My favourite Constantine lines from Series 5:
"Sieges are for turds".
"I am in love. The woman is married herself...huh...Yet she is mine..."
"These lands are disputed. And I will always claim them."
Plus:
...Finan giving a little bow to Constantine leaving Bebbanburg.
...Aethelstan helping Aldhelm up when Finan calls for all men to get to their feet.
...Edward passing his cup on to Aethelstan, as if passing on his assent to kingship (if it is 918/919, Edward is supposed to be in his fifties, and dies in 924, then there is an Aethelweard/Aethelstan standoff (according to the books, but it is orchestrated by Aethelhelm, who is obviously dead in the TV series).
I predict a lot of "pre-film paragraphs" to explain stuff, then an opening sequence with a grown up Aethelstan (although BC has Uhtred scorn his "pretty" behaviour, jewels in long curled hair, drinking from fine, Roman glassware on a campaign (implying Aethelstan took a lot of care over objects that were less practical while travelling, just because he cared for them).
BC also implies he has male lovers - fitting in with the idea that Aethelstan avoided marriage and the tone is scornful over this too. More simply (and because Michael Wood is a history professor specialising in this period), he has chosen not to marry and have children to avoid succession complications, for there are now three half brothers waiting in the wings to carry on Alfred's bloodline, one of which, Edmund, was a general at Brunanburh).
With this, it seemed that there was precedence for kings to marry after they were king to prevent nephews and therefore a lot of aethling claimants to a throne. Oswald (Saint Oswald of Northumbria) seemed to have done this. Oswy, his brother, married three times, so clearly did not see himself as kingworthy, or else the rule didn't really apply: an Irish princess, with whom he had a son, Reienmelth, of Rheged (who isn't recorded as giving him children, and who he seems to have met when passing through Rheged on the way to Heavenfield, where Oswald and his uncle, Edwin, King of Deria and Bernicia (Northumbria) fought.
I mean - come on, authors of historical fiction - where's Oswald's story? Him and Edwin? Family rivalry to rival no other, involving every Celtic and Saxon kingdom? Much better than the "Arthur" series, which, sorry BC I cannot get into.
Aethelfrith, Oswald's father, wins the kingdom of Deria as well as Bernicia, marries the king of Deria's daughter, but then is slain in battle. Acha, his wife, has to go on the run to Dal Riata (where there must have been precedent for sanctuary for her and her at least 3 sons (at Iona), and 1 daughter, although there may have been more).
Her brother, Edwin, now inherits both Deria and Bernicia, and is well loved, but many plots were put against him. He has been on the run when Aethelfrith was king, and ended up in Wales married to a Welsh princess, who he throws over when he goes back to be king. And especially when he travels south for a wife, he is converted to Christianity, and then back in Northumbria is nearly assassinated, but a friend throws himself in front of the assassin's blade.
Oswald is killed in battle by Penda at Oswestry (a link to his name) and his young son dies/is assassinated. Oswy also then married a princess from Kent, who went by Augustine Christianity, and the Synod of Whitby was called by him to decide whether the Saxon kingdoms were to follow the Augustine Roman church or the insular Celtic/Irish church. Oswy chose Augustine, and I have to say I think this is where there becomes the first division down the lines of of nation/religion in the British Isles: the Cymry, Alba (and Ireland) stuck with ColmCille; the rest of the nation turned to Augustine (there was, as is always in the middle of Mercia, a frontier of Irish church, Augustine church and pagans not yet converted, and Saint Chad was sent to sort that all out and establish a Bishopric at Lichfield.)
Someone? Anyone? BC? You aren't eighty yet - a prequel in Northumbria, please!
..."To Bebbanburg!" That cheer at the end, from the characters and also the cast...
...He is Uhtred, son of Uhtred, brother to an Uhtred, cousin to an Uhtred (in the books Wihtgar is Uhtred, yes, I can see how that would confuse...) father to three Uhtreds, grandfather to at least one Uhtred...
...I have been reading how many people want a back story with Constantine - I am so glad that his back story can be seen to be valued. Maybe an author will pick up this story, there is so much in the "Alba/Ireland" story at the time, as is there at the time of Aethelfrith/Oswald from the 600-640s in Northumbria (A prequel, Mr. Cornwell?)
...I am no BC, but here is Constantine, with his Alba.
...The outgoing sequence with Bebbanburg, and the camera flying south, with Alba to the north. At least they got the scenery right (though you can't really go wrong with a coast), unlike Tamworth, which seemed to be on a hill, when two rivers run through it (the Tame and the Anker), the Tame also going towards Tettenhall/Wednesfield, which was again a bit higher ground. And where is the chalk subsoil in Winchester?
Oh and I just found out that the Britons used Lindisfarne was used by the Britons before the Saxons arrived as a place of medicine and healing, and was called, "Medcaut". So perhaps Eadith should set up there.
Please carry on messaging me - I am really enjoying talking about all of this with you! And please review, they are a motivation like no other.