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Camelot probably put a stop to anyone attempting King Arthur for a decade.
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The Last Kingdom - BBC/Netflix - Cornwell's "Saxon Stories" - S1 available on Netflix
- Thread starter Cornballer
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There's 9 books but I've only read the first 4 so I don't know how many more there might be in the future (for Bernard Cornwell writing a book is a matter of a year).
Judging from the preview, next episode will cover (in spoiler, just in case)
the end of book 1 and the beginning of book 2
The Warlord Chronicles deserve more than 3 seasons. I'd love to see every detail of those books on screen! Sadly I don't think the lure of "King Arthur" would be enough for viewers to appreciate that historical period.
Cornballer
Member
Thanks! I was just curious how much of the material they've covered so far.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Still really digging this. I can't believe we're already half way through the season.
No kidding. It's not dissimilar to Vikings in that regard.
It is censored, but not in the same way Vikings is where they cut scenes out entirely - for instance, there was a boob shot in last night's episode and they just blurred it.
No kidding. It's not dissimilar to Vikings in that regard.
It is censored, but not in the same way Vikings is where they cut scenes out entirely - for instance, there was a boob shot in last night's episode and they just blurred it.
H.Cornerstone
Member
It's been forever since I've read the books, but in those they did a much better job establishing Uhtred as a Viking.
But yeah, they are moving quick.
Sounds like I should give this a shot then? I love historical shows (whether they're just settings or go for a more authentic approach) and I saw this on the other night, but had no clue what was happening since I started in the middle of it.
I watch too much TV, but it seems like there's more networks taking risks nowadays that only networks like HBO did in the past.
I watch too much TV, but it seems like there's more networks taking risks nowadays that only networks like HBO did in the past.
I really enjoyed episode 3 because it felt like the prologue period was over and things were settling in, but then came episode 4 and started rushing things again. Just how quickly the show is moving from plot point to plot point is my biggest problem right now, the show is letting nothing sink in. The sequence where Uhtred meets his new wife, they dislike each other, then they like each other and then they cut to her being 8 months pregnant was like a 5 minute thing at the very most. That's insanely fast and not a sustainable speed for a good show. We can't care about characters if they've been on screen for half a second...
Like I think we're supposed to care about the sibling/childhood friendship thing between Uhtred, Brida and Ragnar Jr, but it's really difficult for the viewer to be affected when Ragnar has had maybe 1-2 minutes of screentime and they had Uhtred make his great sacrifice by giving up his family in episode 3, only for them to timeskip into a reunion with those same characters in episode 4! (Then he leaves them again, for a character that has had even less screentime than Ragnar!)
Other than this, I'm loving it, but I hope they're just rushing the first couple of books to get to the good stuff or something, and that this isn't the intended pace for the entire show...
Like I think we're supposed to care about the sibling/childhood friendship thing between Uhtred, Brida and Ragnar Jr, but it's really difficult for the viewer to be affected when Ragnar has had maybe 1-2 minutes of screentime and they had Uhtred make his great sacrifice by giving up his family in episode 3, only for them to timeskip into a reunion with those same characters in episode 4! (Then he leaves them again, for a character that has had even less screentime than Ragnar!)
Other than this, I'm loving it, but I hope they're just rushing the first couple of books to get to the good stuff or something, and that this isn't the intended pace for the entire show...
Cornballer
Member
- Promo for episode 5 (please spoiler tag any discussion)
EdwardTeach
Member
Been enjoying it so far, doesn't seem too low budget. I think it is mostly well cast. (not sure why breda has to be so ugly though!) Shame to hear that they are racing through the source books at such a pace, as I'll miss this when it is finished. We have just finished episode 3 in the UK.
The actor playing Uhtred's uncle lives in the same town as me, I am often seeing him in the supermarket. He is a skater!
The actor playing Uhtred's uncle lives in the same town as me, I am often seeing him in the supermarket. He is a skater!
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
C'mon!
Business
Member
I actually like it that the cast is (for the most part and with the notable exception of Uhtred) not looking like models.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
New episode tonight!
Cornballer
Member
Cornballer
Member
Brutal fight and a crazy resolution to the battle.
grandwizard
Member
Alfred is the best thing about the show, just great casting.
Not really liking how fast they are going through stuff but I guess they can't bank on having so many seasons so they need to reach climactic moments sooner.
Not really liking how fast they are going through stuff but I guess they can't bank on having so many seasons so they need to reach climactic moments sooner.
MisterFalcon
Member
Brida will never not be beautiful <3. But she's quite different from this little bit in Homeland last week.
I think they are not comparable although they share some characters. Last Kingdom has a more serious tone and is more historically accurate. Also the fight scenes are better done in Last Kingdom, less shaky cam and the movements on the battlefield are better reproduced.
See I think the battles in Vikings are done better. The Last Kingdom needs more money thrown at it, some parts feel very cheap. I am starting to like it though.
