As the finale begins, we learn that we are thirty days into the siege of Winchester. Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) watches the action from a distance and notices that the Saxon soldiers are lighting torches. He speaks with Pyrlig (Cavan Clerkin) and encourages him to convince Edward (Timothy Innes) to change his strategy. Pyrlig can’t get through to Edward so Uhtred decides to speak with the king personally. Edward wants to burn the Danes out of Winchester but Uhtred is worried that will put their loved ones at risk. Edward believes Winchester will rise again and be stronger for her suffering. Edward won’t accept Uhtred’s plan to speak with Sigtryggr. Aeldhelm (James Northcote) interrupts and reveals that Aethelflaed has taken Eoferwic and the Danes there have submitted to her rule.

After the intro, Cenric (Mate Haumann) approaches Winchester with Edward’s message for the Danes. Brida (Emily Cox) kills Cenric with a bow and arrow. Haesten (Jeppe Beck Laursen) wonders if that was a good idea but Brida believes their enemy is getting desperate right now. Meanwhile, Sigtryggr listens as Stiorra (Ruby Hartley) reads Alfred’s journals for him. Stiorra would rather play games but Sigtryggr wants her to continue reading. Then, we find out that the Danes are running out of food quickly. Brida and Haesten rush in with Brida saying he wants to take Stiorra and kill a hostage. Sigtryggr tells Haesten to order the men to dampen the roofs so they can prevent a fire and he tells Brida he will select a hostage to kill.

Haesten takes food to Eadith (Stefanie Martini) who has been hiding in the attic. He promises that he is going to look after her. Aethelhelm (Adrian Schiller) speaks to Aelswith (Eliza Butterworth) and the others about their situation and lack of food. Aethelhelm offers to show them a way to commit suicide using a piece of cloth. In return, Aelswith tells everyone about a plant that grows in the garden. It is deadly and was grown for this purpose. Sigtryggr enters and asks for the king’s heir but he isn’t sure which boy to take. After a little back and forth with him, Aelflaed (Amelia Clarkson), and Aelswith, he decides to take both. Back outside, Uhtred tries to convince Edward to change his strategy.

Uhtred promises to find another way so Edward doesn’t have to burn the city. Young Uhtred (Finn Elliot) arrives and reunites with his father before Sigtryggr yells for Edward. As he asks Edward to step forward and negotiate, Edward tells Aldhelm that he won’t take orders from a Dane. Edward is forced to negotiate when he finds out that Sigtryggr is going to use both of his sons. Edward is told that he can choose one of his sons. If he retreats, he can take one of them with him but Edward isn’t going to decide. He doesn’t pick either boy and steps away without saying anything. Pyrlig and the others are forced to comfort Edward after that. He says he can’t do that while young Uhtred tries to find out what his father would do.

Uhtred promises that’ll never happen to them despite Stiorra being locked inside of Winchester. Uhtred tells Edward that Sigtryggr wants him dead and he thinks he can use that to his advantage. Aldhelm leads Uhtred who intends to trade himself for both of Edward’s sons. Uhtred approaches the gates and announces his intentions. After a brief chat, Uhtred is allowed inside and Edward’s two sons escape Winchester. Back outside, Aldhelm tells Edward that they should give Uhtred as long as he needs. The other hostages are taken outside so they can learn about the prisoner exchange. Brida approaches Uhtred and makes it clear that she wants him to suffer but Sigtryggr isn’t ready for that to happen yet. He has something else in mind for the Dane slayer.

Meanwhile, Aethelhelm and the other prisoners are given food. Aethelhelm bribes one of the guards before telling his daughter not to drink all of the water so they can use it to ensure Aethelstan won’t have a powerful friend. It sounds like he intends to poison Aelswith. Sigtryggr plays around with Uhtred a bit while trying to get to know him. They discuss Stiorra and everything she has said about Uhtred. Sigtryggr says they’ve both lost their homes so that puts them on common ground. He wants to negotiate with Uhtred because he is capable of making tough choices. Sigtryggr explains that Uhtred proved he wanted to bargain when he stepped through the gates.

Haesten spies on their conversation until Brida asks him what he is doing. He tells her that Sigtryggr is trying to create a truce and that angers Brida. She goes to the wall that night as Sigtryggr and Uhtred try to reach a mutual agreement. Brida takes Uhtred’s sword and throws it over the wall. Someone picks it up seconds later. Aelswith drinks the rest of the water while Aethelhelm watches. Meanwhile, Finan (Mark Rowley) and Osferth (Ewan Mitchell) plead with Edward to give Uhtred a bit more time. Edward has Uhtred’s sword and this convinces him that the Dane slayer is dead. Aethelflaed joins Edward seconds later. Aldhelm tries to convince her that they should give it more time. Edward decides it would be better to smoke the Danes out of Winchester. Aethelflaed says it doesn’t matter if Uhtred is alive or dead since they cannot hand them Winchester for the life of one man.

They use smoke as a distraction and attack Winchester moments later. Haesten tells Eadith that it is time to leave but she doesn’t go with him. Instead, she decides to stick around and fend for herself. Sigtryggr tells Uhtred about the attack and warns him that many will suffer if Uhtred betrays him. Edward’s men break through the gates and a battle breaks out. Uhtred tries to convince Edward to stop and he pleads with Sigtryggr to do the same. They call for the shield wall on both sides and this stops the battle. Sigtryggr explains that he wants to negotiate with them. He invites them inside and the negotiations begin. Edward spots her mother and we see that she is sick. Sigtryggr tells Edward and Aethelflaed that he wants Eoferwic but they won’t want to give him that.

Uhtred steps outside where he is stabbed by Brida. A brief scuffle ensues until Uhtred manages to stop her. She pleads with Uhtred to kill her but he tells her to just leave. She says she is going to return stronger and kill him. Uhtred doesn’t kill her. Once she leaves, Osferth tends to his wound. Aethelflaed and Edward approach and tell Uhtred that they’ve given Sigtryggr Eoferwic and one of the hostages Stiorra. He checks on hi daughter moments later. He learns that his daughter is eager to go with Sigtryggr although he wants her to go to Coccham with him. She encourages her father to let her go while Finan cares for Eadith. Next, we see that Aelswith is getting worse.

Edward tells Uhtred about his mother being ill and he blames that on the Danes. He also tells Uhtred that he wants him to take Aethelstan and train him to be a warrior. He also says that he should teach the boy everything he knows about the Danes. Young Uhtred tells his father that he was right because Sigtryggr is different. They hug before young Uhtred says goodbye to his sister. At the beginning of the episode, Uhtred speaks about the future and how Edward will need to choose his heir. Brida stops and tries to give birth all by herself while Uhtred hangs out with Aethelstan.

 

The Last Kingdom Review

I suppose this finale was a perfect example of what the show has become this season. Both were lackluster and anticlimactic. I liked some of the new characters but most of them are dead now. At the very least, I am glad that this season created Sigtryggr because he seems to be one of the most original characters in recent seasons. It was tough to overlook some of the flaws this season especially some of the stupid things the characters said and did.

I could list dozens of them but I won’t bother. If the show gets another season, I just hope it goes back to its old writers. The show won’t last at this level. The finale scores a 6.5 out of 10. Past recaps of The Last Kingdom are available on Reel Mockery.