Netflix‘s historical drama The Last Kingdom has been getting wildly acclaimed reviews from critics and audiences alike, with some declaring it “one of the greatest shows in history.”
Others have even compared it to HBO drama Game of Thrones, for its compelling story, dramatic battle scenes, and sumptuous historical backdrop.
The program originally ran between 2015 and 2022, for five seasons, before it wrapped up in the 2023 spin-off movie, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die.
It is an adaptation of Bernard Cornwell’s extremely popular book series, The Saxon Stories, which traces the violent struggles for power in 9th-century Anglo-Saxon England when Viking raids were posing a threat to the future of the divided kingdom.
It features a very talented cast, which includes German actor Alexander Dreymon, playing Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a battle-hardened Viking warrior whose heart belongs to two worlds. They are joined by superlative co-stars such as Austrian actress Emily Cox, English actress Eliza Butterworth, and Lithuanian actor Arnas Fedaravičius, who became more popular later in The White Lotus.
The performances by the cast are quite good and bring depth and authenticity to the story. And it is conceivable that audiences can immerse themselves fully in The Last Kingdom world.
After the Viking raid on England, The Last Kingdom follows the life of Uhtred, a Saxon-born lord, abducted and brought up by the Vikings.
He was brought up in the middle of two worlds—his Saxon origins and the world of the Vikings into which he was born. His life is marked by changing loyalties, brutal fighting, and a personal quest for justice and revenge.
Throughout the series, Uhtred battles to reclaim his right to Bebbanburg as he is doing politics in the dangerous and fatal world of English politics. He makes close friends and cold-blooded foes as he is compelled to make tough decisions that challenge his honor and loyalty.
The series delves into the aspects of destiny, fate, and the might of the choices of a people in shaping history.
The series has had a dedicated fan base since its inception, with most of the fans attributing it to great storytelling, great character development, and historical accuracies.
The fans especially enjoyed the final season and series finale of the show, with one saying, “Loved the last season and series finale. An excellent tale from beginning to end.” A fan replied with, “Game of Thrones’ last season was much worse than the last season.”
Most of the fans think that The Last Kingdom is good because it has quality consistency and good storylines. “I don’t think there’s a bad episode, let alone a bad season,” said one fan.
Another said, “So much better than Game of Thrones.” The cliffhanger ending in Seven Kings Must Die left the fans contented, something which most of the longest-running shows do not have.
In comparison with most of the historical drama shows, The Last Kingdom is able to mesh action, emotion, and history into one that fully engulfs audiences.
It has suspenseful battle scenes, complex characters, and plotlines that are exciting and highly emotional. The show also has a great mix of historical facts and dramatized fiction, and thus, the series is educational and highly entertaining.
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