Bernard Cornwell's 'The Last Kingdom' episode 1 review

[THE CID]

STOP MOANING, it's better than im a celebrity crap and Soaps all the time. Beowulf looks good, Black Sails is OK and I also like the Frankenstein chronicles. Things are looking up, who knows what next year brings.

[Jeff965]

STOP MOANING, it's better than im a celebrity crap and Soaps all the time. Beowulf looks good, Black Sails is OK and I also like the Frankenstein chronicles. Things are looking up, who knows what next year brings.

I'm lucky Mrs Jeff isn't in to all that reality tv or the soaps, the couple of small clips I've seen of the new "War and Peace" looks like a good adaption though. Starts in January 

[Charlie_]

"The book is better" happens to me a lot; so I made a conscious decision to avoid ASoIaF until I watched the first season of Game of Thrones, to prevent the books colouring my view.

I still think the book is better.

I put off reading the books until I was fourth seasons in, and glad I did, as it meant I really enjoyed those first four seasons. Now, after having read the books.... The books are better!!!!!! The show is still great, but oh my, what good books...

[Vermis]

What was the last season of GoT? Fourth? Fifth? I was all geared up to watch that, but when the time came I couldn't summon up the enthusiasm. Still looking forward to the Winds of Winter, tho!

STOP MOANING

I think that was my second post in this topic.

it's better than im a celebrity crap and Soaps all the time.

That's not a massive achievement, though. Especially when half the cast of some historical/fantasy dramas almost look and sound like they stepped out of some of those soaps and reality shows. The Only Way Is Essex with extra hair, swords and grimdark. Sometimes not even that.

(Okay, maybe that comparison was too cruel to TLK...)

[Atheling]

Gotta love those 'Celtic' square shields with a hole cut in them(!!) on last nights episode

Darrell.

[WillieB]

Gotta love those 'Celtic' square shields with a hole cut in them(!!) on last nights episode

Darrell.

I bet they have an Egyptian 'historical' series coming up soon.

[nozza_uk]

Just discovered this thread, so I apologize for being late to the party!

As someone who's knowledge of this period is somewhat lacking, I quite enjoy it. Does strike me as being a Game of Thrones lighter version, although it's nice that it is focused on one character. I treat this series like I treated Sharpe when it first aired - ie it's supposed to be historical but I won't let the inaccuracies bother me.

I don't game this period, but this series has prompted me to buy the first book but also a couple of reference books on King Alfred and the Vikings. I might even create a Viking warband for Frostgrave.

[nozza_uk]

At least the Danes didn't have horned helmets just so people would know they were 'vikings' (I'm looking at you Doctor Who!).

You expect historical accuracy in Dr Who? 

[Elk101]

You expect historical accuracy in Dr Who? 

I expected them at least to stop propagating outdated stereotypes!   

[Captain Blood]

STOP MOANING

Moaning? It's artistic criticism, darling.

I'm off to watch episode 6.

Anyone been watching The Man In The High Castle, by the way? Now that is simply effing brilliant. The detail is stunning. Everything about it. Stunning. I couldn't even find the tiniest thing to  moan about with that.
Well, that's not strictly true, because they've buggered about fairly majorly with Philip K Dick's cult 1960's novel - but the result is an absolute work of art. Love it.

[Charlie_]

I bet they have an Egyptian 'historical' series coming up soon.

I dunnop about a TV series... but how about this film trailer?



Pretty shocking stuff, no? Granted, it's supposed to be Egyptian mythology not history, but still..... Wow.

"Only one God can save us. But not without his eyes."

[gamer Mac]

Moaning? It's artistic criticism, darling.

I'm off to watch episode 6.

Anyone been watching The Man In The High Castle, by the way? Now that is simply effing brilliant. The detail is stunning. Everything about it. Stunning. I couldn't even find the tiniest thing to  moan about with that.
Well, that's not strictly true, because they've buggered about fairly majorly with Philip K Dick's cult 1960's novel - but the result is an absolute work of art. Love it.

where is the man in the high castle on Richard?

I dunnop about a TV series... but how about this film trailer?



Pretty shocking stuff, no? Granted, it's supposed to be Egyptian mythology not history, but still..... Wow.

"Only one God can save us. But not without his eyes."

I like the look of that

[Captain Blood]

where is the man in the high castle on Richard?

It's an Amazon Studios original series on Amazon Prime / Amazon Instant Video. But it looks like several hundred million dollars. Makes the poor old beeb's efforts look horribly third rate 
Just watched the final episode, and my goodness. What a treat for the eyes, as well as tense and intriguing. Ridley Scott was one of the executive producers, and it shows.

[Silent Invader]

TBH I've now given up with The Last Kingdom. There's too much on satellite and download that is more compelling (and having just discovered that younger daughter has Amazon Prime means that there are series of Vikings and Blacksails to catch up on plus The Man in the High Castle).

[Captain Blood]

Yes, lots of very good stuff on Amazon Prime, Steve. Enjoy  

Episode 6 of the Last Kingdom has just taken a distinctly Monty-Pythonesque turn, as Uhtred goes off to plunder Cornwall, where it turn out the residents 'the Britons' are a bunch of primitive hippies in (literally) tie-dyed smocks and with ribbons wrapped through their dreadlocks. Armed only with sticks and small square shields with holes in them...
Somehow, I don't think this is even slightly what the surviving C9th British Kingdoms were really like, does anyone?
There's an especially boggle-eyed comic turn from their local king, Peredur, complete with comedy wife worthy of a Black Adder episode. I really can't work out if this is still meant to be taken seriously, or if the producers got halfway through and decided to make the whole thing more tongue in cheek.
Having despatched one outlandish OTT Viking baddie in episode 5, episode 6 sees the immediate introduction of an even more OTT, outlandish and downright camp Viking baddie, complete with Jack Sparrow eyeliner, fetching plaits, and bloodied fake teeth. Surely none of this is meant to be a serious portrayal any more, is it?

The same plotline has now been replayed through the last three episodes: Uhtred does something for the best intentions that goes wrong, he gets misunderstood, dragged before the King, doesn't get the chance to put his side of the story, loses his temper, pisses the King off, and duly gets punished - somehow managing to escape with his life. All very repetitive.

Ah well, only two more episodes to go. I shall stick with it to the bitter end now...