For some reason, because I must have signed up to a newsletter, I get emails from the Alba Party.
The Alba Party want independence of Scotland from the United Kingdom. While Scotland's union with England (and Wales) came about in ways unrelated to the events in The Last Kingdom, themes are still relevant.
In Scotland, Wales and Ireland, the people of England are called (officially) Saxon (think Said, Sassenach etc). What else they are called, I won't go into.
7 Kings Must Die tells, as well as Uhtred's fictional story in amongst the generations of Alfred's dynasty, the interplay between Cymru, Strathclyde, Alba, Eireann, the Inis Mon, Shetland and Orkney.
That the border between the soon-to-be England and Scotland is not far off where it was at this time period, give or take a few hundred years (the Declaration of Arbroath is where one needs to look for this), the animosity between the Britons and Gaels has existed since Hengist and Horsa, and the flow, steady settling of mercenaries invited, so the legend goes, by Vortigern of the Cruithne (Rheged/Cumbria/Strathclyde) to oppose the Gaels and Picts.
How true this is is debatable. A poem attributed to a Welsh poet under Hywel was supposed to have recalled Taliesin's prediction that the Sais would be driven back to Kent and into the sea. I was very, very impressed that this was referenced in the film, and big tick on my imaginary bingo card for historical fact (tick!) And now to apologise for beginning my review of 7KMD in the middle of the film!
It begins with a voiceover by Finan, a very nice touch, and then Ingrith's prophesy (that Finan refused to let her finish and denies is true) that Seven Kings Must Die and...
And, if you've read the books, you'll know the ending. Yet Uhtred is neither a king not has a woman to love. All of the women he has loved have died. Is the point that they died before him? Because 1100 years after the historical events, they're all dead now!
Which brings me to my first point: Eadith. What exactly WAS the point of her going through all of S4 with the directors teasing her and Finan, and to a lesser extent, and making eyes at Uhtred in S5 if she is absolutely absent in 7KMD? The writing may well have twisted it so that he would fall in love between 2 minutes in and the end of the film, and Uhtred could have been thought of as king because he had been made Lord of Mercia in S4...
To be honest the casting felt a little bit like they had let the cast go from S5, then had to scrabble around for whoever was slow in leaving to appear in the movie. A bit mish mashed but the directors made it work with what they had.
Uhtred, Sihtric and Finan discuss past lords and Uhtred "can't quite remember Skade" - as if! Then the news comes that King Edward has died, cue first quip from Finan - one down, six to go.
Eadgifu (who somehow seems to be ageing backwards) flees Aelfweard's guards comes for shelter with Edmund, Pyrlig in the guard - Edward's youngest son all the way to Bebbanburg, having escaped Winchester with Aldhelm's help - Aldhelm of Mercia/Aylesbury helping the Queen of Wessex...?
Eadgifu warns Uhtred that Aethelstan has changed from being carefree and has come under the influence of Inglmundr, a Dane-born Saxon who has become a Christian of the cult of Oswald, thanks to "your son in Rome", cursing that he has not protected her and Edmund as (off screen) promised.
So, unless son of Uhtred "Father Oswald" makes an appearance at Brunanburh and makes up with his father (like the books) we won't be seeing Uhtred and Gisela's firstborn. They weren't fallen out in the TV show/film like in the books, so there was no need for a reconciliation.
So, Inglmundr is the opposite to Uhtred's Saxon-born Dane, and is having a gay love affair with Aethelstan, for which the young future king is feeling enormously guilty over their love affair. Yes, I understand casting constraints, but this to me clashes, because the socioeconomic evidence at the time suggests his motivation is furthering Alfred's dream and one step beyond (Waeleas and Alba) far more than "guilt".
Where is Stiorra? Did she go off to live alone? Stay at Bebbanburg? No information :( In the books she is killed ag Eoforwic after killing Brida for taking her children in an attempt to blind them to make them into seers.
Edmund is taken under the wing of Osbert as Uhtred, Finan and Sihtric to Aylesbury, after hearing the prophecy from Ingrith again before leaving Bebbanburg, which again Finan won't let her finish, but she has made the three of them fur wraps, set off for Aylesbury to confront Aelfweard pitying the state of the place and remembering Aethelflaed, and hear that Aelfweard has laid a trap for Aethelstan, who has been praying at Glastonbury and is alerted by Pyrlig.
