The Last Kingdom Season 2 Episode 1 Recap – Episode 1

There is peace in Alfred’s Kingdom. His daughter, Aethelflaed, is now of marrying age. King Alfred doesn’t want to let her daughter go, but still, he knows she has to get married. He asks Odda to look for suitable suitors. 

Brother Trew visits Alfred’s palace carrying a letter from Abbot Eadred of Cumbraland. He tells Alfred that the Abbot was seen in a dream by the likeness of Saint Cuthbert, who spoke of a person who would save them. Brother Trew says they are ruled by Danes and in need of a Christian savior. That person is Guthred, a slave who must first be saved. And so, Alfred sends Father Beocca to accompany Brother Trew in completing this task.

At Eoferwic, the city is under the rule of the Northmen brothers, Sigefrid and Erik. The two leave the city under a warrior’s care while they leave to fight the Scots. A priest has had enough of it all and encourages others to fight the remaining warriors while the brothers are away.

Uhtred travels with the nun, Hild, and Halig. He keeps drinking in every inn they pass, and he doesn’t know how he will travel north with only two people. When he arrives at Eoferwic, he sees the dead bodies of Danes. He is surprised to learn that the people defeated the Danes. He even saves one Dane who was captured and lets him go.

The priest who led the people welcomes Uhtred when he finds out he is the Uhtred Ragnarson who fought with King Alfred. There, Uhtred finds Father Berocca. Father Beocca says he and Brother Trew are carrying Alfred’s silver, which they will use to free Guthred. Uhtred is surprised when he hears that this Guthred is a Dane. Father Beocca even says that their deal is with a slave master. And their meeting place sits on the land that Kjartan owns. They only managed to survive without guards because they traveled with men with leprosy. They put the sick men in a cart with the treasure they are carrying so no one dares approach.

Father Beocca asks Uhtred to travel with them, so he does, along with Hild and Halig. Uhtred tries to make a move on Hild at times, but Hild tells him she is with him because she knows she’ll be safe. Then she tells Uhtred to teach her how to fight, so she can protect those she cares about. 

Uhtred knows Kjartan’s men are following them, so he devises a plan on how they can take Guthred. He first sends the priests with Hild, Halig, and the silvers. When they arrive at the village, slaves are sold in the market. Sven comes out with some of his men, asking for the ransom. One of his men tells him that some horsemen are missing from the group.

Father Beocca confirms this but says they don’t know the other horsemen. He adds that those horsemen are not of this world and just wanted to be rid of them. He scares Sven by telling him that if they talk about the horsemen, they might summon them.

Uhtred disguises himself by using a skull of an animal as a mask and wearing a cloak. Then from the darkness, he and the Lepers ride their horses towards the village. The Lepers hold torches and scare the people. Uhtred says he is Odin’s messenger who has come from Corpse Hall. He asks Sven if he is Sven Kjartanson because he was sent to take the souls of Sven and his father. Sven commands his men to attack, but they are easily defeated by Uhtred. Uhtred then tells the people to leave the village. The slave master, however, is killed by Hild. Brother Trew starts looking for Guthred of Cumbraland. And when he finds him, Guthred seems a bit lost.

On the next day, Guthred brings Uhtred some food and thanks him for setting him free. He says that no ransom was paid so that it would return to the church, and he has only found out that he is to be king. He tells Uhtred that he will see to it that the lepers are given some reward. Guthred asks Uhtred to be his commander and serve him. Uhtred replies that if Guthred builds an army, he will lead it.

Meanwhile, Sven finds himself on a cart on his way home. He tells his father about the Horseman, but Kjartan refuses to believe it and tells his son that it is nothing but a lie. Then he proceeds to tell Sven to silence the hounds.

When Sven goes to the dungeon, he speaks softly to Thrya. Thyra is wearing ragged clothes and is surrounded by huge hounds. Sven tells her to silence the hounds or Kjartan will have them killed again. But Thyra refuses to listen and tells Sven that she dreams of nothing but the fire that killed her family. Sven tells her she doesn’t have to live like that with the hounds. Thyra says it’s her wish. Then she tells Sven that he should kill her if he still loves her. The hounds start howling as Thyra whispers something. Sven leaves the dungeon with a frightened look, leaving Thrya and the hounds in the dark. 

When Uhtred and the others arrive at Cumbraland, Uhtred pretends to be the king. Guthred finds this funny, so he lets it happen.

When the Abbot comes out, he greets Uhtred and prays for him. He only realizes he’s wrong when Brother Trew shows him the real Guthred. The Abbot tells everyone that Guthred is the king who will lead all of them, both Dane and Saxon. He presents Guthred with the sword of Cumbraland then leads him to church for the royal oath.

The corpse of Saint Cuthbert, which remained two hundred years after his death, is carried inside the church. Abbot Eadred tells Guthred to hold the hand of the corpse while swearing his oath. Much to Abbot Eadred’s disappointment, Guthred means Uhtred to be by his side. After that, Guthred is now King Guthred.

Uhtred finds the king’s sister pretty and mentions it to Father Beocca. The priest is not even surprised. But, Abbot Eadred is not happy with Uhtred’s presence and how close he is to their new king.

Sven tells his father the news of Guhtred being king. He says that Guhtred is building an army of Danes and Saxons. And the commander of this army is Uhtred Ragnarson. Kjartan tells one of his men, Tekil, to join Guthred’s army. Then if he can, he may kill the king. But, he must bring Uhtred alive to Kjartan.

Our Thoughts:

Uhtred’s closest friend, Leofric, is dead. Now, he travels with the nun, Hild, and Halig. He may be accessible in the meantime. But, we know that someday, Alfred will call for him again. He already has this reputation of being a good warrior. That’s why Guthred immediately asked him to be the commander of the army he was building. But, looking at Guthred, he doesn’t seem like someone as strong as Uhtred or as smart as King Alfred. He has to be strong and think for himself. If he doesn’t, Abbot will be the one who will do all the thinking. And we believe that Guthred’s sister is the next love of Uhtred. 

Finally, like Queen Iseult told him, Uhtred’s fate will take him north. His problem with attacking Kjartan is that he doesn’t have his army. But now that King Guthred has made him a commander, he will have men who will fight for him. The thing is, they don’t have that now, and at least not yet.