This episode of The Last Kingdom begins in Eoferwic where the battle continues. One warrior goes inside to steal and drink before he finds Hella (Lara Steward) trying to hide. She keeps him distracted while Stiorra (Ruby Hartley) attacks him from behind. Stiorra pulls him to the ground and holds him as Hella stabs him to death. They look through the window and see Sigtryggr trying to fend off a large group of warriors. Brida (Emily Cox) tells her daughter, Vibeke (Emili Akhchina), to go and play. Rognvaldr (Micki Stoltt) yells that Brida is here to rescue them while encouraging his brother to stop fighting them. Once the warriors cut off the priest’s head and throw it to Sigtryggr, his brother asks him to yield once again.

He relents and lays down his weapon. As Brida approaches him, he asks what this madness is, but she insists it is not madness to honor the gods. Sigtryggr says she does not speak for the Gods because they do not need a priestess. He screams that they are following her like Christian sheep before she knees him to shut him up. When Brida asks for Sigtryggr’s wife, Rognvaldr offers to find her. Sigtryggr pleads with his brother not to, but he doesn’t listen to him. After Rognvaldr goes inside, Vibeke returns to Brida who cuts off Sigtryggr’s hair and declares he is no longer the man he used to be. Brida begins calling for Stiorra to tell her they’re coming for her as she chops off more of Sigtryggr’s hair.

Hella and Stiorra hide from Rognvaldr who looks for them inside. He asks her to show Brida that she is sorry for letting her people stray. A handful of other women join them, but one gets caught by Rognvaldr. He asks where her mistress is. The woman insists she hasn’t seen her so she must’ve left. Stiorra leads the women through a dark tunnel in hopes of escaping Brida and her warriors. The woman is taken outside where Sigtryggr is being beaten. Rognvaldr tells them what the woman said about Stiorra fleeing the city. Stiorra listens to Brida interrogate the woman from the tunnel beneath them. She has to sit down after witnessing the woman’s murder. Brida orders her soldiers to search every house, bring her hostages, and line them up in the square.

Rognvaldr asks Brida to allow his brother to live because he will come to her like he did. He offers to teach his brother how to worship the gods with purity. Brida asks if he is doing this to get a chance to lead his brother, but Sigtryggr says he will not follow him. He goes on to say he leads these people and will die as their king. Brida orders Rognvaldr to kill his brother. She refuses to listen to anything he has to say and continues ordering him to kill his brother. Wolland (Jaakko Ohtonen) watches as Rognvaldr begins drowning his brother in the bucket of water in front of him. Although Rognvaldr doesn’t want to do it, he continues holding his brother’s head underwater until Brida stops him.

Brida tells Rognvaldr it is good he has proven his loyalty. She tells the others they have seen how she acts with justice so they will come and welcome her in time. Brida claims she set them free. She asks them to open the gates before instructing Sigtryggr to find Uhtred. Brida offers to spare his wife’s life only if he brings Uhtred. Wolland yells for Sigtryggr as he walks through the city gate. Then, we jump over to Rumcofa where Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) checks on young Uhtred while Eadith (Stefanie Martini) takes care of him. Eadith tells Uhtred not to give up hope. She instructs him to sit with his son because his voice might awaken him. Uhtred isn’t sure what to say besides telling his son he is no longer a man.

Eadith tells him to remind him that he is still his son. Aethelstan (Harry Gilby) informs Uhtred that the scouts are returning from the hillside. Eadith promises to send for him if his son awakes. Once he goes outside, Osferth (Ewan Mitchell) tells Uhtred he doesn’t think Brida is here. Brida tells the women she has no wish to harm them and only wants them to see how they’ve fallen from the path. She orders all the women to get on their knees and stay there until Stiorra saves them from their agony. Despite the situation, Hella tells Stiorra she needs to stay hidden here. Cynlaef (Ryan Quarmby) tells Aelfwynn (Phia Saban) he should return to his post because Brida will torture all of them if she attacks.

She insists it is her duty to be tortured since she is a woman of royal blood. Finan (Mark Rowley) offers to keep watch for Uhtred, but his offer is denied. Uhtred believes he has already been outplayed and he always knew Brida would return. He just thought she would attack him instead of Aethelstan and his son. Finan thinks his son will survive although it was a grievous wound. Uhtred isn’t sure his son can live because he can’t have a child or legacy. Aldhelm (James Northcote) interrupts to tell Uhtred about Eoferwic being attacked by Brida. Uhtred believes she is coming for his bloodline and intends to confront Brida immediately. Eadith checks on Aethelflaed (Millie Brady) who admits it has been like that for less than a year.

