. Viggo starts using the cauldron to withstand the fires of the volcano - the same tactic Hiccup and the Defenders of the Wing used to survive lava. This makes sense. Viggo is a tactical man who knows when an idea is smart.
But because Viggo is learning to begrudgingly respect Hiccupā¦ heās actually being influenced by Hiccup in more ways than how to survive lava encounters. Heās also got some respect for Hiccupās ideological framework - that ideological framework that Viggo himself once held true as a child.
And this is where we really start to see that Viggo doesĀ have a sense of mercy and compassion for other individuals.Ā
Krogan is introduced in a way somewhat akin to Viggo. Krogan at first seems to offer mercy to a dragon hunter who doesnāt like how they hunt, asking for feedback and offering to let the employee leave. But then Krogan murders the man and asks the others if theyāre willing to question his tactics, too. Just like Viggo, Krogan offers false mercy and trust, then shows whoās really in charge. But unlike Viggo, Krogan never demonstrates a respect for smart, tactical behavior, nor a respect for the value of a human life.
Krogan is someone whoās more willing to be ruthless with his punishments or disregard others. In this season the two butt heads a lot about not only how to run their operationā¦ but also about moral values.Ā Viggo is the one who tells Krogan they need Fishlegs alive because the boy has extensive dragon knowledge; Krogan is the one who says he has enough knowledge himself and they might as well kill Fishlegs. Viggo is the one who says that reverence isnāt a bad thing so long as it doesnāt cloud oneās judgment, and uses Hiccupās ingenuity and victories against Viggo as inspiration for future projects; Krogan is the one who just looks down on Hiccup and thinks he shouldnāt be given such respect. When Krogan says that Hiccupās weakness is being afraid to shoot to kill, Viggo actually seemsā¦ irritated at the suggestion.
And, most tellingly, when Krogan is willing to let men die going down into the lavaā¦ Viggo is trying to minimize casualties:
Krogan:Ā Why are you sending only one man down at a time?Viggo:Ā I sent three down last time. Only one came back, which is two more than the time before that.Krogan:Ā Theyāre disposable. Thatās why we have so many of them.Soldier:Ā Thatās right. Krogan doesnāt tolerate failure.Krogan: Right you are. Now, say your farewells and get your pathetic behind back in that tub. Now!
Krogan doesnāt care if these men die. The fact that Viggo actually is trying to keep his subordinates from dying saysĀ something, doesnāt it? In a subtle way, Viggoās enacting mercy.
Throughout Season 5, we see that Viggo is definitely the more thoughtful and considerate individual between the two.
Some of it is harking back to who he always has been - again, he didnāt kill Hiccup needlessly inĀ āMaces and Talonsā or anything. Some of it is that Kroganās rudeness is making Viggo hate their alliance and disrespect his partner in crime. AndĀ some of it is also harking back to Viggo learning to respect Hiccup for who he is, tactics and morals and all.
Frankly, the more we see Krogan be rude to Viggo, the more we see Viggo preferring Hiccup over him. But because Viggo and Krogan have the same goal, while Hiccup has an opposing goal, itās pragmatic and obvious for Viggo to continue with his current partnership.
Until, of course, that partnership ends. Krogan forsakes Viggo. Krogan, like always, has no regard for anyone else. Krogan, like always, holds no respect for Viggoās motivations and ideas. Krogan, through these actions, butts Viggo out of the game and nearly has him killed.
So for someone whoās grown to respect Hiccup Haddock and grown increasingly disillusioned with his partner Kroganā¦ and for someone who still has some goals he needs to accomplish with extra assistanceā¦ it makes sense that Viggo is going to go to a new partner.
Viggo does this in a realistic way that isnāt sudden repentance saying heās wrong. Viggo is still manipulative, trying to trick Hiccup, talking up things like the red oleander flower. Viggo is still wanting to partner with Hiccup for his personal ends, not for bettering Hiccupās stock or because he sees eye-to-eye with Hiccupās desires. But Viggoās working with Hiccup out of a set of conditions that makes complete sense from context.
Viggo is never someone who returns back to idealism and what he considers a naive frame of ethics. When he recruits Hiccup for help in Season 6, he even tells Hiccup that the kid isnāt ruthless enough, and that this is going to come back to bite him. Viggo has learned through life that the person who seems to have greater skill is probably the person who isnāt limiting themselves from achieving their needed (and often good) end. But because of how situations fall down between Viggo and Hiccup, he makes that last-minute redemption built out of the respect thatās been ever-growing out of him for the dragon riding crew.
At the very end, when Viggo is about to dieā¦ heās going to respect the boy who he sees deserving of respect, over dying for the cause of Krogan, whoās betrayed him.
And maybe, in that part of Viggo thatās still a child, heās happy to be fighting for theĀ āhonorable Viking chiefā - even if he, the traitor, dies in the end.
So for Viggoās characterization arc? Personally, for me, it works.
Unlike Dagur, I think that Viggoās arc was much better paced and gradually built, with a good progression of events that allow us to understand why Viggo would eventually take Hiccupās side. Heās not someone with a psychological inability to feel compassion for others. Heās not someone so self-important that he canāt respect and learn from people who best him. Heās not someone unusual to society - heās someone who is focused on profits and puts othersā interests a little bit aside for his own gain. Heās not someone who is morally credible in every choice, but heās also got some good points to make about how we might or might not achieve our goals. Frankly, I agree with Viggo on more points than I should probably admit. But regardless, this is why I appreciate his character arc, and why I feel he was a well-constructed character start to end in the RTTE narrative.
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