The Last Kingdom (Netflix)

The Last Kingdom is a British historical fiction television series based on Bernard Cornwell's "The Saxon Stories" series of novels. It premiered in 2015 on BBC America, BBC Two and later in 2018 on Netflix. About the plot we could say that in the year 866, the Great Heathen Army's is a fact and they arrival in Britain. The relationship between Vikings and Anglo-Saxons could be interesting. Following establishment of Danish rule in Jórvic and East Anglia, the show largely focuses on the resistance of the Kingdom of Wessex to ongoing Viking incursions to Southern England.

The story covers about 40-45 years by the end of season 4. Season 1 covers the years 866-878, season 2 from 878 o 886, season 3 from 893 to 900, and season 4 takes place about 901 to 912. The protagonist (named osbert in childhood) is re-baptised as Uhtred after his elder brother Uhtred is killed by the Danes; his father, along with other Saxon noblemen of Northumbria, are killed in battle against the Danes. Only his uncle and step-mother survive. Uhtred a Saxon girl named Brida are taken as slaves by Earl Ragnar to his home in Danish Northumbria. 

Time passes, and Ragnar's daughter Thyra is about to be married, but fellow Danes attack the night before the wedding and set fire to the hall in which the family is sleeping. Ragnar is burned alive, and Thyra taken as a slave. Only Uhtred and Brida escape as they have spent the night in the woods tending a charcoal kiln. The attackers are led by Kjartan, a disgruntled Viking who had been banished by Ragnar from his lands years earlier for a offence committed by Kjartan's son Sven. Uhtred vows to avenge Ragnar's death, while simultaneously hoping to reclaim Bebbanburg for himself.

Uhtred is forced to choose between the kingdom of his ancestors and the people who have raised him, and his loyalties are constantly tested. The first series roughly covers the events of Cornwell's novels "The Last Kingdom" and "The Pale Horseman", although they are condensed for the screen. The second series covers the happenings of Cornwell's novels "The Lords of the North" and "Sword Song". Series 3 is based on "The Burning Land" and "Death of Kings", but with considerable plot changes. The third series' ten episodes were produced solely by Netflix.

One reviewer indicated that this had a positive effect. Much of the series was written by Stephen Butchard, and filming was completed in Hungary. These episodes cover the decline in King Alfred's health, according to one report, while he tries to ensure that his fiercely-held vision of a Christian, Saxon Wessex as part of a stable English nation will survive him as his legacy...the Uhtred-Alfred relationship is at the core of the story. All ten episodes of series 4 appeared on Netflix on 26 April 2020. As in series 3, there are significant plot differences to the books.

About cast: 

- Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred.

- David Dawson as King Alfred.

- Emily Cox as Brida.

- Tobias Santelmann as Ragnar the Younger.

- Adrian Bower as Leofric.

- Thomas W. Gabrielsson as Guthrum.

- Simon Kunz as Odda the Elder.

- Harry McEntire as Aethelwold.

- Rune Temte as Ubba.

- Joseph Millson as Aelfric.

- Brian Vernel as Odda the Younger.

- Amy Wren as Mildrith.

- Charlie Murphy as Iseult.

- Ian Hart as Father Beocca.

- Eliza Butterworth as Aelswith.

- Thure Lindhardt as Guthred.

- Eva Birthistle as Hild.

- Gerard Kearns as Halig.

- David Schofield as Abbot Eadred.

- Peri Baumeister as Gisela.

- Peter McDonald as Brother Trew. 

- Mark Rowley and Finan.

- Alexandre Willaume as Kjartan.

- Julia Bache-Wiig as Thira.