The Last Kingdom - Episode 1 - Advance Preview + Dialogue Teasers + Photos

© BBC Pictures
Once again I find myself having to fess up that I have not read the novels of a series I am previewing here on the site, but after watching and thoroughly enjoying the first half of the season I will be seeking out The Saxon Tales saga to add to my Kindle at the earliest opportunity. As I won’t be able to relate the episodes back to what happens in the books I will be very interested to see what readers make of the show, and I am looking forward to discussing it with fans throughout its first eight episode run, and hopefully its renewal.

Much of the first episode acts a prelude to the main event; we are introduced to an 11 year old Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Tom Taylor), who after losing his older brother and father in vicious Viking attacks is captured and enslaved by a Danish Warlord, Earl Ragnar (Peter Gantzler). He grows up as a Viking, preferring the Danish gods and way of life over the strict Christian rituals he had known in Northumbria. This is perhaps fortunate as his nefarious uncle, Aelfric (Joseph Millson), usurps him, taking his lands and title for himself.

As a fan of the History channel’s ‘Vikings’, I was a little wary of how similar this would be considering the material both shows cover – in particular, Uhtred’s conundrum throughout the series is one that Athelstan faces, being torn between his English and Danish lifestyle. There is no danger of the two treading on each other’s toes however, this doesn’t try to ape the style of the former show in any way, and nor does it attempt to out shine it either. It’s happy to follow its own path and does so far more successfully and fluidly than another British set historical show I started watching last month, The Bastard Executioner.


Episode 1 airs on Saturday March 10th on BBC America at 10pm, and on BBC Two on Thursday 22nd October, time TBA. Below are a few dialogue teasers to see you through until then. Please don’t forget to come back to vote in our poll after the episode and let us know what you thought.


“Do you ever think of your English life? Who we were before we came to Ragnar”

“God and saints preserve us, they have no soul. We must pray”

“Take her with you to Valhalla”

“You sure he’s a Saxon? He fights like a Dane”

“Then I shall only take his one eye”

“You will give me nothing! You will watch and you will learn!”

“Come nightfall we will be rid of this plague and counting our share of the plunder”

“My advice to you is to never cross Ubba. And never, ever fight him”

“I should make you swear on St Cuthbert’s comb never to mention Wōden again”

“That is a ridiculous amount. How can a boy be worth 300 pieces of silver?”

“I see a clear river, fish as big as a man’s leg. I see a forest alive with meat. But more than that, I see a place to grow fat and old”

About the Author - Sandi

Sandi is part of the Senior Staff at SpoilerTV having been a contributor from back in the Lost days of DarkUFO, and who now writes previews for Banshee, The Musketeers, Poldark, and other BBC shows. She also enjoys watching and commenting on other shows such as Reign, Orphan Black, Game of Thrones and The Flash.

Recent Reviews & Articles (All Reviews)