Posted on 02/13/2021 9:50:06 AM PST by rfreedom4u
I saw a couple episodes of The Last Kingdom on Netflix at my daughter's house. No chance of seeing it at home as I have no television or cable. It was actually very good. I learned later that it was based on a series of books by Bernard Cornwell.
It's about a Northrumbrian man who was captured as a child by Danes and raised by them. His lifelong goal is to retake his homeland from his uncle who usurped his title.
“I am Uhtred, son of Uhtred.”
Is this a rendition of “Hamlet?”
Not really like Hamlet.
I really enjoyed Bernard Cornwell’s King Arthur books as well. I didn’t know about about The Last Kingdom show, I’ll have to check that out! Thanks for the tip.
It’s good.
Haven’t read the books, but saw all 4 seasons of the show. Well worth watching! I rented some of it from my local library.
When I first saw the series I didn't care for the casting choice for Uhtred (too soft) but as the seasons have progressed he's grown into the role.
I just finished #6, The Death of Kings. Absolutely love the book series and the tv series. Cornwell is one of my favorite authors. His novel on Agincourt was amazing!
More historical. Think King Alfred vs the Vikings. The main character is an “I was there” sort, embedded in larger events.
Of course Uhtred being a Pagan in an increasingly Christian Englaland works against him. A wonderful series. I too have read all of them and can’t wait for the next one.
Look at all of Bernard Cornwell’s historical novels. They are all spellbinding.
You’re welcome! If there’s both books and show/movie I usually have to watch the show/movie before reading the book. If I don’t I get perturbed that the show/movie leaves things out.
I agree.
I’ve watched it several times. Love it.
Agreed, he's a great writer and ripping yarns. I've read all of his medieval era books and love them. I'm less interested in the age of sail or Napoleonic wars so I haven't and likely won't read that stuff. But his Sharpe's series is probably his greatest success so I guess I'm missing out by avoiding it.
Eatched the 1st two seasons.
I'd say more than that, he's the straw that stirs the drink in those great affairs of state. But because he's a pagan he knows that he will never get credit and that the histories and chronicles will never mention his name. Not that there is much surving history from that period anyway. But that's the gimmick Cornwell uses to aswer the question 'how come we've never heard of this guy if he's so important?'
Uhtred is not just a soldier, he's more like a general who makes it all happen. With one exception: Corwell obviously respects Alfred the Great and allows him to retain his own battlefield accomplishments with Uhtred in a secondary role for those.
Main characters do get killed off (unusual for a series) and the primary character Uhtred is portrayed warts and all with the mores of the time. For example, having been humiliated by Alfred, he comes home to find a peasant stealing a tree from his estate and rides him down and kills him with his sword in front of the peasant's family.
All in all very good drama and it pulls you in. I found Season 4 to drop-off in quality a little. The Last Kingdom and The Expanse are the two best series right now.
i didn’t like how they all died in the end.
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