WiC Watches: The Last Kingdom season 4
Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix
Season 4: “Episode Three”
Uhtred suffers an unbearable loss in his attack on Bebbanburg but takes some valuable captives in his retreat south. Aethelflaed prepares for war.
Recap
Picking up where the “Episode Two” cliffhanger left off, Wihtgar shows his ruthlessness by attempting to murder the Young Uhtred before he executes Uhtred himself, but Beocca throws his body in front of the crossbow bolt. He dies. Uhtred goes berserk but Finan manages to get him back to the boat with the rest of the company.
In Winchester, Edward debates sending the soldiers of Wessex to support Mercia against Cnut’s invasion, then decides to wait for Aethelred to return. Defying Edward, Aethelflaed heads to Mercia to raise her fyrds, but she will need Edward’s help.
Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix
Uhtred and company are shipwrecked; Finan works to find a way home while Uhtred is immobilized in mourning. Cnut assembles the Danes. Aethelred continues to lounge in East Anglia. Edward is enraged when he learns of Aethelflaed’s plan. Uhtred falls into a deep depression, saying he is “nothing,” but Finan brings him out of it. Aethelhelm advises Edward to abandon Aethelflaed in Mercia. Realizing he was tricked by Haesten, Eardwulf murders the messenger bringing the bad news of Mercia’s fall to Aethelred.
Uhtred runs into Haesten and learns that Cnut emboldened Aethelwold to murder Ragnar. Uhtred abducts Cnut’s sons. Eadith tries to seduce Aethelred but receives abuse. Uhtred and Young Uhtred bond over the memory of Gisela. Aethelflaed arrives in the ruins of Aylesbury. Aelswith decides to ask the Welsh to assist Aethelflaed. Uhtred arrives in Aylesbury to help Aethelflaed, but the Danes are on the move.
Our Take
What a devastating, brilliant episode!
One of the things I’ve always liked (and dreaded) about The Last Kingdom is its willingness to kill off major characters, even beloved ones. “Episode Three” hits us early on with the heroic death of Beocca, a character primed for martyrdom since the loss of his beloved Thyra, and who was replaced at the Winchester court by Father Pyrlig.
Beocca’s death is a major blow to fans, and unexpected. We were looking forward to seeing Beocca participate in Uhtred’s adventures through season 4 and beyond. Ian Hart’s portrayal of the father-figure priest loyal to Uhtred was always superb, and the bond between Beocca and Uhtred was one of the oldest and warmest on the show. Farewell, brave Beocca. You shall be missed.
Uhtred’s recovery of Bebbanburg was never going to be easy or painless, and now he’s been driven away with Beocca’s dead body lying in the courtyard. It’s a tragic sequence and The Last Kingdom makes sure we have time to not only experience Uhtred’s rage but also his deep sadness. Without the loyal Finan’s insistence on dragging Uhtred out of Bebbanburg castle, Uhtred’s emotional meltdown would have ended with himself and his entire company getting killed. It’s great to see Finan getting lots of screen time — he’s Uhtred’s right-hand man and always fun to watch, and his brotherly scenes bolstering the traumatized Uhtred are tender and tear-inducing.
So Uhtred is going through it in this one. And with Aelfric gone, it looks like Uhtred is primed to despise the villainous Wihtgar. Uhtred’s rage always simmers under the surface. Here, we see it unleashed on Haesten and brought to a boil when he learns of Cnut’s participation in Ragnar’s murder; we also see angry Uhtred slip into questionable-ethics-decision-making mode when he abducts Cnut’s sons. Uhtred is primed for bloody battle once again, and much of it is fueled by the dark side of his heart.
King Edward is on an interesting path this season; gone is the idealistic lad who gladly stood alongside Uhtred, replaced by a young man overwhelmed by the responsibilities of kingship who relies too heavily on the advice of one counselor, Aethelhelm, and who largely ignores his mother Aelswith. It feels like Edward is destined to make a big mistake.
The female characters work their agendas regardless of rank, with Aelswith verging on sedition in her attempt to keep Alfred’s dream of England alive, Eadith striving to escape her family’s disgrace and Aethelflaed refusing to leave Mercia unprotected. Finally, it’s great to see Young Uhtred finally warming up to his father, though we know the relationship will be a rocky one.
Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix
Did I say “what a devastating, brilliant episode,” before? I really meant it. From the agonies of loss to the power of friendships, to the equally vile and virtuous political maneuverings of different people in power, “Episode Three” is a magnificent journey in itself.