WiC Watches: The Last Kingdom season 4
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Season 4: “Episode Five”
A repentant Aethelred lingers near death while his ealdormen vie for control of Mercia and Edward uses his niece Aelfwynn as a bargaining chip.
Recap
The grievously wounded Aethelred is brought back to Aylesbury in the questionable care of Eardwulf and Eadith. Uhtred and Aethelflaed arrive at Saltwic to see their respective daughters, Stiorra (Ruby Hartley) and Aelfwynn (Helena Albright), plus Aethelstan. Hearing of Aethelred’s wounding, Uhtred and Aethelflaed worry about a potentially chaotic succession struggle in Mercia. Aethelred apologizes to Aethelflaed for his cruel treatment of her in the past.
Edward arrives in Aylesbury and once he sees Aethelred’s condition he speaks with Aethelflaed about a controlled, pro-Wessex succession. Edward wants to wed Aelfwynn to Aethelred’s successor. Uhtred wants to take Aethelflaed and their children and flee north forever, but Aethelflaed cannot abandon either Mercia or her father’s dream.
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Edward finds himself negotiating with two Mercian eoldermen, the pro-Wessex Ludica (Richard Dillane) and the Wessex-despising Burgred (Dorian Lough). He’s also impressed by Eardwulf, who is Athelhelm’s pick to rule the region.
Aelswith is placed into confinement at Winchester. A changed Aethelred, suffering from an impaired memory, is shocked when told of the cruelties he inflicted before he was wounded at Tettenhall. Edward and Aethelhelm choose Eardwulf as Aethelred’s successor; when Aethelred refuses to allow Eardwulf this honor, Eardwulf murders him (witnessed by Eadith).
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Edward sends troops to bring Aelfwynn from Saltwic and has Aethelflaed confined. Uhtred rides to get to Aelfwynn first. Stiorra and the others hide from Edward’s troops as they search Saltwic, then head north with Uhtred. Eadith springs Aethelflaed from confinement at Aylesbury.
Our Take
In the aftermath of the massive Battle of Tettenhall, the vultures circle in Mercia. Early in “Episode Five” we see Eardwulf and Eadith plotting with disgruntled ealdormen alongside what they believe is Aethelred’s deathbed. Edward is also plotting, fearing that a disgruntled Mercia will select a leader willing to break the alliance with Wessex.
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We’ve moved from the physical battlefield at Tettenhall to the political battlefield, as characters try to sort through the fallout of the decisions made to overcome Cnut; the moves made in the corridors of power are just as risky as the swing of the blade and the axe.
“Episode Five” establishes our new cast of power players. The ambitious Aethelhelm all but owns King Edward’s ear, secretly working to assure his grandson’s ascension to the throne. Having replaced Beocca, the good Father Pyrlig carries messages for the besieged Aelswith and Aethelflaed. With Edward and Aethelhelm supporting Eardwulf as the next lord of a stumbling Mercia, Uhtred and Aethelflaed find themselves and their children on the run.
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Again, the female characters play a major role despite the efforts of many to sideline them. Eadith is as good a grifter to her brother Eardwulf, but her dismay at his viciousness inspires her to aid Aethelflaed. Eadith’s streak of decency and believable allegiance to Aethelflaed will surely complicate Eardwulf’s life. Even under confinement, Aelswith finds ways to carry out her plans in defiance of Edward. And Stiorra sure seems to take after her adventurous father.
“Episode Five” finds The Last Kingdom in flux, and does a great job of exploring the reshuffling power scenarios while still threatening our heroes with danger.
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Farewell, Aethelred.