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Post by deuce on Dec 8, 2016 11:04:47 GMT -5
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Post by lordyam on Dec 8, 2016 17:11:46 GMT -5
I loved this show. Strangely mom and dad did to. I'd happily watch a second season even if Uthred is a douche (badass warrior but an asshole.)
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Post by robp on Dec 8, 2016 22:32:16 GMT -5
Yep this was good, especially for a BBC / UK TV series. We had Beowulf and a couple of other stinkers, but I guess TLK comes from a good author / series of books rather than a "written for TV" show (Bernard Cornwell) If you like this, also check out the Sharpe series. Same author, set in the Napoleonic wars. Suffers a bit from lack of budget (Waterloo has about 100 people fighting lol) but a good adaptation of the books nonetheless
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Post by Jason Aiken on Mar 28, 2017 22:11:01 GMT -5
So far I'm less than impressed with the second season of the Last Kingdom....it's only two episodes in, but something just feels off. It could be the inability to binge the whole season like I did with the first one, though.
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Post by Jason Aiken on Apr 7, 2017 11:07:04 GMT -5
You're not wrong. The first series started at a breathless pace and kept it up throughout, and everything that happened seemed to be important with no way of knowing what was coming - the arrival of the Danes and Uhtred's (Osbert's) father's struggle against them, Uhtred's capture and adoption by Ragnar, the rise of Alfred and his battles against Ubba and Guthrum - whereas this new series seems tame and predictable in comparison. Even a lesser antagonist in S1 like Odda's son was interesting, unlike the two priests plotting against Uhtred this time around who seem like cartoon villains. So far they've had far too much screen time, whereas Alfred, one of the best things about S1, has hardly been seen. Hopefully it'll pick up now that Uhtred's out on his own again. One of the better things so far has been the character of Hild; it'll be interesting to see what happens with her. And as well as Alfred, I'd like to see Guthrum back again. ...... The third episode was a big improvement, with Alfred and young Ragnar featuring heavily and even time for an appearance by Ceolwulf. Any worries that the two priests would be a drag on the show were swiftly dealt with; I thought that Uhtred may have matured after his experiences at sea, but it appears not. His offsiders fate while lashed to the front of the ship was effective and memorable, and what with this and Blackbeard's keelhauling on Black Sails, they're certainly coming up with novel ways to get rid of people at sea recently. ...... Yeah the third episode left me feeling more positive toward the show. I'm glad we didn't get multiple episodes of Uhtred at sea, and yeah, that priest needed to go. Way too stereotypical of a villain.
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Post by Jason Aiken on Apr 9, 2017 19:57:36 GMT -5
I don't know about you guys, but I'm feeling like I'm watching a book report on the Saxon Chronicles, rather than watching a TV show adaptation of it. Feels very similar to the Harry Potter films. Now, let me admit, I haven't read the series, but I have to believe the tv show is moving a bit fast.
Which isn't a bad thing, but it seems like they could be developing some of these new characters a bit more. Don't get me wrong, I'm still enjoying the show, but this is really moving at a fast pace here. Makes me wonder if there are no plans for a third season.
Either way, I think Uhtred is a great character, and Dreymon does a great job playing him. I love how he fucks with Father Bayaca and just about everyone else.
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Post by Jason Aiken on Apr 9, 2017 22:44:00 GMT -5
Ep 4 was the best yet this series. Uhtred is looking wilder than ever, what with his new shaggy hairdo and eyeliner. Brida was back on fine form and young Ragnar went all berserker when fighting Kjartan. Their sister, Thyra (and her dogs), looked like something out of a Frazetta painting, and her uncomfortable reunion with the boys was handled well. There were also a couple of cringe-inducing bits of violence/slaughter this week. And it looks as if Alfred’s daughter is being set up to play a major part in the near future, with, hopefully, Aethelwold hanging around as well. Yeah I enjoyed Ragnar's berserker rage, even his followers and Uhtred were like, "Fuck, okay, dude, enough." I also actually liked Brida again. Agreed, regarding Thyra, looked like a real She-Wolf. Yeah I'm curious to see what they do with Alfred's daughter. It seems like he has big plans for her. I freaking love Aethelwold, he seems like a cool guy to hang out with.
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Post by Jason Aiken on Apr 15, 2017 21:36:38 GMT -5
Episode Five felt like a fucking weird tale! And that's a good thing! Maybe a little bit of REH, and a lot of H. Rider Haggard. Bjorn was pretty freaking cool, but something tells me this is all a plot to drive Uhtred somewhere.
I actually forget that his father was basically one of the three kings of Northumbria, so he really does have a legitimate claim to it, and as he said, it seemed like the priest who saw the new king's face in a dream was ready to accept him.
I'm so glad this series rebounded and returned to the quality of season one.
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Post by robp on Apr 16, 2017 3:46:19 GMT -5
Agree, this was the best episode this series.
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Post by deuce on Apr 16, 2017 11:18:27 GMT -5
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Post by Jason Aiken on Apr 19, 2017 15:14:32 GMT -5
Anyone enjoying the show should definitely check out the novels. I started listening to the first audio book and it's very good. It's a first person narration, with an older Uhtred writing about his life.
There are also enough differences to make it worth reading. For instance, Ivar the Boneless appears during the prologue alongside Ubba.
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Post by Jason Aiken on Apr 21, 2017 10:16:28 GMT -5
Agreed, Kali, that was a great fucking episode. I loved the duel with the warrior priest and the young Dane, and yeah the way they shot that concluding scene was really cool.
I'm hoping Aethelred dies a horrible death in the next few episodes.
How about that nephew of Leofric showing up, and that he's a monk and Alfred's bastard son, didn't expect that. Maybe that will make Uhtred and Alfred closer since his bastard son will be fighting alongside Uhtred in the future?
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Post by Jason Aiken on Apr 23, 2017 14:54:31 GMT -5
I'm on the fourth chapter of the Last Kingdom audiobook. There's a lot more that happens in the book that's not in the show. A lot of time is spent on Uhtred being raised by Ragnar, and Uhtred meets Alfred as a child, rather than an adult. Ragnar also has another younger son named Rorik, although he's prone to sickness. Breda isn't captured at the same time as Uhtred either. Oh, and Halfdan shows up, too. Uhtred also has fair hair, as does Ragnar, which leads them to be mistaken for father and son. Those are just some examples, but the overall plot seems to be going in the same direction, but just truncated and retooled for a modest tv budget and schedule.
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Post by Jason Aiken on Apr 28, 2017 20:28:21 GMT -5
I'm really starting to hate this depiction of Alfred after last night's episode. Him not trusting Uhtred to go this alone just shows how insecure he is.
If he was smart he'd marry Aethelflaed off to Eric and give them Mercia.
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Post by Jason Aiken on May 5, 2017 12:03:16 GMT -5
I guess that wasn't a bad finale...just not very good either. It felt kind of mediocre, and Uhtred didn't accomplish a whole lot for himself, it seems Alfred still hasn't warmed to him despite him saving Aethelflaed.
I'm really enjoying Cornwell's writing, though, and it's cool seeing the choices the tv guys are making. I hope we get more seasons.
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