Aethelflaed admits it hurts, but she hasn’t told anyone else because the healers in Merica can’t be trusted. If there is a sign that the queen is sick, the ealdormen will plot civil war. Eadith admits it might be bad to excise this now. She thought it would heal itself since she has had others that have done so. Eadith fears it will not heal itself this time. Aethelflaed knows taking a blade to it could be dangerous, but he is prepared for it anyway. Eadith isn’t sure it can be removed though. Aethelflaed reveals it grows rapidly as the flesh falls from her belly. She asks whether this is beyond Eadith’s skill only to be told it might be too late to save her from this canker. Eadith confesses she has seen this before but only on the dead.

Aethelflaed says she must return to urgent matters, including the Mercian succession and how they maintain peace. Eadith recommends spending time with the people she loves, but she can’t because she has to rule a kingdom. When Uhtred wants to visit, Father Benedict (Patrick Robinson) tries to stop him. Eadith comes out and allows Uhtred to go in. She shakes her head to Aldhelm to let him know it is not good. Uhtred wants their help retaking Eoferwic and fighting Brida. Although Aethelflaed cannot give the exact reason, she admits she cannot help him. Uhtred accuses her of behaving with foolishness, but Aethelflaed is not going to change her mind. She says they’re going to return to Aegelesburg although he can take a dozen of the men of Rumcofa. She asks Uhtred to believe that she has good reason to refuse his request.

Uhtred says she is like the worst of her father and calls Aldhelm a coward. He insists he is going to do this alone before saying she has changed. She turns it around by saying he has not. Once Uhtred leaves, Aldhelm says he is assuming Lady Eadith did not have welcome news. He thinks she was right to lie to Uhtred since he would’ve been fighting Brida with a broken heart. Aldhelm goes on to say all their hearts are broken before calling the news unbearable. Aethelflaed says they’ll have to bear it while reminding Aldhelm that her father faced death with a soul that was prepared. He knew his dream would outlive him and he did not grieve his loss. She insists she won’t either.

Uhtred tells Sihtric (Arnas Fedaravicius) and the others to raise a dozen men that are loyal to them. They’ll go to the Saxon boroughs bordering Eofewic to get assistance. Osferth and the others are surprised he has only been given a dozen men. Aethelstan is certain he is ready for this. He says Stiorra saved his life when he was a child so he owes her this. Uhtred asks them to find him a faster horse to ensure he can ride away from mortal danger. Although Aethelstan says he is just as good of a fighter as any of his men, Uhtred says he is a bigger prize too. If he is captured, Aethelstan will tell the truth that he is no one. Uhtred admits that is the case right now.

Pyrlig (Cavan Clerkin) asks King Edward (Timothy Innes) how they should respond. Edward wants to signal support because Sigtryggr has been a strong ally. He also mentions that Eoferwic is on his sister’s border. Pyrlig says she might wish to lead a counterattack without interference. King Edward orders him to send 300 men north to support her army and make it clear they’re under her command. Seconds later, Aethelhelm (Adrian Schiller) tells Edward he has news about Eoferwic, but Edward already knows. Edward makes it clear he will not send troops there because they will not reach Eoferwic before Aethelflaed’s men of Rumcofa.

Aethelhelm believes it offers an opportunity since Eoferwic is the gateway to Northumbria. If he takes it, three-quarters of England will be under his control. Edward says there are other ways to reclaim Eoferwic from the heathens. Aethelhelm insists his missionaries are likely dead by now. Regardless, Edward is young enough to think in years and not months. He has not forsaken Alfred’s dream. Aethelhelm argues he is wasting an opportunity to kill Brida and Sigtryggr, but Edward is not going to kill Sigtryggr. He tells Edward this likely isn’t Dane infighting and instead Sigtryggr likely invited Brida back to form an alliance. Pyrlig says their information suggests otherwise. Aethelhelm gives up while saying he has done his duty and offered his advice.

Although he says the ealdormen will be disappointed, Edward isn’t sure Aethelhelm speaks for them. Once he leaves, Edward says it is unwise to keep questioning him. Pyrlig explains he feels like his time is slipping and his standing diminishing. A war could bring him influence. Edward asks Pyrlig to go north to assess the situation for himself while he delegates the matters of state to the king. Pyrlig doesn’t think there is anything to what Aethelhelm said about Sigtryggr trying to form an alliance with Brida. He suggests he is trying to start a war so Edward will beg him for coin. He wants Edward to be beholden to him since he is not. Aethelhelm goes to Bresal (Harry Anton) to tell him to inform the Saxon boroughs on Sigtryggr’s border not to give troops to assist him.

