TASTE Dir. Dave Meyers

TASTE dir. Dave Meyers

TLK Season 4 - The Best???

(Spoliers ahead!)

I don’t know if this is an unpopular opinion or not but… I think season 4 is my favourite of the lot. It’s very difficult to say for definite which I like the most, but when I sun up the pros and cons of each, 4 is quite possibly the one I can say I enjoyed the most.

There are a lot of new characters or ages up characters that are introduced this season. Usually I don’t enjoy when there are so many new introductions all at once but TLK always does it well. Maybe it works because there is so much death anyway, they kind of just fill in the gaps.

Speaking of death… Thyra was done dirty is season 3 and now Beocca has been done dirty. I say that lightly, because while I hated his death, it did make sense in some aspects. He died protecting Uhtred’s son. As a father figure to Uhtred himself, that just kind of comes full circle. Moreover, he died where his story began: in Bebbanburg. After Thyra was already gone, I think I can kind of accept this. It broke my heart, but death is meant to happen. Not everyone can always die of old age like they do in the books. People want to see drama on screen.

The character progression in this season is phenomenal. We see so many people grow out of old, bad habits or come to have new views of life that just feel so satisfying. There are many examples of this, but Lady Aelswith is probably the most prominent of these. She has always been an interesting character though not particularly likeable, but I actually kind of love her now.

Uhtred, however, is someone who also has a big change of character this season. He becomes less of a warrior and more of a father, not just to his own children but to Aethelstan and Aelfwynn. He becomes a protector rather than a fighter. And I love that. I love to see how many times he fails only to keep going because it is love for his family that drives him forward (both his children and his men).

The friendships have developed tenfold. Stiorra was right when she said that Uhtred’s men are his family. They feel so close knit and the dynamics are so good. Good fucking job to the actors for just being able to translate real life friendship into on screen friendship. It’s so real and honestly I just want to give them all hugs, all the time.

Eadith??? Hello??? I love her. Her and Finan have CHEMISTRY, so I’m rather disappointed that they didn’t do something with that in season 5, but also I’m so glad to finally see a female character that doesn’t need a man. I found her a little annoying during the first watch but after countless rewatches, she’s actually very likeable. I am very happy with her.

Episode 6, I think, is one of my favourite episodes in the whole show. Am I being dramatic when I say that I love the little family dynamic they make while on the run? Maybe. But it’s nice to see them running for once rather than fighting. Bad way of phrasing it, perhaps. The quiet moments in the woods, though, are ones I enjoy a lot. And Finan playing with Aethelstan is the cutest shit I’ve ever seen.

Young Uhtred and Stiorra are so well casted. We love Sigtryggr. Brida continues to be a menace that I despise. Also, fuck the Welsh (only in this, love my Welsh folk in real life).

TLK Season 2 - Hell yeah!

(Spoilers ahead!)

Wow! Season 2! One of my favourites. We finally have our core four as well as being introduced to other brilliant characters that are some of my favourites (Aldhelm!).

Let’s start by talking about Hild, Queen of the Water Bucket, scourger of slavers and once kicked out of the nunnery. Hild took a leap from season 1 to 2 and landed right in the midst of battle, kicking ass and taking names. I loved her this season.

I’m glad we got to focus on somewhere outside of Wessex, that Uhtred wasn’t just chained to Alfred. Of course, he goes back, but seeing him take his own path to Northumbria and try to gain power there, his homeland, is… satisfying. It ends tragically, and 2x04 is still one of the most heart wrenching episodes of this entire show for me. What did it bring us though????

FINAN!!! What a joy he is. My favourite. I would throw myself in front of any man’s sword for Finan. This show would NOT be the same without our best Irish boy.

David Dawson, you’ve done it again. You’ve blown me away. Alfred is one of the people in this where I am consistently in love with the delivery. He’s not the most likeable but he’s not meant to be. Again, the quiet intensity he has just makes for a top notch performance. I was very near shedding tears during the scenes he had in the final three episodes, tears in his own eyes. The very quiet “damn him, I say damn him” when Odda betrays him is just chef’s kiss.

My hatred for Brida begins here. I had some… problems… with her in the first season, but I didn’t dislike her. However, in season 2 I begin to slowly lose my patience. I don’t know if it’s her story, the writing, or whatever else but I just… don’t enjoy seeing her on screen. Don’t get me wrong, Emily Cox does an amazing job at bringing the character to like, it’s just a shame Brida becomes annoying. Further clarification on this when I talk about season 3…

One of the most underrated characters in this season is Clapa. I loved him with all my heart and I really wish they didn’t kill him off within the one season he had to shine. I would have loved to see more. Same with Halig. He was barely here for… what… 6 episodes? Yet he was one of the best during that time.

Aethelflaed and Erik’s relationship is questionable. I’m really not sure how I feel about it. This man kidnapped her. Yes, he treated her with respect but… is this not a case of Stockholm syndrome? I dislike it.

Final thoughts… I really enjoy season 2. A lot. Mostly the first 5 episodes, but the 3 after the time jump are solid as well.

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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