The Last Kingdom Film's Major Plot Twist Altered Uhtred's Conclusion

Seven Kings Must Die, much like The Last Kingdom series, made significant changes to the original source material. However, the biggest deviation from the novels actually weakens Uhtred's storyline. Throughout both the show and the books, Uhtred's main focus is reclaiming his ancestral home of Bebbanburg. Despite facing various challenges and obstacles, he is consistently drawn back to the northern fortress and his rightful inheritance. Altering Uhtred's fate in the movie alters a crucial element of his journey, diminishing the impact of its resolution.

In Seven Kings Must Die, Uhtred plays a more peripheral role in the broader historical events depicted. The film primarily revolves around the power struggle for the English crown following the death of Alfred's son, Edward. This conflict involves Aethelstan, a former ally of Uhtred, as well as the kings of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, emphasizing the magnitude of the battle. Uhtred, as the ruler of Bebbanburg, is portrayed as a king in his own right, and his suggested demise at the conclusion of the movie ties into the prophecy of "seven kings must die." Despite the significance of this plot point, it represents a significant and detrimental departure from the original story.

Killing Uhtred Deprived Him Of His Bebbanberg Ending

Seven kings must die aethelstan - Killing Uhtred Deprived Him Of His Bebbanberg Ending

Uhtred is still alive at the end of the books, unlike in Seven Kings Must Die. Instead of swearing Northumbria to Aethelstan, he is compelled to marry to unite the northern kingdom with Wessex. This creates a more uncertain conclusion to his story, leaving it open-ended.

In The Last Kingdom's final season, Uhtred finally reclaims his homeland after five seasons. This at least leaves him in a satisfying position of fulfilling his destiny, whatever it may hold. However, Seven Kings Must Die suggests that Uhtred's rule over Bebbanburg was disappointingly brief. Despite his hard-fought victory, viewers never see him enjoy his stewardship of the kingdom.

While the novels' conclusion may seem messy with Uhtred forced to give up Northumbria, his survival ensures that he finds peace in Bebbanburg. This offers a sense of closure, knowing that his long struggle was not in vain.

Keeping Uhtred Alive Could Have Worked (Because Of The Books)

Uhtred before a battle in The Last Kingdom - Keeping Uhtred Alive Could Have Worked (Because Of The Books)

Uhtred's death in Seven Kings Must Die brings closure to the franchise and wraps up the story definitively. However, in both the books and TV series, there is a shared narrative device that suggests Uhtred could have, and perhaps should have, survived. In the novels, Uhtred's survival is crucial because he is the narrator of the tale. Killing him off would change the storytelling dynamic after 13 books of consistent narration.

While the novels present Uhtred as an old man recounting his past, the TV series also includes his narration, often using his famous catchphrase "destiny is all." However, Seven Kings Must Die deviates from this by having an epilogue narrated by Uhtred's friend Finan, a departure from the established narrative style. Although this adds emotional depth to the ending, allowing Uhtred to tell his own story, as he does in the books, could have been a more fitting conclusion for his character.

Editor's P/S:

The article effectively analyzes the deviation from the source material in the movie "Seven Kings Must Die" and its impact on Uhtred's storyline. The author argues that the alteration weakens Uhtred's journey by depriving him of his rightful inheritance and the satisfying conclusion he achieves in the books and TV series. The article provides a well-reasoned argument, supported by evidence, and highlights the importance of faithfulness to the original source material in preserving the integrity of a character's arc.

Furthermore, the article explores the narrative implications of Uhtred's death in the movie. By deviating from the established storytelling device of Uhtred as the narrator, the epilogue narrated by Finan introduces a disconnect that could have been avoided. The author suggests that maintaining Uhtred's survival and narration would have provided a more consistent and satisfying conclusion for the character, aligning with both the books and the TV series. Overall, the article offers a thoughtful critique of the movie's changes and emphasizes the value of preserving the core elements of a beloved character's journey.