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The Last Kingdom - BBC/Netflix - Cornwell's "Saxon Stories" - S1 available on Netflix

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RatskyWatsky

Hunky Nostradamus
Napoleonthechimp said:
It isn't a judgement on the quality on the show. I just think if you're coming into it off the back of Vikings then you should expect something different. It certainly doesn't have the same blend of history and myth as that show.
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I agree. It's definitely doing its own thing, and I appreciate that. I would have been disappointed if this had just been Vikings Version #2. (although, we are only one episode in so it's probably too early to definitively say what this show is or isn't)
 
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RatskyWatsky

Hunky Nostradamus
The series premiere earned 393K viewers and a 0.1 18-49 rating, which isn't good but not completely terrible either. Hopefully it's a success in the UK and does well on VoD...

Episode 2 - 241K.

Episode 3 - 406K

Episode 4 - 270K

Episode 5 - 274K

Episode 6 - 310K

Episode 7 - 299K
 
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TripOpt55

Member
Just watched this and loved it. The shield wall trap scene was really cool. The transition from young Uhtred to the older version was really neat (and I liked both the kid and the guy who played him). Will miss Ragnar (the one who took in Uhtred). He was already pretty awesome. Super impressed with this. So much better than the lame new network drama pilots I have been watching this Fall.
 
C

Crabernacle

Member
Really wish we spent a bit more time with young Uhtred, or at least had a slightly older Uhtred that learns to fight (and kill) with the Danes. It's kind of strange they have "grown-up" Uhtred claiming to be untested in battle (maybe due to aging him more than the books?). What the hell has he been doing in the intervening years? I understand why they would do it, limited run and all that, but it just seemed abrupt.

That being said I'm already loving it. Great casting all around, especially with Alfred. I've already spoiled myself on episode 2, so I suppose I don't have much to look forward to this weekend.
 
B

BigWeather

Member
Ok, who is the actor that plays the dude with the long hair and bushy beard in Aethelred's throne room? It's killing me, and IMDB isn't helping one bit.
 
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RatskyWatsky

Hunky Nostradamus
I thought that was another strong one. The cast is really fantastic - Uhtred and Brida in particular have great chemistry with each other. I just love their whole dynamic and the humor in their relationship is on point.
 
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Rei_Toei

Fclvat sbe Pnanqn, ru?
Oh, this is finally out? Cool! Definitely gonna try and check it out soon - usually the better stuff from BBC1/2 ends up somewhere on a channel available to me. I have BBC2 but I guess they're not re-running it and I can't access it on BBC's iPlayer.
 
Charles Brandon

Charles Brandon

Member
Rei_Toei said:
Oh, this is finally out? Cool! Definitely gonna try and check it out soon - usually the better stuff from BBC1/2 ends up somewhere on a channel available to me. I have BBC2 but I guess they're not re-running it and I can't access it on BBC's iPlayer.
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It doesn't start until Thursday in the UK
 
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Gabriel_Logan

Member
Just watched the first episode and thought it was great, but I am sort of disappointed they went with this series instead of Cornwell's best one which is the Warlord Chronicles otherwise known as the best rendition of King Arthur.
 
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Dennis

Banned
Gabriel_Logan said:
Just watched the first episode and thought it was great, but I am sort of dissapointed they went with this series instead of Cornwell's best one which is the Warlord Chronicles otherwise known as the best rendition of King Arthur.
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How are the production values compared to something like Game of Thrones?
 
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Gabriel_Logan

Member
Dennis said:
How are the production values compared to something like Game of Thrones?
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Good enough. Nothing is going to be like Game of Thrones, they simply don't have that much money to throw at it, nor does it need it. The style of story they're telling works fine with the budget they have. Castles look good from a distance, interiors look realistically shitty. There is this part when this guy's on fire and fighting like 10 different dudes and looked awesome. Great first episode all around.
 
D

dapperbandit

Banned
There's three episodes out? I only just caught the first one on iplayer.

It was good actually, I liked the casting and there was a bit more on screen violence than I would expect from the BBC.
 
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Gabriel_Logan

Member
Finished episode two, still excellent. The scene with Abba and the king was excellent, wished that character would have stuck around more. Alfred looks like he straightens his hair.
 
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Ruruja

Member
Episode 3 was probably the slowest yet, not that that's a bad thing.

Alfred is pretty cool, his discussion with the Danes was great.
 
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Tugatrix

Member
The guy playing Alfred nailed the character, he really convey the smartness of a king in a world of kings that rule because they are physically strong and show it in battle
 
F

frontovik

Banned
It's more complicated than that. There are various factions within the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and the Norse invaders that have their own interests and often changes their attitudes towards Uhtred.
 
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Gabriel_Logan

Member
Indeed the Danes have motivations and character beyond that of Barbarians. Contrast Ubba and Alfred and you'll get an interesting dichotomy in leadership.
 
1

1138

Member
I absolutely loved the first episode, and the following ones have been decent as well. Looking forward to the rest of the season.
 
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Cornballer

Member
I finally got a chance to watch the first couple episodes of this last night. Lots of fun so far - the banter & chemistry between Brida and Uhtred is great, there's a good mix of characters with motivations that run into each other, and the storyline has moved at a brisk pace. Good stuff.
 
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H.Cornerstone

Member
as a fan of the books, not sure if I am still sold on the Draymond as Uthred, but I am really enjoying everything else about it so far.
 
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Cornballer

Member
Man, they don't waste any time on this show. Lots of jumps ahead and plenty of twists and turns in the plot. I'm impressed how the episodes still hold together even with this much happening each week. I like the actor playing Alfred a lot. I sort of assumed he was very much 'the good king' that could be trusted and followed through thick and thin, but they're starting to show even more of his own agenda and the extent that he feels like Uhtred is an expendable pawn. They've developed some complicated and compelling relationships between the web of characters in the first few episodes.
 
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Herla

Member
Well, looks like they're going to cover 2 books in one season. It's a bit disappointing as I'd love for this series to take all the time it needs to complete the story, but at the same time this adaptation is so solid that I don't have many reasons to complain.

Sure they're skipping a lot of stuff, but the important thing is that they're not changing anything (or, at least, nothing that's truly important) and that the added scenes are minimal and respectful of the source material. I wish Game of Thrones were this consistent.
 
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Decado

Member
Anyone know if the broadcast version of this show is censored? Like Vikings, which gets uncensored versions of each season on blu-ray?
 
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Holtz

Member
Another great episode, Draymond is really improving as Uthred, you can really see how torn he is between the danes and Alfred, which remains the standout player.
 
C

Cornballer

Member
Herla said:
Well, looks like they're going to cover 2 books in one season. It's a bit disappointing as I'd love for this series to take all the time it needs to complete the story, but at the same time this adaptation is so solid that I don't have many reasons to complain.
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How many books are there and how far into it are they as we hit the halfway point of S1?
 
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Gabriel_Logan

Member
Cornballer said:
How many books are there and how far into it are they as we hit the halfway point of S1?
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I think this is based off his Saxon chronicles and there is like 9 of them or so. I'm really surprised they didn't do his Grail or King Arthur series as they are both trilogies and probably more suited to onscreen adaption. Really enjoying what they're putting on screen though!!
 
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