As this episode begins, Stiorra (Ruby Hartley) emerges from hiding to confront Brida (Emily Cox) who claims the Gods have brought her to them. Stiorra says the Gods will not forget what she has done in their name. Rognvaldr (Micki Stoltt) listens as Stiorra asks Brida to fight her without hiding behind her slaves. Brida says she has Uhtred’s eye so she may keep them when she is finished with her. Hella (Lara Steward) is brought forward as Stiorra says she is a good servant and could be useful to Brida. Although Hella promises to make herself useful, Brida kills her. Wolland (Jaakko Ohtonen) screams nearby. Brida tells them to use that as a warning while Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) and the others continue moving through the sewer system.

Stiorra demands Brida make a square and fight her since she is the Queen of Eoferwic. Brida accepts her request. After the intro, Sigtryggr (Eysteinn Sigurdarson) tells the others that they’re in the city now. Vibeke (Emili Akhchina) is told to sit nearby while the square is made. Uhtred, Finan (Mark Rowley), Osferth (Ewan Mitchell), and the others kill a few warriors before moving on. They watch from a building nearby as the battle between Brida and Stiorra begins. Uhtred tells Finan he knows what to do and should move quickly. Then, he tells Sigtryggr that they’ll go on his signal. Sihtric (Arnas Fedaravicius) sneaks around as Stiorra tries to fend off Brida. He tells Wolland and the others to be ready because he is going to get them out. Sigtryggr uses a bow to shoot one of the warriors behind Brida stopping her from killing Stiorra.

He continues shooting arrows while Finan, Aethelstan (Harry Gilby), and the others join the fight. Uhtred calls for Brida and tells her she shouldn’t have come for his children. They fight briefly before getting separated. Stiorra makes it back to Sigtryggr. Outside, Pyrlig (Cavan Clerkin) prepares to enter through the gates with more soldiers. Vibeke sees something in a tree nearby and begins approaching it until Brida grabs her. She tells her daughter to hide until she comes for her. Pyrlig’s men storm through the gates seconds later. The townsfolk are told to head towards the woods and take cover. Brida goes after Uhtred again until she sees Vibeke climbimg a building. The little girl nearly falls so Brida goes to aid her. Uhtred climbs up and asks her to get back from the edge. Brida tells her daughter to jump over to her because the Gods will protect her.

She jumps, hits the roof of the building, and crashes to the ground. The impact kills her. Rognvaldr saves his brother when he is nearly killed. Uhtred watches as Brida checks on her daughter. Moments later, Brida carries her daughter’s body out of the village while her soldier yells for the others to retreat. Sigtryggr tells the guards to take Rognvaldr as his brother claims Brida made him do it. Stiorra tells Uhtred she knew he would come. When Stiorra asks why he let Brida live, he says a child lay dead so there would’ve been no honor in taking advantage of her grief. She warns him that Brida will find more warriors to follow her so it would’ve been a good time to end this. Stiorra threatens to go after her if he doesn’t. Uhtred agrees to do so before telling Finan and Sihtric to fetch their men from Rumcofa.

He tells them they’re going to ride after Brida. It is believed that Father Pyrlig will be with the townspeople. Finan is asked to fetch him and make sure the rest of the city is secured. Rognvaldr pleads with his brother to spare his life while the other warriors are being executed by Wolland. Rognvaldr insists he fought with his brother, but Sigtryggr says he saw the tide turn and tried to save himself. Sigtryggr considers his options while Pyrlig leads the townsfolk to safety. He soon finds himself surrounded by Brida and other Danes. While riding together, Uhtred and Aethelstan find bodies on the ground. Aethelstan wonders if they should fetch the others before throwing up.

Uhtred admits it is common to do that after your first battle since he emptied his guts into Ragnar’s helmet after his first. He says he did well and instructs him to fetch the others to tell them Brida is moving north. Aethelstan thinks Brida escaped until Uhtred confesses he let her go. In Winchester, Bresal (Harry Anton) tells Aethelhelm (Adrian Schiller) about Aethelflaed being sick and won’t see the spring. Since she hasn’t informed King Edward (Timothy Innes), Aethelhelm doesn’t think she’ll consult Wessex before naming her successor. Whoever she picks will likely have a bloody battle of their hands unless she intends to give the throne to Lady Aelfwynn. Although the Witan won’t like it, there is an argument to be made for peaceful continuity.

Aethelhelm believes his grandson Aelfweard would be a good choice. He is young enough that the ealdormen will believe they can influence him. They agree that they’ll need persuading. Aethelhelm says they need to act with caution before asking Bresal to find out how loyal the Witan is to Aethelflaed. Meanwhile, Uhtred and the others continue searching for Brida although they consider coming back with more men from Eoferwic. Uhtred eventually relents and says they will return to Eoferwic. King Edward tells Aethelhelm that he received word from Mercia that his men never reached Sigtryggr. He wonders why his sister never sent men and endangered the peace so recklessly.

