Let’s be real for a second. When The Last Kingdom season 1 first dropped on the BBC back in 2015, everyone just called it "the budget Game of Thrones." It felt like a scrappy underdog. People were obsessed with dragons and Red Weddings, so a show about 9th-century Saxons and Danes fighting over muddy fields in Winchester seemed... well, small. But looking back from 2026, it’s clear we were wrong.
It isn't small. It’s dense.
The show starts with a kid named Uhtred, played by Alexander Dreymon, who basically loses everything in the first twenty minutes. He’s born a Saxon nobleman, but the Danes—led by the charismatic and terrifying Earl Ragnar—kidnap him after his father dies in a disastrously managed battle. This isn't just a "stranger in a strange land" story. It's a crisis of identity that drives the entire series. Is he Uhtred of Bebbanburg, the rightful heir to a fortress in Northumbria? Or is he Uhtred Ragnersson, the adopted Viking who loves ale, freedom, and the Norse gods?
Honestly, the pacing of this first season is insane. Most shows would spend three years on Uhtred’s childhood. This show does it in one episode. By episode two, Uhtred is a grown man, his surrogate Danish family has been murdered in a fire, and he’s being hunted by both sides. It’s stressful.
The Alfred Factor: Why The Last Kingdom Season 1 Works
The secret weapon of the show isn't the sword fighting. It's David Dawson. He plays King Alfred the Great, and he’s easily the most interesting character on screen. Usually, kings in these shows are either "The Good King" or "The Mad Tyrant." Alfred is neither. He’s a sickly, deeply religious, and incredibly manipulative intellectual who dreams of a united England.
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He and Uhtred hate each other. Like, truly.
Alfred views Uhtred as a pagan tool—a necessary evil to defend his kingdom of Wessex. Uhtred views Alfred as a cold, pious hypocrite who keeps him on a leash. This friction is the engine of The Last Kingdom season 1. You’ve got this wild, impulsive warrior forced to work for a man who records every sin in a notebook. It’s a brilliant dynamic because they actually need each other. Without Uhtred’s "Danish" way of thinking, Alfred’s Saxon shield walls would crumble. Without Alfred’s legal and political protection, Uhtred is just a man without a country.
The Real History Behind the Shield Walls
If you’re a history nerd, you probably noticed the show takes liberties with Bernard Cornwell’s The Saxon Stories, but the core beats are surprisingly accurate.
Take the Battle of Ethandun (Edington). This is the climax of the first season. In real life, 878 AD was the make-or-break year for English history. If Alfred had lost that battle, we’d probably all be speaking a derivative of Old Norse today. The show captures the absolute claustrophobia of the shield wall. It wasn't about fancy choreography or spinning kicks. It was about standing shoulder-to-shoulder, pushing against the guy in front of you, and trying not to slip on the blood-slicked grass. It was gruesome.
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I remember watching the scene where the Saxons finally lock shields. It feels heavy. You can almost smell the leather and sweat. The production didn't have the $20 million per episode budget that later seasons (or House of the Dragon) enjoyed, but they used what they had to create a gritty, tactile world.
Why Uhtred’s Conflict Still Hits Home
Uhtred is a man caught between two worlds. He’s "too Saxon" for the Danes and "too Danish" for the Saxons. This isn't just some plot device; it reflects the actual melting pot of 9th-century Britain. The Danelaw was a real thing. People were blending cultures, languages, and religions in a way that was messy and violent.
The supporting cast makes this transition feel lived-in:
- Brida (Emily Cox): She’s Uhtred’s childhood friend and first love. Unlike Uhtred, she fully commits to being Danish. Her resentment toward Uhtred’s "Saxon-ness" becomes a tragic through-line for the rest of the series.
- Father Beocca (Ian Hart): The emotional anchor. He knew Uhtred as a boy and is basically the only person who sees the good in him, despite the pagan posturing.
- Ubba (Rune Temte): A terrifyingly unpredictable Viking leader. The showdown between him and Uhtred on the beach is a masterclass in tension.
Many viewers forget how much happens in these first eight episodes. We see the fall of Northumbria, the occupation of Wessex, the marshlands of Athelney, and the final reclamation of the kingdom. It’s a lot of ground to cover. But because the writing stays focused on Uhtred’s personal stakes, it never feels like a dry history lecture.
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Common Misconceptions About the First Season
People often think The Last Kingdom season 1 is just a "Viking show." It’s not. It’s an "English" show. It’s about the birth of a nation. If you go in expecting Vikings (the History Channel show), you might be surprised by how much time is spent on law, religion, and the politics of succession.
Another thing? People think Uhtred is an invincible hero. He’s really not. He makes terrible decisions. He’s arrogant. He’s frequently his own worst enemy. In season 1, he gets tricked into a marriage that leaves him in massive debt to the church. He loses his cool in front of the King. He’s a hothead. That’s what makes him human. You aren't just cheering for a warrior; you're watching a man slowly learn that strength isn't just about how well you swing a sword called Serpent-Breath.
How to Get the Most Out of a Rewatch
If you’re diving back into The Last Kingdom season 1 or watching it for the first time, pay attention to the lighting. The showrunners purposefully made Wessex look dull, grey, and stone-cold, reflecting Alfred’s rigid order. Contrast that with the Danish camps, which are full of fire, furs, and a chaotic sort of warmth. It’s a visual representation of Uhtred’s internal struggle.
Also, look for the subtle ways Alfred tests Uhtred. Every "reward" Alfred gives is actually a cage. It’s a brilliant chess match that spans years.
Essential Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to go deeper into the lore and the world of Uhtred, here are the steps you should take to fully appreciate the craft of this season:
- Read the first two books: The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell. The show condenses a lot. The books give you Uhtred’s internal monologue, which is much more cynical and hilarious than the TV version.
- Map the Geography: Look up a map of 9th-century Britain. Seeing where Eoferwic (York) is in relation to Winchester helps you realize the massive distances these characters traveled on horseback.
- Track the Religious Shift: Watch how the show handles the transition from Paganism to Christianity. It’s not just about "God vs. Thor." It’s about how religion was used as a tool for social control and literacy.
- Compare to Season 5: If you’ve finished the series, go back and watch the pilot. The transformation of Uhtred from a reckless boy to a weary leader is one of the most consistent character arcs in modern television.
The show eventually moved to Netflix and got a bigger budget, but there is a raw, punk-rock energy to The Last Kingdom season 1 that never quite got replicated. It was a story about survival when everything—the weather, the gods, and the kings—was trying to kill you. Destiny is all.