He shouldn’t be offered any safe harbor or support. When Bresal asks whether that is the word of the king, Aethelhelm says he would deny it if asked. Bresal will be able to go after Aethelstan again once he finishes playing messenger. Aethelflaed thought she should say her farewells to Uhtred, but he accuses her of sending him to his death. Uhtred says he will survive or he’ll haunt her until the end of her days. Eadith wants them to make their peace. She pleads with Finan to make Uhtred return to find her when this is over although Finan believes he’ll sulk until the summer. She tells Finan she swore to keep this a secret so she wants him to swear that he’ll keep it until Uhtred rescues his daughter. She reveals the lady will not be here till summer because she is dying.

Aethelflaed could not offer help since there is going to be trouble in Mercia. It is taking all her strength to seem like herself. She knows Finan has never lied to him, but it won’t be a burden he has to carry for long. Moments later, Finan finds Uhtred sitting next to his son. Uhtred asks whether he is ready for this since it has been a while since they went to fight. Finan claims he can’t wait and he is desperate to wield a sword again. He says goodbye to Ingrith (Ilona Chevakova). Uhtred knows it is hard, but he is confident they’ll return to them. Aethelflaed cries as Uhtred and his men ride out of town on horseback. Edward refuses to hear about the dispute between two men again so he sends them away to work it out on their own. Eadgifu (Sonya Cassidy) approaches to say she is there to avenge her father’s death.

She explains that a man named Goda killed him and claimed the lands he gave her. She introduces herself and says she is from Cent. Eadgifu can remember Edward being brought to Cantwaraburg as a boy. Her father, who was an ealdorman, held a feast for his father, the great king. Edward remembers being given her horse to ride although she wasn’t happy about it. Once he apologizes for not remembering, she says they’ve much changed and he has grown into the true heir of a great kingdom. Aethelhelm interrupts to ask to hear the other side of the dispute, but Eadgifu insists it isn’t a dispute.

She claims the man has stolen property that is rightfully hers and he is in the wrong. Edward has read the details from Father Pyrlig and agrees that she has been done an injustice. He wants Goda brought before the Ealdormen of Cent. He also returns the land to her. He finishes with the business for the evening before inviting Lady Eadgifu to eat with them because he’d like to hear news from Cent. Aethelflaed tells Aelswith (Eliza Butterworth) that the delay has not favored her and it is too late to enact a cure. Aelswith doesn’t understand so she asks Eadith to explain why her cure would fail. Despite her daughter telling her she is dying, Aelswith refuses to believe it.

Once Aelswith storms out of the room, Aethelflaed asks Father Benedict to console her since she doesn’t have the strength. Aldhelm asks how long she likely has before Eadith admits she doesn’t think she’ll see the spring. Aethelflaed no longer wants to be here and wishes to return to Aegelesburg. Eadith believes she should go now before she gets too weak. Aethelflaed reminds them to say nothing about this to anyone. She wants to tell her daughter who she finds making out with Cynlaef. Aethelflaed asks his name and learns he is training to be a warrior. She asks Lord Aldhelm to make sure he gets sent upriver to fight the raiders. She wants her daughter sent home early as well. Once Aldhelm takes Cynlaef out, Aelfwynn asks her mother why she would be so cruel to her.

She reminds her daughter that she is heir to Mercia and must remain chaste. Aethelflaed has sacrificed everything for the kingdom and doesn’t want it thrown away like an ale yard hoe. Her daughter says better a hoe than a frustrated witch. She tells Aelfwynn not to talk to the queen that way or she will come to regret it. Aelfwynn will go back to Aegelesburg and think about what it means to rule there. Her daughter has thought about it and describes it as a punishment. Regardless, it is what is planned for her. Her mother encourages her to look beyond herself. Aethelflaed insists being a queen is an honor and there is no greater destiny to which her daughter says destiny is for arselings. She screams she does not want it before storming out of the room.

Aethelhelm and Aelflaed (Amelia Clarkson) watch Aelfweard (Ewan Horrocks) shoot a bow unsuccessfully. Aelflaed is told that happens when a boy spends too much time with his mother. They see that Edward is still with Eadgifu. Aethelhelm says they usually do not last the night and the women of Cent are a law unto themselves. They tend to be sensible though so he will deal with it. He pulls Eadgifu aside to ask how much coin she wants to return to her estate. She says thirty pieces of silver since that is the cost of betrayal. She knows the scripture because Alfred’s learning is strong in Cent. Aethelhelm doesn’t know what to do if she doesn’t accept his offer because they always tend to comply. Brida steps outside to tell the women they can sit.

