--- title: "The Last Kingdom: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-last-kingdom/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/the-last-kingdom" critics_score: 64 critics_reviews: 8 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Last Kingdom (2015): what the critics said Critics' score 64 from 8 reviews: 6 positive, 0 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics take to The Last Kingdom as a lively, grimy adventure that holds its own against the obvious comparison with Game of Thrones rather than copying it. Six of eight reviews are positive. The praise gathers around the battle scenes, which several find inventive and brutal, and around the cast: Emily Cox’s Brida is singled out more than once for her earthy humour and her rapport with Uhtred, and Rutger Hauer is said to steal the show. The collision of pagan and Christian cultures is noted as one of the series’ more thoughtful strands. The two dissenters are firm rather than lukewarm. The Independent finds it less silly than Game of Thrones but also less exciting, faulting a convoluted plot and genre clichés, while The i Paper, reviewing the second series, thinks it too polished and bloodless to land the gritty impact it wants. Between those and the warmest notices there is a wide spread, though nobody sits in the middle. ## The AV Club — Dennis Perkins Rating B+. 9 October 2015. The AV Club finds the miniseries gripping and human, with a vivid, grounded portrayal of its brutal historical world. Emily Cox’s Brida stands out for her earthy humor and formidable presence. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-epic-but-human-the-last-kingdom-proves-there-s-alwa-1798185158) ## The Guardian — Sam Wollaston Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 October 2015. Wollaston finds the series a lively, enjoyable historical drama rather than a British imitation of Game of Thrones. He praises the inventive battle scenes and says Rutger Hauer steals the show. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/oct/23/last-kingdom-vikings-game-of-thrones) ## Variety — Brian Lowry Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 7 October 2015. Lowry finds the series a worthy, absorbing variation on familiar Viking-era drama. He praises its strong supporting cast and its compelling portrayal of cultures in collision. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2015/tv/reviews/the-last-kingdom-review-bbc-america-vikings-historical-drama-1201607879/) ## Radio Times — David Craig Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 April 2020. Craig’s available description is positive about the season’s shift into a new era. It singles out the changing state of Wessex as the season’s strength. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/the-last-kingdom-season-four-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Keith Uhlich Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 9 October 2015. The critic finds the series an engaging, enjoyable adventure with plenty of grimy action. He praises the rapport between Uhtred and Brida, which offsets the show’s macho combat focus. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/last-kingdom-tv-review-830965/) ## The i Paper — Mark Butler Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 16 March 2017. Butler finds the season-two opener earnest and atmospheric, but too bloodless and polished to deliver the gritty impact it seeks. He especially praises the tense ransom exchange and the show’s nuanced portrayal of religious conflict. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/the-last-kingdom-series-2-episode-1-review-52928) ## The Independent — Sean O'Grady Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 22 October 2015. O’Grady finds the series less silly than Game of Thrones but also less exciting, and ultimately calls it a disappointment. He praises its earthy language, while faulting its convoluted plot and genre clichés. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/the-last-kingdom-tv-review-this-viking-saga-is-less-silly-than-game-of-thrones-and-less-exciting-too-a6705071.html) ## Den of Geek — Louisa Mellor Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 22 October 2015. The critic calls the premiere a promising, bloody start and gives it a thumbs up. They single out the brutal battle scenes and praise the episode’s efficient setup and striking landscapes. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-last-kingdom-episode-1-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/the-last-kingdom.md