Aelfweard (better hair now, not necessarily a better "heir") has declared himself King, and has laid a trap to lure Aethelstan to Aylesbury. While Uhtred considers warning Aethelstan, he arrives having overcome the ambushes laid on for him and brings Aelfweard's men to him.
Inglmundr advises Aethelstan (who is playing tafl - and a book survives that refers to Aethelstan's tafl. Here, I am reminded of the priest who randomly goes to help Lagertha in Vikings.
Uhtred defeats some youths who try to steal Serpent Breath for the amber.
There is a laying down of swords, for about 5 seconds, but Aethelstan goes to embrace Aelfweard and stabs him through, saving the book/history version of a prolonged sequence of battles and hundreds dying. Uhtred loses Serpent Breath after all.
Shocking, but not nearly as shocking as to what is to come.
And, no Egil? How can we have Brunanburh without Egil Skallargrimmrson? 50% of what we know about that enigmatic battle (location, unknown, belligerents, not all clear. Numbers? Undetermined) we know from his poem.
King 1. Constantine.
In the meantime, Anlaf Guthfrithson (a thinner, older version of the actor who played Skorpa - it isn't him, I checked the casting) sends word to Constantine for truce, but had rejects this as he feels he cannot join with a pagan. Anlaf sends his daughter as a spy and to stir trouble while the kings of Strathclyde, Man, Orkney and Shetland meet at the Isle of Man, noting the empty throne not now of Mercia but in Eoforwic (could be Deria? But some consider Eoforwic capital of all of Northumbria, yet Bebbanburg and beyond would consider it separate to Deria, as to be Bernicia.
At Aylesbury, Uhtred counsels Aethelstan and advises not to continue the war, the opposite advice to Inglmundr's, but his pragmatic Alfredian sense comes back to him, as his common sense to listen to Uhtred over his libido and piety (that pagan Uhtred has no more to offer him). Inglmundr is in command at Thirlwell on the Wirral.
Aethelstan is crowned at Winchester King 2 by Pyrlig (empty box on my bingo card - Aethelstan was crowned on a bridge over the Thames, to represent it's connection to Wessex on the south bank and Mercia on the north bank). Poignant as in 3 weeks we will see the almost identical ceremony for the crowning of King Charles III, who can trace his ancestry back to Alfred.
In the fighting, Uhtred loses Serpent Breath to a kid who likes the amber stone in his hilt. While he doesn't look sixtyish, Uhtred in the books does have a defeat in SK
At this point, most of Sword of Kings and War of the Wolf are done in 20 minutes, with possibly the end of SK to go (but Benedetta has not made an appearance yet and - don't held your breath - she doesn't). The rest of the film is War Lord.
Aethelstan is angry that Inglmundr wasn't at his coronation, but his lover is sitting in the well-stocked scriptorium of Alfred's and Inglmundr reminds Aethelstan of his grandfather's dream (uniting the Anglish and Saxon kingdoms) but to expand it to the whole if the island of Britain, i.e. Waeleas, Alba too), before giving into their passions.
Uhtred then returns to Bebbanburg, Finan presents him with another sword, with a garnet in the hilt and poor quips on possible names, likely to be suggested so likely to break the ice. A sign he is more Saxon (garnet?) now than Dane (represented by the amber?) The first time I think that Serpent Breath has been named in the whole of the series.
Uhtred has a heart to heart with Eadgifu, her grief has passed because if the Bebbanburg air, with plenty of gazing off into the distance over the battlements of Bebbanburg. Is she going to be the "woman that you love?"
Apparently not, because a suggestion is made to Eadgifu to that effect and she is shocked that her actions have caused this thoughtand after being married to a king she would never marry a lord. (Benedetta was clearly "no marriage" which Uhtred never questioned, in the books) - maybe for Eadgifu...? Sorry, naa.
Another non-tick is Eamont Bridge, where Aethelstan calls for fealty to be given. This is pushed together into Aethelstan's easy take of the un-vikinged rule of the city of Eoforwic - a comment is made that Rognvaldr is dead, and the daughter of Anlaf is hanging around, listening to what is happening, making it the first (and main listed in the scant documents of Aethelstan's reign) of subjugation. Uhtred tells the tribute payers to stop paying andeave - Pyrlig again comes to counsel Uhtred on the situation.
