REVIEW #97 The Last Kingdom (2015-Present)

The Last Kingdom is a TV series based on Uhtred, a fictional Saxon raised as a Viking when he is captured by Ragnar and raised as his adopted son. Uhtred’s loyalties are put to the test as he is torn between his native people and those who raised him. 

CAST & THE ACTING 

Alexander Dreymon leads the cast as Uhtred and he delivers a fantastic performance, he brings charisma to the role and creates such a likeable character that audiences route for throughout all 4 seasons. He delivers dialogue confidently, portraying charm and confidence that personifies Uhtred’s personality but also has the ability to perform convincing combat choreography that creates some great battle sequences. Emily Cox plays Brida, once lover and childhood friend of Uhtred. I was impressed by her performance and the journey she takes us on with her character. Cox showcases her talent by portraying the drastic changes in Brida from season 1 compared to the end of season 4 which is ultimately like two completely different roles. Ian Hart is Father Beocca, a father figure and often protector of Uhtred, he fits the role perfectly and creates another character that audiences love. David Dawson plays King Alfred and he’s performance must be credited because his portrayal of the burden of kingship was so convincing! His final few scenes particularly highlighted his acting capabilities, creating a nice partnership with Dreymon’s Uhtred. There are so many great performances in this show, it’s impossible to mention all of them but the final person I want to include is Eliza Butterworth as Aelswith. Very few people have the ability to create such a hated character but she does just that, for at least 3 seasons the characters prescience in scenes infuriated me and that was down to her great performance. She also had the ability to create a kind of redemption arc for the character in the 4th season which was a nice touch. 

PLOT & THE STORYLINE 

This series includes both fictional characters and also historical figures that have been documented through the ages. Incorporating famous vikings such as Ubba, Ragnar and Ivar ‘The Boneless’ but only using them briefly so that they could create unique characters. I am a big fan of this genre, I love viking history and when handled well they can be some of my favourite shows. As I mentioned above what makes this show different from the likes of Vikings is that its main character is fictional and it’s about how he is influenced by the historical figures and battles. Uhtred was born a Saxon and kidnapped and raised as a Viking. He learned to love his Viking family like it was his own and this is what causes such a split in loyalty between his Saxon people and his Viking comrades. This makes for a really strong character arc that is always present in every season that’s been released so far. They have developed really strong relationships between characters, one that stands out is between Uhtred and Brida. They have come on such a journey, two very different journeys that has torn two childhood friends apart. But she ultimately represents what Uhtreds life would have been like if he went with her to join the Vikings in the first season and vice versa, if Brida went and joined the Saxons with him. So a really strong storyline in The Last Kingdom with plenty of exciting action sequences and engaging sub plots. 

CINEMATOGRAPHY & SPECIAL EFFECTS 

The Last Kindom has plenty of visually pleasing scenes, they utilise the scenic countryside but also construct cities that create a realistic depiction of what England would have looked like in 9th century AD. The battle scenes are always filmed excellently, illustrating the bloodshed and barbaric nature of medieval conflicts. I also want to mention the costume design which looks great, from Kings and priests to both Saxon and Viking warriors, everything looked accurate and realistic which helped keep me engaged in the series. The VFX used throughout the four season is amazing, the Viking Boats, large cities and even warriors themselves were created with such attention to detail that it’s hardly even noticeable that VFX was used at all! The key to creating a great series like this is that sense of realism, so it was so important that the special effects were just that. 

OVERALL (8.7/10)

I loved The Last Kingdom, the main character Uhtred made the series feel unique and his personality alone keeps you entertained. The entire cast deliver really strong performances, creating likeable characters and really dislikable characters which both require a lot of skill. The storyline is exciting and engaging, never leaving any dull moments and creating some epic battle sequences. The nice aesthetic of the British countryside combined with the realistic VFX that was used, created really fantastic visuals that helped depict realistic 9th century England. This is one of my favourite genres so perhaps I could be a little biased but you should definitely give this show a watch, especially if you like similar shows like Vikings. 

Thanks for reading.

Callan