After King Edward die there was a lot of questions, who will take the thrown since the rumor's was that Aethelstan was a bastard, he had two brothers Aelfweard and Edmund, when ever a king dies during that time the entire country goes to hell and many who said to be loyal now show their true face. King Edward gave land to Uhtred where he rule but never declare himself king of his land, Uhtred was never interested in the political power and only wanted the best for his people.
Here a family three I found online that help me understand a bit more the story line, I saw the entire Tv Series related to the movie The Last Kingdom but season 5 ended last year on march and season 1 started on october 2015 so probably there are a few things I forgot.
RTT:https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_last_kingdom_seven_kings_must_die
On this post I will talk about how the story starts and the most important events in my opinion, there are some things I had too look up online to keep track of what happen since the last season to then point out the most relevant scenes during the movie giving my opinion and a conclusion at the end.
The story starts with the death of King Edward and the fight for power between his sons Aethelstan and Aelfweard, in a power move Aelfweard who consider himself the true heir of his father, he sends for King Edward's wife Eadgifu of Kent and her son Edmund, King Edward had three wife been Edmund, Aelfweard and Aethelstan from different mothers but looks like only Aethelstan is a bastard son.
Lady Eadgifu runs away with the help of Pyrlig and Aldhelm who were both local to King Edward and friends with Uhtred, the war between brothers got Lady Eadgifu think that Aethelstan betray the kingdom exposing her and Edmund.
Aldhelm takes Lady Eadgifu and her son Edmund to the only place they would be safe and thats with Uhtred at Bamburgh (Kingdom of NorthUmbria), he welcome them with arms open and start to catch up of everything going on. Uhtred talks in behalf of Aethelstan, his friend, he is local to Aethelstan as he was to King Edward believing he can bring peace between brothers.
On this scene we see for the first time on the movie Aethelstan with Ingilmundr, at the moment his right hand. Father Pyrlig visit Aethelstan and ask him to come to Wesex for coronation and then stablish his men on Winchester as his brother Aelfweard is rasing an army, but Ingilmundr had Aethelstan deep into believing in the signs of God and they havent got it yet to leave, everyhing Ingilmundr says Aethelstan believes but its because he loves him.
Uhtred takes two of his best friends to Aylesbury where Aelfweard is, Uhtred is trying to clear things between brothers and avoid war but its too late, Aethelstan blindly follows Ingilmundr and a few days latter he arrives, Aelfweard didnt know Uhtred plans who decided to control the gates to the town and negotiate a peace between brothers but Aethelstan had things very clear, he proceeds to kill his brother and most of the villagers, Uhtred tries to stop it and during the fight lost his sword. The fight stops and Uhtred tries to reason with Aethelstan but its in vain, he blindly kept following Ingilmundr advice, he ask Uhtred to bend the knee but he refuse to do it in such condition with his mouth full of blood and wounded, he is ask to come to the coronation day at Wesexx and bend the knee.
Coronation day comes and Uhtred was not there, Aethelstand take this as disrespectful but Uhtred intentions was to find out if he is still on his side.
Taking in considerations how they move from one province to another it gives the wrong impression this places are close to each other but they are not, thats why I mention in the introduction that it took about 13 years for all this to happen, during those days the fastest way of transportation was by horse and sometimes take days to go from one place to another considering weather too.
After his coronation Aethelstan started to change things like taxes, tributes but all this were actually Ingilmundr influence trying to make Aethelstan like a tyrant, his goal was to create a war but he failed at it since other lords bend the knee doing what ever the king said except Uhtred, its here where things go south for him since now not only he felt disrespected by Uhtred and is also going against his decisions as king.
Ingilmundr and Uhtred were in York with the King, but he now wants to take over NorthUmbria and hostage Uhtred people, Aldhelm tips Uhtred about it and they leave early taking the advantage thats how Uhtred eventually takes Ingilmundr as a hostage trying to reason with Aethelstand, but there is something about Ingilmundr that manipulates people so easy well during those days anyone with lack of knowledge about the bible and a lot didn't know how to read were easy to manipulate, Ingilmundr tells the woman who brings him food while he is at jail, that if she doesn't do what he says she will go to hell, leaving him free and aloud him to set a trap to Uhtred then taking him hostage at a cave when Uhtred was told there were some silver pieces discover on that cave but it was a trap. Edmund and Uhtred son were taken hostage and force to be part of the army, they were send to The Wirral to serve.
After Ingilmundr takes hostage Uhtred's land he is brought to Aethelstand and its here where Untred finds out Aethelstand killed Aldhelm for treason and now is about to execute him, Aethelstand is a good guy, he is in love and cant see the bad influence Ingilmundr is for him, he is doing all this things because he is naive too, instead of executing Uhtred he vanish him from his kingdom and let him go showing him mercy but they still both care for each other.
Aethelstan starts a war against other kingdoms around him even after many told him this was a mistake because if other kingdoms get together will come for him, out number his army and take over his land but he didnt pay attention.
Many weeks even months pass as Aethelstan continues his campaign to conquer/unite the rest of his kingdom Britain, during this time Uhtred walks around the land hungry, cold, close to death but he is rescue by a group of women who are with Olaf King of Ireland, Aethelstan was told not to go after Ireland but he didnt listen and now all tribes of Ireland have come together and go after Aethelstan by the hand of Olaf, here we also find out that on this camp is Ingilmundr who follows Olaf comand and is a spie in Aethelstan kingdom, he always was with clear intentions. Uhtred was offer to be part of this attack but he refuse and tells the truth and Olaf plans to Aethelstan who again refuse the idea.
Olaf sends Ingilmundr to The Wirral to take or kill a large amount of Aethelstan army, many refuse to follow him there for he kill them all now having a place for Olaf army to come closer to Aethelstan, days passes and Olaf army leaves moving forward. Uhtred and Aethelstand met without knowing at The Wirral and its now when he believe what Uhtred told him.
At this point everything is clear there are no key moments of the story just the battle to fight between Ireland tribes and Aethelstand army, Uhtred will lead the army and unite England.
Who better than a have saxxon have dane to lead men from divided places? Pyrlig
I really enjoy this movie, I think it gives proper closure to the story of The Last Kingdom, when I saw season 5 always thought there must be a next season since many things left hanging and that's probably the jump in time from season 5 to the movie but at least it gives us a last final fight for Uhtred who latter on dies from the wounds of battle resting at home after uniting the armies and calling the land England. The production on this movie is top notch, there is nothing I can tell was low quality from music, actors, scenery, the battles, the customs, probably the reason it receive high scores on most movie review sites.
There was a prophecy from Ingrith wife of Dustan, one of Uhtred best friend.
Seven Kings must die and the woman you love
Six sons of kings die on battle and the number seven was Uhtred who latter on die at home, but he did enter Valhalla to feast.