Domnal, Constantine's general, sneers in disgust at being made to come to Eoforwic, and Uhtred is told of "forced baptisms" - that is, of course, not good, but it's not as if "being washed" (and being given another set of clothes to wear to represent the first day of the beginning of your new Christian life would cause much life-changing harm - Norse and Dane's did it so it is recorded, for a "wash" and for a new set of clothes, sometimes multiple times!) Anlaf's daughter is the there, presumably spying for her father.
Now we get back to "Derwent, West Northumbria" (I suppose that outside audiences might get confused about Cumbria and Owain (King 3) of Strathclyde's mysterious relationship with Cumbraland). It is not far from Eamont Bridge and has to do as a substitute because both Owain (who is mysteriously very old, when he should be in his twenties or thirties) is there and Hywel Dda (King 4).
I might have thought they would have mentioned Guthred here, Gisela's brother, who sold Uhtred out to slavery, but no. Owain had some claim to the Hen Ogledd - the old northern Cumbria, hence his appearance at the pulling down of the Devil Stones (i.e. they are idolatrous and pagan and need removing). Owain has been brought up witness, as has Hywel, whose son has been given over as hostage, who tells of the poet's prophecy.
The daughter of Anlaf then informs on Aldhelm that he is a traitor because he has spoken to the "pagan" (Uhtred) and - now this will break your heart - Aldhelm is hanged. For me, having watched the film twice now, is the most terrible of all, all credit to James Northcote's acting, the disbelief, the grace in acceptance, the fear, that he accepts Aldhelm's fate with grace and settles himself to peace within sight of the noose. My heart - truly it stopped as I willed and I willed someone to come for Aldhelm.
In reality, evidence suggests that Aethelstan was rather tyrantish at the start of his reign, insecurity perhaps, questions over his bastardy, so this is in keeping. His coins show "Monarchus Totius Britannia's" Monarch of All Britain earlier than even 934, Eamont Bridge and the constant summoning of kings to bow and (more importantly) pay tribute.
Another tick for Hywel bring beside Aethelstan as he invades "the lowlands" presumably the directors consider these to be the present day lowlands of Scotland, burning and pillaging, but these were not fixed even then - Melrose is many dozens of miles over the present day border but then it was still "Bernicia" - Northern Northumbria still, to the Firth of Forth. Hywel is not happy about it, but seems to have parted company when Aethelstan turns his attention to Bebbanburg.
Another non-tick was the forced subjugation of Constantine at Dunnottar (not Stirling). But Stirling was mentioned in S5 and was also a royal palace. It would also be known from the later William Wallace fame under the Plantagenet Edward 1st - descended through the Normans, descended through the Vikings - none of these kings were "English" by the way).
Also, Constantine being unmarried - his greatest loss is Cellach at Brunanburh, his eldest son. Records say he retired to a monastery in favour of MaelColm, Domhnall's son (the crown after Kenneth MacAlpin passed cousin to cousin to prevent infighting). Seven kings must die? One didn't even make it to be on screen! I did appreciate the text counting of the kings as they appeared on screen, however, good touch. Anlaf is laid supposed to have married Constantine's daughter (unnamed) hence I imagined it might be Thyra's daughter who, in this fic, Constantine dotes on but recognises too she is a Dane.
I will just mention the landscaped - Stirling is very high on a hill...yet in reality it is on a plain by a river. Where is the sea at the Battle of Brunanburh? And just why is it Winchester-Aylesbury-Bebbanburg all the while? There are places in between you know! (Yes I know Derwent, and at least it was by water, and are they suggesting they upended Castlerigg stone circle? Because Castlerigg is much smaller and is Cumbrian mountains in every direction, not empty spaces that we see all around - sigh.
(Same as Tamworth - on a hill? When it is between two rivers, the Anker and the Tame? Tettenhall is believable - what is not is that they mounted the defense against the Danes from Aylesbury, when Tamworth, being ten miles away, and they would most likely have followed the river Tame to get there, and they put Tamworth on a hill too! It does have a small hill, but that was constructed for the Norman castle that stands there today.). And don't get me started on Winchester.
At least Cornwalum was good, and the crossing over the Tamar, and the overhead shot, and the beautiful battle formations when they fight the Cornish king while pretending to be fighting Skorpa.
