The Last Kingdom

Season three of The Last Kingdom packed a real sense of finality. It felt very much like the closing chapter of a trilogy, finishing the stories of several characters including King Alfred himself, whose complicated relationship with Uhtred of Bebbanburg had been a huge part of this series from the beginning. As a result, season four was poised to be a make or break moment for The Last Kingdom but fortunately the show sticks the landing – with one small wobble.In a manner quite fitting for its protagonist, The Last Kingdom marches fearlessly into this daunting new era with a fast-paced first act. At long last, Uhtred decides to return to Bebbanburg, the land that is his birthright, after hearing it has been weakened by persistent attacks from the Scots. But when things don’t go exactly to plan, he finds himself drawn back into the bloody conflict between Saxons and Danes, as the fate of England hangs in the balance.The Last Kingdom Season 1-5 Download

There’s an abundance of swinging swords and severed heads in this opening salvo, which ends with a brutal and ambitious battle in the fourth episode. Although less than 10 minutes in length, the sequence is undeniably impressive in its scope and fight choreography, with gripping tension and meaningful consequences felt throughout the rest of the season. But in the aftermath of this climactic skirmish, the series feels a little less sure of itself as it plots where to go next.The Last Kingdom has always functioned with multiple antagonists per season, but the transition between them has previously been a lot smoother than what we see here. Instead, there’s a slight delay in establishing the next big threat as focus shifts to political squabbling, which starts to drag as certain characters clash repeatedly on the same issue. Fortunately, the series can ride out this rough patch on the strength of its characters, before pulling together for a strong finale.