Netflix, like every month of the year, has decided on some iconic movies and series this April. While many other titles have garnered attention, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die has been the most anticipated release of April 2023 by Netflix. Serving as the sequel to The Last Kingdom universe, this movie witnesses some major revelations. Directed by the popular Poldark creator, Ed Bazalgette, Seven Kings Must Die is a welcome addition to the franchise.
Like the previous five seasons, even this periodic drama follows Uhtred Ragnarsson as he serves as the most influential figure in Britain’s history. This historical movie, as iconic as it is, has left us with some major cliffhangers and questions I know you must be wondering about, too. For starters, Uhtred’s mystical death and Aethelstan’s future have been our major concerns. In this The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die review and ending explained, let me walk you through the marvellous finale of Uhtred’s journey!
A Prophecy That Lays The Foundation For The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Movie
It begins with a war, with blood and with the primal need for survival. When King Edward, one of the most influential rulers in England, tastes death, the hard-established peace of Britain is disrupted. Here ensues a power struggle with almost eight kings aspiring to take over Saxon. Amongst these greedy power-thirsty wolves are Edward’s two sons, Aesthestan and Aelfweard. Edward’s younger son, Edmund, and Queen Eodgifu, have turned to Uhtred for shelter as these two strikes against each other.
Uhtred, as we all know him to be an influential commander and powerful king, agrees to help Eodgifu. And though she isn’t ready to reside in Uhtred’s territory, Northumbria, and let Uhtred play peacemaker, she has no option left. Meanwhile, Uhtred’s best friend and soldier, Finan’s wife, Ingrith, claims that seven kings would die. With a deadly war looming over their heads and an angry yet powerful would-be king, Aethelstan, posing as a threat, the prophecy seems more of a threat. But eventually, Ingrith’s words lay the foundation of the movie and the lives of everyone around her.
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Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day, England Wasn’t Formed Overnight
Aethelstan challenges his brother, Aelfweard, to fight him so that he could take the throne and start ruling the Saxons. Being discriminated against as an illegitimate child throughout his life, Aethelstan falls into his commander, Ingilmundr’s manipulative words easily. Though Uhtred salvages Aelfweard and Aethelstan’s position initially and convinces both of them to not use violence, Aethelstan flips on his word. When Aelfweard surrenders and drops his weapon, Aethelstan used the circumstances to his advantage and stabbed his brother.
Though Ingilmundr initially comes off as a commander, it is later revealed that he means more to Aethelstan than anybody else. Under Ingilmundr’s influence, Aethelstan starts to garner allies and prepares his coronation ceremony. While he has established himself as the ruler of the Saxons, Uhtred and the lot are yet to accept it. Aethelstan starts to suppress people and discriminate against them using religion and killing people who don’t obey him. He claims that he is atoning for his sons, but all hells break loose when Aethelstan butchers Lord Aldhem for helping Uhtred.
Uhtred has turned against Aethelstan and has waged a war on him. Having five kings join forces with him, Uhtred has laid out a huge army. But Aethelstan has Anlaf under his belt and a flock of thousands backing him up. Uhtred’s dream of unifying England is challenged highly when all the five kings flee from the battlefield but not before Uhtred realizes something important.
Does Aethelstan Kill Ingilmundr For Betrayal?
Blood is scattered, arrows are piercing through skulls and the raw power struggle is at its peak with Uhtred and Aethelstan standing against each other. We all know how Uhtred has struggled to capture his rightful position as the lord of Northumbria–in five long seasons of the Last Kingdom. Here, his struggle seems to pave way for his emotions to surface upon watching Aethelstan going through the same journey. The only difference is Aethelstan has captured the heirs of several kings including Uhtred’s son, Osbert, and is gay. Also, he is under the influence of a traitor.
As The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die nears a conclusion, we witness how Ingilmundr has Aethelstan captured. Thankfully, Athelstan’s army arrives on time and saves the king of Saxons. The heartbroken king now exerts justice and revenge by plunging a sword into his so-called lover’s nape. The war has subsided with five future kings, Orkney, Man, Shetland, Strathclyde and Scotland dead. Also, Uhtred is lying unconscious, battling death, making us all wonder whether he is the next one to join the dead.
The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Ending Explained–Is Uhtred Alive?
At the end of the movie, Uhtred wakes up alive and as fiery as always. Queen Eodgifu, Osbert, Aethelstan, Finan and the lot finally take a relieved breath upon witnessing Uhtred. As we all know Aethelstan has always been emotionally weak and Ingilmundr used it to his advantage, and Uhtred forgives him. He proposes a condition that restricts Aethelstan to marry anyone and lets Edmund have the throne when it is time for Aethelstan to step down.
Here, our kingmaker takes the limelight again by saving Aethelstan from a forced marriage and letting Edmund have his rights. Unfortunately, the prophecy has come true with the five future kings, King Edward and Lord Uhtred dead. However, England has unified and Aethelstan is ruling it with an iron fist and a mushy heart.
The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die Review–A Well-Deserved Conclusion To Uhtred, A Fresh Start For Aethelstan
Uhtred’s journey has finally come to a conclusion and isn’t it a bittersweet moment? Bidding him farewell after watching his journey for more than 50 episodes wouldn’t be an easy endeavour for fans of course. But since Uhtred has got the conclusion he deserved, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die leaves no room for disappointment. It is a 2-hour long journey based on the last three novels by Bernard Cornwell. An action-packed, engrossing standalone thriller that is worth the hype!
Moments between Uhtred and his best friends and companions, Finan and Sihteic, are cleverly intricated. The world-building skills proposed by Bazalgette are commendable. The ancient setting and the journey of the formation of England will keep you hooked to the movie. Of course, there are a few scenes that could have been done better–namely Ingilmundr’s death. However, nothing seems to hold back The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die from earning a solid 9.2 on 10!