The Last Kingdom Awards: MVP, Best Newcomer, Best Death and more!

Season 4 of The Last Kingdom landed on Netflix at the end of April, and now that we’ve all hopefully had enough time to enjoy it several times through, it’s time to unveil our best-of awards! From Best Newcomer to Most Shocking Death, we’re here to recognize the season’s biggest moments. Destiny is all!

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

Most Underrated Last Kingdom character: Haesten 

Whether he was goading Cnut or Uhtred, the devious Haesten was always fun to watch. Where most of his Viking kin exude hostility, Jeppe Beck Laursen infused Haesten with a playfulness not seen in many of the other characters. Equally capable of hanging you from a tree or inviting you to tea, Haesten might not have been on the forefront of things, but we enjoyed watching him flit about in the background.

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

Best Newcomer: Sigtryggr

Like Haesten, Sigtryggr was a Dane of a different kind. Cunning, calculating, as well as fearsome, Sigtryggr not only wiped the Welsh off the map, but also managed to capture Winchester in just a few episodes. Eysteinn Sigurðarson played Sigtryggr with calm confidence, rarely showing the emotional outbursts his Viking kin are known for, and we’re excited to see where his budding relationship with Uhtred’s daughter Stiorra goes in season 5.

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

Worst Newcomer: Eardwulf

Always by Aethelred’s side, there was little to like about Eardwulf in season 4. From pimping out his sister Eadith to murdering random messengers before eventually betraying Wessex, Eardwulf was rotten to the core. Even murdering Aethelred didn’t earn Eardwulf any points since the former was already dying, and we’re not sad Eardwulf himself met his doom before season 4 ended. Jamie Blackley played his death brilliantly, but we say good riddance to Eardwulf.

Just The Worst: Aethelred

On a show packed with villains, it’s hard to choose just one who we couldn’t stand, but Toby Regbo managed to outshine his peers as the utterly cruel and amoral Aethelred. From his go awful crown to his refusal to wear a shirt with a proper neckline, anytime Aethelred was on screen, we felt our skin crawl and our eyes roll.

Aethelred’s few good moments came in his final scenes with Aethelflaed, when Regbo revealed a more vulnerable side to the exceedingly cruel ruler of Mercia.

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

Best Wingman: Finan

We thought about giving this honor to Aldhelm, Aethelflaed’s right hand, but considering the support Finan gives Uhtred after Father Beocca’s death, he had to take this one. Finan guided Uhtred through his grief without letting him lose his way, as well as helping Uhtred break through to his pious son young Uhtred. Everyone could use a hype man like Finan, and Uhtred has long benefited from the Irishman’s friendship. Special shout out to Mark Rowley for making Finan’s evolution from a happy-go-lucky sidekick to an emotionally stalwart friend so believable and compelling.

Image: The Last Kingdom season 4/Netflix

Best Hair: Sihtric

Uhtred might be rocking a pretty solid do, but Sihtric overstepped his lord with that half-shaved undercut thing he has going on. We’re not sure if Uhtred’s gang are all secretly barbers, but these guys always look their best no matter how dire their circumstances, and Sihtric’s new cut was not lost on us.

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

Best Turnaround: Aelswith

Hard to believe, but we actually found ourselves cheering for Aelswith on more than one occasion this season. Eliza Butterworth has always been a supremely talented actress, but Aelswith was always messing with poor Uhtred, so it was hard to like her. But with Alfred gone, Aelswith was forced to see the consequences of her actions, and seeing her work through her inner turmoil was very compelling. Hopefully Aelswith makes it to season 5, because we are so here for this new version of the character.

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Most in Need of a Slap: King Edward

Edward never committed any outright evil acts, and in most cases we could at least understand some of his reasoning, but by the gods we wanted to slap the King of Wessex on more than one occasion. From initially refusing to aid Aethelflaed to flinging his troops at the gates of Wessex, Edward always seemed to make the decision for the situation. Edward is new at this, and Timothy Innes played him well, but we’re really hoping Edward gains some wisdom before season 5.

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

Best Scene: Aethelred and Aethelflaed’s reconciliation

“Reconciliation” might be a strong word to describe what happened between Aethelred and Aethelflaed on her deathbed, but it still ended up being our favorite scene. It was hard to deny the emotional truth the two performers brought to the moment. Their marriage was marked by pain, betrayal, and outright murder plots, and yet when Aethelred lowers his guard in his final hours, it was hard not to feel for him. We’re not sorry he’s gone, but we didn’t celebrate like we’d be planning for three seasons, thanks entirely to this one scene.

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

Best Battle: Tettenhall

Bigger, louder, and bloodier than anything we’d seen yet so far, Tettenhall was a lot of fun. From the Welsh to the Danes, to Wessex and Mercia, this was an all-out battle royale, and we loved every minute of it. Sure, it might have been the season’s only proper battle, but that doesn’t take away from its strengths, and we hope to see more battle scenes like this in season 5.

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

Best Death: Aelfric

Although it didn’t happen at Uhtred’s hand like we’d been hoping since the first episode, Aelfric dying at the hands of his own son Wihtgar has a certain poetic justice to it. Joseph Millson might not have been around every episode of the series, but we enjoyed his time as Uhtred’s dastardly uncle, even if we weren’t sad to Aelfric go.

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

Worst Death: Beocca

Beocca’s death hit us like a boulder tumbling down a mountain, and just like Uhtred, we were left wondering where we go from here. Beocca had always been Uhtred’s strongest supporter, and to see him left behind in the mud as Uhtred flees Bebbanburg was a hard pill to swallow. Losing actor Ian Hart makes Beocca’s death even harder to take, but Beocca went out in the most Beocca way possible: protecting Uhtred’s son, and we’re glad we have that to hold on to, especially considering what Wihtgar allegedly did with the body.

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

Best Ruler: Aethelflaed

Aethelflaed might have not have become a ruler in name until late in the season, but her leadership throughout season 4 was incredibly steady. From rescuing Mercia from Danes to rebuilding the country, Aethelflaed’s flag was one you wanted to follow. Millie Brady played Aethelflaed with an unflappable sense of resolve, and Aethelflaed was one of the first rulers to completely trust Uhtred, always a wise move.

While Edward might need some time to find his stride, Aethelflaed has already found hers, and we stan the Lady of Mercia.

Image: The Last Kingdom/Netflix

Most Valuable Player: Uhtred son of Uhtred

Like Michael Jordan in his prime, no one will take this award while Uhred is still around. Uhtred remains the driver of the show, influencing events from Mercia to Wessex and all the way north to Bebbanburg, so it’s not a stretch to dub him the show’s MVP.

Alexander Dreymon brought an uncertainty and vulnerability to the role this season, and it was interesting to not only see Uhtred deal with loss, but also with being a father. No matter what happens come season 5, we’re sure Uhtred will be right in the middle of things, and we can’t wait to see it.

Of course, these are our completely arbitrary awards, so feel free to leave your thoughts below! Until season 5, destiny is all, arselings!

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