Every single episode of The Last Kingdom, ranked worst to best
(22) SEASON 2: “EPISODE ONE”
“Sent north by Alfred to ransom enslaved king Guthred, Beocca seeks help from Uhtred, who makes a new allegiance in his quest for vengeance.”
Recap
Alfred considers a mate for Aethelflaed and learns of a startling prophesy: in a vision, Abbot Eadred of Cumbraland has seen the holy Saint Cuthbert, who told him of a Christian savior of both Saxons and Danes named Guthred. Meanwhile, the Viking warlord brothers Sigefrid and Eric, having taken Eoferwic (York), have led their army north to raid Scotland, leaving the city in the hands of Haesten. The priests and townsfolk rise up and retake the city.
Uhtred runs into Beocca, who is leading Alfred’s mission north to ransom the slave Guthred from a slavemaster in Kjartan’s territory. Seeing an opportunity to win Guthred’s trust, Uhtred joins them. Guthred is rescued and taken to Cumbraland, where Abbot Eadred confuses him with Uhtred. We catch a glimpse of a grown-up Thyra, now Sven’s half-mad prisoner, kept in a cell full of dogs in Dunholm. Guthred is sworn in as King of Cumbraland over the decayed corpse of St. Cuthbert. Uhtred meets Gisela. Kjartan plots to kill Guthred and Uhtred.
Our Take
One of the show’s slower-moving episodes, “Episode One” still covers plenty of ground as it sets up new storylines. We meet Aethelflaed, Steapa (the late Leofric’s replacement), Brother Trew, Sigefrid, Eric, Halig, Haesten, Guthred and Gisela. But this installment is all about the introduction of the Danish slave turned-holy king Guthred, who will have a major part to play in the first half of the season.
This episode tempers the growing bonds of trust between Uhtred, Hild and Halig. Uhtred devises a plan to frighten the superstitious pagan Sven when Guthred’s ransom is delivered. Uhtred and his compatriots, disguised as spooky wraiths (“dead horsemen”), raid the Viking camp on horseback, terrifying the Danes. It’s a fun sequence, if a bit farfetched.
Uhtred and Hild in The last Kingdom
The cinematography is gorgeous, as always; Uhtred, Hild and Helig’s ride to Eoferwic in particular is a thing of beauty. The show also lets itself get playful here, what with Beocca’s leper-cart, Alfred and Aelswith’s politically-themed sex romp and some sweet flirtation between Uhtred and Hild. Guthred’s royal oath ceremony, taken on the crumbly corpse of St. Cuthbert, is kinda weird but interesting. “Viva Rex Guthred!”
While Uhtred is in deep mourning over the loss of Iseult at the beginning of the episode, he’s quickly warming up to Gisela by the end. Actor David Schofield’s turn as Abbot Eadred is delightfully scummy, and his character’s distrust of Uhtred will cause much misery later on.
QUOTE: “Who you are, lord, is defined by what you do. What you have done has given you a reputation. A reputation is not a shield.” (Hild, to Uhtred)