As Stiorra (Ruby Hartley) and Sigtryggr (Eysteinn Sigurdarson) ride with the soldiers, they agree that Edward has no idea what he has unleashed. Sigtryggr yells that they’ll mount the heads of Saxons on spikes in two days. Rognvaldr (Micki Stoltt) catches up with his brother to say they should surprise Edward’s men on the road. Sigtryggr and Stiorra intend to stick with the original plan because having more soldiers won’t help Edward. Sigtryggr instructs his men that they will attack from the high hill. Edward (Timothy Innes) knows that Sigtryggr is going to attack from high terrain to try to overwhelm them. He plans their assault with Aldhelm (James Northcote).

Edward agrees that the first group will likely be lost, but they will be lost with honor. He argues it is the price they must pay to protect their kingdoms from heathens. He wants Lord Aethelhelm (Adrian Schiller) located and notified of their intentions. Bresal (Harry Anton) tells Aethelhelm that Edward is camped 20 miles from here and the Danes are marching. The men remain loyal although they grow tired of waiting. Aethelhelm says they will continue waiting. In Edward’s hour of need, they will ride in and help. As for Aethelstan, they should keep him close since some may have ambitions for the boy. Aethelhelm agrees he is Aelfweard’s one true ally so they have to pray his daughter’s sacrifice will bear fruit.

Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon), Sihtric (Arnas Fedaravicius), and Finan (Mark Rowley) stop to let their horses rest. Uhtred says they will alert Edward before tearing Aethelhelm into quarters. When Sihtric says there are only three of us, Uhtred argues Osferth’s spirit will stand in his place. Finan complains his spirit is still taunting the fool who got him killed. Uhtred insists he isn’t to blame so he should save his anger for those who are. After the intro, Aelswith (Eliza Butterworth) and Aelfwynn (Phia Saban) continue waiting for Cynlaef. Aelswith explains that she allowed Cynlaef to touch her so he will want more. Redwald (Joshua Collins) arrives to tell Aelswith about the attack on Rumcofa. Although Aelfwynn believes Cynlaef may live, her grandmother believes they should move.

Brida (Emily Cox) wakes Pyrlig (Cavan Clerkin) to warn him there are warriors nearby. Pyrlig insists they’re just scouts who won’t harm them. Brida asks whether he thought she was going to kill him. She explains he isn’t any good to her dead since she needs him to speak to Uhtred for her. She jokes that his company is torturous. Pyrlig leaves to speak to the scouts because they might have news. Aelfwynn refuses to let her grandmother lock her away in a convent. She doesn’t think Aelswith would’ve treated her mother that way and only wants to be rid of her. When Aelswith says she has done her best to protect her, Aelwynn claims she failed her like she did her mother.

Aelswith demands she get her stuff ready immediately before telling her guard to make sure she doesn’t leave this room. Pyrlig learns about the massacre in Rumcofa. The man says they now ride for Aegelesburg. Edward is already on the road and the kingdoms are in turmoil. The Saxon and Dane are now at war. When Pyrlig returns to Brida, he tells her nothing about the massacre. He says they should set off at once because he can’t wait to escape the blasted cold. Uhtred makes it to Edward to tell him that Sigtryggr did not kill the Queen. Edward is surprised to learn that Aethelhelm’s men were responsible for her death. Wolland (Jaakko Ohtonen) gets closer to the camp so he asks for a soldier to bring Sigtryggr.

Sigtryggr learns that the men at the camp belong to one of Edward’s lords instead of Edward himself. He suggests the Gods are speaking to them since they’ll be able to use this to their advantage. While Sigtryggr says the King’s chances dwindle with fewer men, Stiorra believes Edward can afford to lose men. She doesn’t think they can though and warns them that scouts would see them coming around the lake. However, Sigtryggr believes they can go over the lake since it is frozen. Uhtred tells Edward that Aethelhelm intended to kill the visionary Aalys and didn’t know the Queen had gone with them.

When the time came, the Queen sacrificed herself to save the girl. Uhtred tries to convince Edward that they must get Aethelhelm since Aelflaed’s blood is on his hands. He also has Osferth’s blood on his hands. Aethelhelm wants Edward to turn to him and his armies so he can strut in the palace of Winchester again. Edward agrees that he should be apprehended. Aelfweard is to be shielded from his grandfather’s influence and protected by Edward’s personal guard. Uhtred suggests the order should cover Aethelstan too since he stands between Aelfweard and the throne. When Aldhelm says he sent him to find Aethelhelm, Uhtred warns he is in danger. Edward asks Uhtred to tell Sigtryggr that their war is over.

Stiorra and Sigtryggr argue about crossing the ice since it may not hold. Rognvaldr says he can see from here that it will hold up. He offers to walk on the ice to show its strength. He wants a chance to prove to his brother that he can lead in battle. He asks Wolland to have him test the ice once night falls. Uhtred tells Edward he will take word to the Danes while Edward wants to try Aethelhelm before Saxons and Danes. He believes it’ll give them the opportunity to form a new union with Daneland. Edward is sorry for Osferth although he did not know him well. Uhtred is confident he will avenge him. Aethelstan stops Aethelhelm to tell him men have been stationed to patrol the east and west perimeters. He believes they can rest soundly with the lake at their backs and ample eyes to the trees.

Aethelstan fears he is falling short of inspiring his men. Aethelhelm tells him he is proving to be a true leader. When Aethelhelm steps over to Bresal, he claims the boy is righteous and pompous like his father. Bresal tells him that Aelswith and Aelfwynn have been spotted traveling with a personal guard south of Buccstan. Aethelhelm says the ladies will have to be rescued since the princess is important to them. He argues they need to get rid of Aethelstan and accidents can happen even at night. Aelswith tells her granddaughter they will move on to the nunnery before the sunsets. Eadith (Stefanie Martini) arrives to warn them that they’re in danger since a man is tracking them. When they try to get Aelfwynn, they find that she escaped and fled on a horse.

Stiorra is worried about Sigtryggr’s brother leading the assault, but he is trying to seek atonement by facing danger. Sigtryggr asks her to go to the safety of the nearby trees as soon as they cross. After checking the ice, Rognvaldr believes it is good. Sigtryggr says they will rise before dawn and attack them in their deepest sleep. Stiorra is told to go to the high ground and strike down Saxons as they try to flee. Uhtred runs into one of Edward’s scouts who says Lord Aethelhelm is camped in a valley north of here near a frozen lake. They ride toward the camp. Sigtryggr and his men begin crossing the frozen lake. Despite a brief scare, they manage to make it across and immediately kill two guards. Then, they begin entering tents and killing sleeping soldiers.

Stiorra makes her move with a group of Danes. Soon, Aethelstan is attacked but he manages to defend himself. He begins screaming and waking up the other soldiers. Aethelhelm and Bresal find out what is going on after Aethelstan kills his attacker. Aethelhelm orders them to protect him at all costs so Bresal calls for a shield wall. Sigtryggr and Rognvaldr fight together. When Uhtred arrives, he realizes they’re too late. He tells Stiorra that he needs to stop Sigtryggr since Aethelhelm is the one responsible for the Queen and the attack on Rumcofa. Uhtred tells them to cut a path to Sigtryggr and get Aethelstan to safety. Aethelhelm is to be taken alive. Aethelstan screams to find out why Aethelhelm is not fighting. Uhtred fights his way to Aethelstan and tells Sihtric to get him to safety.

Finan says he’ll deal with Aethelhelm so Uhtred can get to Sigtryggr. Edward and Aldhelm arrive with a group of soldiers. He says they must trust Uhtred since there is still time to stop this. Sihtric gets Aethelstan to Stiorra who learns her father is still trying to reach Sigtryggr. Aldhelm worries that more Christian lives are going to be lost if they don’t act now. Edward agrees that Aethelhelm cannot be allowed to succeed. He declares that they must be saved before pulling his sword and charging. When Sigtryggr sees them, he immediately alerts his soldiers that Edward is coming. Finan screams at Aethelhelm warning him that he is going to kill him before Sihtric pulls him back.

Sihtric argues that too many protect Aethelhelm. Sigtryggr continues fighting. The Danes try to flee across the frozen lake, but the ice begins breaking. Uhtred finally makes it to Sigtryggr and convinces him to stop. He tells Edward that Sigtryggr must not be harmed. Uhtred tells Edward that Aethelhelm is to blame while Sigtryggr puts down his sword. Aethelstan tries to stop Stiorra from running to her husband. Once Stiorra, Sigtryggr, and the others are taken captive, Uhtred says Aethelhelm provoked this and the massacre in Rumcofa was his doing. He tells them that he was riding for a truce. While they believe it is over for them now, Uhtred isn’t sure about that. Uhtred enters the tent with Aldhelm and Edward to speak for Stiorra who has killed no Saxons in this fight.

Edward gives Uhtred his word that she will be spared. As for Sigtryggr, Uhtred argues Edward should swear a new alliance with him. Uhtred says favor is not only won with a sword. Edward’s men know he can fight so he should show them he knows mercy. He also has to remember that the Danes are his people now. Uhtred recommends uniting them all to make sure this doesn’t happen again. Stiorra tells Sigtryggr not to despair since there is plenty for their kin to sing about. Edward approaches and talks about the peace they had for years until one emerged who sown hatred between his God and theirs. He has decided to restore the peace. Edward gives them his word as King of all Saxons. In exchange, they must accept the gift of baptism.

