'THE LAST KINGDOM'
9TH CENTURY EPIC TV SERIES
To end our period set projects weekend in a regal way, here's a spotlight on BBC America's new historical series THE LAST KINGDOM
which is to bring 9th century into your Saturday evenings when it starts airing October 10th! Adapted from Bernard Cornwell’s “The Saxon Stories,” THE LAST KINGDOM sees many of the separate kingdoms of what we now know as England under invading Vikings, with only the great Kingdom of Wessex standing defiant under its visionary King Alfred the Great (David Dawson).
which is to bring 9th century into your Saturday evenings when it starts airing October 10th! Adapted from Bernard Cornwell’s “The Saxon Stories,” THE LAST KINGDOM sees many of the separate kingdoms of what we now know as England under invading Vikings, with only the great Kingdom of Wessex standing defiant under its visionary King Alfred the Great (David Dawson).
BRAVE PRINCE UHTRED
Our main hero is Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon). Born the son of a Saxon nobleman, he is orphaned by the Vikings and then kidnapped and raised as one of their own. Forced to choose between the country of his
birth and
the people of his upbringing, his loyalties are ever tested. What is he
— Saxon or Viking? On a quest to claim his birthright, Uhtred must
tread a dangerous path between both sides if he is to play his part in
the birth of a new nation and, ultimately, recapture his ancestral
lands!
Our main hero is Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon). Born the son of a Saxon nobleman, he is orphaned by the Vikings and then kidnapped and raised as one of their own. Forced to choose between the country of his
birth and
the people of his upbringing, his loyalties are ever tested. What is he
— Saxon or Viking? On a quest to claim his birthright, Uhtred must
tread a dangerous path between both sides if he is to play his part in
the birth of a new nation and, ultimately, recapture his ancestral
lands!
LORD UHTRED OF BEBBANBURG
Uhtred’s father, Lord Uhtred (Matthew MacFadyen), is a formidable fighter and ruler of the kingdom of Bebbanburg in Northumbria. He is a 
serious and rather distant man whose commitments to Bebbanburg leave little time for his two sons. Young Uhtred struggles to win his father’s affection and approval.
serious and rather distant man whose commitments to Bebbanburg leave little time for his two sons. Young Uhtred struggles to win his father’s affection and approval.
KING ALFRED THE GREAT
As the King who dreamt of uniting the separate kingdoms of England, Alfred (David Dawson) has integrity and is a thinker, master strategist, yet troubled by poor health. A man of great wisdom, he is
committed to
the power of the written word and the spread of Christianity. Even
Uhtred, who first sees Alfred as a humourless nit-picker, grows to
admire the man who will become known as King Alfred the Great.
As the King who dreamt of uniting the separate kingdoms of England, Alfred (David Dawson) has integrity and is a thinker, master strategist, yet troubled by poor health. A man of great wisdom, he is
committed to
the power of the written word and the spread of Christianity. Even
Uhtred, who first sees Alfred as a humourless nit-picker, grows to
admire the man who will become known as King Alfred the Great.
FEARLESS WARRIOR BRIDA
Alongside Uhtred, Brida (Emily Cox) is captured as a child and raised by Danes. Brida and Uhtred’s similar fates bind them as kindred spirits; 
the two become best friends. Fearless, gutsy, outspoken, and a born fighter, Brida immediately feels at home in the boisterous world of the Danes.
the two become best friends. Fearless, gutsy, outspoken, and a born fighter, Brida immediately feels at home in the boisterous world of the Danes.
FEROCIOUS WARRIOR UBBA
The most senior ranking Dane, Ubba (Rune Temte) is loud, brash, violent, playful and a little unhinged. A ferocious warrior, Uhtred is
warned as a boy never to fight Ubba, but fate may dictate that he must.
Ubba’s weakness is his superstition and his reliance on his sorcerer
Storri.
The most senior ranking Dane, Ubba (Rune Temte) is loud, brash, violent, playful and a little unhinged. A ferocious warrior, Uhtred is
warned as a boy never to fight Ubba, but fate may dictate that he must.
Ubba’s weakness is his superstition and his reliance on his sorcerer
Storri.
