The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
#1
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
The Last Kingdom premieres Saturday, October 10 at 10/9c. It is a contemporary story of redemption, vengeance and self-discovery set against the birth of England. This historical drama comes from BBC America, BBC Two and the Golden Globe® and Emmy® award-winning producers of Downton Abbey, Carnival Films.
Adapted from Bernard Cornwell’s best-selling series of books “The Saxon Stories,” by BAFTA nominated and RTS award-winning writer Stephen Butchard, The Last Kingdom combines real historical figures and events with fiction, re-telling the history of King Alfred the Great and his desire to unite the many separate kingdoms into what would become England.
Alexander Dreymon (American Horror Story) heads up the international cast from eleven different countries. Emily Cox (The Silent Mountain) stars as Brida, David Dawson (Peaky Blinders) as King Alfred, Rune Temte (Eddie the Eagle) as Ubba, Matthew Macfadyen (Ripper Street) as Lord Uhtred, Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner) as Ravn, Ian Hart (Boardwalk Empire) as Beocca, Tobias Santelmann (Point Break) as Ragnar the Younger, Peter Gantzler (Italian For Beginners) as Earl Ragnar, Adrian Bower (Mount Pleasant) as Leofric, Joseph Millson (Penny Dreadful) as Aelfric and Henning Valin Jakobsen (The Bridge) as Storri.
Set in the 9th century AD, many of the separate kingdoms of what we now know as England have fallen to the invading Vikings, only the great Kingdom of Wessex stands defiant under its visionary King Alfred the Great (Dawson). It is the last kingdom.
Against this turbulent backdrop lives Uhtred (Dreymon). Born the son of a Saxon nobleman, he is orphaned by the Vikings and then kidnapped and raised as one of their own. Forced to choose between the country of his birth and the people of his upbringing, his loyalties are ever tested. What is he — Saxon or Viking? On a quest to claim his birthright, Uhtred must tread a dangerous path between both sides if he is to play his part in the birth of a new nation and, ultimately, recapture his ancestral lands.
The Last Kingdom is a show of heroic deeds and epic battles but with a thematic depth that embraces politics, religion, warfare, courage, love, loyalty and our universal search for identity. Combining real historical figures and events with fictional characters, it is the story of how a people combined their strength under one of the most iconic kings of history in order to reclaim their land for themselves and build a place they call home.
Adapted from Bernard Cornwell’s best-selling series of books “The Saxon Stories,” by BAFTA nominated and RTS award-winning writer Stephen Butchard, The Last Kingdom combines real historical figures and events with fiction, re-telling the history of King Alfred the Great and his desire to unite the many separate kingdoms into what would become England.
Alexander Dreymon (American Horror Story) heads up the international cast from eleven different countries. Emily Cox (The Silent Mountain) stars as Brida, David Dawson (Peaky Blinders) as King Alfred, Rune Temte (Eddie the Eagle) as Ubba, Matthew Macfadyen (Ripper Street) as Lord Uhtred, Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner) as Ravn, Ian Hart (Boardwalk Empire) as Beocca, Tobias Santelmann (Point Break) as Ragnar the Younger, Peter Gantzler (Italian For Beginners) as Earl Ragnar, Adrian Bower (Mount Pleasant) as Leofric, Joseph Millson (Penny Dreadful) as Aelfric and Henning Valin Jakobsen (The Bridge) as Storri.
Set in the 9th century AD, many of the separate kingdoms of what we now know as England have fallen to the invading Vikings, only the great Kingdom of Wessex stands defiant under its visionary King Alfred the Great (Dawson). It is the last kingdom.
Against this turbulent backdrop lives Uhtred (Dreymon). Born the son of a Saxon nobleman, he is orphaned by the Vikings and then kidnapped and raised as one of their own. Forced to choose between the country of his birth and the people of his upbringing, his loyalties are ever tested. What is he — Saxon or Viking? On a quest to claim his birthright, Uhtred must tread a dangerous path between both sides if he is to play his part in the birth of a new nation and, ultimately, recapture his ancestral lands.
The Last Kingdom is a show of heroic deeds and epic battles but with a thematic depth that embraces politics, religion, warfare, courage, love, loyalty and our universal search for identity. Combining real historical figures and events with fictional characters, it is the story of how a people combined their strength under one of the most iconic kings of history in order to reclaim their land for themselves and build a place they call home.
PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
· Adrian Bower as Leofric
· Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred
· Alexandre Willaume as Rita
· David Dawson as King Alfred
· Emily Cox as Brida
· Henning Valin Jakobsen as Storri
· Ian Hart as Beocca
· Joseph Millson as Aelfric
· Matthew Macfadyen as Lord Uhtred
· Peter Gantzler as Earl Ragnar
· Rune Temte as Ubba
· Rutger Hauer as Ravn
· Thomas W. Gabrielsson as Guthrum
· Tobias Santelmann as Ragnar the Younger
· Tom Taylor
CREW INFORMATION:
· Bernard Cornwell as BOOK
· David O'Donoghue as CO-EP
· Gareth Neame as EP
· Nick Murphy as CO-EP
· Nick Murphy as DIR (Pilot)
· Nigel Marchant as EP
· Stephen Butchard as CRTR/EP
· Adrian Bower as Leofric
· Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred
· Alexandre Willaume as Rita
· David Dawson as King Alfred
· Emily Cox as Brida
· Henning Valin Jakobsen as Storri
· Ian Hart as Beocca
· Joseph Millson as Aelfric
· Matthew Macfadyen as Lord Uhtred
· Peter Gantzler as Earl Ragnar
· Rune Temte as Ubba
· Rutger Hauer as Ravn
· Thomas W. Gabrielsson as Guthrum
· Tobias Santelmann as Ragnar the Younger
· Tom Taylor
CREW INFORMATION:
· Bernard Cornwell as BOOK
· David O'Donoghue as CO-EP
· Gareth Neame as EP
· Nick Murphy as CO-EP
· Nick Murphy as DIR (Pilot)
· Nigel Marchant as EP
· Stephen Butchard as CRTR/EP
8 episode 1st season
Premieres tonight on BBC America. Each episode runs 75 minutes.
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#2
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
Key thing to mention, BBC America is airing this 1st run. It has not aired in the UK yet. Doesn't premiere in the UK until October 22nd.
#4
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
I'm on the fence about picking this up. Already watching a few shows set back in the time of kings and castles and so I'm not really looking for more but if this is really well received I wouldn't want to pass over it either. Any opinions so far from those who have watched it? Regret it or glad you saw the premiere?
#5
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
You can read my spoiler comments about the first episode. Thought it was good not great.
#8
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
I liked this premiere a great deal and thought the show had a lot going for it. It does seem somewhat derivative but the cast is strong. I liked this much better than Bastard Executioner for example.
#9
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
#10
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
I've read all the books in the series so far so of course I'm in for the series. I thought it did a fairly decent job of hitting the key notes of Uhtred's origin story but I'm not sure I would have been able to follow along if I hadn't read the books. Lots of mumbled names and a very fast paced storyline as they're clearly trying to get to the meat of the matter as fast as possible.
#11
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
I like this show a lot but it makes me appreciate the greatness of Vikings. The first 2 eps had these exciting cliffhangers that were both resolved in the 1st minute of the next ep, while Vikings it always seems like it peaks with 10-15 minutes left.
#12
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
Watched all 8 episodes over the break and enjoyed the series. The first episode was confusing with so many characters thrown in at once, especially old and young Ragnar (who looked a lot like Travis Fimmel), but it became clear as the story focused on the main characters.
#13
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
The series tightens up considerably after the first episode. I ended up liking The Last Kingdom a great deal more than Vikings. I was heart-broken when one character near the end was killed off.
#14
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
I loved the first two seasons of Vikings, but this show has done a better job with England added to the story.
#16
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
That's a good question, BBC is usually pretty good about releasing everything on Blu-ray, even less commercially popular stuff.
#18
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
The second season of this is up on Netflix.
#20
Senior Member
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
#21
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
I assume it'll have a season 3 given how this season ended, but it hasn't had any renewal announcement yet. Also the show was up on iTunes and Amazon weekly for the past 8 weeks. I was surprised no one was talking about it.
#22
DVD Talk Special Edition
#23
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
Started watching this over the last week and am really loving it. It was recommended by a friend who watched it. This is not a show I would watch typically but I potentially will explore others like it when finished with it.
#24
DVD Talk Hero
Re: The Last Kingdom (BBC America) -- Series Thread -- Premieres 10/10/15
Season 5 is coming out at some point this year and this will be the final season.