10 best The Last Kingdom characters not named Uhtred

No. 7: Haeston (Jeppe Beck Laursen)

Ah, Haeston. In a series filled with characters who were looking after their own best interests, Haeston was a master. He wouldn't even consider a deal unless he benefited handsomely. It didn't matter if he sold out his fellow Danes or used information gleaned from his Saxon contacts; as long as he was taken care of, he was your man.

Haeston was a Dane and mostly hung out with the Dane warlords, usually because if they ever won a battle against the Saxons, he wanted to be on the winning side. He was able to tightrope-walk between the two worlds fairly effectively, mainly because the warlords he'd eventually sell out would die in one gruesome way or another.

By the end of the series, Haeston had survived all the battles and back-stabbing and had settled into a role as a kind of treasure hunter/merchant. Anything to fill his own coffers.

Still, he enjoys one of the biggest moments of redemption of the entire series. Uhtred needs him to go on a mission, against the advice of his closest advisors. The situation would leave plenty of opportunity for betrayal, something Haeston specializes in. Uhtred goes with his gut and sends a reluctant Haeston anyway.

In the end, Haeston has the chance to betray Uhtred, but for once, he does not. He holds true to his word and it costs him his life.

Haeston was an interesting foil for Uhtred. Seldom did he do Uhtred's will without the threat of violence, and several times the Dane had several opportunities to kill our hero but was never able to quite pull it off. Haeston's surprise showing of selflessness in the end was a way to honor an intriguing character.