RAGNAR THE YOUNGER
Uhtred’s Danish brother Ragnar the Younger (Tobias Santelmann) is handsome, brave, loyal and fair. Ragnar embodies the Viking way of 
life for Uhtred — freedom, passion, challenge and adventure…a world away from the strictures of Alfred’s court.
life for Uhtred — freedom, passion, challenge and adventure…a world away from the strictures of Alfred’s court.
THE BLIND POET RAVN
Ravn (Rutger Hauer), is a ‘skald’ (a Viking poet and wise man). Given his considerable life experience, he is philosophical about the struggles
of the Danes and is able to impart his wisdom to young Uhtred,
who often acts as the eyes of blind Ravn.
Ravn (Rutger Hauer), is a ‘skald’ (a Viking poet and wise man). Given his considerable life experience, he is philosophical about the struggles
of the Danes and is able to impart his wisdom to young Uhtred,
who often acts as the eyes of blind Ravn.
AELFRIC THE USURPER
Aelfric (Joseph Millson) is Uhtred’s uncle and usurper of the throne of Bebbanburg. Aelfric is unscrupulous, scheming and power hungry. 
He sees Uhtred as a barrier to his claim on Bebbanburg and is committed to his demise.
He sees Uhtred as a barrier to his claim on Bebbanburg and is committed to his demise.
I liked your character descriptions. That alone intrigues me:)
ReplyDeleteHope you won't miss the series next month :)
DeleteOoh, that top poster is 'nom-nom-nom'.
ReplyDeletevery much so
Delete"The Last Kingdom" looks like my kinda series! I hope to be able to see it somewhere. I don't get BBC America so maybe PBS will pick it up? I just can seem to get enough of vikings, LOL.
ReplyDeleteHope it airs somewhere for you in Canada! There are always Torrents :)
DeletePlease, please, please be as good as the books and don't muck it up!!
ReplyDeletefingers crossed!
DeleteI haven't seen Rutger Haur in so very long it seems. He was so handsome when he was young. Those blond good looks and piercing eyes. I look forward to seeing him work again. And this sounds like a fun role to play.
ReplyDeleteAnother good historical for us to look forward to it seems.
He kinda scared me when me was lil' dear :) I still remember him in LADYHAWK! Of course, not as much as Klaus Kinski did :) The nightmares....
DeleteOh I'm so sorry he scared you darling. I found him to be quite fetching. Not so much now though :0)
Deleteyes, he's gone old :) It is fun watching how they discover all those older actors to play in series after they forgot them... I'm currently watching ITV's HOME FIRES (I will save them for you) and Jessica Anis is leading... haven't seen her in anything since DUNE!
DeleteI'm intrigued by the story line! I'm writing this one down to add to my watch list!
ReplyDeletestarts tha weekend after the next one! Which will be a busy one since REIGN and THE WALKING DEAD also return then.
DeleteOh I must see this one!!! I feel like I know the characters already. Lol
ReplyDeleteand we do love them all actors in it,... half of them follows us at Twitter :)
DeleteSee...you ARE famous. ;)
Deletelike totally!
DeleteThis definitely sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteagreed!
DeleteAs I looked through these pictures, I couldn't help but notice how gray and brown they all looked. Are these cameras using special filters, or are the settings just that devoid of color?
ReplyDeletethey do live in gray and gloomy and muddy regions!
DeleteThese pictures depress me. Yep.
ReplyDeleteI know, it wasn't a cheerful time living in the dark ages
DeleteWorse than we can ever imagine.
Deletenot that we live in lawful society
DeleteNot.
Deletesadly
DeleteHmmm.. if these pics depress you, you don't get it. Some things were worse, some better. Every era is unique. People had to be tough, but there was a lot of beauty. I see those pics and I just want to go there! The series so far is fantastic. Alexander Dreymon is giving a stunning performance, and all the cast is good.
ReplyDeleteDreymon is quite delightful to watch and so is David Dawson who radiates with charisma and authority. The females are terribly miscast, and I would agree with most people who say the show is interesting but lacking in visual identity. We've seen too many UK, European historical shows in recent years and they were all visually stunning as well which cannot be said by the shaky camera, bad angles, visionless direction, lack of creativity and uninspired costumes in this one... but still worth a watch. Too bad Matthew MacFadyen was killed in the first ep.
Delete