On some occasions, just finishing a series after its last episode implies having to assume an existential void that can only be filled in one way: finding a similar series. Those viewers who experienced something similar to this with Shogun are in luck, because the series will be back soon with a second season, but they can still take a look at other similar fictions to make the wait more enjoyable.

The ideal title to continue with historical series of this kind could be The Last Kingdom, a British production with a total of five seasons just as epic - and a final movie that marked the end of the story.

Based on the saga of novels Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell - who is also the creator of the fiction - the series from the producers of Downton Abbey and the BBC tells the story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Throughout its episodes, it narrates how Uhtred went from being a Saxon by birth, known as Uhtred of Northumbria, to being captured by the Danes and adopted by the Viking Ragnar (Peter Gantzler) to eventually become Uhtred Ragnarsson.

When another tribe of Danes kills Ragnar and kidnaps Uhtred's adopted sister, Thyra (Julia Bache-Wiig), forcing her into slavery, Uhtred swears to avenge her and reclaim what is rightfully his by birth. Meanwhile, his uncle Aelfric (Joseph Millson) has decided to usurp Bebbanburg and wait patiently to kill Uhtred.

Portrayed by Alexander Dreymon, Uhtred of Bebbanburg or Ragnarsson is a great hero who begins to develop as a leader and struggles between his two lines of succession. All this while traveling through the stunning landscapes of the UK and giving us a magnetic performance.

Based on real events

Remaining faithful to the real historical background, The Last Kingdom has many characters inspired by real people, but the most prominent are Odda the Elder (Simon Charles Kunz), Aethelwold (Harry McEntire), Guthrum (Thomas W. Gabrielsson), and Aelhswith (Eliza Butterworth), who was the real-life wife of King Alfred the Great. Most of them were not main characters in the series, but they did influence the real history significantly, unlike the protagonist.

Although it is  vaguely based on Uhtred the Bold, who ruled Northumbria from Bamburgh between 1006 and 1016, the character of Uhtred is not real.

In the series, we see that Uhtred has a somewhat conflictive relationship with Alfred the Great. Many of their disputes are due to religious differences, as Uhtred remains faithful to the pagan religion of the Danes. On the other hand, Alfred's loyalty also leans towards the Saxons, causing a clash with Uhtred, whose loyalty is between his biological and adoptive families.

In real life, Alfred the Great protected England from having to surrender to the Danes, so if Uhtred had existed, his relationship with him would be much more complex. Alfred the Great was born in Wantage, Berkshire, and was the son of King Aethelwulf, who ruled the western Saxons.

While the Danes conquered and looted some kingdoms in England, Alfred was a teenager and was barely 20 years old when the Danes approached Wessex. After his brother fell in combat, Alfred would continue to hold a fortress against the Vikings in southern England.

Therefore, he would be the most outstanding character of the entire series because of his connection to the real events that occurred in the history of the birth of England. .

*This article has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence