Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Uhtred Ragnarsson, the Dane Slayer… whatever you call him, he’s one of my favorite characters of all time.
With the BBC turned Netflix series, The Last Kingdom, wrapping up I wanted to talk about one of my favorite characters on TV. The inner turmoil. The devotion to his word and his family. His tormented, and seemingly cursed, love affairs. All of it.
Even though the story is based on a book series, I’ve only come to know Uhtred through the TV adaptation and the actor who plays him, Alexander Dreymon. In time, I will read the series, it’s been in my TBR pile for a while. But when I’m heavy into writing Ennead (which I certainly am at the moment) it is difficult for me to read fantasy of any kind. I know, I know. The Last Kingdom is historical fiction. But let’s face it, swords and shields, gods and curses, wars and warriors… the parallels are abundant.
I won’t spoil anything about this historical drama, even though technically it is based on events that many of you are at least vaguely familiar with if you’re reading this. No, instead I just want to write quickly about what I love so much about this show and Uhtred himself.
Both he and this adaptation stay true to themselves, flaws and all.
While the production quality doesn’t match something like GoT in its middle years, The Last Kingdom doesn’t try to be anything else. The small set pieces, character driven conflicts, and its central character’s quest to reclaim his home, settle his family, and honor his gods and forbearers remained in focus.
I watched this final season fighting, and failing, to hold back tears as the story masterfully tied up, cut off, and tucked away its loose ends. As a viewer I felt almost completely satisfied with the way the show ended. My only dislike being that it had to end in the first place. I’d never claim that The Last Kingdom is “the greatest show of all time,” but why should I have to? So much of pop culture’s discourse is wrapped up in that sort of clickbaity nonsense that only causes divides in what are otherwise unified fanbases.
The Last Kingdom doesn’t need to be better than its contemporaries, it was the best version of The Last Kingdom.
I got chills watching the last episode in particular as Uhtred did the impossible one last time.
Again, avoiding spoilers here, the way that Uhtred’s story wrapped was beautiful. Handled with care and respect to who we came to know him as. Rather than trying to make him someone he wasn’t, The Last Kingdom’s final season showcased him for who he’d been all along. As a writer I watched in awe as Uhtred did things I’d grown accustomed to seeing him do. Weird, right?
I mean he didn’t gain any magical abilities, he didn’t come back from the dead, and no, he wasn’t crowned king. He was simply Uhtred and it worked. Seeing this season handled the way it was, Uhtred’s arc in particular, gave me the confidence to trust the story that I am telling. To trust that those who are invested in it, its characters, its setting, will come along for the ride as long as it stays true.
True to its promises. True to its tone. True to itself.