Last Kingdom, The: The Complete Series (18-disc)

The Last Kingdom

The Last Kingdom is a British historical drama television series created and developed for television by Stephen Butchard, based on The Saxon Stories series of novels by Bernard Cornwell.

At the end of the 9th century, many of the separate kingdoms, which we now call England, have fallen in bloody conflict with invading Danes. Against this turbulent  backdrop lives our hero, Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon). Born the son of a Saxon nobleman, he is captured by the Danes and raised as one of their own. For many years fate binds him to Alfred (David Dawson), Saxon King of Wessex. Uhtred must fight for Alfred’s  dream  of uniting  the kingdoms. Suffering great personal tragedy, Uhtred  is torn  between the country of his birth and the people of his upbringing. After his father’s death, the turbulent reign of the new King Edward threatens Alfred’s dream more than ever. When faced with old enemies and fresh heartbreak,Uhtred finds his own fate tied to the future of the nation… Destiny Is All!

The entire complete series (5 seasons, 2015-2022)
46 episodes spread over 18 discs
Total running time: approx. 42 hours
Audio: English DD5.1
Subtitles: English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Dutch

Series One
Produced by the BBC, the first series adapts the first two novels of Bernard Cornwell's series of novels The Saxon Stories, The Last Kingdom and The Pale Horseman. The series covers the years 866–878 where the arrival of the Great Heathen Army in England led by Guthrum and Ubba Ragnarsson redefines the relationship between Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. Following the establishment of Danish rule, Uhtred, a Saxon raised by the Danes, comes to the aid of the kingdom of Wessex and its ruler King Alfred with the hope of eventually retaking his home of Bebbanburg as ongoing Viking incursions attempt to conquer the whole of England.

Series Two
The second series adapts Cornwell's third and fourth novels The Lords of the North and Sword Song. The series covers the years 879–886 and deals with Uhtred's quest in Northumbria to defeat his old enemy Kjartan the Cruel whilst the kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia combat the invading Norse brothers Sigefrid and Eric.

Series Three
The third series adapts Cornwell's fifth and sixth novels The Burning Land and Death of Kings, although there are significant plot changes from the novels compared to the previous two series. The series covers the years 892–902 and deals with the end of King Alfred's reign while the conflict between the Saxons and the Danes grows after the arrival of the Second Great Danish Army led by the coalition of Viking warlords including Ragnar the Younger, Cnut, Sigurd Bloodhair and Haesten.

Series Four
The fourth series adapts Cornwell's seventh and eighth novels The Pagan Lord and The Empty Throne. Similar to series three, there are significant plot changes from the novels. The series covers the years 909–911 and deals with the early years of King Edward's reign over the Saxons, ongoing political struggles in Mercia and the Second Great Danish Army's continued invasion of Wessex that culminates in the Siege of Wintanceaster.

Series Five
The fifth series adapts Cornwell's ninth and tenth novels Warriors of the Storm and The Flame Bearer, and includes elements of the eleventh novel War of the Wolf. Similar to series three and four, there are significant plot changes from the novels. The series covers the years 917–920 and deals with the disputed lines of succession in Wessex and Mercia, conflict with the remaining Vikings in Northumbria led by Uhtred's son-in-law Sigtryggr, and Uhtred returning to Bebbanburg once more to finally achieve his destiny.