Parents' Guide to

The Last Kingdom

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Bloody costume drama is violent but tastefully constructed.

TV BBC America Drama 2015
The Last Kingdom Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 17+

Based on 28 parent reviews

Lucast1934
Lucast1934 Adult
May 19, 2022
age 16+
It’s a good show with great characters and writing. Cool fight scenes. I’ve only watched up to season 3 so far. Season 1-2 as far as violence goes can be graphic occasionally but nothing too ridiculous. The fighting scenes contain blood for sure but it’s quick. Season 3 is just way too violent, you almost have to be psychotic to like some of the violence in it. One scene (not a spoiler) shows a man slitting the throat of a line of female hostages one by one. It shows it with blood spurting and graphics detail. I like good fights and action, but when the violence starts to be gruesome on what is to be portrayed on defenseless woman is too much for me. Blood doesn’t bother me, but brutal violence on innocent woman shown graphically is messed up. Also killing horses with an axe in grave detail, unarmed men being dissected and tortured starts to become less entertaining than a good revenge story like gladiator, or brave heart

This title has:

Too much violence
bostonsjojo
bostonsjojo Parent
April 5, 2022
age 17+

WONDERFUL! HAVE WATCHED SEVERAL TIMES! EDUCATIONAL! 4th SEASON BEST 😊

I watched all 4 season! It delivered a healthy dose of history. It was some what violent. After watching, I was left with a feeling of satisfaction. I have watched several times. Would recommend to anyone above the age of 17.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 28 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When invading Vikings kill his Saxon nobleman father in battle, young Uhtred is kidnapped by Norsemen who raise him as one of their own while the Vikings continue their attack on England's various kingdoms. Years later, a now-grown Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) -- accepted as neither Saxon nor Dane -- finds himself faced with the task of claiming his birthright under the weight of his heavily divided loyalties. Meanwhile, the ambitious King Alfred (David Dawson) of Wessex, which is THE LAST KINGDOM standing, makes plans to unite England and spread Christianity.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (28):
Kids say (12):

With high production values, strong writing, and compelling characters, this series rivals some of the best and bloodiest epics on TV -- a good thing, considering it's a pretty crowded race. And though it lacks the fantastical elements of, say, Game of Thrones, it bears the stamp of Downton Abbey's Emmy Award-winning executive producers and injects an intriguing mix of personalities (albeit most of them male) into the classic vengeance/redemption plot.

Life in The Last Kingdom is dreary, messy, and rightfully bloody, considering it's adapted from the first book in Bernard Cornwell's historical fiction series The Saxon Stories, which in turn is based on actual events in British history. But the show takes a surprisingly less graphic approach than some of its peers when it comes to sex, making this brooding drama a decent choice for older teens (and their parents).

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Last Kingdom's portrayal of life in ninth-century England. How close to the truth do you think the series gets in terms of violence, social politics, and conflict among the real-life Vikings and Anglo-Saxons? Is it important for a television show that's set in a specific time period to be historically accurate?

  • How does The Last Kingdom compare to the series of novels that inspired it? What makes a TV adaptation successful, and how faithful should it be to its source material?

  • How big of a role do women play in The Last Kingdom's plot? Why do men make up so much more of the main cast?

TV Details

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