This series is one of the best ever. As one of the characters said, "It is life." So much happens.... characters live and die, sometimes unexpectedly and certainly not what you wanted to happen. Despite being set in the 9th century, the series makes it clear that politics and power have not changed and The Last Kingdom amply demonstrates this. The role of religion and the power of the church also are treated as they should be.... sometimes good and sometimes evil, just as humans are. Watch it. I can hardly wait for season 4.
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hlash-8944328 November 2018
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panosk-1946920 November 2018This a world class tv series with a brilliant cast. Thank you Netflix for Season 3, it's simply outstanding!
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rajia-thenightingale13 May 2016With the plethora of mediocre historical series out there, I did not expect much from this show. I, however, was utterly blown away by how compelling it is, and by the excellent acting by all. The subject matter is fascinating, and it depicts well the harshness of living, and surviving, in a barbarous world, with an emerging, equally barbarous "new" religion. The casting was terrific. The actor who played Scorpa, the Dane of the White Horse, was beyond fierce. An unforgettable presence. I was especially, impressed by the lead, Alexander Dreymon, whom I had never seen before. As the series progresses, you really see this guy's acting chops. His range is from the tender to the ferocious. He has a bunch of us hooked, and we cannot wait for the next season.
Thank you for entertaining us! -
triciacorman1 May 2021I stumbled across this hidden gem and binged-watched it in just a few days. I cannot express how much I enjoy the story, the actors - the sense of realism. There's nothing like it on television! Wished that Netflix would promote it more. Some compare it to Vikings, Game of Thrones, and Witcher, but once I got a taste of The Last Kingdom, I couldn't even watch those others because TLK makes them look comically over-produced. So if you're looking for a realistic historic drama with great acting, this one's for you!
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I reviewed this after the first season in 2015. I'm doing it again after season 4 in 2020. I said this show had the potential to be better than GoT and Vikings. In my opinion it has done that. You think GoT had unpredictable deaths? Well buckle up for this show. It happens a lot and at times it's completely out of nowhere and not a spectacle at all. You're like you know I like that character. Boom. Well sh&t they're dead! The story is absolutely fantastic. The characters are likeable and some are downright unforgettable. How this show doesn't even get any buzz around award time boggles my mind. The performance of Alfred in season 3 should have been Emmy and Golden Globe nominated. The show in general should be. This show has turned me into a fanboy and not many shows or movies have ever done that to me. Breaking Bad, The Witcher books and now this. So take this review as the words of someone who loves this show. If you watch all four seasons I think you will feel that this is one of the best shows currently running. I've been wrong before, but if you like swords, shields, battles, violence, betrayal, revenge, moments that make you want to jump off your couch run through a wall and high five the first person you see then WATCH THIS SHOW!
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Deminos20 November 2018Without going into too much detail, this show will slowly but surely get you attached to the main character Uhtred son of Uhtred. The immersion that this show provides leaves you stunned at times and it never fails to disappoint in terms of character development. It shows how a man who carries himself with honor and conviction doesn't always get what's due never the less that doesn't hinder him in pursuing his dreams and his birthright.
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offsmith12 January 2018Just happened to find this show scrolling through Netflix one day. So happy I found this series.
The first episode was good, but it took 2-3 to draw me in. I think the plot and story are just great. It is a twist on the Viking world that is currently taking TV by storm. The actors do a phenomenal job with their characters and interaction with one another.
I love how the relationships have developed between all of the characters in this world, between Uhtred/Alfred/Ragnar and just the many many other characters how have strained and strengthened relationship. I have turned several friends onto this who are GoT fans. I think this series is right there with GoT.
I can't wait for another year of it and I am interested in where they take the story and the characters! -
Rogerstella4 October 2020Have watched Game of Thrones, Vikings, Peaky Blinders- etc etc..but I had never even heard of until a few weeks ago has blown me away. The characters are well developed and you feel like you get to know each of them. Uhtred is by far the most interesting character that you he root for every episode. It makes me sad that with all the garbage out there, that the series doesn't receive the attention and accolades that it should. It's an excellent show, excellent production value, excellent storylines. Each season gets more intense and storylines are seen through. I highly recommend it.
