The Last Kingdom: Will Uhtred return to Bebbanburg in season 4?

Last week, we learned that The Last Kingdom would be returning on April 26. The fourth season of Netflix’s premiere medieval drama will feature the further adventures of Uhtred son of Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon), as he gets even more tangled up in ninth century English politics.

How, exactly? Well, we have a few clues. Mainly what I’m wondering is whether, with the passing of King Alfred at the end of season 3, Uhtred finally find time to return to his ancestral home of Bebbanburg in the far north? Let’s take a look at the teaser image and see what we can piece together.

That’s unmistakably Bebbanburg on the cliffs behind Uhtred, who’s looking rather dashing aboard that boat (more on that later). Given its prominence in the image, it seems likely Uhtred will indeed return to Bebbanburg this season. Of course, it’s possible producers just wanted to tease us, but we also know that Uhtred’s uncle Aelfric (Joseph Millson), the current ruler of Bebbanburg who usurped the fortress from Uhtred in the show’s very first episode, is coming back.

When we interviewed Millson, he teased what Aelfric’s been up to since we last saw him in season 2. “He’s done some lovely work around the house. Bebbanburg castle is way bigger and sexier, so he’s been busy there. Ruling his tiny world with fear and bile and loving it. Eating, drinking, shagging. I reckon he’s had a lot of trouble with toothache too.”

But Aelfric’s hedonistic rule may be coming to an end. Millson also told us that he’d had “some monster battle scene days,” adding that Aelfric has “a scene where I meet a long lost family member.” All of this clearly points to Uhtred showing up at Bebbanburg at some point during season four, probably looking for a reckoning.

Of course, just because Uhtred shows up at Bebbanburg doesn’t mean he’ll be successful in taking back the fortress. Bebbanburg was formidable before Aelfric seized power and began adding to the castle’s defenses. Uthred would need a large force or a clever plan, or both, to retake what is rightfully his. He does have powerful friends in Wessex, but he also has enemies. Ultimately, we can’t predict if Uhtred will finally reclaim Bebbanburg, but it does seem certain he’ll at least drop by.

Now, what about that boat we see Uhtred standing in? Will there be a sequence set at sea this season?

Sea battles are notoriously hard to film; even on a show as wildly successful as Game of Thrones, we didn’t see one until season 7, when the Greyjoy family had it out on the waves. But it looks like The Last Kingdom might have one on tap for us. Uhtred has drawn his weapons, implying he’s not just here to take in the scenery.

We also have a big hint from a cast member. When we talked to Arnas Fedaravicius (Sihtric), the actor said that the toughest scene he filmed involved “a lot of water.” Sounds a lot like a sea battle to us.

Luckily, we won’t have long to wait for any of this, as we’re just over a month away from season 4 landing on Netflix. Destiny is all!

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Watch Game of Thrones for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels