What it lacks in budget it makes up for with storytelling. It's impossible not to compare it to the likes of Game of Thrones or Outlander, which manage to outshine it just due to the resources they have, but the first season of The Last Kingdom is gripping and well put together. Battle scenes are creatively shot using very limited angles and the dialogue is unfortunately modernised a bit too far, but the cast are the show's secret weapon.
It moves extremely fast, and this is both a good and bad thing. It means that the show is rarely dull, but it also means we don't get to spend any time just taking things in. There's an episode where Uhtred is given over as a hostage and has to stay with the Danes; this could have made up a whole episode or two, but lasts about 10 minutes. The passage of time is lost on numerous occasions in the show's attempt to just fit as much in as it can.
Speaking of the Danes, I was hoping to spend more time with them than we did. They are really the most interesting (and fun) characters, and I savoured any moment that an episode cut away to them.
The plot is pretty simple by many standards, with only a small cast of core characters that are easy to keep track of. It makes for a very easy watch. I think I found the first five episodes to be the best, having Ubba as the main bad guy was brilliant, and it's a shame he couldn't stay around longer. I also adored Mildrith, Uhted's reluctant wife, and felt incredible sorry for her.. Uhtred himself can be annoyingly arrogant and hot-headed, and he never seems to learn from his mistakes.
Review by LeftHandedGuitaristBlockedParent2017-03-15T11:07:15Z
What it lacks in budget it makes up for with storytelling. It's impossible not to compare it to the likes of Game of Thrones or Outlander, which manage to outshine it just due to the resources they have, but the first season of The Last Kingdom is gripping and well put together. Battle scenes are creatively shot using very limited angles and the dialogue is unfortunately modernised a bit too far, but the cast are the show's secret weapon.
It moves extremely fast, and this is both a good and bad thing. It means that the show is rarely dull, but it also means we don't get to spend any time just taking things in. There's an episode where Uhtred is given over as a hostage and has to stay with the Danes; this could have made up a whole episode or two, but lasts about 10 minutes. The passage of time is lost on numerous occasions in the show's attempt to just fit as much in as it can.
Speaking of the Danes, I was hoping to spend more time with them than we did. They are really the most interesting (and fun) characters, and I savoured any moment that an episode cut away to them.
The plot is pretty simple by many standards, with only a small cast of core characters that are easy to keep track of. It makes for a very easy watch. I think I found the first five episodes to be the best, having Ubba as the main bad guy was brilliant, and it's a shame he couldn't stay around longer. I also adored Mildrith, Uhted's reluctant wife, and felt incredible sorry for her.. Uhtred himself can be annoyingly arrogant and hot-headed, and he never seems to learn from his mistakes.
Looking forward to season 2.