I dunno where to start really, the shows so good i don't think anyone can do it justice in a review. Set in the 9th century, long before the kingdoms became united its a gritty and realistic representation of the time. Forging out power and borders in what will later become England and the United Kingdom in wars and peace deals made between saxons and vikings. House of cards+Vikings is probably the best way to describe this show if you feel compelled to compare it to something else. The action isn't over the top and its very realistic. It's also small scale accurate to the population of the island in that time period, however season 2 there is a bit more fighting and revenge going on while season 1 was a little more political.Give it a few episodes to get into it well worth it.

After being pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed two seasons of this show, I felt compelled to write a review. If you're looking to avoid yet another cheesy Game of Thrones knockoff but still enjoy historical period shows, this is the show for you. The Last Kingdom has all that is good in a show: Good acting, compelling plot, high production quality (great scenery and sets), and a diverse and interesting set of characters who are refreshingly devoid of teenage angst. Best of all, its lead character is, though flawed, one of the most likable characters I've ever watched. I really hope there are more seasons to come.

I'll keep it quick and simple. Having read the book(s), I was already hesitant to watch this, especially when I saw that a dark haired, goatee bearing gentleman, wearing a leather and fur outfit was portraying Uhtred of Bebbanburg. The Uhtred in the book and the Uhtred in this TV series reside in two different universes. The Uhtred described by Cornwell in his books compares very little to that of this Uhtred in the TV series. From his personality to actual physical description, there is no resemblance. Uhtred is not the only character they "polished" up for TV. Many of the characters they bring into the TV series resemble very little, if not at all, the books detailed, dark, and interesting characters. Lastly, the pace of the show leaves out so much detail, its insulting. Some Harry Potter fans would love the movies to have been a TV series, so that you'd be able to fit so much more from the books to the screen with each season and multiple episodes. This show does the opposite, by having the entire first book as the first episode of the the TV series. You have the opportunity to add so much more, yet you take so much away. In conclusion, I'm not saying this is a bad show, my review is mostly a warning to those who have read the book(s). The vast differences in characters, plot design, and pace of the story might leave you disappointed.

I usually don't like British television shows. They're dramas are notorious for endless boring dialogue, and their comedies are usually just plain bizarre and androgynous/homoerotic. However, this Viking show is an exception. It's a fantastic fast moving coming of age story with excellent acting, music, and cinematography. Of course the BBC has decided not to make a third season!! I guess the Brits prefer their painfully slow burning crime dramas or "comedy programs" with men dressed as women. 10/10 stars.