Every single episode of The Last Kingdom, ranked worst to best
(10) SEASON THREE: “EPISODE 1”
“His health failing and fearing for his legacy, Alfred sends Uhtred to confront a new threat: fierce Danish warrior Bloodhair and his sorceress, Skade.”
Recap
The Dane warlord Bloodhair and his sorceress/seer Skade have arrived in Britain with an invading army. Uhtred arrives in Winchester to see the grown Prince Edward and speaks with the ill King Alfred, Beocca and Haesten about the invaders. Alfred decides to attack. Uhtred has a short time to dally with Gisela before he takes Finan, Sihtric and Osferth and travels to see Bloodhair and Skade for himself.
Bloodhair and Skade torch and plunder a village. Alfred departs with his army to the Wessex stronghold at Eashing, flanked by Steapa, Edward and Beocca. Called to join the army of Wessex, Aethelred has Aldhelm lead the Mercian Guard into the field; Aethelflaed decides to accompany the Guard. Uhtred and company capture Skade, who curses Uhtred.
At a strategy session, Uhtred suggests attacking Bloodhair but Alfred wants to wait, potentially endangering the undefended Winchester. Alfred meets with the imprisoned Skade. Uhtred is both wary of Skade and intrigued by her. Bloodhair and his force arrives, desperate to rescue Skade.
Uhtred hatches a plot to draw Bloodhair and his warriors towards Finan, Aethelflaed and their Mercian allies while Alfred and his army outmaneuver them from behind. Bloodhair takes the bait, following Uhtred and Skade and assaulting the Mercian shield wall. When Alfred and his Wessex army arrives, they pin the Danes between two shield walls.
Bloodhair makes a run for it, disappointing Skade as she watches as a prisoner of Wessex. The Danes are slaughtered and Alfred’s army returns to Winchester victorious, but Uhtred’s joy is upended when Hild informs him that Gisela died in childbirth.
Our Take
Season 3 starts off serving plenty of dramatic goodies, from the spooky introduction of Skade, the new invasion threat from Bloodhair and his Danes, Alfred’s infirmity and Uhtred once again in the middle of the upcoming fight. Uhtred and Alfred continue their often contentious medieval bromance, a relationship now viewed by Alfred through the prism of his impending death.
It is interesting to see how Skade, when first captured by Uhtred, can easily play upon his pagan instincts, threatening him with curses that obviously unsettle his soul. Her character is an immediate magnet for both Uhtred and the dying Alfred who, questioning his purpose as an instrument of god, asks the pagan Skade if she knows how long he has to live. Alfred’s last days are portrayed brilliantly in season 3, and the scene with Skade in the Eashing dungeon is the first of many profound moments.
It was difficult to see Gisela die in childbirth because it felt like the show once again offing Uhtred’s current love interest to make way for another romantic storyline. That said, the actual scene where Uhtred learns of his wife’s death is poignant, especially when we are reminded of how many characters love Uhtred and feel for his loss, including Alfred.
“Episode 1” delivers immense promise for the new season, delivering big battlefield action on a budget the show didn’t have before (isn’t it great to see the shield wall again?) and introducing exciting new characters like Bloodhair and Skade. It sets the table for the new season with practiced skill, keeping the narrative moving while it introduces new elements and offers plenty of sword-swinging action.
Quote: “From the smallest pig to the golden crown upon Alfred’s head, Wessex and everything it holds shall belong to warriors of Bloodhair!” (The Dane warlord Bloodhair, to his followers)