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Rob133130 September 2022The Last Kingdom is absolutely, without a doubt, one of the best shows I've ever seen! I'm a big fan of this genre show I was excited to start watching it and once I did it quickly became one of my favorite shows of all-time. It has enough violence and drama to satisfy anyone watching it. It gets compared to Vikings and Game of Thrones a lot and as good as those shows are this holds up against either of those . It's one of the rare shows where every episode of every season is fantastic. If you're looking for a great show that will keep you entertained throughout the entire series then give this a try. You won't be disappointed!
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yaswanthreddy-364518 December 2018Binge watched 3 seasons of TLK.Tbh,i thought that this show will be good.But after some posts in the group, i tried the pilot episode and from there i have binge watched all 3 seasons in just 3 days.
I kinda like and prefer more realistic films/series and that's the reason why i haven't gave TLK a try.But, it is so realistic and I regret it now.It was the best series i have watched in the recent times.
It was fast paced and gripping from the pilot itself.I haven't felt a single low movement in the whole 3 seasons.Mainly, the strong characterization and the guy who played Uthred(Alexander) is just perfect for his role.I like his voice very much.Every single time he says"DESTINY IS ALL", i get goosebumps.And,the whole cast are good.
I loved the relationship between Uthred and Alfred and the way they presented it. Cinematography and editing can't be better.Season 3 was much better technically when compared to 1 and 2.Special mention to the Soundtracks of the series.Ahhh! They are so addictive.
Still can't get over with those characters and the kingdoms (: -
quincytheodore12 October 2015For a medieval adventure, The Last Kingdom moves at a strikingly fast pace with unhinged ferocity and undiplomatic cultural clash. Audience might be familiar with The Vikings and it does have similar characters. Both series sets in the same timeline and world, but this one is told from the perspective of an England boy. This is a fresh rendition of epic saga that creates solid characters in highly perilous time, relying less on stylish ambiance and more on gritty dusty violence.
Uhtred, son of Uhtred, is a boy meant to inherit an earldom. Then a series of unfortunate events carries him from luxurious to eventual warrior life. All of which happen in far greater pace than most television series. It introduces characters and sends them off to whatever fate tomorrow may hold for them, it has no place and time for wallowing.
Admittedly, this grants a much cinematic presentation, it also keeps the plot and characters very well refined. Script presents just the right amount of bantering for the personalities to be identifiable, establishing the relationship without wasting a moment. As its peers have done, it also brings skirmishes and brutality. Action is straightforward mayhem, grounded in presentably realistic warfare of the time. There's no shortage of carnage or blood here.
However, it might encounter a few issues later on. The transition could feel too brief, audience barely has enough time to invest before it shifts the plot pretty significantly. While it doesn't gloss over details, some subplots could've been more thorough. There are plenty of characters passing by even in span of one episode, that it simply has no time to cover them all and this rapid pace might not match runtime of a series.
The Last Kingdom is an intriguing epic tale. Granted, comparison could be made with Game of Thrones or The Vikings, be it a blessing or a curse, but it's strong enough to stand on its own and definitely a worthy foray to another medieval realm. -
Less polished than GOT, yet thoroughly riveting and entertaining. Just goes to show that showmakers don't need to spend tens of millions per episode to put on a great show. This show has some great actors and an obviously brilliant director
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I will not summarize the plot of THE LAST KINGDOM, as it follows a familiar quest-pattern and has been amply described by previous reviewers. Suffice to say that the source-text's author is Bernard Cornwell, an established writer of historical adventures set in various historical periods that have translated successfully to television in the past (remember SHARPE (1993-2008))?
Directed by four different people (Anthony Byrne, Ben Chanan, Peter Hoar and Nick Murphy), THE LAST KINGDOM is basically SHARPE transposed to the Saxon/ Viking era, with the same combination of familial politics, intrigue and rivalry. The moral priorities are determined from the first episode onwards: the Sharpe-character is personified by Uhtred of Babbanberg (Alexander Dreymon) who must negotiate several obstacles before he can assume his rightful place in the formation of a new kingdom. Good guys and bad guys are easily distinguished, chiefly by their hirsuteness; the bad guys have bushier beards and longer hair than their rivals.
