TLK Season 1 - It’s Good

(Spoilers ahead!)

My mum introduced me to The Last Kingdom in 2021. I was late to the club, but I fell in love quickly. Season 1 was an awesome introduction to my now favourite series out there. Let me explain why.

The first two episodes of this season had me hooked. It was a questionable choice to rush through Uhtred’s childhood with the Danes (which was a rather large section in the first book of the TLK series). I still fell in love with the family though. I can’t picture anyone else as Uhtred, nor Brida. Emily Cox and Alexander Dreymon have undeniably chemistry, although I definitely would say they make better friends than lovers.

Alfred is probably one of the things that I was most pleasantly surprised by. David Dawson is... incredible. He brings such a quiet intensity to the character. I will have more to say about him when I talk about later seasons. Only good things.

The story of season 1 flows well. It is well paced, mostly. It’s bingeworthy, yet every episode can be enjoyed as a single one. Travels to Cornwalum and Cynuit felt more like side quests than actual plot drivers. Perhaps that’s just me.

There are some characters which feel unnecessary (*cough* Wulfhere *cough*), some which I think deserve more screen time. Aethelwold is a slimy piece of shit but his character is so well done. It’s made clear he’s not meant to be liked, and it works. I don’t like his character, but I do enjoy his character.

I don’t want to say this is a huge downfall of the season, because it is truly fantastic. However, I feel like Iseult’s storyline was kind of rushed. Of course, they have to have limitations on screen compared to the pages of a book. I just didn’t connect that well with her character.

I hate to say it but I didn’t really like Hild either. In later seasons, I grow to like her, but in season 1 she is just kind of useless? Save for the scene where she comforts Lady Aelswith, she just kind of is there without doing anything of value.

Leofric, however... Man did his death hit me hard. Leofric was a character that is a great right hand man to Uhtred, while also being a warrior in his own right. He doesn’t blindly follow him, and doesn’t treat him with immediate respect. Uhtred is not his lord he is his friend. We don’t learn much about him, yet he is so likeable. I loved him, and it was a shame to see him go.

What a good opener this season is to the series. As a huge history nerd, I find it difficult to watch a lot of historic dramas (for a lot of reasons), but TLK is one of the few that I an enjoy unconditionally.

TLK Season 3 - The Good, The Bad and The Sexy

(Spoilers ahead!)

I have a love hate relationship with season 3. I want to say it’s my favourite but also it kind of pisses me off. Or rather, some of the characters and plot lines piss me off. Yet I still very much enjoyed it. Can you tell I’m conflicted?

I’ve gotta start off by saying how much I fell in love with Finan, Sihtric and Osferth. Sihtric had a major glow up from season 2 where he looked like a boy, now turned into a GORGEOUS man. Osferth grew into a warrior, but he is still so kindhearted. Finan is just Finan and we love him for it.

Aethelflaed is another character who gets to shine. Since her whole situation at Beamfleot, she has become a warrior and a powerful leader just as the real life version of her was and it is so good to see that portrayed on screen. Now, let me explain why Brida makes me so irritated. She does especially so in this season. Brida has suffered, that I will not deny. I feel for her, I really do, but her constant need to make others suffer too is just irritating. Uhtred has suffered just as badly if not worse than her, as have many other people, and yet she is the only one that essentially spiralled into madness. I really hate it, because I really want to love her. I just cannot with the direction they have taken with her. Spiteful, vengeful and angry does not suit her. She was badass enough as her season 1 self.

Skade is another character I despise. But, as is said of her, she is poison to all men. It’s just who she is. She’s not meant to be likeable. I just wish someone would tell her to shut the fuck up or perhaps punch her in the face.

Aethelwold is as slimy as ever. His ending was pretty satisfying. Ragnar being avenged, but also seeing Aethelwold’s true colours as nothing more than a grovelling turd. Unlikeable character, yet I enjoyed his journey.

Shoutout to Thyra and Beocca for being the most wholesome characters in the show. My heart aches for them and I hate the way it ended for them both. Thyra’s death was beyond unnecessary and just hurt.

You can probably justify everything that happened in this season. I just think a lot of unnecessary things happened. Regardless, season 3 is pretty awesome.

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