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The Last Kingdom (TV series)

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The Last Kingdom
Series title over dying flames
GenreHistorical drama
Based onThe Saxon Stories novels by Bernard Cornwell
Starring
ComposerJohn Lunn
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes26 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersStephen Butchard
Nigel Marchant
Gareth Neame
ProducerChrissy Skinns
Production locationHungary
CinematographyChas Bain
EditorPaul Knight
Running time58–59 minutes
Production companyCarnival Film and Television
Original release
NetworkBBC Two (UK)
BBC America (US)
Netflix
Release10 October 2015 (2015-10-10) –
present

The Last Kingdom is a British historical fiction television series based on Bernard Cornwell's The Saxon Stories series of novels.[1] The first series of eight episodes premiered on 10 October 2015 on BBC America, and on BBC Two in the UK on 22 October 2015. A second season of eight episodes was aired on BBC Two in the UK in March 2017, co-produced by Netflix after the exit of BBC America.[2][3][4][5]

The third season of ten episodes is available exclusively on Netflix.[6] A forthcoming fourth season has been reported.[7]

Overview

The series is set in the late 9th century AD, when England is divided into seven separate kingdoms. The Anglo-Saxon lands are gradually attacked, plundered, and effectively ruled by Viking Danes in many areas. The Kingdom of Wessex remains the last major stronghold against the Danes.

The protagonist is Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Several men of that name existed and ruled Bebbanburg (Bamburgh Castle), but little is known of their actual lives. In short historic sections at the end of each book, Bernard Cornwell explains that he is descended from them and decided to invent a history based on actual historic events.

The tale has its main character be re-baptised as Uhtred after his elder brother is killed by the invading Danes. Then his father along with other Saxon noblemen of Northumbria are killed in battle with these same Danes. Only his uncle and step-mother survive. Uhtred and a Saxon girl named Brida are taken as slaves by Earl Ragnar, now settled in Danish Northumbria which becomes their adopted home as they grow older. Time passes and Ragnar's daughter Thyra is about to be married, but fellow Danes attack the night before the wedding and set the hall ablaze in which the whole family are sleeping. Ragnar is burned alive, and Thyra is taken as a slave. Only Uhtred and Brida escape, as they had been in the woods watching the charcoal burn.

The attackers are led by Kjartan, a disgruntled Viking who had been banished by Ragnar from his lands years earlier for an offense committed by Kjartan's son Sven. Uhtred vows to avenge his adoptive father's death, while simultaneously hoping to reclaim Bebbanburg from his uncle—who seeks to kill Uhtred in order to hold onto the land of Bebbanburg.

Uhtred is forced to choose between a kingdom that shares his ancestry and the people of his upbringing, and his loyalties are constantly tested.[8]

The first series' story line roughly covers the plots of the novels The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman, although they are condensed for the purposes of television.[9] The second series covers the plots of Cornwell's novels The Lords of the North and Sword Song.[10] Season 3 is based on The Burning Land and Death of Kings.

Cast

Main

Actor Character Seasons
1 2 3
Alexander Dreymon Uhtred of Bebbanburg Main
David Dawson King Alfred Main
Tobias Santelmann Ragnar the Younger Main
Emily Cox Brida Main
Adrian Bower Leofric Main Main
Thomas W. Gabrielsson Guthrum Main
Simon Kunz Odda the Elder Main
Harry McEntire Aethelwold Main
Rune Temte Ubba Main
Joseph Millson Aelfric Main
Brian Vernel Odda the Younger Main
Amy Wren Mildrith Main
Charlie Murphy Queen Iseult Main
Ian Hart Beocca Main
Thure Lindhardt Guthred Main
Eva Birthistle Hild Recurring Main
Gerard Kearns Halig Recurring Main
David Schofield Abbot Eadred Main
Peri Baumeister Gisela Main
Eliza Butterworth Aelswith Recurring Main
Peter McDonald Brother Trew Main
Mark Rowley Finan Main
Alexandre Willaume Kjartan Recurring Main
Julia Bache-Wiig Thyra Recurring Main
Ole Christoffer Ertvaag Sven Recurring Main
Björn Bengtsson Sigefrid Main
Cavan Clerkin Father Pyrlig Main
Arnas Fedaravičius Sihtric Main
Christian Hillborg Erik Main
Jeppe Beck Laursen Haesten Main
Toby Regbo Aethelred, Lord of the Mercians Main
Millie Brady Princess Aethelflaed Main
James Northcote Aldhelm Main
Adrian Bouchet Steapa Main
Ewan Mitchell Osferth Main
Timothy Innes Edward Main
Thea Sofie Loch Næss Skade Main
Ola Rapace Earl Sigurd "Bloodhair" Main
Magnus Bruun Cnut Main
Simon Stenspil Dagfinn Main
Adrian Schiller Aethelhelm Main
Kevin Eldon Bishop Erkenwald Main