"Peasants" have discovered silver in a cave and Uhtred and company go to investigate. But it is a trap set by Aethelstan to trap them, and Aethelstan reveals the body of the "traitor" Aldhelm, Inglmundr getting to Bebbanburg but Uhtred got there first and imprisons Inglmundr, who reaches for his sword when he thinks Uhtred is going to kill him.
Osbert, meanwhile, against his father's vehement insistence, let's Aethelstan and Inglmundr in, with his army. Eadgifu finds her inner Aelswith when Aethelstan takes Edmund and Osbert as hostages (bingo card tick 2, not for Edmund, who is actually on the Brunanburh battlefield and therefore isn't taken hostage I) but Aethelstan did have many princes in his household including one from Frankia's. This was common, not just for peacekeeping but for genuine protectiveness and nurture, suggesting at the time of Aethelstan's accession to the throne, crowning and must of his reign, the regions of England are at peace, which could only be a state suitable to offer this sort of fostering arrangement - Continental kings did this too.
Eadgifu is forced to Lindisfarne and, while considering putting Uhtred to the sword, Aethelstan can't do it, but strips Uhtred to breeches and shirt, making him wander to his death. (No tick here for another brother Aethelstan supposedly casts out to sea in a boat with no oars, but I suppose again with a lean cast, introducing another brother to include this historical nugget would be clumsy).
Uhtred is then found by Orkney Danes, one who knew Uhtred had killed a cousin (that she hated) at Beamfleot giving off Lagertha vibes, and brought to a meeting on Shetland of several kings, Shetland (5) Man (6) and Orkney (7) and Constantine and Owain, who repeats Taliesin's prophecy Rheged and the Hen Ogledd were the origins of Taliesin (whose faction moved to North Wales) so good, good detail as this is whence the Taliesin came (look up the books by Stephen Lawhead - far superior to BC's Arthur series.
On Hietland (Shetland) where Constantine agrees to an alliance with Anlaf, disparaging his being "humped like a girl", and the prophecy of the Saxons being driven into the sea off Kent is brought up.
Uhtred tells of the "Seven Kings" prophecy, but all the kings there, who had been on the Isle of Man simply say "but our sons become kings after us" and dismiss the significance of it (I am still undecided from the clues from the film at this point whether the title is literal or not - the film is travelling at such a pace I've had to pause and rewind ten minutes). Uhtred witnesses this and goes to tell Aethelstan that Inglmundr was also at the meeting and that he is a traitor, that Aethelstan has been brainwashed into following the cult of Oswald.
"Hump who you want," Uhtred conceded, and Aethelstan gets all defensive. Uhtred then tells him that Inglmundr was at the meeting.
Aethelstan lets Uhtred go, after telling him to kneel, which Uhtred does, but does not swear to him that he is his king. Uhtred and Aethelstan fight, and Uhtred is then met by Finan and Sihtric (whose own wife and family are mysteriously absent). Finan says they had word Uhtred was at Winchester and to come to get him, but it is a trap - Anlaf's daughter gave the message and, when they return, Inglmundr, who had been imprisoned and has sweet-talked the servant, had let in Anlaf to raid (one thing on War of the Wolf, and in the book, they wear wolf skins and take herbs to go Beserkr.
Not Anlaf in the books though, Ragnall (brother of Sygtryggr instead or Rognvaldr, Ragnall being more vicious). Wolf hair (though how can Uhtred tell?) was found around the rocks. And the woman servant who lets him out? Only person in the whole show with a "Geordie" Northumbrian accent, who lets Inglmundr out. Considering the cult is Oswald's, and Bebbanburg was his home, and Aethelred spent nearly all of S4 getting his body back from Bardney/skull back from Aelfric, we are in "Oswald country". Inglmundr needs only to invoke the local saint and practically all of Uhtred's people would be listening! Anyhow, detail missed, not to be.
"Did you hump the pagan lady? Confess!"
"I confess...I prayed for your excrutiating death."
Prisoners including Ingrith had been put I to the cave where the silver (the hidden silver plated a role in War Lord, but in te bolk it was Uhtred doing the trixkingNj Johnhad been and trapped in, and had died - Eadgifu, who is changing into a more pragmatic woman (and whose airs and graces are gradually disappearing) tells Uhtred of this, and they go up to open the cave. Finan then realises Ingrith looked at him when she said "and the woman you love" in her prophecy.
