The Last Kingdom TV Review-S5 "Episode 2"
Emotionally powerful, "Episode 2" hurls the drama into high gear.
The Last Kingdom
Season 5: “Episode 2”
A betrayal at Eoferwic (York) sends Sigtryggr in search of aid, while Uhtred begs Aethelflaed for military support she cannot give. Edward meets a new ally.
(Beware of Spoilers, Arseling!)
RECAP
Sigtryggr is captured as Brida’s Viking raiders overwhelm York. Brida spares Sigtryggr, telling him that the only way he can save Stiorra (who hides underground) is if he brings Uhtred to her. In Rumcofa, Uhtred despairs over his castrated son, then learns that Brida has taken York; realizing that Brida intends to wipe out his bloodline he goes to Aethelflaed, who stuns him by refusing to help rescue his daughter (beyond a dozen men.)
Sihtric, Finn, Osferth and Edward’s bastard heir Aethelstan join Uhtred as he plans to raise a force of Saxons to attack York. In Winchester, King Edward believes Aethelflaed will respond by attacking York with her Mercians and sends 300 men to add to her command. Lord Aethelhelm continues to plot against King Edward and attempts to undermine Sigtryggr’s position.
Leaving Rumcofa with his pals and the twelve Mercians, Uhtred spurns Aethelflaed, who hides her sickness from him. Eadith secretly informs Finn about Aethelflaed’s mortal condition but tells him that Uhtred cannot be weighed down by the news until after he saves Stiorra. Meanwhile, Aethelflaed informs her mother, Aelswith of her impending doom and struggles with her wayward daughter, Aelfwynn.
Despite the odds against them and obstacles created by the treacherous Aethelhelm, Sigtryggr, Uhtred, Father Pyrlig and their small force plan to find a way into York, which involves a Roman sewer. Stiorra decides to confront the murderous Brida.
REVIEW
Wow, a darned good episode. While the political machinations grind in the background, Uhtred is intellectually and emotionally wounded over and over again. None of these pains are his fault—his son’s injury, his daughter’s danger, Aethelflaed’s stony hiding of her encroaching demise—but he suffers mightily nonetheless. Once again The Last Kingdom has succeeded in skillfully isolating Uhtred from his resources so he must act alone (or at the head of a small company).
This episode focuses heavily on the dying Aethelflaed, a fan-favorite character, and Millie Brady turns in a powerhouse performance. Alexander Dreymon, much accustomed to portraying Uhtred in agony, delivers as well. I’m rooting for Sigtryggr (Eysteinn Sigurðarson) due to his honesty and fiery show of loyalty to Stiorra. I do miss Hild, and it is unfortunate that Aelswith (the lively Eliza Butterworth) has had less and less to do since the death of Alfred.
As we’ve seen in season 4, our feisty, warm-hearted season one Brida is most definitely no more: her thirst for revenge against Uhtred has fully transformed her into a brutal, calculating, merciless soldier of darkness. Will we ever see a glimmer of the old Brida again? Perhaps, at the end.
The dying Aethelflaed is a terrible turn of events: we know she will bravely forge ahead as long as she can despite the pain. Noble as she is, she won’t allow her ailment to burden either Uhtred or the Mercian people, but without an heir the succession will undoubtably be chaotic. Breast cancer, as all cancers, were of course a death sentence in the 9th/10th centuries. One wonders if, once her affairs are in order, she might prefer a quick death on a battlefield rather than to waste away.
Speaking of heirs, Uhtred is stricken by his son’s grievous wound and even more so by his castration by Brida, ending his (male) line in a world where lineage is everything. You can’t blame him for being angry and short with Aethelflaed; without being informed of her mortal sickness it seems to him that he’s being betrayed in his time of need. It’ll really suck if she dies before he learns the truth and can return to her.
Eadith has a pivotal role in this installment as a bearer of Aethelflaed’s awful secret (as does the loyal, lovelorn Aldhelm) but she crosses the line by informing Finn of the Lady of Mercia’s condition, putting Finn in a tough spot. One might suspect that Eadith, who knows Finn well, may expect Finn to spill the beans as soon as he can, allowing Uhtred to find his way back to Aethelflaed in time.
Aethelhelm seems to be clumsily overplaying his hand unless he intends to assassinate King Edward rather soon. He just sent false King’s orders to the Saxons and messed with the attentions of Lady Eadgifu (Sonya Cassidy), whom Edward very much likes. How long is Edward going to allow this serpent in his castle?
One of the best Last Kingdom episodes of the entire series, “Episode 2” shatters our characters with devastating emotional trials, demanding they rise to the occasion, and their fate.
EPISODE RANKING: 8.9 out of 10
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