The Last Kingdom: Why Fans Hate Edward As King (But Love Alfred)
Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Last Kingdom.
King Alfred (David Dawson) from The Last Kingdomis loved by viewers, but his son King Edward (Timothy Innes) often receives hate. Adapted from Bernard Cromwell’s The Saxon Stories novels, The Last Kingdomis a British historical drama that offers viewers five seasons of life in medieval Britain. The fast-paced drama unveils the political turmoil caused by the Viking invasion of Britain, and the show is filled with incredible fight scenes, back-stabbing politics, murder, and romance.
The main protagonist of The Last Kingdomis Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon), who was born a Saxon in the Northern stronghold of Bebbanburg but raised as Dane Uhtred Ragnarsson after his capture by Vikings. While Uhtred is central to the plot, much of the political intrigue and negotiation of war at the heart of the show involves the two kings of Wessex- Alfred and Edward.
Related: Why The Last Kingdom Is Ending With Season 5
Early in the show, Alfred ascends the throne following his brother’s death, and the sickly king reigns for three seasons. After Alfred’s death, his son Edward takes over and reigns for the remaining two seasons of the show, and proves to be much less successful than his father, with his range of errors and unwise moves leading to him being hated as king by many viewers.
Like Canute from Vikings: Valhalla, Alfred is sharp and skilled even before he ascends the throne. Alfred sees the value in recording threats to the kingdom, as he explains to Uhtred that “whatever I discover about my enemies is written down.” To gain knowledge of his enemies, Alfred develops skills in espionage, as he has “eyes and ears in each of the kingdoms,” and isn’t afraid to become a spy
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