The Last Kingdom refresher: What you need to know before season 4

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

The third season of The Last Kingdom debuted on Netflix in November of 2018, which means there’s been nearly a 15-month gap between then and season 4, which drops this Sunday, April 26. That’s a long time without Uhtred son of Uhtred on our screens, making it hard to remember just where we left things in medieval England.

But fear not: we’re here to refresh your memory of every person, event and relationship you need to remember. But before we break it all down by kingdom and faction, here’s a brief summary of season 3, the most disruptive season of the show thus far.

Season 3 saw a trio of new characters — Cnut, Bloodhair and Skade — all make a major impact on Uhtred, Wessex and beyond. A Viking jarl, Bloodhair kicked the season off by attacking Wessex, with the seer Skade at his side. Bloodhair suffered defeat early on, losing Skade to Uhtred in the process. And while we learned that King Alfred was finally succumbing to his recurring illnesses, it was Uhtred who would ultimately go through the most turmoil in season 3.

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

Uhtred’s wife Gisela died early in the season while giving birth to their third child, a son. Gisela’s death sent Uhtred into a tailspin. After a monk in Alfred’s service insulted Gisela’s memory, Uhtred threw a deadly slap the monk’s way, which would ultimately lead him to flee Wessex after a brutal confrontation with Alfred. Leaving Wessex with his men, as well as with Skade, Uhtred headed north to the safety of Dunholm, and his adopted brother, Ragnar.

There, Uhtred would once again be scorned, as Ragnar renounced their ties after Uhtred chose to leave to aid Aethelflaed, Alfred’s daughter, and the Lady of Mercia. Aethelflaed was under threat from her husband Aethelred, the Lord of Mercia. In the process of rescuing Aethelflaed, Uhtred would earn the loyalty of the crown prince Edward, while in his absence, Ragnar would be murdered by Aethelwold. Dying without a weapon in hand, Ragnar’s soul was believed to be banished to Viking Hel, and once again it was Uhtred to the rescue.

Before the season’s climatic battle between the Danes and Saxons, Uhtred rid himself of Skade’s insidious influence, killing her and ridding himself of a curse she put on him earlier in the season. King Alfred would pass away as well, but not before he and Uhtred made peace. Alfred’s death left the untested Edward in charge, and Uhtred chose to support him in battle against the Danish forces of Cnut, Brida and Haestan. The season’s final battle saw Aethelwold perish at Uhtred’s hand, freeing Ragnar’s soul to ascend to Valhalla.

When it was all said and done, Edward ruled Wessex, Uthred was bound by oath to no one, and the Danes were sent to regroup back in the far north.

Now, let’s break down exactly where all the major players are going into season 4!