Supporting

Series 1

Series 2

Series 3

  • Ed Birch as Sigebriht
  • Amelia Clarkson as Ælflæd
  • Ian Conningham as Offa
  • Tygo Gernandt as Jackdaw
  • Jon Furlong as Brother Godwin
  • Debbie Chazen as Sable
  • Anton Saunders as Godric
  • Ciáran Owens as Tidman
  • Daniel Tuite as Brother Hubert
  • Annamária Bitó as Ælfwynn
  • Julia Brown as Ecgwynn
  • Bernard Cornwell as Beornheard
  • Lee Boardman as Guthlac

Production

The series started shooting in November 2014.[21][22] It is produced by Carnival Films for BBC Two and BBC America with filming in Hungary and the United Kingdom. Nick Murphy (Prey, Occupation) is co-executive producing and directing multiple episodes.[1]

For portrayals of the vikings at sea, the viking ship replica Havhingsten fra Glendalough was used.[23]

Filming for the second series began in Budapest in June 2016. Richard Rankin, Gerard Kearns,[24] Thure Lindhardt, Millie Brady, Erik Madsen,[17] and Peter McDonald will join the cast.[25] In August 2016, Aftonbladet reported that Swedish actors Björn Bengtsson[26] and Magnus Samuelsson[27] would join the main cast. Also that month, it was reported that Stephen Butchard would return as the sole script writer and that Netflix had signed on as an international co-production partner for the second series.[28]

In April 2018, Netflix confirmed that a third series was in production, which would air exclusively on the streaming service, and Bernard Cornwell indicated that he had been offered a cameo appearance.[6] Swedish actor Ola Rapace will join the cast with Season 3, as Jarl Harald Bloodhair.[29][30] Swedish director Erik Leijonborg will be behind the camera for Season 3, he has collaborated with Rapace on several Swedish TV-series.[31]

Episodes

Main article: List of The Last Kingdom episodes
SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1810 October 2015 (2015-10-10)28 November 2015 (2015-11-28)
2816 March 2017 (2017-03-16)4 May 2017 (2017-05-04)
31019 November 2018 (2018-11-19)

Release

The Last Kingdom premiered on 10 October 2015 in the United States on BBC America,[32] and was broadcast shortly after in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 22 October 2015.[33] It became available online in the United States via Netflix on 6 July 2016.[34] It was added to Netflix on 28 December 2015 in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.[35][36] The first season was broadcast in the Spanish region of Catalonia on TV3 on 24 July 2017.[37]

The second season was released on Netflix in the U.S., Canada, Denmark, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Spain, Japan, Australia, and Portugal.[38]

Critical reception

The series has been met with a positive critical response. On Rotten Tomatoes season 1 has a 92% rating based on reviews from 26 critics, with an average rating of 7.61/10.[39] On Metacritic season 1 has a score of 78/100 based on 15 reviews.[40]

Sam Wollaston reviewed the first episode in The Guardian and warned, "It's wise not to get too attached to anyone in The Last Kingdom."[41] Charlotte Runcie gave the opening episode 4 stars out of 5 in The Daily Telegraph. Wollaston and Runcie both remarked on the similarities between Last Kingdom and Game of Thrones.[42]

Sean O'Grady in The Independent found that some of the language gave the series "a satisfyingly earthy quality," but he thought that the plot was "a little convoluted".[43] The television reviewer for Private Eye was more critical, arguing that The Last Kingdom demonstrates how Game of Thrones "haunts the BBC," and that the series was directly derivative of both fantasy series and European dramas such as The Killing and Wallander, yet lacking the features that have made such series successful.[44]

Historic Background

The main events of the reign of Alfred the Great and his heirs are well recorded. And a number of men called Uhtred ruled from Bamburgh Castle:[45] most notably Uhtred the Bold more than a century later.[46]

The people identified as 'Danes' came from many places of Denmark (including Southern Sweden and Norway which were Danish during the Viking Era). Historians believes that the Danish invaders of Northumbria came from Jutland in Denmark (as mentioned in Bernard Cornwells books), some of the Danish islands and East Denmark (todays Sothern Sweden).

In each of his books, Bernard Cornwell has a section giving details of what is recorded historically, and what he has invented.

