First of all, the atmosphere was right on spot. The autumn-winter, the music, the dialogue.....everything was heartbreaking....every stone, every tune, every face. It's an episode that teach us how to value a character that was always overlooked. It's probably one of the turning points of this season. At the end of the episode, no one was left untouched. Everyone was hurt, everyone was sad. I loved this episode. It successfully brought a feeling that neither Vikings or any medieval tv series made me feel. I watched it twice before proceeding with episode 5 just for the sake of the feelings.
10 Reviews
In my feels
Calicodreamin10 March 2022
Gganbu for T.L.K. Fans
bbevis-4795411 March 2022
All that is great about this show
antonyshowman13 March 2022
Millie Brady shines...
bruno-costa10 April 2022
TLK is a solid show. This season lacks the norse terrifying antagonist, like Ubba, Skade, Skorpa, Cnut and the brothers from Norway. Brida and Stiorra's husband did not deliver the needed tension... but the season justified itself in this episode, because Millie Brady delivered a great performance. She was always good, but this is her season, she stole the show from the beginning of this season and performed imensely well on this episode. She is great and I wish see her more.
How to adapt history to tell a great story
RetroRick7 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
With episode 4 this season finally comes into its own. The death of Athaelflaed is poignant & comes with unwelcome speed both for the characters who care for her & for the viewers. Her death is more than poignant though as she is Queen of Wessex, with a daughter for an heir and the ambition to put her on the throne to succeed her. Her death in other words will affect the lives of those around her whether they loved her or not.
It is here that the show does something interesting. If this were not the final season it's quite possible that the daughter, flighty but brought to her senses by the end of the episode, would have been shown as ascending to the Wessex throne as she did in fact in history. Instead the writers excise that two year period and have Edward take the throne before there arises any need to depose her.
In the event this is done brilliantly & in a way that both reveals character and shocks us. Reading up on this period - superficially at least - the current consensus among historians of the period appears that though Athaelflaed has always been considered a great queen, Edward it seems has been unfairly neglected & under-rated.
To some extent then we might wonder whether his portrayal in the Last Kingdom is intended as a rehabilitation of sorts. Edward is shown as a generally wise, if not imperfect king, as sensitive to the subtleties of court politics as he is to relations with the Danes & other Kingdoms. In the Last Season he has always been one of the good guys. What the ending shows us is that if indeed he has been unfairly neglected it may have been because he was capable of taking hard & arguably cold & cruel decisions. What we learn of Edward takes everyone aback. It is a sad but realistic conclusion to his apparently beloved sister's hope for Wessex's survival under the tutelage of her young daughter. It's almost as though being a 'good' king may not primarily be about being a nice one.....although he reverts to the norm quickly enough.
The other good thing about this episode is the unpopular Brida strand of the story takes a break, at least for the moment. This too is done well, and makes the last half of this episode a peculiarly contemplative affair, leaving the viewer a little bit disoriented & uncertain as to the direction this season will take.
The cartoon characters are gone, and that's a good thing.
It is here that the show does something interesting. If this were not the final season it's quite possible that the daughter, flighty but brought to her senses by the end of the episode, would have been shown as ascending to the Wessex throne as she did in fact in history. Instead the writers excise that two year period and have Edward take the throne before there arises any need to depose her.
In the event this is done brilliantly & in a way that both reveals character and shocks us. Reading up on this period - superficially at least - the current consensus among historians of the period appears that though Athaelflaed has always been considered a great queen, Edward it seems has been unfairly neglected & under-rated.
To some extent then we might wonder whether his portrayal in the Last Kingdom is intended as a rehabilitation of sorts. Edward is shown as a generally wise, if not imperfect king, as sensitive to the subtleties of court politics as he is to relations with the Danes & other Kingdoms. In the Last Season he has always been one of the good guys. What the ending shows us is that if indeed he has been unfairly neglected it may have been because he was capable of taking hard & arguably cold & cruel decisions. What we learn of Edward takes everyone aback. It is a sad but realistic conclusion to his apparently beloved sister's hope for Wessex's survival under the tutelage of her young daughter. It's almost as though being a 'good' king may not primarily be about being a nice one.....although he reverts to the norm quickly enough.
The other good thing about this episode is the unpopular Brida strand of the story takes a break, at least for the moment. This too is done well, and makes the last half of this episode a peculiarly contemplative affair, leaving the viewer a little bit disoriented & uncertain as to the direction this season will take.
The cartoon characters are gone, and that's a good thing.
Step 1 reduce Bridas screentime, Step 2 Profit
naveenmanik30 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Edward was incredible this episode. Even though the character relationships between uhtred and his group and Aethelstan have gotten weak this was still a massive improvement from the garbage that was the first 2 episodes of season 5. Speaks for itself.
We all cry, what an episode
joeNL3119 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I have never seen an episode of any series had this of an impact on me. I am a man of 31 years old. But the most of this episode i cried like a little baby, this was so emotional and so good acted of all of them.
But especially the actor's that play Lord Uhtred and lady Aethelflæd's have done the impossible thing. They should recieve an emmy or an award for this play. Overal the series me is a 9,5 out of a ten for me.
The only part not really needed in the series is the the massive time brida whining. She is always so upset. The one who should be upset is Uhtred.
I am very curious in what will Come next i already saw some good ratings. But i canot imagine that it wil get any better than this.
But especially the actor's that play Lord Uhtred and lady Aethelflæd's have done the impossible thing. They should recieve an emmy or an award for this play. Overal the series me is a 9,5 out of a ten for me.
The only part not really needed in the series is the the massive time brida whining. She is always so upset. The one who should be upset is Uhtred.
I am very curious in what will Come next i already saw some good ratings. But i canot imagine that it wil get any better than this.
This episode made me cry.
Scar3816 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I'm a grown man of 48, and seeing Aethelflaed slip away really got to me, not only because she was a great character, but because Millie Brady is such a brilliant actress, and I'll miss her, her exit from the show has taken something away from the rest of the series for me.
The rest of this episode was a blur, so god knows what happened.
The rest of this episode was a blur, so god knows what happened.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
