Last Kingdom Season 5: The Devastating Loss That Will Leave Fans Stunned
An unexpected twist shatters the ray of hope, leaving viewers heartbroken as Brida's demise unravels the true depths of tragedy in Season 5 of The Last Kingdom
In the fifth season of Netflix's The Last Kingdom, Brida embarked on a path of vengeance against Uhtred, leading to a tragic outcome. However, which episode features Brida's demise? The Last Kingdom is a screen adaptation of Bernard Cornwell's famous historical novel series, The Saxon Stories, and concludes in the film Seven Kings Must Die. Throughout the course of the series' five seasons, Uhtred and Brida progressed from being childhood friends to becoming lovers, and eventually became sworn enemies. Both Brida and Uhtred were raised as Saxons by the Dane, Earl Ragnar. Their loyalties were tested after Earl Ragnar's death when Uhtred pledged his allegiance to King Alfred of England.
On the other hand, Brida chose to align herself with the Danes and married Ragnar's son, Ragnar. Following Æthelwold's murder of Ragnar, Brida held Uhtred accountable for failing to protect his brother. Later, Brida played a significant role in leading a Danish conquest alongside her new husband, Cnut, which ultimately ended in their defeat. Overwhelmed by the loss and seeking an honorable death, Brida implored Uhtred to end her life and send her to Valhalla, but he refused. In The Last Kingdom's fifth season, Brida meticulously devised a plan to seek revenge against Uhtred. Although this pursuit inflicted torment upon Uhtred and his family, it culminated in defeat, resulting in the demise of Brida's daughter, Vibeke.
How Brida's Death Came About
Brida managed to convince Uhtred to confront her in the forest, a place they frequented during their childhood. In her sinister plan, she had prepared a grave where one of them would meet their demise, allowing them to enter Valhalla, having died a warrior's death. However, Brida had no intention of killing Uhtred; rather, she desired her own death at his hands. Despite her wishes, Uhtred found himself unable to end her life after their intense battle. Surprisingly, their encounter seemed to bring about reconciliation, as Uhtred extended his offer to assist Brida in rediscovering her former self.
Tragically, Uhtred's daughter, Stiorra, took aim at Brida and fatally wounded her with an arrow mere moments later. Driven by vengeance for all that had transpired, namely Uhtred's execution of Sigtryggr, Stiorra held Brida responsible for every misfortune, including Sigtryggr's demise. While Brida had her fair share of wrongdoing, her death at that exact moment made it the most poignant event of The Last Kingdom season 5. After enduring years of suffering and animosity, Brida had finally found forgiveness for Uhtred and yearned for personal transformation. The denial of this opportunity broke Uhtred's heart, as he was the only one who still believed in her redemption.
Why Brida's Death Is So Tragic
Brida lived a life filled with loss and vengeance, leaving her feeling as though she had nothing left to live for. Throughout the story, she longed for death to join her loved ones in Valhalla. However, when Uhtred refused to kill her, Brida had a moment of realization and admitted to her moral decline. She acknowledged that she had lost herself. This marked the beginning of a positive change in her character.
The next instance of growth occurred when Brida made the decision to stop fighting Uhtred and seemingly accepted his offer to help her regain her former self from the first season of The Last Kingdom. By letting go of her sword, she also let go of her desire to enter Valhalla. In Norse belief, warriors needed to die with their weapon in hand in order to be granted passage into the hall of warriors. Brida finding a purpose for living that wasn't fueled by revenge opened up the possibility for a happy ending. However, in a cruel twist of fate, this possibility was taken away from her moments later, making her death the most tragic of The Last Kingdom season 5. The heartbreak of losing hope affected not only Brida but also deeply impacted Uhtred. Brida was Uhtred's first love and the character he knew best in The Last Kingdom.
Having finally earned her trust, he longed to reconnect with the woman he had once loved. As Uhtred had declared, he and Brida were inseparable. When she passed away, a part of Uhtred died with her, leaving him devastated and calling out her name in anguish. Brida's death also marked the end of Uhtred's childhood family, following the losses of Ragnar and Thyra in the third season. Uhtred's ultimate triumph in reclaiming Bebbanburg in The Last Kingdom served as a powerful conclusion to the series. Yet, the numerous losses he endured along the way left a bittersweet aftertaste. While the deaths of Osferth, Lady Æthelflæd, and Sigtryggr evoked strong emotions, none of them could compare to the cruel twist of fate that befell Brida.
