Uhtred of Bebbanburg is a mess. Let’s just start there. He’s impulsive, he’s frequently his own worst enemy, and he spends about five seasons screaming at the sky because his life is a constant tug-of-war between two different worlds. That’s exactly why we love him. Most historical dramas give us these shiny, untouchable statues of "great men" from history. But the characters of The Last Kingdom feel like people you’d actually meet at a pub—provided that pub was in 9th-century Northumbria and everyone was covered in mud and goat blood.
What Bernard Cornwell started in the Saxon Stories and what Netflix eventually brought to life is a masterclass in identity crisis. It isn't just a show about Vikings hitting Saxons with axes. It's a show about people who don't know where they belong. You’ve got Saxons who want to be Danes, Danes who find themselves respecting Saxon law, and a king who is basically a walking spreadsheet trying to invent a country out of thin air.
The Uhtred Problem: More Than Just a Sword
Uhtred is the engine. Born a Saxon noble, raised as a Dane, he is the ultimate outsider. People often compare him to Jon Snow, but honestly, Uhtred has way more personality. He’s arrogant. He makes mistakes that cost lives. The beauty of his character arc isn't just his quest to reclaim Bebbanburg; it’s the way his worldview shifts. He starts out hating Alfred’s "pious" vision of England and ends up being the only person capable of making it happen.
He’s a man of "wyrd." Fate is inexorable. That philosophy shapes every single thing he does. When he loses Brida, or when he loses Iseult, it isn't just drama for the sake of a plot twist. It’s a crushing weight that adds up over decades. By the time we get to the film Seven Kings Must Die, you can see the exhaustion in his eyes. He isn't the young hothead anymore. He’s a relic of a passing age.
Alfred the Great was Kind of a Jerk
We need to talk about Alfred. David Dawson’s portrayal is probably the best performance in the entire series. Most shows would make the "Great" king a warrior. Not here. Alfred is sickly, obsessed with his bowels, and deeply, deeply manipulative. He uses Uhtred like a tool while simultaneously judging him for being a "pagan."
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It’s a toxic relationship. They need each other, they hate each other, and they respect each other. That’s the core of the show’s friction. Alfred has the vision of "Englaland," but he lacks the physical power to take it. Uhtred has the power, but he lacks the vision. When they finally have that quiet scene together before Alfred dies—no spoilers for the few who haven't seen it, but it’s a tear-jerker—it’s the most honest moment in the whole series. It turns out the characters of The Last Kingdom are at their best when they aren't fighting, but just talking in a dark room.
The Women Who Actually Ran the Show
If you think this is just a "guys with swords" show, you haven't been paying attention to Aethelflaed. Or Hild. Or Brida.
Brida is a fascinating tragedy. She represents the "what if" for Uhtred. What if he had stayed fully Dane? Her descent into bitterness and vengeance is hard to watch because you understand where it comes from. She’s a woman in a world that keeps trying to take her agency away, so she becomes more Viking than the Vikings just to survive.
Then there’s Aethelflaed. She’s the Lady of the Mercians and, frankly, a better leader than most of the men around her. Her romance with Uhtred is one of the few things in the show that feels genuinely earned. It’s built on mutual respect and shared sacrifice. She chooses her people over her own happiness, which is a recurring theme for the "good" characters in this universe.
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- Hild: She’s a nun. She’s a warrior. She’s Uhtred’s best friend. Their platonic love is one of the purest things in the script.
- Aelswith: You will hate her for four seasons. Then, suddenly, she’s the funniest person on screen. It’s a wild character redemption.
- Skade: Probably the most divisive. Some fans found the "curse" storyline a bit much, but she represented the superstitious fear that governed that era.
Why Villains Like Ubba and Haesten Matter
A show is only as good as its villains. Ubba was terrifying because he was unpredictable. You never knew if he was going to hug you or chop your head off based on what some bones said on the ground.
But Haesten? Haesten is the cockroach of the 9th century. He is the ultimate survivor. He switches sides more often than people change socks. He’s not a "big bad" in the traditional sense; he’s just a guy trying to make it to tomorrow. That kind of nuance is why the characters of The Last Kingdom feel so grounded. Not everyone wants to conquer the world. Some people just want a nice estate and to not get killed by a Dane with a grudge.
The Bromance Brigade: Finan, Sihtric, and Osferth
We can't ignore the boys. The "Uhtred-gang" provides the heart of the later seasons. Finan, played by Mark Rowley, is the brother Uhtred never had. Their chemistry is the soul of the show. It’s that Irish wit mixed with Saxon grit.
Osferth, "Baby Monk," had one of the best arcs. Watching a literal bastard son of a king go from a timid monk to a hardened warrior was incredibly satisfying. When the group loses a member, it feels like losing a friend because the show spends so much time showing them just being together. They eat, they joke, they complain about the rain. It’s human.
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The Realism of Evolving Identities
People change in this show. They get old. They get scars. They get tired.
Look at Aethelwold. He started as a drunken annoyance and turned into a genuine, slithering threat. His motivation was simple: he felt cheated. We've all felt like we deserved more than we got. He just happened to be willing to murder people to get it. He's the perfect foil to Uhtred because while Uhtred cares about honor (mostly), Aethelwold only cares about the crown.
The show also handles religion with a surprisingly heavy hand that actually works. You have the clash between the "Old Gods" and the "New God." Father Beocca, played by the incredible Ian Hart, acts as the bridge. He’s a man of deep faith who still loves a pagan like a son. He proves that the labels of "Saxon" or "Dane" are just that—labels.
Takeaways for Fans and New Viewers
If you’re looking to really understand the depth of the characters of The Last Kingdom, you have to look past the armor.
- Watch the eyes, not the swords. The most important shifts in character happen in the silences. Pay attention to how Uhtred looks at Alfred in Season 3 compared to Season 1.
- Read the books if you want more internal monologue. The show is great, but Cornwell’s prose gives you Uhtred’s inner thoughts, which are often much funnier and more cynical.
- Don't pick a side. The show is designed to make you feel for both the Danes and the Saxons. If you find yourself rooting for a Viking one minute and a King the next, the writers have done their job.
- Appreciate the aging. Unlike some shows where characters look the same for twenty years, the makeup team actually tried to show the passage of time. The graying hair and the slower movements in the final season matter.
Destiny is all. It’s a catchy phrase, but in the context of these characters, it’s a burden. They are all trapped by the times they live in, trying to carve out a little bit of peace in a world that only knows war. Whether it’s Aldhelm’s loyalty to Mercia or Pyrlig’s witty wisdom, every person on screen feels like they have a life that continues even when the camera isn't on them. That's the secret sauce. That's why we’re still talking about them years after the final episode aired.
To get the most out of your next rewatch, try tracking one specific supporting character—like Sihtric or Aldhelm—throughout their entire journey. You’ll notice the subtle ways the environment and Uhtred’s chaotic energy forced them to grow or break. Once you see the layers, there’s no going back to standard, one-dimensional historical fiction.