US: The Last Kingdom - Yes it's better than Game of Thrones

Enjoyed Episode 2. I know people didn't like the look of the main guy as Uhtred but I think he is decent. I think Emily Cox is doing a good job as Brida too.
 
It's weirdly shot. Too many shaky cams, it has that "edgy BBC, shot in Eastern Europe with in-game level CGI" look, which is already a decade past its shelf life.

Also, why would anyone compare it to GoT, surely this is poor-mans Vikings competitor?

Having whinged all that - better than "Barsteward Executor", that's for sure.
 
Well thankfully they actually spent some money on it so hopefully it will be good.
Unfair to compare this to GoT simply due to GoT no doubt having a much bigger budget. That said, you could probably compare the books in which case this would likely be superior as GoT is a highly overrated book series.
 
It's not bad. I prefer how they dealt with the languages in Vikings though, emphasises the differences in cultures. I was a bit confused as to exactly what period in history the show takes place too, it wasn't very clear when setting the scene.
 
robmol said:
It's not bad. I prefer how they dealt with the languages in Vikings though, emphasises the differences in cultures. I was a bit confused as to exactly what period in history the show takes place too, it wasn't very clear when setting the scene.
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I think the clue you're looking for might well be Alfred ;) Can't help but feel he might turn out to be important in English history, he seems like a GREAT character :p


The rushed feeling of episode one that bothered me a bit was not helped by a huge chunk of Uhtred's early life covered in book going AWOL.
 
TheMightyTen said:
I think the clue you're looking for might well be Alfred ;) Can't help but feel he might turn out to be important in English history, he seems like a GREAT character :p


The rushed feeling of episode one that bothered me a bit was not helped by a huge chunk of Uhtred's early life covered in book going AWOL.
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Me also. Someone will doubtless be along shortly to tell you that it makes for better TV or some other crap.

I'm enjoying it, but they need to slow down.
 
Been looking forward to this for a while, my only niggle so to speak is it's on the BBC so it's not going to have the same 'tone' ? as say GOT or Vikings.
 
There was talk about doing this six years ago.. I am really glad it actually materialised!

There's a difference between this production and the books as I definitely remember that the priest was captured alongside the protagonist.
 
Very much enjoying this so far. Haven't read the books but i can definitely see how much is being glossed over, seems like over a year could have passed in Ep. 2. But it does feel like a definite storytelling choice rather than a case of getting through it as quickly as possible. In reality it's probably a bit of both, that they don't want it to become slow and fizzle out, and that the best way to actually deliver the story without getting cancelled is to continue at this pace.

It is interesting not having a protagonist that is infallibly intelligent, and it's done well so far i think. It would be easy for his decisions to become unsympathetic or annoying, but it's refreshing considering how many fantasy characters seem to take after their authors in that way and are always able to outsmart everyone else. With Uhtred you can definitely see why he acts this way and that his actions are driven by other things. It adds a lot i think, especially when you do have that sort of character in Alfred as well.

Brida is/was an interesting character too. I feel like they explored the sexual but not necessarily romantic relationship well, even if the sex was completely out of place and inappropriate at times. But you do feel sympathetic towards her, Uhtred can live a good life as a warrior/nobleman with either the "English" or the "Danes", but Brida would be forced into a gender role she is totally uncomfortable with after living with Ragnar for much of her life.
 
PermaBanned said:
It is interesting not having a protagonist that is infallibly intelligent, and it's done well so far i think. It would be easy for his decisions to become unsympathetic or annoying, but it's refreshing considering how many fantasy characters seem to take after their authors in that way and are always able to outsmart everyone else. With Uhtred you can definitely see why he acts this way and that his actions are driven by other things. It adds a lot i think, especially when you do have that sort of character in Alfred as well.
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I agree. He should develop as a character quite well because if I remember correctly, he becomes more respected as he gets older but also keeps crossing the line, testing Alfred.

Word of warning for everyone: I discovered the other day that the US aired show is actually ~5 mins shorter than the UK aired show. I don't know what they cut but I'm going to wait for the iPlayer episodes to catch up before continuing.
 
Not sure whether i'm supposed to be rooting for the main character or hoping he dies. So far there's not a whole lot to like about him.
 
Average show at best. Had to laugh how they handled the age differences between the characters. The main charater is all grown up a good 8 years have passed or so but everyone older than him hasn't aged. Liked Vikings a whole lot more than this. And no its not better than got. Oh and glad we cut down on the word 'hump'
 
I've binge watched through to ep 7 in the last 3 days. Really enjoying it.

I agree about the lead, he's a bit of a dick at times (quite often).
 
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