Chosen One of the Day: Hiccup's beard in How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

With How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, in theaters now, one of the most underappreciated animated series of the past several decades comes to a close. At the center of the three-movie franchise is the relationship between Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) and his dragon Toothless, who's less merciless killing machine than very big cat.

The Hidden World ends (vague spoilers here) with both Hiccup and Toothless having become mature, fulfilled adults. It also ends with Hiccup having a mature, fulfilled beard. A full, lustrous beard. A... I'm sorry, what was I saying?

Credit: Dreamworks Animation

Luckily, Hiccup's upgrade to full zaddy comes only in the last five minutes of the film. I say "luckily," because damn, that beard's distracting. Anything could happen while that beard was on-screen, and I wouldn't remember it. There could be an extended beard maintenance scene where Hiccup reveals how he keeps his facial follicles so silky smooth despite a lack of beard oil or plumbing. Gerard Butler could appear as himself to explain why he voiced Hiccup's father witih a Scottish accent, despite said character being a Viking chieftain. Explanation: "Because I'm Gerard Butler." Which, fair!

Here's hoping that Hiccup's beard and Cap's beard are off somewhere making sweet, beardy love..