The Last Kingdom

[shapinglight]

I do like The Last Kingdom very much, but sometimes I feel that the main thing I've learned from it (and from the whole five minutes of that Vikings series that I've watched) is that the main reason the Vikings left Scandinavia was to locate a better source of guyliner.

Comments

[thismaz]

I am enjoying The Last Kingdom a lot, too, but I think you are right about the Vikings.
I enjoyed the description of Uhtred in the Radio Times this week as, "Nice by dim". *g*

[shapinglight]

I don't know if he's dim so much as just a bit full of himself. He's not dim in battle anyway.

[ex_peasant441]

He has self-control issues.

[shapinglight]

Yes, that's one of the reasons he and Alfred don't get on (apart from the whole Christian/pagan thing). Alfred is so self-controlled he wouldn't recognise spontaneity if it up and hit him in the face.

[ex_peasant441]

Ha ha. Yes, that's a really good point. I think they both find the other annoying but underneath it all Uhtred admires Alfred whereas Alfred just wants to like Uhtred but keeps not being able to.

[shapinglight]

Yes, I would like to think Uhtred admires Alfred, but after something he says in the latest episode I'm not so sure. Won't go into specifics because I don't know if you've watched it yet.

[ex_peasant441]

I've just watched it. They are being very explicit about Alfred's issues with Uhtred in a way Cornwell can't be because everything is in Uhtred POV. I think theirs is a fair interpretation though.

I think from this point on, Uhtred is more bitter. He is no longer a young man, he has gone through the experience of slavery and Alfred makes some really bad decisions around now that make it hard to always like him. What was it specifically that Uhtred said that you were thinking of?

(Also, you could have warned me about the crucifixion!!!!)

[shapinglight]

I didn't really register it, sorry, beyond admiring the Celtic priest's attempts to get himself offed quickly so he wouldn't have to endure it.

As for what Uhtred said, he told - I forget who - that he was beginning to despise Alfred.

[ex_peasant441]

he told - I forget who - that he was beginning to despise Alfred
He said that during the drinking scene with Old Odda, I think.

admiring the Celtic priest
Father Pyrlig is a great character. Very glad they have included him.

[ex_peasant441]

That's really annoying if people see him as dim - he is supposed to be very clever.

[thenewbuzwuzz]

*snort* For a good cause, then!

[shapinglight]

Yes, they all look very pretty.

[ex_peasant441]

Hee. I double dog dare you to go add that to the Wikipedia page.

[shapinglight]

There's a Wikipedia page?

[ex_peasant441]

Viking Expansion

[shapinglight]

Ah.

I think I'll leave it to the experts.

[yourlibrarian]

I don't know as I've heard of this show (although I've watched Vikings since S1). However, these days there is SO MUCH stuff on air or available that I don't think I can keep stuff straight anymore.

[shapinglight]

The Last Kingdom season 1 is available on Netflix, and I'm pretty sure season 2 will be too, given that Netflix co-produced it.

Is Vikings super-violent? Not sure I want to watch it if it is.

[yourlibrarian]

Ah, then I'm sure I'll come across it sooner or later (and Netflix will have it available permanently).

Unfortunately yes, Vikings is very violent. There are a lot of battles as well as casual violence. I found the first two seasons more interesting than I have lately but I do want to see where they take it. So I've been keeping up with it even though I've forwarded through a good bit of it.

[shapinglight]

even though I've forwarded through a good bit of it.

I do hate having to do that. I don't see why things have to be so violent. The Last Kingdom has violent moments, but it's very tame compared to, say, Game of Thrones.