Summary
After the conclusion ofThe Last Kingdomwith the feature-length Netflix movieSeven Kings Must Die, many fans remain eager to revisit Bernard Cornwell’s immersive vision of pre-medieval England, with one television series providing the perfect opportunity. Beginning on the BBC and latterly moving to Netflix,The Last Kingdomproved hugely popular with audiences thanks to its charismatic characters and gripping story. Although the show focused onAlexander Dreymon’s Uhtred of Bebbanburgand his story has come to a close, there is still a way for fans to return to this fascinating period in British history.
Despite containing fictional elements, part of what makesThe Last Kingdomso compelling is its adherence to real history. Figures likeUhtred, Alfred, and Aethelfledare much more vivid because they actually existed in real life – making their stories seem even more compelling. This historical element is central toThe Last Kingdom’s success and makes finding a replacement much more complicated than settling on any standard medieval action series. Fortunately, however, the perfect prequel setting upThe Last Kingdom’s world and story already exists.
The Winter King Is A Perfect Last Kingdom Prequel
It’s A Great Introduction To The World
Despite not being officially affiliated with theoriginalThe Last Kingdomseriesand sharing none of the same characters,The Winter Kingis actually the perfect prequel for the hit historical drama. Not only do the shows share a common source – both being based on historical fiction novels written by Bernard Cornwell – but despite their differences in tone and story, their settings make them ideal companion pieces. Not only that, but thematically and stylistically,The Winter KingandThe Last Kingdomare perfectly matched.
All episodes ofThe Winter Kingare available to view on MGM+.
UnlikeThe Last Kingdom, which takes place during the 9th and 10th centuries,The Winter Kingis set even earlier in England’s history. A retelling of Arthurian legend,the show takes place in Post-Roman Britain in a period known as the Dark Ages. Chronologically, this places it about 300-400years beforeThe Last Kingdom. Yet despite the centuries of separation,The Winter Kingprovides an entertaining way to understand the context that creates the England of Alfred and Uhtred as seen in the earlier series.
There are some important differences betweenThe Winter KingandThe Last Kingdom.TheWinter King’s basis in Arthurian myth, for instance, makes it more fantastical thanThe Last Kingdom,with legendary locations like Avalon featuring prominently throughout and magic given far greater credencethan what’s seen in its chronological successor. However, these discrepancies are actually a perfect illustration of how such issues were regarded by people at the time and helpThe Winter Kingserve as a superstitious pre-runner to the Christian-dominated discourse inThe Last Kingdom. In laying such groundwork,The Winter KingmakesThe Last Kingdomeven more compelling.
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The Winter King Twists The Last Kingdom’s Premise Perfectly
It Challenges The Portrayal Of Good And Bad
InThe Last Kingdom,Alfred’s dream of a unified England under Anglo-Saxon ruleis portrayed fairly uncontroversially as a just and righteous ambition. Although there are exceptions, typified by Uhtred’s competing loyalties,Alfred’s fight against Danish oppressors portrays the Saxons as plucky underdogs, making audiences inevitably root for them over the invasive Danes. Given the modern understanding of “Englishness” such an angle is perhaps unsurprising. However, asThe Winter Kingmakes clear, English and British history is actually much more complicated.
In explaining how Alfred’s ancestors were once the kind of invaders the king now seeks to repel,The Winter KingmakesThe Last Kingdom’s morality even more nuanced.
Unlike the broadly sympathetic characters seen inThe Last Kingdom,the Saxons inThe Winter Kingassume the role of invading aggressors. In this story, it is they who are a threat to native Britons, with the island’s unification behind Arthur the only real hope for survival. Such a portrayal is not only a compelling andhistorically accurate contrast withThe Last Kingdom, it also facilitates a richer understanding of British history. In explaining how Alfred’s ancestors were once the kind of invaders the king now seeks to repel,The Winter KingmakesThe Last Kingdom’s morality even more nuanced – and ultimately rewarding.
The Last Kingdom And The Winter King Explore Similar Themes
They Tackle Them In Very Different Ways
Beyond providing interesting historical insight,The Winter Kingalso addresses many of the same narrative themes asThe Last Kingdom. Both stories revolve around a charismatic protagonist who finds himself isolated and outcast from his home. Despite this status, however,he finds himself compelled to play a key role in shaping the future of England and Britain, with consequences that will echo down the centuries.
InThe Winter King, the concept of a unified nation is incredibly nebulous – yet there is a sense that the only means of securing survival is through coming together under one banner.
Using the main character as a conduit,both series also explore the idea of what it means to be English. InThe Winter King, the concept of a unified nation is incredibly nebulous – yet there is a sense that the only means of securing survival is through coming together under one banner. This is exactly the same message asThe Last Kingdom– albeit through a much more fully-formed idea of nationhood.
A further similarity between the two series is in their attitude to spirituality – a subject that once again highlights howThe Winter Kingis a perfect set up forThe Last Kingdom. In the series, Christianity is still a nascent concept, with much more faith placed in the druidic pagan powers of Merlin. Although this kind of magic is present inThe Last Kingdom–notably in season 3 through the character of Skade– it’s clear that attitudes to faith have evolved. As a way of understanding how spirituality changed throughout Post-Roman Britain, the two series make for fascinating companion pieces.
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The Last Kingdom And The Winter King Are Fitting Tributes To Bernard Cornwell’s Vision
They Create A Fascinating Chronology Of England
Perhaps the most compelling argument for viewingThe Winter Kingas an unofficialThe Last Kingdomprequel is that both stories share the same author.Bernard Cornwell is one of Britain’s most popular authors, having penned dozens of historical fiction novels and created some of the best-loved characters in all of fiction. Although bothThe Last KingdomandThe Winter Kingdiffer substantially from the source material, the two shows are authentic to the tone of the original.
Both shows capture Cornwell’s inimitable ability to make intangible historical events feel immediate and accessible. The shows also encapsulate the author’s skill in bringing long-dead and otherwise distant figures back to life – giving them a vitality that can make them variously empathetic, terrifying, and relatable. The fact that both shows demonstrate this aspect of Cornwell’s writing not only makes them natural companion pieces, but ensures thatThe Last Kingdomfeels even more connected to real history than it did before.