Aethelhelm asks if she did what Wessex should’ve done long ago and cut ties with the enemy within. Edward doesn’t think so. He also worries about Pyrlig since they haven’t heard anything from him. Edward intends to send a messenger to Aegelesburg to find out what they’re missing. When Uhtred makes it back, Sigtryggr tells him he was blind and opened the gates to let the wolves among his people. Uhtred tells him that he led them to victory since Eoferwic is saved. Sigtryggr admits everyone betrayed him. He has been weak since he kept silent while the Christians poisoned his people. When Uhtred mentions the truce, Sigtryggr says there was no truce. It was lies and trickery. The Christians’ words are as false as the God they pretend to love.

Sigtryggr doesn’t know why Uhtred trusts them since Edward wouldn’t have looked the other way if Brida would’ve attacked Mercia. He turned against them when Danes are under attack. He believes they’re heathens to be sacrificed and nothing more. Uhtred reveals Pyrlig said Edward did send men to Mercia intended for his aid. Sigtryggr reminds Uhtred he has won countless battles for them, yet they dishonor him and abandon his daughter. He asks Uhtred to swear his loyalty to him and stand by his kin, but Uhtred said his place is in Rumcofa. Later, Stiorra tells Uhtred there is a shadow on Sigtryggr after his brother’s betrayal. Uhtred argues he needs time to heal since his pride was wounded, but Stiorra believes it is more than his pride.

She urges her father to give Sigtryggr guidance because he will listen to him. She asks her father to stay. On the road to Aegelsburg, Eadith (Stefanie Martini) gives Aethelflaed (Millie Brady) something to drink to help her sleep. Aethelflaed doesn’t want to sleep until Father Benedict (Patrick Robinson) has visited. She admits her mother was never going to let her travel home without a priest. Aelswith (Eliza Butterworth) confirms that Benedict has arrived. Eadith believes she should rest, but Aelswith says she’ll be healed by God’s grace and not her potions. After Eadith helps Aethelflaed put her robe on, her mother says the sacrament of healing will restore her. Father Benedict performs the ritual.

Bresal tells Aethelhelm they’ve received word from their friends in Mercia. They said Lady Aethelflaed has allies among the ealdormen, but more harbor bitterness at her successes. He suspects most will be led by their greed. Aethelhelm gives him a bag of coins and tells him to leave immediately to ensure the Witan feels adequately respected. He says the lady cannot return before he reaches the ealdormen. Aethelhelm will follow with Aelfweard once he has broken the news to the king. In the morning, Eadgifu (Sonya Cassidy) tells King Edward the palace is stirring and she must not be seen here.

He tries to get her to stay, but she reminds him that his wife has engaged her in the duties of the court. She is to divert her energies towards the art of embroidery. She suspects Aelflaed (Amelia Clarkson) just wants to keep an eye on her. She doesn’t want to hurt Aelflaed. Edward hopes she’ll return tonight before Aethelhelm interrupts. Once she leaves, Aethelhelm tells Edward about the news he heard from Mercia regarding his sister’s health. Edward doesn’t believe it and isn’t sure Aethelhelm’s spies would learn it before the King. Aethelhelm says Mercia’s succession often leads to disorder so she likely wanted to keep her illness unknown.

He goes on to say this explains why the lady did not raise a Mercian army to aid Eoferwic. Regardless, Sigtryggr has recaptured the city. Aethelhelm asks if he is going to travel to Mercia before apologizing for intruding on his grief. Meanwhile, Finan tells Uhtred that there is no sign of Pyrlig so he must’ve traveled back to the King, but Uhtred doesn’t think he would. Finan wants to talk to him about the Lady Aethelflaed. Eadith meets with Aldhelm (James Northcote) to say Aethelflaed’s strength is fading and she doesn’t want her condition known until matters are resolved. She needs Aldhelm’s help entering the palace. He finds her in the back of the carriage before carrying her inside. Meanwhile, Finan tells Uhtred that Aethelflaed won’t see the spring.

Finan explains that Eadith begged him to wait until the battle was won before he told him. His mind was on his daughter so it would’ve been wrong for Finan to add more to his troubles. Uhtred doesn’t want to believe it. Finan encourages him to go to Aethelflaed who would want him to be there. Uhtred begins breaking down as he admits he thought there would be more one day. When Uhtred says there is so much he didn’t say, Finan reminds him there is still time. Moments later, Uhtred tells Stiorra that Lady Aethelflaed is dying so he must go to her. Stiorra warns him to be careful if Mercia finds itself without a leader. They agree that her place is there with Sigtryggr before Uhtred leaves.

