The Last Kingdom

(series)
  • France The Last Kingdom
Trailer
UK, (2015–2022), 42 h 33 min (Length: 51–59 min)

Based on:

Bernard Cornwell (book)

Cast:

Alexander Dreymon, David Dawson, Ian Hart, Millie Brady, Eliza Butterworth, Harry McEntire, Mark Rowley, Emily Cox, Arnas Fedaravicius, Adrian Bouchet (more)
(more professions)

Seasons(5) / Episodes(46)

Plots(1)

The year is 872, and many of the separate kingdoms of what we now know as England have fallen to the invading Danes, leaving the great kingdom of Wessex standing alone and defiant under the command of King Alfred. Against this turbulent backdrop lives our hero, Uhtred. Born the son of a Saxon nobleman, he is captured by the Danes and raised as one of their own. Forced to choose between the country of his birth and the people of his upbringing, his loyalties are ever tested. What is he? Saxon or Dane? On a quest to reclaim his birthright, Uhtred must tread a dangerous path between both sides if he is to play his part in the birth of a new nation and, ultimately, recapture his ancestral lands. (official distributor synopsis)

(more)

Reviews of this series by the user Necrotongue (51)

Episode 2 (2018) (S03E02) 

English The second episode ramped up the action and intrigue, just as I hoped. While die-hard action fans might not be totally blown away, I loved every bit of the constant deception, manipulations, and scheming that feel so true to the medieval setting. The creators really know how to play this game, and it’s a thrill to watch. ()

Episode 3 (2018) (S03E03) 

English Third episode in, and I'm still totally satisfied. Usually, I dock points for endless, pointless chatter, but this episode was all dialogue and somehow still nailed it. Every conversation felt essential, keeping things clear and interesting. No boredom here = 5*. ()

Episode 4 (2018) (S03E04) 

English It feels like I'm repeating myself, but how could I dock a star when this episode was so packed with action? The previous one was more talk than anything else, but this time the creators went all in on the medieval action, really bringing the period to life. The ending even managed to surprise me. ()

Episode 5 (2018) (S03E05) 

English It’s clear the creators are determined to keep my spirits high throughout the third season. This episode had everything: an engaging plot, a brisk pace, plenty of intrigue and strategizing, and an excellent atmosphere. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, the ending hit, leaving me wanting to punch my fists into the mattress. ()

Episode 6 (2018) (S03E06) 

English The sixth episode marks a bit of a creative hiccup. It kicked off with a bang - action galore, and a plot that had me on the edge of my seat. But then, things took a nosedive. I've given props before for avoiding those filler episodes, but the whole graveyard camping scene felt like exactly that. And don't even get me started on the missed opportunity with Storri... ()

Episode 7 (2018) (S03E07) 

English The third season is back in full swing, delivering that signature high-quality goodness. Even in the quieter moments when nobody's kicking the bucket or torching houses or gouging out eyeballs, there's still plenty to keep you glued to the screen. ()

Episode 8 (2018) (S03E08) 

English This episode was pretty light on the action, but you know what? It didn't bother me one bit. They spent most of the time cooking up new schemes and spinning fresh intrigues, which, I gotta admit, is right up my alley. If the writer can stick the landing with the ninth episode, this season's getting top marks from me. ()

Episode 9 (2018) (S03E09) 

English There were some interesting developments, a bunch of stuff went down, and there was even a major event that shook things up. Plus, we got served another hefty dose of intrigue, so theoretically, I should be totally satisfied. But, man, the story moved at a snail's pace, and that kind of bugged me. I could've done with a bit more action to keep things lively. ()

Episode 10 (2018) (S03E10) 

English In contrast to the sluggish pace I griped about in the last episode, the finale was quite lively. Sure, I could do without Uhtred's grand public speech, but overall, I was pretty satisfied once again. The last couple of episodes saw a significant decrease in key characters, and honestly, I wouldn't have minded if the series wrapped up there. However, it's a relief to see that the creators have other plans, so I'm already looking forward to another season. ()

Season 4 (2020) (S04) 

English I was a very disappointed viewer at times. Things didn’t appear all that bad at first, but gradually, there was an increasing number of fights between the creators and logic, which was losing on points, and both final episodes even featured a technical knockout. It's a shame, the series belonged to one of the better ones, and now I feel like it's taking a turn in the wrong direction. 4*- ()

Episode 1 (2020) (S04E01) 

English The beginning of the fourth season felt slow, and I hope I'm wrong, but it seems like the creators may have tied themselves into a knot by removing some key characters. Here's hoping it's just a hiccup in the first episode, and that we'll soon return to the rich medieval atmosphere I've come to love in this series. 4*- ()

Episode 2 (2020) (S04E02) 

English Alright, so in my last review, I was cautiously optimistic, and it seems my hopes weren't in vain. The second episode brought back some of that earlier magic. The plot was far more engaging, although I did catch a few moments where logic took a backseat to creativity. 5*- ()

Episode 3 (2020) (S04E03) 

English The third episode had a certain potential as it featured several crucial events for the plot's progression. However, all of this was overshadowed by the drawn-out goodbye to one of the characters. While I understand the importance of the character, I have a strong distaste for these farewells. If both creators and viewers are so fixated on them, perhaps there should be a bonus episode after each season dedicated to a dignified farewell for the fallen heroes. This would allow the rest of us to use our fifty minutes for more meaningful pursuits. ()

Episode 4 (2020) (S04E04) 

English The creators really went for it, diving knee-deep into the brutal medieval times. Power struggles and intrigues were happening amidst flying body parts, and it gave the episode a whole new kick! :-) ()

Episode 5 (2020) (S04E05) 

English I wouldn't call the fifth episode a non-stop action fest like the previous one, as it mostly consisted of dialogue. However, that didn't bother me in the slightest. Once again, the creators immersed me in a world of power intrigues, where the end justifies the means, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. ()

Episode 6 (2020) (S04E06) 

English I always feel disappointed when my favorite series (a common occurrence, it seems) enters a phase where characters are just running back and forth in the woods without much interesting happening. I'm curious to see if the creators will opt for a lockdown scenario in the next episode, or if they'll let the infection spread. ()

Episode 7 (2020) (S04E07) 

English The previous episode's marching exercise and test of courage didn't quite convince me, but the seventh episode managed to bring back that feeling of satisfaction. There were plenty of events unfolding, and interesting conversations taking place. Overall, it felt like a return to what I used to like about the series. ()

Episode 8 (2020) (S04E08) 

English Initially, I was going to complain about historical inaccuracies, but then I realized that Uhtred functioned like Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo (without whom even the conception of Caesarion was not possible). This realization had me chuckling all the way to the final credits, which was further amplified by Brida, who eagerly waddled from one inhumation to the next. ()

Episode 9 (2020) (S04E09) 

English The ninth episode unfolded to my satisfaction, except for a few inconsistencies. However, the ending was quite the experience. It seems the screenwriter took a page out of Cervantes and decided to fight his own windmills. Anyway, the result was a real WTF moment that left me somewhat annoyed. 3*- ()

Episode 10 (2020) (S04E10) 

English I decided to rate the finale of the fourth season in the same way as the previous episode because the logic was also thrown out the window in this case (see the events after the Winchester's gate was breached). Additionally, I was afraid that at the end, the title would appear and they would live happily ever after. Somehow they messed up that series... 3*- ()