References

  1. ^ a b "BBC Two announces new drama series, The Last Kingdom". BBC Media Centre. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  2. ^ "The Last Kingdom Renewed For Season 2 By BBC & BBC America!". RenewCancelTV.com. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  3. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (9 June 2016). "Netflix Joins 'The Last Kingdom' As Co-Producer of Historical Epic's Season 2". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  4. ^ "The Last Kingdom". www.facebook.com.
  5. ^ "Home". The Last Kingdom.
  6. ^ a b Debniath, Neela (26 October 2018). "The Last Kingdom season 3 Netflix release date, cast, plot, trailer". Daily Express. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  7. ^ "The Last Kingdom Renewed For Season 4 by Netflix!". 14 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  8. ^ Laura Prudom (9 July 2014). "'The Last Kingdom': BBC, Carnival Producing New Viking Drama". Variety. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  9. ^ "The Last Kingdom, Episode 1". patriciabracewell.com. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  10. ^ "The Last Kingdom Series 2". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  11. ^ "The Last Kingdom begins shooting series two". 9 June 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Episode 1, Series 2, The Last Kingdom - BBC Two". BBC.
  13. ^ "Starke Magnus till "The last kingdom" - DN.SE". 14 July 2016.
  14. ^ ""The Last Kingdom" Episode #2.4 (TV Episode 2017)" – via www.imdb.com.
  15. ^ Rissmann, Marc. "Blues Vikings on the Set of @TheLastKingdom Season2 @emycox @netflix #thelastkingdom #netflix #brida #tekilpic.twitter.com/HPJIU5Jxqv".
  16. ^ "Christopher Sciueref". IMDb.
  17. ^ a b "Erik Madsen - United Agents". www.unitedagents.co.uk.
  18. ^ ParentHerald (30 July 2016). "'The Last Kingdom' Season 2 Spoilers: Sneak Peek From The Set (Photos)".
  19. ^ "Episode #2.1". 5 May 2017 – via www.imdb.com.
  20. ^ "Tibor Milos Krisko". IMDb.
  21. ^ "BBC Two, BBC America and the Golden Globe® and Emmy® award-winning producers of Downton Abbey, Carnival Films, have announced that filming has begun on The Last Kingdom". BBC Media Centre. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  22. ^ "Persbrandt tvingas tacka nej till storroll" [Persbrandt forced to turn down big role]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 11 November 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  23. ^ The Vikings are coming! The Last Kingdom, the BBC's epic new drama about the marauding invaders, could be the next Game Of Thrones. The Daily Mail. Retrieved 22/5-2018
  24. ^ "Gerard Kearns - United Agents". www.unitedagents.co.uk.
  25. ^ "The Last Kingdom begins shooting series two with Richard Rankin joining the cast". digitalspy.com. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  26. ^ "Svensken får ny stor roll i vikingaserien". Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  27. ^ "This just in: Magnus Samuelsson klar för "The last kingdom" – Nöjesbladets TV-koll". 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  28. ^ "Netflix to co-produce season two of the last kingdom". worldscreen.com. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  29. ^ https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1022631/The-Last-Kingdom-season-3-cast-Bloodhair-Who-is-Ola-Rapace-series-Netflix-Uhtred
  30. ^ https://www.moviezine.se/nyheter/ola-rapace-far-stor-roll-i-netflix-serien-the-last-kingdom
  31. ^ https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/client/erik-leijonborg
  32. ^ Bibel, Sara (21 July 2015). "Drama 'The Last Kingdom' to Premiere Saturday, October 10 on BBC America". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  33. ^ Brown, Maggie (17 October 2015). "Bernard Cornwell: BBC made The Last Kingdom due to its 'interesting echoes of today'". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  34. ^ "The Last Kingdom". Netflix. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  35. ^ "Is The Last Kingdom on Netflix Canada?". netflixable.com. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  36. ^ "The Last Kingdom / Season 1 – Netflix Canada". instantwatcher.com. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  37. ^ "TV3 presenta "The Last Kingdom"". ccma.cat. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  38. ^ "'The Last Kingdom' Season 2 Release Date Rumors: Uhtred to Lead the Saxon Forces, Reclaim His Fate'". The Christian Post. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  39. ^ The Last Kingdom at Rotten Tomatoes
  40. ^ The Last Kingdom at Metacritic
  41. ^ Wollaston, Sam (23 October 2015). "The Last Kingdom review: The Vikings are here – and it's wise not to get too attached to anyone". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  42. ^ Runcie, Charlotte (23 October 2015). "The Last Kingdom, BBC Two, review: 'the thinking person's Game of Thrones'". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  43. ^ O'Grady, Sean (22 October 2015). "The Last Kingdom, TV review: This Viking saga is less silly than Game of Thrones – and less exciting, too". The Independent. London. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  44. ^ 'Eye TV', The Private Eye 1404, p. 14.
  45. ^ The Last Kingdom season 3: how historically accurate is the Netflix series and was Uhtred a real person?
  46. ^ [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Uhtred_(d.1016)_(DNB00) Uhtred (d.1016) (DNB00)
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