I expected Finan to be more greived - he seemed more grieved over Thyra's death at the end of S3 to be honest because after they have buried the dead, Uhtred, Finan, Sihtric and Eadgifu are on their way to tell Aethelstan about this atrocity, to which he believes them and let's Osbert and Edmund go, declaring Eadgifu should take him to safety in Wessex, declaring him successor.
Finan though - that forced situation at Rumfcofa and then Eadith, whilst married to Ingrith (and where are all the kiddiewinks? Finan's and Ingrith's should be in their 20s by the time Brunanburh comes around, Sihtric's offspring heading to their 40s? But not a word?!). I prefer Finan mmmany day with Osthryth.
Uhtred says that the deaths at Brunanburh are also a distraction, and they need to go to speak to Aethelstan because while people are looking yobthe east, they should be looking to the west, from Dublin, where Anlaf (Skorpa-alike) has (on Shetland) planned the invasion to attack Aethelstan.
I find this very pertinent, because the traditional view of where the battle of Brunanburh was fought is somewhere in the Doncaster plains, the Norse having sailed round the Western Isles, down the North Sea and into the Humber, the Scots (and Owain) marching down the East Coast.
See Michael Wood's "In search of Athelstan" on YouTube, from the 1980s, and his "Alfred and the Anglo Saxons" episode 3 from 2013, vs. Michael Livingston's place-name research and archaeology of a battle that is otherwise unrecorded, with the bodies of thousands dug up on the Wirral.
It is the latter that Bernard Cornwell went with, but I see here there is a nod to the "east coast" theory in Uhtred's words here.
Anlaf and Constantine's alliance is holding, and they invade at Thingwall (Dingesmere) but the image, even being CG, does not show the fabled "615 ships" of Anlaf's. That's where Aethelstan has taken Edmund and Osbert.
Uhtred and Eadgifu debate about letting Edmund fight, and Edmund - who will become Edmund the Magnificent, as see off the next claimant to Eoforwic - Erik Bloodaxe - points out, what will he be among of if he does not fight?
Eadgifu and Uhtred teasing a romance when she asks if she is alive and takes his hand to take her pulse. It's not, but it could have been...
"What of our destiny was not to for England but you form the English as one force?". Uhtred says, to which Pyrlig, who has been the low-key oil in many if these situations so far replies, "Who better than a half Saxon half Dane to lead men from divided places?"
So, Inglmundr then?
No, Uhtred, who has been to nearly every bit of "England".
"I don't have to call myself English, do I?" asks Finan dispassionately.
No, Finan the Ulster Irishman with a modern Dublin accent/Scottish Mark Rowley, we'll let you off...
And England is like that now (the only nation not represented by its own parliament (but that's politics...)
Back to Brunanburh...
Pyrlig, Finan, Sihtric, Osbert, are to fight to prevent Aethelstan's martyrdom. Finan and Uhtred stand watch overnight the Norse-Danish making merry...
Uhtred says they need to fight on their left hand side to give them the disadvantagem
Then Serpent Breath comes back to him...
Uhtred gives a rousing speech, which is a mirror to what is in War Lord.
Shield Wall at Brunanburh! Who touched Finan's arse?
And the shield wall no longer has the cocky youths in it that it once did, it has battle hardened, battle weary men, one man who is being consulted as to where Edmund is going to be. Heartening that Uhtred counsels the shield wall.
Hywel is beside Aethelstan - yet he is not recorded as being at Brunanburh. There could have been a twist that Hywel double crosses Aethelstan. But this film is less than 2 hours long.
Arselings! It's as if Leofric is there beside him.
Pyrlig prays within the shield wall - my heart melts at the bravery when they are all so afraid.
And...a trap! Spikes in the earth to off put the Norse, but it doesn't happen for long, and Brunanburh has begun, the crush and then confusion and the trust in your leaders to prevail.
The pacing makes sense when you realise they are opening up the Norse line into two slowly, vertu slowly. Then Pyrlig, the competent fighter of Siegfried's warrior in London, is trapped and my heart is wrenched yet again.
But the line is broken, and Aethelstan's heart is broken when he sees Inglmundr on the opposite line.