Each episode has its fair share of incident, romance, and a touch of pathos; the visual style owes a lot to Ridley Scott's KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (2005), with its lengthy pans of lonely isolated, almost primeval landscapes contrasted with dimly-lit interiors illuminated by candlelight. Considerable emphasis has been placed on the elements - sunrises, sunsets, storms, wind and rain - making us aware of how difficult life can be for those trying to establish social and political order. Hence their acts of heroism become all the more noteworthy.
THE LAST KINGDOM might be hokum, but it is nonetheless highly entertaining: we care for the characters and their futures, even if we are well aware of what will happen in the end. As with most adventure novels, there is little doubt that it will have a morally definite ending. -
They added colorful people and sign language to this show... what's the point of messing up the series just in the last season??? The first 4 are good and cohesive, the 1 is the best of all it's a shame because this series was very good, before this senseless madness.
I can't really expect any iota of common sense from hollywood these days, especially netflix. -
FSYIL26 November 2018I love every episode of this show, there is always an action, it does not bore even for a minute. This show is the reason why I am still paying for Netflix, it reflects the era very well. I hope they do not cancel and continue for years.
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sofnascimento712 October 2015In a way, BBC's The Last Kingdom is a first ever experience for me. It's certainly not the first series I watch, nor it's the first series based on books, not even historical fiction books. But it's the first series which I'd read the books it is based on way before it was even announced. So seeing it rumored, then officially announced and finally premiered was very interesting and exciting. I had a lot of hopes and fears for this. And I'm so gladly to say that based on the first two episodes of the series, my hopes were made into reality and my fears into joy. And so, inspired me to write my first review here.
I'll try to keep this as spoiler free as possible, but some are impossible to avoid.
The Last Kingdom tells the history of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon noble who is captured and raised by the Danes, first as a slave and then as a son. His future will be one of battle within and without, fighting against powerful warlords and struggling between his love for the Danes and their culture and his duty for the Saxons.
In many ways, talking about how this series make this simple enough premise into a engrossing story full of nuance is talking about how the books do it. Here there is a commitment to reality that goes beyond most historical shows, and I'm not talking only about the clothes, weapons or history itself, but characters, their motives and relationships. At the center of The Last Kingdom is its characters and the show presents and develops then masterfully.
Take Ælfric (Joseph Millson) for example, Uhtred's uncle. When the young Uhtred (Tom Taylor) wakes up and realize his father went to war without him, he promptly go and ask him why he was left behind. His uncle barely talks to him and say he has to go and clear the stables. But the directing and acting in the scene makes it clear Ælfric has something sinister in mind. Uhtred get his pony and goes to join his father, and then you realize that that was Ælfric's plan all along. It's subtle and skillfully done, and with something that feel effortless you have a lot shown to you what Ælfric is all about.
When it comes to characters there is no compromise, they feel like real people that are just living their lives. Doing what they think is right and/or what is best for them and their loved ones. You won't find good or bad here, nor one dimensional characters. By the end of the first episode, you will find you will have feeling for these people, both positive and negative. And in the end, that is what keeps you interesting in a series. And you will care for the fate of Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon), Brida (Emily Cox), Alfred (David Dawson) and the many other great characters that are present in the first two episodes.
And from them stem all the other conflicts in the series. The political plotting and machinations are ever present in the fractured world that these people inhabit, and the leaders of both the Saxons and Danes are constantly trying to get things working in their favor. Together with political issues, there is religion. Christianity is a defining characteristic of the English, and because of the Norse paganism, they view the Danes not only as enemy of the Saxons, by enemies of God. The Danes of the other hand, view Christianity with a disinterested curiosity. In one opportunity Uhtred explain Heaven as Valhalla without all the drinking, fighting and humping. This passage helps to illustrate a kind of 'lightness' that the series, just as the books, have. Maybe lightness is not the best word, since there is plenty of violence and moments that will leave you shocked, but the story is told in a way that feels amiable and pleasant. That is done is the series by skillful directing , writing (in the first two episodes done by Nick Murphy and Stephen Butchard respectively) and editing. That, along with its character, might be the two most appealing things about The Last Kingdom.
Add to that a great score, beautiful scenery and great acting (although a little bit inconsistent in some moments) and you have the recipes for a series that stand tall and deserves to be seen. No matter what you like, The Last Kingdom (the first two episodes together are a nice demonstration of everything good about this story) might offer something for you.