He says they will be accepted into the family of Christ so there can never be such division again. Uhtred believes he is asking too much since he is going to strip them of their gods. Sigtryggr tells Stiorra that a Dane without his Gods is no longer a Dane. Rognvaldr gets on his knees while saying it is over so they must do it. Sigtryggr says Stiorra was right about his brother being a coward. He refuses to swear and cannot. Uhtred doesn’t think it has to come to his, but Edward says Sigtryggr he has chosen and he can’t go back on his word. In private, Uhtred tries to convince Edward to change his mind. He thinks Aethelhelm has won if Sigtryggr dies. He asks Edward not to let him win.

Uhtred steps outside to tell his daughter she has been spared while removing the ropes from her wrists. Edward will be the overlord of Eoferwic and Sigtryggr is sentenced to death. Sigtryggr tells Stiorra that he has failed and let them take everything although Stiorra claims she will reclaim Eoferwic. Sigtryggr asks Uhtred to be the one to do it. He only wants an honorable death by a great warrior. Uhtred wishes the Gods they weren’t here. Sigtryggr believes they wouldn’t have been if Uhtred hadn’t brought Edward here because they would’ve won. Stiorra says they will cheer for him Valhalla and she will sing for him on Earth. Sigtryggr will wait for her in the halls of their ancestors.

Sigtryggr says they may butcher our bodies, but our souls are Odin’s own. Uhtred kills him moments later. Brida and Pyrlig run into one of Sigtryggr’s men. He says the Saxons slaughtered them even though they only fought to avenge their people. Before the man dies, he tells Brida that Uhtred fought with the Saxons. Brida asks if this is the peace Pyrlig talked about. She reminds him that the Danes lived with the Saxons in harmony for years. Uhtred’s daughter was a Queen, but they slaughtered them like dogs.

Brida questions what they’ll do to her. Pyrlig believes that is separate from the conflict between Edward and Sigtryggr. He says the scout mentioned Edward was riding now causing Brida to wonder if he lied to her. She believes he is leading her into a trap, but Pyrlig insists he is trying to help her find redemption. She says there can be no reconciliation before stabbing him. She asks Pyrlig to tell Uhtred she is coming for him if he lives. As Uhtred rides back with the others, Aethelstan tells him they shouldn’t have left Rumcofa. Osferth might be with them still if they had stayed. When he says he’d like to go back to his old life, Uhtred says he can’t since many men look to him as a leader.

Edward wishes this didn’t happen. Aldhelm suggests there is hope even in despair. Now that Eoferwic belongs to Edward, England is closer to reality. Uhtred tells Stiorra he will make sure she is safe in Eoferwic. She wonders how after he broke the spirits of her kin. He believes they can build a home together, but Stiorra argues she has nothing more. Bresal tells Aethelhelm they’ll lie low here before bribing their way onto a ship for Frankia. Aethelhelm doesn’t want to run off because his grandson stands alone. Securing his legacy has never been more urgent. He intends to secure an alliance with the King of Scotia as Edward asked him to do so, but he will turn it to his advantage.

He believes Constantin (Rod Hallett) has the power to end Edward’s tyranny. Constantin will be expecting a gift and they will give him one. Bresal is tasked with retrieving Aelfwynn. In Sriblinn, Constantin learns that the Saxon Edward routed Sigtryggr. He says they would be wise to invite the Northumbrians as their guests. If they make one example of them, the other lords will swear. Constantin tells the Lords that he has sobering news. Edward has turned on his greatest ealdormen and his ally Sigtryggr. They must prepare for hostilities since Edward will likely look northward. He suggests they become one to confront Wessex before their lands are swallowed by the dream of England.

He asks Lord Edmund of Jarrow, Aelfgar of Berwick, and Wihtgar of Bebbanburg (Ossian Perret) if they swear allegiance.

 

The Last Kingdom Review

The final season of The Last Kingdom is going all out and it seems nobody is safe. We’ve already lost two main characters. If I had to guess, I’d say both were incredibly popular so their absences will not be ignored. With this episode out of the way, it appears that Edward is going to set his sights on uniting England once and for all. Brida changed her mind about trying to seek reconciliation with help from Pyrlig so she will likely raise an army and become a pain in Uhtred’s side.

I’ll miss the Sigtryggr character, but I suppose you can’t complain about the honorable death the character received. It was emotional and well done. At this point, I can’t imagine what is going to happen next or who will be killed. Regardless, the season has been some of the best television I’ve watched in a long time.

This episode scores an 8 out of 10. All recaps of The Last Kingdom are available on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support us by following this link.