That's be very impressive, I thought the battle scenes in Vikings were always awesome for a TV show, better than GoT, given the disparity in budget.
I guess I'll check this out.
they need money yes, but they reproduce the tactical movements better. Vikings at the begining did it very well but in later seasons and episodes they would just rush into the enemy no tactic.
Uhtred has no common sense, he is still very hot headed something they translated very well from the book
Napoleonthechimp
Member
I know he was a bit of a dick but I felt really bad for that fat guy.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Excellent episode this week with tons of memorable scenes:
Uhtred's talk with Ubba
Uhtred sneaking onto the boats to light them on fire
Uhtred's fight with Ubba (gah why did he have to cut his achilles tendons D
The entire "I LOVE TITS!" grovelling bit
Uhtred laying the smackdown on the dishonest servant
I was initially worried about that very thing - that this'd be just a slightly different version of Vikings - but it isn't. It covers similar historical territory, but it really is it's own thing.
Whoa, cool! What episodes did he direct?
Oh neat, I didn't recognize her in that episode.
Wise choice.
Uhtred's talk with Ubba
Uhtred sneaking onto the boats to light them on fire
Uhtred's fight with Ubba (gah why did he have to cut his achilles tendons D
The entire "I LOVE TITS!" grovelling bit
Uhtred laying the smackdown on the dishonest servant
I was initially worried about that very thing - that this'd be just a slightly different version of Vikings - but it isn't. It covers similar historical territory, but it really is it's own thing.
Whoa, cool! What episodes did he direct?
Brida will never not be beautiful <3. But she's quite different from this little bit in Homeland last week.
Oh neat, I didn't recognize her in that episode.
Wise choice.
Vikings is a bit more unconventional, the story bits are there but the focus is not really on historical accuracy, more on badass characters doing badass stuff in a given historical context. The Last Kingdom tries to be more accurate and less over the top, and until now it almost completely lacks the mystical stuff that Vikings has. I feel they're both good shows in their own rights, even if they're not absolute must watch. Thinking about it, both shows have characters with great chemistry and very nice soundtracks.
A Warlord Chronicles done with a proper budget would be amazing. It's one of my favorite series and the low key use of mysticism/magic is perfection, many other series should be inspired by it.
Crabernacle
Member
Finally began a re-read of the series. Just started book 2 and am amazed at how far the show has already progressed.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
The show is already into the second book now?
Business
Member
Yeah episode 5 is more or less the end of the first book.
Really enjoying it so far, even if they race so fast through the books.
Cornballer
Member
- Promo for Episode 6 (please spoiler tag any discussion)
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
New episode tonight!
I had a hard time watching episode 5. Uthred is one the most dumb character I ever saw, and it does not help he is the main character. Yeah, just go on and fuel the fire with Odda the young, he is just the next in line, that will end well ! Yeah, even Leofric of all people warned you of what would happen, but what the fuck, let's blame all on christianity and draw sword before the King ! Yeah, let's slaughter some petty thief before your wife, she will be so fond of you !
I know everyone in the shows tells him he is stupid, but it's no longer a funny meme at this point.
I know everyone in the shows tells him he is stupid, but it's no longer a funny meme at this point.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Scumbag move there Uthred, ditching your family for that "spirit queen". :/
Well, I guess they had to make some weird changes at some point
I'm re-reading the books so this part was rather fresh in my memory, kind of disappointing. It's nothing major at all (Game of Thrones this is not), but it's weird to see this stuff just as they plunge into Book 2.
Still, good episode. I can see a lot of people not liking Uhtred (and the lack of internal monologue doesn't help), but I'm always glad to see his rashness (if not plain stupidity) represented.
I'm re-reading the books so this part was rather fresh in my memory, kind of disappointing. It's nothing major at all (Game of Thrones this is not), but it's weird to see this stuff just as they plunge into Book 2.
Still, good episode. I can see a lot of people not liking Uhtred (and the lack of internal monologue doesn't help), but I'm always glad to see his rashness (if not plain stupidity) represented.
She sure is perdy though.
Gabriel_Logan
Member
That last 10 minutes was tense. Not looking forward to next week.
Still having a problem with the relentless rushing through the story... Nothing settles and it's making Uhtred look like a pretty big dumbass when they just pile his bad decisions on top of one another with nothing inbetween.
Alfred isn't bad as far as kings in stories go either, they're almost always at least five times as evil as he is. The priest's all right as well.
Uhtred's BFF is a good man, I like him. Sucks that he's obviously going to die unless there's a deus ex machina next week.
Alfred isn't bad as far as kings in stories go either, they're almost always at least five times as evil as he is. The priest's all right as well.
RatskyWatsky
Hunky Nostradamus
Well, I guess they had to make some weird changes at some point
I'm re-reading the books so this part was rather fresh in my memory, kind of disappointing. It's nothing major at all (Game of Thrones this is not), but it's weird to see this stuff just as they plunge into Book 2.
How is it different in the book? (spoiler tag it)
Lagertha in Vikings!
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