The Last Kingdom: Unveiling the Unbelievable Success That Surprised Netflix
The Last Kingdom captivates viewers with its exceptional characters, immersive realism, gripping plot, and a perfect blend of political intrigue and action With a memorable cast, stunning battle scenes, engaging dialogue, and a preexisting fanbase from The Saxon Stories, it became a surprise hit for Netflix
Summary
The Last Kingdom crafts engaging, complex characters that are flawed yet lovable, generating audience investment in both the protagonists and antagonists.
The show intricately weaves together seasons, captivating the audience with its compelling storyline, which strikes the perfect balance between unexpected turns and satisfying conclusions.
The Last Kingdom achieves a truly immersive experience, thanks to its commitment to realism. It avoids excessive action and instead prioritizes historical accuracy in its meticulously designed sets, authentic costumes, impeccable makeup, and intense battle scenes.
The Last Kingdom became an unexpectedly popular show on Netflix due to various factors. Based on Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories novel series, it depicts the establishment of a unified kingdom in England. Through the perspective of its protagonist, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, who is of Saxon heritage but raised by Danes, the show effectively explores the conflict between the Saxons and Danes.
The Last Kingdom excels in many aspects that contribute to a successful TV show, while also possessing unique elements that add to its triumph. Although the show's sequel film deviates from some of these strengths, the fact that Netflix approved the film emphasizes its significance to the streaming platform. Therefore, it would have been more effective to continue the show with a sixth season rather than releasing the movie.
10 The Last Kingdom Crafts Excellent Characters
One of the defining aspects of The Last Kingdom is its remarkable talent for creating captivating and multifaceted characters. The protagonists in The Last Kingdom are endearing yet flawed, offering audiences numerous reasons to connect with them, despite their imperfections. The show fearlessly embraces the challenge of developing intricate characters, leaving the audience to make their own judgments about them. Remarkably, the same can be said for the show's antagonists. While there are no purely evil characters in The Last Kingdom, many of its villains are despicable nonetheless, providing viewers with ample cause to cheer for the heroes.
9 The Last Kingdom Has A Dynamic Plot
The Last Kingdom captivates viewers with its compelling storyline that keeps them hooked from start to finish. This quality is a defining characteristic of exceptional television shows. The series maintains a seamless connection between seasons, with each season featuring a well-developed plot that seamlessly transitions into the next. Additionally, The Last Kingdom skillfully combines unexpected twists and satisfying resolutions, providing audiences with the answers they crave while keeping them guessing as to how events will unfold.
8 The Last Kingdom's Realism Is Highly Immersive
The Last Kingdom excels at capturing a sense of realism, particularly in its early seasons. This attention to detail allows the show to fully immerse its audience, making it one of the top British shows on Netflix. The sets, costumes, makeup, and action in The Last Kingdom all contribute to maintaining an authentic atmosphere, steering clear of exaggerated sword fights or anachronistic makeup that would be out of place in 9th-century England.
7 The Last Kingdom Carefully Blends Political Intrigue With Action
The Last Kingdom's success can be attributed to its skillful combination of political intrigue and action. The series expertly weaves together intricate political conflicts that parallel historical events, while also bringing pivotal battles from that era to life. Additionally, the show delivers compelling character dynamics and thrilling action sequences that may not be historically accurate but are nonetheless captivating, such as the intense duel between Uhtred and Ubba in season 1. This fusion creates a compelling atmosphere reminiscent of Game of Thrones, further enhancing its appeal.
6 The Last Kingdom Has A Memorable Cast
5 The Last Kingdom's Battle Scenes Are Excellent
The Last Kingdom possesses an exceptional cast that undeniably contributes to its success. The portrayal of both heroes and villains in The Last Kingdom leaves a lasting impact, even with characters who only appear briefly. Furthermore, the main cast of the show demonstrates exceptional talent, while the supporting characters are expertly cast. As a result, beloved characters such as Sihtric and Finan may not have had such integral roles in the series if their respective actors had not garnered immense popularity among fans.
The success of The Last Kingdom is also attributed to its captivating battle scenes. The show meticulously constructs these skirmishes, immersing viewers in an authentic historical experience. The portrayal of medieval war tactics is particularly commendable, showcasing the brutal effectiveness of the shield wall, the prevalent method of battle during that era. Not only are these battle sequences highly engaging and suspenseful, but they also enhance the overall quality of the show.
4 The Last Kingdom Capitalized On GOT Fever
3 The Last Kingdom Has Engaging Dialogue
One of the reasons why The Last Kingdom's success is so fascinating is its close association with the iconic HBO series, Game of Thrones. With Game of Thrones becoming a cultural phenomenon, it led to a surge in demand for similar shows to enjoy during the hiatus between seasons. The Last Kingdom stands out as an ideal choice due to its captivating blend of drama and action. In fact, it is widely regarded as one of the top recommendations for fans of Game of Thrones.
Engaging dialogue between characters is another characteristic that The Last Kingdom excels at capturing. Unlike many action-oriented TV shows and movies that overlook dialogue and rely on generic phrases to set up the next action scene, The Last Kingdom skillfully develops its plot and characters primarily through meaningful conversations. A prime example of this can be seen in Uhtred's final discussion with Alfred, delving into their tumultuous relationship throughout the years and the profound legacy left by Alfred.
2 The Last Kingdom And Vikings Fed Off Each Other's Popularity
The release of The Last Kingdom around the same time as the History Channel's Vikings played a significant role in the popularity of the Viking subgenre in historical fiction. These two shows share many similarities, particularly their emphasis on Viking history, which generated a shared interest among viewers. As a result, fans of one show were more likely to become fans of the other, inadvertently expanding the fanbases of both series.
1 The Saxon Stories Gave The Last Kingdom A Preexisting Fanbase
The Saxon Stories played a key role in boosting the popularity of The Last Kingdom as the book series had already garnered fame prior to the development of the show. This initial fanbase provided a solid foundation for The Last Kingdom and facilitated its organic growth through positive word-of-mouth. The show's faithful adaptation further ensured the retention of these fans, guaranteeing a dedicated core following even if new viewers didn't stick around.
