The following contains spoilers for The Last Kingdom.
After 5 seasons filled with bloodthirst battles and Uthred (Alexander Dreymon) struggling to claim the land that is his birthright, The Last Kingdom came to an end with a powerful finale. From unprecedented deaths to the final battle back at Bebbanburg where it all started, once again the show succeeded in balancing historical events with strokes of fiction by author Bernard Cornwell. Although the final season marks the end of the Netflix original series, there is still an upcoming film special entitled The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die. As we wait for the final chapters, here is an in-depth look at the finale and how it sets the stage for what is to come.
First and foremost, it’s necessary to remember why King Edward (Timothy Innes) and his men had to fight against the Scots at Bebbanburg. All throughout Season 5, Aethelhelm (Adrian Schiller) was determined to do whatever it took to ensure that his grandson Aelfweard (Ewan Horrocks) would become the successor to the throne of Wessex. From striking the peace agreement between the Saxons and Danes by requesting that his men kill the visionary (prompting his daughter’s accidental death) to bribing the elder men to select his grandson as the heir of Mercia, the king’s father-in-law was to blame for all the bloodshed and tears. During his last attempt to secure Aelfward’s future, he forges an alliance with King Constantine (Rod Hallett) to fight King Edward in exchange for Aelfwynn’s (Phia Saban) hand in marriage.
As the Saxons approach the gates of Bebbanburg, Uthred is tasked to locate Aelfwynn from within the castle to prevent the fight. However, things do not go as planned when King Edward decides to confront the Scots, assuming that because their reinforcements hadn’t arrived yet, the battle would lead to an easy victory. Yet, King Constantine shows that he is one step ahead when the rest of his army arrives on the battlefield and pressures the Saxon army from both sides until they are meters from the edge of a cliff. Although everything seems to go downhill from there, Uthred saves the day once again as he convinces his daughter, Stiorra (Ruby Hartley), and her people to fight alongside the Saxons by promising to make Bebbanburg a place where they could reside in freedom. With the support of the Dane troops, King Edward and his army win over the Scots. Not only that, but Uthred is finally able to fight his cousin, Wihtgar (Ossian Peret), and claim Bebbanburg just like he dreamed of since the beginning of the series. Despite the brief burst of flames taking over the castle walls, the rain falls and calms fans who would dread it if the protagonist didn’t get to savor his destiny as the owner of that land.
While everyone celebrates the victory, King Constantine still tries to negotiate a peace agreement with Uthred but sets aside his demands for a while in exchange for King Edward not ruling over Bebbanburg. Although a synopsis hasn’t been revealed, we can anticipate that the sequel will address the rising tensions with King Constantine once he decides to confront Wessex again. Even though the King of Wessex isn’t at all pleased with the news that Bebbanburg isn’t bowing down to him any time soon, he doesn’t counterattack. Instead, he feels betrayed by Uthred, given that his father’s greatest wish was to unify the kingdoms into England. The warrior goes on to reply that he believes in the future of England, but not one under King Edward’s reign.
This leads us to already predict that the upcoming film could potentially focus on King Edward’s bastard, Aethelstan (Harry Gilby), since historically speaking he will be the first king to rule over England. During this final season of the show, we’ve witnessed the character blossom on the battlefield and slowly gain Edward’s trust as a leader. Although Aethelhelm really tried to make his grandson king, he couldn’t overpower King Edward’s visible preference for his firstborn. Considering that he has fought with the Saxons and the Danes under Uthred’s guidance, Aethelstan would be the perfect candidate for the throne. After all, he learned from his mentor to respect both sides and honor their differences.
In addition to a focus on the United Kingdom formed through Aethelstan’s efforts, the film could include Uthred reconnecting with his son, Osbert (Olly Rhodes). After his mother Gisela (Peri Baumeister) died in Season 3 giving birth to him, Osbert was kept in a convent under Hild’s (Eva Birthistle) care and hasn’t met his father. Now that Uthred is the Lord of Bebbanburg, Hild and Osbert are shown heading to the castle in the last episode, potentially indicating that the character could have more time on screen in the sequel. If Uthred’s relationship with Stiorra and Young Uthred (Finn Elliot) serves as any proof of his ability as a father, we can anticipate another captivating bond between the warrior and his long-lost son.
Although there is still much speculation on the events that will take place in The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, the series finale sets the tone for an even more climactic ending in the near future. As Edward implies in Season 5, “the dream of England has never been closer”. With two kings disputing over lands, including Bebbanburg, Uthred will face many challenges ahead now that he isn’t necessarily on good terms with Wessex. From fighting on their side to now fighting to keep their territory, it will be interesting to see the dynamics shift. It will also be a treat to finally witness King Alfred's (David Dawson) dream come to fruition through his grandson Aethelstein, as well as learn more about Osbert and how his character will play a pivotal role in this final chapter. All in all, despite the fact that there are many sources of excitement for the film, it will be undeniably hard for fans to utter their goodbyes to this heroic narrative.
The Last Kingdom Seasons 1-5 are available to stream on Netflix.