The Last Kingdom

Submitted by DarkMatterLuigi t3_z08spj in television

If you’ve seen the show Vikings I highly recommend the underrated show The Last Kingdom about Uhtred of Bebanburg. I’m only 2 seasons in but I love how intense each episode gets and I love all of the characters. Father Beocca is my one of my favorites.I love how each location the scene goes to it shows what location of England used to be called back in those times. I heard there’s a movie coming out I hope will wrap everything up nicely. Shame so many aren’t that interested in this. At least I heard the books are more popular.

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meowskywalker t1_ix4652n wrote

> underrated

Five seasons and a movie on the way.

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DarkMatterLuigi OP t1_ix46u4j wrote

Father Beocca is one of my favorite character do you have any personal favorites?

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TinyRodgers t1_ix4lusi wrote

Leofric of course.

"Get out here arseling before I crush your irishman!"

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DarkMatterLuigi OP t1_ix4mkh4 wrote

Loved him and Uhtreds friendship hated how he dies too early. I did see that he’s credited for a later episode no idea what thats about.

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Froegerer t1_ix5zw7p wrote

His death was so, so lame. I was almost impressed with how lame it was.

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ronearc t1_ix4anc2 wrote

Respect for them choosing to stick to their plans and actually use the real names of known nobility, rulers, and clergy of the era.

Mostly I respect that because every third person is named Æthel_____. Any sane production would have subbed 90% of those names out. But they had a roadmap and stuck to it, and it actually worked.

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DarkMatterLuigi OP t1_ix4ay11 wrote

The only Aethel names character I hate so much is Aethelred I hope he dies.

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ronearc t1_ix4bddw wrote

I lost it when I learned that they title their children who are designated heirs, Ætheling.

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JuzoItami t1_ix4d0bd wrote

Aethelred does some decent things over the course of the show : that's one of the things I like about The Last Kingdom - very few characters are either wholly good or wholly bad.

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eadhbhardsaoirse t1_ix4nkif wrote

Yeah, he's a major cunt but at times in battle he's fairly valiant and leads well.

It's not hard to see why he was selected as a potential match for Aethelflaed, he's just a cruel wanker with a seriously fragile ego.

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HortonHearsTheWho t1_ix49zte wrote

I liked this show very much.

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DarkMatterLuigi OP t1_ix4ar5t wrote

Which characters were your favorites? Hild is such a badass warrior nun!

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HortonHearsTheWho t1_ix5tr5s wrote

Not sure I had a single favorite. Many of the villains were super memorable though!

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tomc_23 t1_ix5gc2m wrote

Was pleasantly surprised at how good that series proved to be. Could never get into Vikings, which I could never understand because I absolutely devoured Black Sails, and the two are similar in many ways. Somehow, series like The Last Kingdom and Black Sails dealt with themes and characters I found more appealing.

That said, The Last Kingdom is good from the outset, but personally I believe it doesn't become great until the introduction of characters like Finan, and the loyal retinue that slowly begins to form around Uhtred.

For some reason, I remember thinking that a character like Uhtred and his development would have been a great template for Star Wars in the writing of a character like Anakin Skywalker. The emphasis on identity, on Uhtred's lifelong resentment of having his home and family taken from him, on his development from a solo warrior only interested in his own interests into a leader whose bravery and personality inspires loyalty, and especially how the series handles the tragic love that forms between >!Uhtred and Aethelflaed!<; all while remaining a genuinely funny, likeable person. It's a difficult tonal balance to strike, and I think the series deserves more credit for the fantastic job it does.

The only real issue (if you can call it that) is how it suffers from X-Men First Class-disorder, with regards to the passage of time and inconsistency of how certain characters age over five seasons. Characters grow old and die, children grow into adulthood, while others never seem to age a day; Uhtred himself lives what feels like several lifetimes, and only appears to have changed stylists (probably because the first one grew old and died).

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eadhbhardsaoirse t1_ix4nqz1 wrote

They better throw Uthred some grey hair dye for the movie at least.