She claims Stiorra has allowed them to suffer for two days. She wants to give the gods a sacrifice for carrying them here with the strong winds. Vibeke is brought forward with a blindfold on so she can pick one of the women to sacrifice to the gods. Stiorra watches as Vibeke picks one of the women who immediately gets her throat cut. She picks another and she is also killed. The process continues until Vibeke touches Rognvaldr. He argues that this cannot be because he is needed alive to serve the gods. Brida doesn’t kill him although she makes a big cut across his face. Hella tells Stiorra to wait until her husband returns. Sigtryggr is shown running through the woods before he encounters Pyrlig.

He learns that Pyrlig is with the vanguard, the king is sending his sister reinforcements, and Uhtred should be coming too. Although Sigtryggr has seen nothing, he is told the Saxons will fight for him. He says they will meet the armies, take his homestead, and kill Brida. Uhtred and his men ride onward. Eadgifu approaches Edward to give him the sack of coins and says Lord Aethelhelm offered her money to leave. Edward insists he had nothing to do with that, but she doesn’t believe it. She knows his favor was merely a passing desire, but she didn’t expect to be treated like a common hoe. King Edward explains the decision was Lord Aethelhelm’s alone because he tries to thwart him on many things. He apologizes before she apologizes for his troubles that seem to make him heartsore.

Edward confesses that is the first kindness he has been shown in quite a while. Since her father was an ealdorman, she knew the care of it was troublesome. Once she says she can only imagine how bad it is for him, he says maybe she doesn’t need to imagine it. He invites her to stay and see for herself for a while. She accepts the offer. Although it was strange, she found their time together enjoyable. Finan surprises Pyrlig while he is urinating outside. He admits there is bad news regarding the men from Rumcofa. Uhtred calls for Sigtryggr from above. Once he climbs down to join them, Uhtred learns that Stiorra was alive when Sigtryggr last saw her although Brida is hunting her. He is told Brida is after him. Uhtred breaks the news that the lady wouldn’t offer him many men from Rumcofa.

Uhtred insists it doesn’t matter because he has sent word to the Saxon boroughs on his border. Sigtryggr complains about Aethelflaed not sending troops when they had an alliance while Pyrlig says it wasn’t Edward’s decision. When Sihtric joins them, he says the boroughs claim they can offer nothing because they have no men stationed there. Osferth says the King has sent an order that no one is to come to King Sigtryggr’s aid too. They contemplate what to do with Uhtred suggesting he can get in and kill Brida. Sigtryggr isn’t going to let his wife die like a trapped rat. He believes he knows a way they can get into the city. Father Benedict finds Bresal in his makeshift church. Bresal tells him he likes it since it is like they’re in the manger.

Although Benedict has 100 and the flask from before, Bresal reminds him that he owes 300. Benedict claims Aethelhelm is a good friend of his so he would look at him with compassion. Bresal asks whether they’re talking about the same man before admitting he can’t go back empty-handed. Benedict claims to have nothing except things he has seen and heard. Bresal learns that Lady Aethelflaed is dying and will not see the spring. Brida listens to the thunder and says Thor strikes his hammer when he is displeased. When she suggests making another offering, one of the hostages tries to run away only to be caught seconds later. Stiorra watches her die before telling the others she cannot hide any longer. She says they cannot wait to be saved while Sigtryggr concocts a plan to get inside.

As they walk through the water, Sigtryggr admits the tunnel was built to carry turds from Eoferwic. Uhtred goes inside first because his daughter would not forgive it if Sigtryggr died before he did. Finan shouts this is a bad idea because the Romans protected their buildings with ghosts. Stiorra tells the other women to follow the water to escape. Hella hugs her and leaves. Then, Stiorra begins yelling Brida’s name and telling her she will pay for this.

 

The Last Kingdom Review

The episode had a lot of revelations, twists, and turns. I am not sure how much I am sold on Brida being the ultimate enemy in the end because I have a hard time seeing it. I don’t really understand her motives, but I expect this to change in future episodes. Brida has taken Eoferwic, Uhtred is ready to storm the city, Aethelflaed is likely dying, King Edward has found a new companion, and Aethelhelm still has big plans.

There are a lot of things going on simultaneously, but as always, The Last Kingdom is simple and easy to follow. The episode established a lot of storylines that will be covered throughout the season. I am eager to see what is going to happen next since we’re on the cusp of a big battle. The episode scores a 7 out of 10. Recaps of The Last Kingdom can be found on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support Reel Mockery by following this link.