The Last Kingdom's Brilliant Strategy for a Uhtred-Free Future
The Last Kingdom's potential spinoff: Delve into the intriguing origins of The Sons of Ragnar, offering a captivating continuation and exploration of the world beyond Uhtred A surefire hit that will captivate audiences anew
Summary
The Last Kingdom can continue its franchise without Uhtred of Bebbanburg by focusing on the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok, who played a crucial role in England's history.
The success of History Channel's Vikings demonstrates the potential for a Last Kingdom spinoff that centers around Ragnar's sons. This spinoff would offer a more accurate historical representation while also capitalizing on existing interest in the characters. Additionally, it could provide insight into how England reached the state depicted in The Last Kingdom.
Despite the conclusion of Netflix's The Last Kingdom after five seasons and a feature-length film titled The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, there exists a perfect opportunity to continue the franchise without its main protagonist, Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Based on Bernard Cornwell's novel series, The Saxon Stories, the source material has been exhausted. However, The Last Kingdom is situated within a captivating historical era that presents numerous possibilities for captivating spinoffs. Given the immense popularity of The Last Kingdom, it would be logical for a spinoff to be developed in the near future.
Uhtred of Bebbanburg's character was initially crafted to depict the narrative of England's journey towards becoming a cohesive nation. Now that this pivotal juncture has been reached within the series, Uhtred's tale has fulfilled its intended purpose. Nonetheless, there exists a multitude of crucial historical events that both precede and follow King Aethelstan's unification of England, which could offer valuable insights and perspective to the ongoing saga. It is worth noting that other shows akin to The Last Kingdom can potentially offer inspiration on how to further extend the franchise, and one exceptional concept has already been conceived.
The Sons Of Ragnar Can Continue The Last Kingdom Without Uhtred
The Last Kingdom has a golden opportunity to expand its franchise beyond Uhtred of Bebbanburg through the legendary Viking leader, Ragnar Lothbrok's sons. Renowned for their own achievements, Ragnar's sons rose to fame by conquering territories across Britain and Western Europe, almost surpassing their father's legacy. Notably, the brothers united to form The Great Heathen Army following their father's demise. They effortlessly defeated the Saxon opposition, temporarily seizing control of the country.
Another Hit TV Show Already Proved A Last Kingdom Spinoff Would Work
The sons of Ragnar, renowned for their brutality and cunning, possess the potential to captivate audiences as captivating figures in a prospective Last Kingdom spinoff. Moreover, their pivotal role in the historical events preceding The Last Kingdom ensures a seamless integration into the franchise's narrative. Additionally, this spinoff could offer the opportunity to revisit the prominent locations established in The Last Kingdom, thereby upholding a consistent backdrop throughout the franchise.
Furthermore, the potential spinoff of The Last Kingdom would benefit from the example set by the successful series Vikings on the History Channel. While Vikings initially focused on Ragnar and later shifted its attention to his sons, its historical accuracy gradually diminished when depicting the story of Ragnar's children. In contrast, The Last Kingdom's proposed spinoff would offer a more authentic perspective on this historical period, emphasizing the viewpoint of the Saxons rather than the Danes or Norsemen. With this spinoff, there is already existing interest in its central characters, providing an additional advantage.
The Sons Of Ragnar Can Explain How The Last Kingdom Came To Be
The untold tale of one of Ragnar's sons, Halfdan Ragnarsson, could be uncovered. Unlike his siblings in Vikings, Halfdan played a significant role as the commander of the Great Heathen Army and the first Viking King of Northumbria. He also aspired to rule Dublin, but tragically met his demise while pursuing that claim in 877. Introducing Halfdan's character in this potential spinoff would provide a unique element that distinguishes it from Vikings. Worth mentioning is the speculation by certain historians that Halfdan and Hvitserk might actually be the same person, even though Hvitserk does appear in Vikings.
A compelling reason for this spinoff is to unravel the historical backdrop that led to the starting point of The Last Kingdom's narrative. The title of the show, "The Last Kingdom," signifies the moment when Wessex stood as the solitary Saxon-controlled realm amidst a backdrop of Danish and Norse conquest. This conquest, initiated by Ragnar and his sons, gradually swallowed up the remaining English Kingdoms.
The Viking conquest of Northumbria, Mercia, and East Anglia was achieved by the formidable Great Heathen Army, led by the renowned leaders Halfdan and Ivar the Boneless. However, their relentless advance was finally put to a stop when Alfred the Great emerged victorious against the Vikings at the Battle of Edington, a crucial moment depicted in The Last Kingdom. These historical events seamlessly pave the way for the beginning of The Last Kingdom, offering indispensable context. This intriguing spinoff can further delve into the earlier years of Alfred the Great's life, a beloved figure among the show's audience.