For the books fan in particular, this is a series that even when it changes the story of the book it feels it belong, Bernard Cornwell's tone is ever present in it. Not to mention many small moments that shows the people responsible for the series really cared about the source material, like in shield wall battle (it doesn't reach the greatness of the book, but then, what battle scene anywhere does?), there is a scene of people walking over a dead body, something that feels taken right from the book. Or a sword strike that comes from bellow. Even some of the more questionable changes feel justified. Like giving the Saxon rectangular shields. In the end it proves extremely valuable as a tool to differentiate Danes from Saxons. But without a doubt, this is a adaptation that work is all levels and will delight most readers. -
Supermanfan-131 November 2020The best way to describe The Last Kingdom is that it is just a flat out awesome show and a must watch! I never read the books so I didn't really know what to expect but I'm so glad that I did start watching it because it's become one of my favorite shows of all-time! I can not overstate just how good this show really is. It's one of the rare shows where every season is just as good as the others. There really isn't much more I can say about this incredible show that hasn't already been said so just go watch it!
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iquine5 June 2020(Flash Review)
This series is not known as well as it should be. It blazes its own trail without being pressured to follow the path of Games of Thrones. The characters are still full of depth, emotion and moral quandaries. Season 4 watches a young and inexperienced King of Wessux, which seems to be the head kingdom of the four primary kingdoms, struggle to make decisions, earn respect and maintain true allies. There's an abundance of intertwined story lines and with moderate viewer focus can be clearly followed that are all rich with drama. As with most Mid-Evil shows, many a battle is fought, much flesh is slashed or punctured and blood spilt. Great production value, unique musical score and honest acting make this a must see if you like Mid-Evil era shows. -
azivolic9 May 2021This show is not perfect, but it's downsides fade in comparison to amazing story and characters. Naturally, you will be less smitten if you're not a fan of period/historical dramas and war stories as such. But I think even those people would enjoy it if they'd give it a go. The thing that made me fall in love in this show was the wholesome bromances and non-toxic friendships and bonds the main characters develop. The story is never dull and only at times predictable. The character development is excellent. What I personally don't like is Uthred's accent and that the show is filmed in Hungary. I understand Uthred had to have a mix between danish and english accent, but it's sounds really weird and inconsistent. The filming in Hungary is fine but I don't think it's "british" enough - even though their explanation is that no one really knows how England looked a thousand years ago. Anyway, TLK is one of the best shows I ever watched, not just in that genre, and it's sad it doesn't get the recognition it deserves.
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Once you start, you won't want to stop.
Really hoping for a season 4. -
cobdun14 May 2020It's always been a bit far-fetched and borderline silly but The Last Kingdom was always very watchable and compelling. That is until the latest series (four), which is absolute dross. Did they sack the real scriptwriters and just let the actors improvise??
If this is the best the can do I hope they don't try to eke it out any longer. For their sakes. -
blshwarts16 March 2021This is legit my favorite series available right now, and one of the best I think has been made in a very long time. It's a fascinating historical period, and the show developers, writers, actors, costumers, set designers, etc have all brought their A game for sure. The story lines are captivating and the pacing is just right. The acting is top notch👌. It's just all around awesome! I hope they will continue the show for many more seasons! Long live UHTRED!!!
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ellipseanostalrius14 March 2022Everything is decent: acting, writing, direction. I've just begun the second season and find it worthy of ongoing, but not necessarily continual, viewing. So far it seems to be vignettes of conflict-resolution stitched together with rapid love interests.
Time either inexplicably flies by or slows to further a love story which bridges to the next political conflict-resolution. In this way the pace of the vignettes' story is forced into something both pleasing and jarring.
Our hero, Uhtred, is a more human but equally flawed Geralt of The Witcher. The ladies will enjoy him. Rippling muscles and all that. The love interests aren't particularly well developed. Unbridled love and lust spring immediately from who knows where, aside from the aforementioned rippling muscles; it just happens...repeatedly.
I recommend this series, but it is no great thing.
PS: Comparing this to GOT is just silly. Don't do that. No. Stahp. -
Cultural_Propaganda12 March 2022Woke killed the show, not even the 10/10 bots can save it. I don't think that it's a result of incompetence, you simply can't have nice things any more.
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seanreid-2037126 November 2018Best series on Netflix by far can rival Viking's any day of the week