This blog is for those who have watched the fourth episode of series two of The Last Kingdom. Please try and avoid book spoilers in the comments. See here to catch up on the episode three recap.
What a cracker of an episode: well paced, filled with incident and great lines and building to a tense, satisfying conclusion. The only slightly odd thing was that it felt more like a finale than the series midpoint (as it would do, given it marked the conclusion to Bernard Cornwell’s third book, The Lords of the North). Still that’s a small complaint in a gripping episode that was tightly scripted by Sophie Petzal and well acted by all involved, in particular Ian Hart as Father Beocca, Tobias Santelmann as Ragnar the Younger and Julia Bache-Wiig as Thyra.
“All I want is Kjartan’s heart on the edge of my sword and to see my sister”
Uhtred took more of a back seat this week, although his confrontation with Guthred was suitably furious and his Danish side was to the fore for most of the episode. Instead, this week was all about the conclusion to the long-standing feud between Ragnar, Uhtred and Kjartan and, more importantly, the fate of their long-imprisoned sister Thrya. The siege of Dunholm was nicely done (I am particularly fond of the battle scenes on this show; they’re always messy and brutish and never a foregone conclusion) as was Kjartan’s dejection on realising it was all for nothing if Sven was dead and gone.
The two best scenes of the night, however, involved Ragnar and Thyra. The first, the violent duel between Kjartan and Ragnar, saw the latter so lost in revenge that his bloodlust left the formerly cheering spectators’ faces slowly turning to revulsion, pity and horror. The second saw poor Thyra offered solace by Father Beocca after her rejection of her brothers. Ian Hart is wonderful in this role – there was a quiet majesty to the way he stopped her setting her dogs on Ragnar and Uhtred, while his simple words afterwards – “You have shown incredible strength Thyra, I would say God-given” – were both necessary and heartfelt.
“You are his man. You more than anyone will bring about his dream of an England”
Alfred was largely absent this week, but his spirit hung heavy over the action as both Aethelwold and Uhtred found their paths guided by him. The former was on particularly fine form, tossing out the one-liners (“This is madness, the rightful king of Wessex helping to avenge the death of a big hairy Viking!”) and snarking from the sidelines. Yet Aethelwold has matured since the last series. He was right that his speech to Uhtred was that of a king, and right too about where Sigefrid’s tent would be. Most of all he seems more self-assured – maybe Alfred will make a king of him yet. As for Uhtred: after spending most of the episode nurturing his violent side, he fell down on the side of caution, abandoning his quest to retake Bebbanburg and preparing to return to Wessex and his new wife Gisela, although it should be noted that he ignored Aethelwold (and by extension Alfred) and left Ragnar in charge at Dunholm. “I need peace for a time,” he told his brother. There’s no doubt that after the turbulence of the last couple of episodes that’s true, but Alfred was also right when he described Uhtred as someone who will “always be restless”. I doubt the last four episodes of this series will see our man settling down to have children and farm pigs.
“Why not kill the brothers, then the turd and take Eoforwic for yourself?”
I was delighted to have Brida back. Her ripostes with Beocca were highly entertaining and her bloodthirstiness remains a thing of joy. That said, the moment when she quietly pleaded with Ragnar to stop was a touching one – and it was interesting to see her slowly realise the true cost of all that blood she’s always itching to spill. The confrontation between Uhtred and Guthred was similarly well handled – although the tentative king of Northumbria continues to bemuse me. Can he really believe that Uhtred, the man he sold into slavery, is his closest friend? He seems to be one of those people so unsure about his own personality and beliefs that he constantly shifts to please others, ending up pleasing nobody instead.
Additional notes
This was an episode very much concerned with loyalty and sibling bonds – most notably when Erik chose to give up Northumbria for the wounded Sigefrid.
Uhtred might have laughed but I wouldn’t rule out Sigefrid getting revenge even with one hand. Self-styled Lords of Chaos don’t tend to go gently into the night.
Hild has moved her cross from inside to outside, presumably as a response to Uhtred’s murder of the Abbot. Interesting. She’s still a superb killing machine though.
Finan continues to make inroads into my heart with his casual one-liners and willingness to put himself on the line.
I was entertained that Brida has also appropriated the word arseling in reference to Uhtred. Oh Leofric, I miss you still.
Hopefully the next couple of episodes will give us a chance to get to know Gisela better. She’s still a bit of a cipher.
Violence count
One attack on Erik and Sigefrid resulting in several dead Danes, one bloody, bruised Uhtred and the loss of Sigefrid’s hand, which was subsequently cauterised in the flames. One disdainful slapping of Guthred (who frankly deserved it), one attack on Dunholm resulting in several dead on both sides, the eventual bloody death in combat of Kjartan and the brutal end of Sven of the sparkling eyepatch, mauled to death by Thyra’s dogs.
Quote of the week
“No Thyra, I forbid it. Please, please hold out your hands. Let me help you.” Father Beocca demonstrates why he’s the only priest Uhtred trusts.
So what did you think? Was it a satisfactory conclusion to the Ragnar/Kjartan feud? Were you happy to see Brida back? What about Aethelwold? And what trouble will Uhtred find himself in next? As ever, all speculation and no spoilers welcome below…
