At the beginning of the episode, Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) speaks with his son (Finn Elliot) while they ride on the boat together. Young Uhtred pities his father for believing the pagan lies before Finan (Mark Rowley) playfully gives the young boy a bucket full of bodily fluids to empty. Young Uhtred wants to know if he is going to be used as bait and he requests to know more about his father’s plan. Uhtred explains that his son will meet with monks, befriend them, enter Bebbanburg, and open the sea gate for them. Young Uhtred prays for the men his father will slaughter and he tells his father that there is a power in forgiveness. Uhtred hopes he’ll use that power to forgive him. Moments later, Edward (Timothy Innes) finds out that Aethelred (Toby Regbo) is still signing letters as the King of Mercia and he doesn’t like that.

He is also upset that Aethelred is leading troops out of Aegelesburg. Aelswith (Eliza Butterworth) listens as Aethelflaed (Millie Brady) tells them about her husband seeking the bones of St. Oswald. She speaks up and says that Aethelred is trying to break from Wessex but Aethelhelm (Adrian Schiller) doesn’t believe Edward should get drawn into it. Seconds later, Aelflaed (Amelia Clarkson) enters with her son Aelfweard (Marcell Zsolt Halmy). Edward doesn’t have much to do with his son. Aelswith tries to show him a book belonging to Alfred but Aethelhelm thinks he needs to practice with his sword. After that, Aelswith complains to Aethelflaed about Aethelhelm and everything he is doing. She tells her mother that she’ll ask Aldhelm (James Northcote) to make inquiries about her husband’s actions.

Next, Aelswith stops Pyrlig (Cavan Clerkin) to ask him about Beocca (Ian Hart) only to learn that he has left and likely will not return. After the intro, Aelfric (Joseph Millson) speaks with Aidan (Anthony Cozens) about his weak army while trying to find a way to survive. Aelfric asks more about the heart of St. Oswald which Aethelred is desperate for. He says they’ll bleed silver from him and buy soldiers. Uhtred and his men arrive in Grimsby and visit the pub but young Uhtred and Beocca decide to stay behind. While they’re away, Beocca tries to get young Uhtred to understand where his father is coming from. Young Uhtred believes he can help his father and convince him to return to the Christian ways of life.

Uhtred speaks with the tavern owner (Neil Ashton) before they’re shown around. They find out that the monks Oswi (Richard Heap) and Iestyn (Nicholas Asbury) are spending time with harlots. Uhtred details his plan when the monks leave the brothel. He tells his son that he should travel ahead of the monks and join them as soon as possible. He says he has faith in him because he knows that the spirit of our family is within him. Young Uhtred leaves on a horse seconds later and Uhtred and his men leave. Next, Eardwulf (Jamie Blackley) walks through the camp while Eadith (Stefanie Martini) speaks with Aethelred in his tent. He comes up with a plan to kill his wife, become a widow, and marry Eadith so she’ll finally sleep with him. She tells her brother about it moments later.

He thinks it is a good thing but Eadith is worried and says they need to be careful. She wants her brother to refuse to attack Aethelflaed. Next, Brida (Emily Cox), Haesten (Jeppe Beck Laursen), and Cnut (Magnus Bruun) stop with their army. Haesten explains that he isn’t going to get involved in the battle so Cnut sends his kids with him. When Cnut steps away, Haesten finds out that Brida is pregnant with Cnut’s baby. In the morning, Cnut and his army raid the city and look for Aethelred but he is nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, Aidan and Aelfric watch as a boat arrives outside. Aidan agrees to go outside and risk everything to speak with them. He is surprised to find out that it is Aelfric’s son who they thought had drowned.

Wihtgar (Ossian Perret) has come with reinforcements so they can help Aelfric defend Bebbanburg. Uhtred and his men arrive outside of Bebbanburg on a road and hide. He tells Finan that they’ll wait as long as necessary for his son. Back in Wessex, Hild and Aethelflaed discuss Aelflaed and her preparations for the royal consecration. Aelswith is not happy with the ceremony. She says she would’ve selected a different bride for Edward if she’d had known what type of a man Aethelhelm is. In the morning, Aelswith makes arranges before Hild (Eva Birthistle) approaches her. Aelswith wants to know more about the Centish lady Ecgwynn who married Edward in secret and her children. She learns that she hasn’t seen her son since but gets to see her daughter from time to time.

Aelswith wants to meet with them both in private. Brida and Cnut spend time ion Aethelred’s bed before Aelswith meets with Aethelstan and introduces him to his mother Ecgwyn (Julia Brown). Young Uhtred sees his chance to join the two monks. They refuse at first but he manages to convince them to let him join them. After that, Ecgwyn speaks with Aelswith about her kid and other things. Aelswith never reveals her identity and says that the boy needs to be taken away for his safety. Jackdaw (Tygo Gernandt) lets Brida and Cnut know that Aethelred tricked them. He used their absence to attack farms in East Anglia and kill farmers. Cnut isn’t worried about it since he believes they’ll be able to draw Edward into a fight soon. Edward learns about the attack before the ceremony begins. He gets advice from everyone but says he’ll make the decisions.

Finan counts helmets and tells Uhtred that there are 40. Uhtred believes Aelfric has put his men on the ramparts to make it look like he has more. Finan says that the real fight will be between Uhtred and Aelfric before Uhtred asks Beocca for advice. Beocca says that the time is right to attack. Young Uhtred and the monks make it to Bebbanburg. They negotiate with Aelfric momentarily until he turns them away. However, young Uhtred speaks up and convinces him to let them spend the night. Finan and Uhtred continue waiting for the sign so they can enter and attack. Young Uhtred makes his move. He sends a signal and Uhtred and his men move immediately. Uhtred and Finan kill two guards but young Uhtred is stopped by Aelfric’s son. Uhtred and his men try to lift the door but it is too heavy.

Wihtgar accuses young Uhtred of trying to steal away but he denies it. The men pry the gate up enough so Uhtred can get through and open it for them before Wihtgar intends to punish young Uhtred for being a thief. Young Uhtred is beaten in the courtyard while one of the monks is assassinated. The other monk is killed before Aelfric shows up. Uhtred and his men get into a fight with a few soldiers before moving on. Aelfric questions young Uhtred until the young boy says that he is Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Aelfric gives them the order to kill him but young Uhtred tries to fight back. Young Uhtred nearly kills a man before Uhtred takes Aelfric captive. Uhtred offers to let everyone live if they swear loyalty to him. Aidan agrees to be loyal to the true heir of Bebbanburg and he points to Wihtgar above.

He introduces himself to Uhtred and has a crossbow ready to attack. Wihtgar shoots and kills his father before an intense showdown begins.

 

The Last Kingdom Review

This was a far better episode of The Last Kingdom. Some of the dialogue is a bit cheesy and laughable at times but I think that has always been true. I’ll also say that I am afraid there might be a bit too much going on. I hope things settle down some in future episodes. It is too much to take in at times. The next episode should start off with a bang. I am eager to see what is going to happen and whether Uhtred will be able to reclaim Bebbanburg.

The episode scores a 7.5 out of 10. Previous recaps of The Last Kingdom can be found on Reel Mockery.