Every single episode of The Last Kingdom, ranked worst to best
(2) SEASON 2: ”EPISODE FOUR”
“Dispatched to Northumbria, Uhtred walks a fine line between fealty and assisting Ragnar’s savage blood feud with Kjartan.”
Recap
Couples Uhtred and Gisela and Ragnar and Brida express their love in Winchester. Bria heads north to Loidis while Uhtred, bound to Alfred, travelx to Eoferwic in Northumbria to support Guthred and destroy Sigefrid and Eric. Alfred plays chess with Aethelflaed and sends Aethelwold with Uhtred. Beocca marries Uhtred and Gisela.
Uhtred stops in Loidis where Brida has assembled Ragnar the Younger’s men. Hearing that Erik and Sigefrid are encamped nearby, they decide to attack. Uhtred slices off Sigefrid’s hand, and in return for his brother’s life, Eric agrees to leave Northumbria. Uhtred arrives in Eoferwic and threatens Guthred’s life unless he gives him his army to march on Dunholm.
Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix
Using a water gate, Uhtred breaches Dunholm and allows the main gates to be opened for Ragnar the Younger’s forces. Ragnar kills Kjartan and Thyra’s hounds rip Sven to pieces. Thyra is freed, and Beocca takes her into his care. Uhtred heads home to Gisela.
Our Take
While The Last Kingdom‘s season 1 was excellent, select episodes of season 2 verge on transcendent. Uhtred’s opening expedition contains a full crew of characters, including Hild, Beocca, Ragnar the Younger, Finan, Steapa and even Aethelwold. Heading into Northumbria, Uhtred is up to his usual shenanigans, seeking ways to retake Bebbanburg instead of specifically following Alfred’s directions.
The “shadow-walker” raid on Erik and Sigefrid’s camp is a wild sequence culminating in a vicious fight between Uhtred and Sigefrid. It’s great to see Uhtred fighting as a skilled but regular guy again (as opposed to his superhero shield wall vaulting at the end of season 1). His severing of Sigefrid’s sword hand feels earned. The following scene shows Eric as a man of his word, setting him up for later events.
Uhtred’s boiling (but unusually contained) rage at Guthred is superb, as is Guthred’s frightened anger and pathetic attempt to apologize to Uhtred. Aethelwold also shines here, managing to keep Uhtred on a path Alfred would approve of. The assault on Kjartan’s stronghold at Dunholm, striking both the main and water gates, is an exciting look at 9th century warfare, with its battering rams, turtle shields and braziers of burning coals.
The courtyard battle is an energetic and engaging sequence that culminates with the centerpiece of this episode: the face-off between Ragnar the Younger and Kjartan. We had seen Uhtred despair over the murder of Earl Ragnar, but very little intense emotion from Ragnar the Younger. That all changes here. After the furious swordfight, Ragnar releases his pent-up fury and sorrow, screaming as he butchers Kjartan’s body in a berserker rage so crazed it even unnerves the battle-loving Vikings who watch. This time, it is Uhtred who comes to Ragnar the Younger’s rescue.
As always, victory in The Last Kingdom comes at a terrible price. Ragnar the Younger achieves his revenge, but both he and Uhtred weep as they see the screaming wreck of what is left of the rescued Thyra. Uhtred bids farewell to Rganar the Younger and Brida, and we will not see them again for the remainder of season 2.
In “Episode Four,” everything comes together. It’s a big, action-packed installment that resolves major storylines and keeps the characters at the center of the drama.
QUOTE: “I don’t want Eoferwic. All I want is Kjartan’s heart on the end of my sword, and to see my sister.” (Ragnar The Younger)