Astrid, Anlaf's daughter is killed (hard to feel anything here as no character development), but it looks like Aethelstan's side is losing. Osbert's broken in horses are used to drag logs to upset the line, trapping the Scots and concentrating them.
The king of Shetland is dead (2) and Domnal, Constantine's nephew (in the TV series). The Norse flee first to Thingesmere, but Aethelstan has spotted Inglmundr and they fight.
Uhtred takes a gut wound with a spear and is watching the battle in a kind of trance. Constantine walks off in defeat, Anlaf asks for a ship to get back to Ireland.
But Uhtred has fallen, and the Anglo Saxon Chronicle's words over the wake of the battle. Had only Egil got a mention...
...but it was not to be. Inglmundr is captured and put to death, Uhtred is taken back to Bebbanburg with Aethelstan beside the retinue, in full penance as to what he did.
Finan and Sihtric care for Uhtred, pray for him, as do Pyrlig and Eadgifu.
Then...he is on his feet, arm about Eadgifu, and talk about the future, discuss the seven kings, five are accounted for plus Edward.
Aethelstan vindicates Uhtred and acknowledges his role in Bebbanburg and that he trusted Uhtred when he was at his worst.
So Uhtred gives Northumbria to Aethelstan in exchange for no heirs so that Edmund can take the crown.
Uhtred kneels and pledges - then names the Heptarchy, which Aethelstan then names - "England". Uhtred is the seventh "king" to die, politically, that is.
Destiny is all, and he wanders off, listening to the past events that happened in Bebbanburg, seeing "Valhalla" and this who would feast there, happy to go and stand there and watch its inhabitants, Brida, Ragnar the Fearless, Clapa, Haesten...
...there are tears, and I wonder if the tears are real, the reality that TLK is over and Alex Dreymon will never play Uhtred again.
I wish he had had Eadith though, or Benedetta. I am glad I stuck with the book version (as I had no other version) and Eadith had some sort of closure, and Aethelstan had more of a leading role.
Finan voiceover at the end, and white text at the end summarise it all, as Bebbanburg fades to the present day Bamburgh Castle. (I wonder who those people are, unwittingly ending up in a film...)
Fitting.
Overall:
No flashback to Gisela, though? To Hild? Leofric? The Cornish queen/seer? Alfred? Aethelflaed? Stiorra, Steapa? No "Mrs. Ragnar the Fearless" who he killed save being burnt to death and told her to meet him there?
Nothing of Thyra, Young Ragnar (missed opportunity to check if the blood of Thyra worked to get him to Valhalla). No Siegfried, Eurik, Ubba, Guthrum, Bloodhair? Or Beocca? No BEOCCA?
Maybe they were all covered S5E10.
Well done directors for going with his books primarily rather than back to the historical sources kept consistency there.
I wish there was more Constantine...but there we have it, there wasn't. It means Shadowkin is definitely the companion fic I wanted it to be.
It is as believable as Aethelflaed taking Erik as a lover and having Aelfwynn, for her to disappear into obscurity with Cynlaef at the end of S5 (as she disappeared from history after she was declared Lady of the Mercians after her mother, then taken away by her uncle's men), and as believe as Edward making a weak king and Aethelred a hateful one - history says entirely the opposite, so here again, while I feel a fiction author can do what they want with their own characters, there should be some agreed "code of conduct" for historical figures, else you end up with a Richard 3rd or Neville Chamberlain situation.
Brunanburh, a battle I read about in a book when I was younger when I was trying to find out about St. Chad, mentionrd almost as an aside, mysterious, undefined, was brought to the screen because an author, adopted in the 1940s by fundamental Christians, who discovered his birth father had the name Oughtred is absolutely remarkable.
Already peoples' knowledge of this era is changing just by watching TLK or reading Bernard Cornwell's books (the same thing happened to the Peninsula Wars in the Napoleonic Era because of Sharpe.). I have written to BC on his website several times under "questions" and invariably got a reply on the "answers" section, for which I am honoured.
BC always wanted people to know where England began, and this film well and truly ensures we know it started with Alfred and was consolidated at Brunanburh in 937 (not beginning at the Norman conquest, as the text over tells you). If that has been the author's intention all along, he nailed it.
If TLK is not testament to the power a history degree can have in the hands of a gifted storyteller, I don't know what is.