Brida is asked whether they should kill Pyrlig, but she says he will come with them. The Gods delivered him to her and will show her why. Aethelflaed tells her mother that Aelfwynn must be named as her successor because she will be protected on the throne. Aldhelm says he will go get her. He finds her flirting with a boy with her friends. She asks whether this is about how she brought shame on her in Rumcofa. She claims her mother wants to chide her for doing what she cannot. Aldhelm gets upset while saying her mother has given everything for Mercia to protect her people and her only child. She is the hope for the future of this kingdom and her heart. Once she sits down with her mother, Aethelflaed says all she wishes is for her daughter to be Lady of Merica in her stead.

She warns her daughter that word of her condition will spread and others will try to take the throne for their own advancement. If they’re successful, they’ll first make sure her daughter is disposed of. Aethelflaed knows she will sacrifice a lot since it was a choice she also faced. Aelfwynn agrees to serve as queen when her mother is gone. Aethelflaed is sure that the Witan will stand behind her daughter. They leave after Aelswith tells her daughter she must rest. Aldhelm tells her it pains Aelswith to see her this way. She knows it is a dreadful thing to face the loss of a child. Aethelflaed tells Aldhelm she is grateful before asking for one more favor. She asks him to be her daughter’s guide and advisor because Mercia needs him.

Aldhelm says it would be his honor. They agree to act quickly. Bresal meets with Burgred (Dorian Lough) and others to tell them Lady Aelfwynn is not fit to rule. He gives them money and says Aethelhelm has a better candidate. Aelflaed says they’re blessed to welcome Aalys (Kathy Peacock) and her pilgrims to Winchester. She explains that the tapestry tells of the deeds of St. Cuthbert, the saint she was visited by. Aelflaed believes it is important for people to see recognition of this miracle. Aalys admits they’ll be glad to carry their offering to the Holy Isle. With Edward’s approval, they’ll take it to Lindisfarne. Aelflaed believed Edward would like to make a king’s blessing to their offering. He says of course. When she turns around, Edward tells Aelflaed that her show of piety may be seen as Wessex laying claim to the Holy Isle.

King Constantin wants Lindisfarne for Scotland and could see this as a deliberate act of provocation. When she says she didn’t know, he reminds her that she didn’t ask. She gets sad so Aalys tries to comfort her. Her father takes her out and says this isn’t the time to provoke the king’s displeasure, but she says he disrespected her. She is told to bear it for the sake of her son who is the only reason they have a place here. She knows but is tired of waiting. Her father tells her Aelfweard will be the Lord of Mercia within the week. Eadgifu listens as Aethelhelm says there will be a Witan when Aethelflaed dies and his grandson will be named her successor. When Eadgifu tells Edward, he realizes that Aethelhelm has bribed the ealdormen. She asks what he’ll do.

Edward approaches Aethelhelm to say he is going to ride to Aegelesburg. God willing, his sister will be spared long enough to receive them. He is told it would be wise for his son to travel with the delegation. Aethelhelm offers to accompany him too. While Uhtred and the others ride toward Aegelesburg, Rognvaldr screams for his brother from his cage. Stiorra approaches Sigtryggr to say it isn’t an easy thing to condemn your brother to die and he is tenderhearted. Sigtryggr knows he must act and his brother must answer for his crimes. He has protected his brother all his life so he doesn’t know what to do. Stiorra doesn’t think he deserves his mercy. She suggests letting the Gods decide. Sigtryggr asks his brother if he’d rather accept a quick death now or accept his fate after a public trial.

Stiorra reminds him he pretended to want a trial for his people under Danelaw when he came there. Rognvaldr knows his brother is just and merciful so he doesn’t think he’ll condemn him, but he is forced to choose anyway. They go outside where Sigtryggr says the prisoner will take the flaming hot bar in both hands. Then, he will take nine steps for the nine nights Odin hung on the great tree. If he succeeds, the Gods favor him and he will be pardoned. If he fails, the Gods have cursed him and he will get Sigtryggr’s sword. Rognvaldr approaches the boiling water to retrieve the metal bar. He screams while pulling it out of the war as the episode ends.

 

The Last Kingdom Review

This episode of The Last Kingdom was likely the best of the season so far and really shows how good the final season can be. It had humor, backstabbing, romance, an intense battle, and a surprising death. It is also sad to see Aethelflaed suffer while Uhtred comes to grips with the possible loss. While a lot has been bundled into the episode, it was easy to digest and understand.

With so much going on, I am genuinely excited to watch the next episodes. The episode was very good so it scores a 7.5 out of 10. Recaps of The Last Kingdom can be found on Reel Mockery here. Learn how to support Reel Mockery here.