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DoAsIDontSay t1_ix4anyh wrote

I love this show. Can't wait for the movie.

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DarkMatterLuigi OP t1_ix4azfw wrote

Who are your favorite characters?

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[deleted] t1_ix4s9md wrote

[deleted]

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mlc885 t1_ix5yhd2 wrote

That makes a lot more sense in a world where he's virtually never "one of you," so he's always sort of an outsider even if he's super useful and fairly kind. All in English and from a modern perspective it's a bit more silly, since why would you not want to keep this guy as an ally? He's a main character!

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tenu t1_ix4mgcp wrote

It's full of good characters and one my favorite recent series. I stumbled on it and it had already 4 seasons, then I had the privilege to witness the fifth. Not a single boring episode comes to mind.

Leofric was a obviously a funny character. My favorite however was maybe Alfred for how well he was played. It's been a while so I have forgotten characters no doubt so it's difficult to say who would be a favorite. Beocca has charisma for sure.

Most of the viking characters were interesting as well. Except some female characters I didn't care too much for.

One thing to complain about is the age thing. Gotta just accept it.

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khanfusion t1_ix5o9h2 wrote

Seriously, the actor who played Alfred was awesome. I'd love to see him in more stuff.

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shogunreaper t1_ix5imju wrote

I loved it until season 5, had to drop it about three episodes in as brida ruined it for me.

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JuliusPepperwood_PI t1_ix84q90 wrote

I fell off in season 5 too, but I really enjoyed the first few seasons. I think it was his relationship with Alfred that made it as compelling as it was.

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shogunreaper t1_ix8o0ag wrote

>I think it was his relationship with Alfred that made it as compelling as it was.

Absolutely.

It's a bit like after >!Athelstan!< died in Vikings. I still enjoyed the show because of Ragnar but their relationship took it to another level for me.

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beerrabbit124 t1_ix55psp wrote

It had 5 seasons and a movie coming, I wouldn’t say it’s underrated but it has its niche. It’s all great show with some great characters

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sandfly_bites_you t1_ix5d6d4 wrote

Pretty good, but never understood why Uhtred kept serving the Christian king guy who kept dicking him over at every turn

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adleg t1_ix5h881 wrote

second this💯💯

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Lokito_ t1_ix47q4g wrote

"There's a ransom for your head!"

"I have a very small head"

My favorite line of his.

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DarkMatterLuigi OP t1_ix48kxp wrote

Is that scene after season 2? I don’t think I remember that scene.

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Lokito_ t1_ix4ac5h wrote

I haven't watched it in a while, but yeah, I think it's season 4?

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HitmanSK007 t1_ix5jgnm wrote

Nothing's more satisfying than a main character who does exactly what you want him to do.

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IcarusGoodman t1_ix8nhsg wrote

Anything that gets people to look into Saint Alfred the Great more is well worth it.

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rikashiku t1_ixaxwf1 wrote

The first season can be difficult for people to get into, due to how quick the pacing can be, and how many years pass in this season.

The show is absolutely worth it for the drama, and definitely the action. Some of the most fun action scenes in a show. Tense moments and thriller.

Very highly recommend this show. 110% recommend this show.

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Frankie6Strings t1_ix50gnj wrote

The show diverges from the books quite a bit by the end, but it is very entertaining and well done. Looking forward to the movie.

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MVPScheer123r8 t1_ix52ecx wrote

"Only two seasons in"

Lucky you. Season 3 is one of my favorite seasons of anything ever.

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Captain_Foulenough t1_ix7m2dy wrote

I enjoyed it. I still think they (and Cornwell) wasted Æthelflæd.

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Entire_Appointment15 t1_ix9yec4 wrote

Don't have wifi, it was on Syfy channel. The first four seasons which I loved. I hope the Syfy channel will show season 5 also, even at 6:00 in the morning. Please put it on regular TV. Movie too!

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grio t1_ix8m6gh wrote

Books are great. TV show is worse, with poor main actor casting choice. It's watchable, but not great.

If you want great, watch Andor.

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