The Last Kingdom’s Main Characters, Ranked By Likability

After several IMDb users named it one of the best historical TV shows, many fans of The Last Kingdom might be disappointed to learn that the series is coming to a close after its fifth season (and a two-hour movie). Since Game of Thrones and Vikings ended a few years ago, many fans had raced to watch The Last Kingdom to see if it has just as many intriguing narratives and battle sequences.

While the series has lived up to expectations in that department, what has made viewers stick around is the compelling and complex characters. Whether it’s because of an actor’s portrayal or their storylines, fans have thoroughly enjoyed watching the characters grow and develop. However, only a few have managed to make a good and memorable impression.

10 Æthelwold

Although he was killed at the end of season 3, fans have always wished that Uhtred and Alfred realized Æthelwold had always been a wolf in sheep’s clothing from the beginning.

While his whining about how he was “the true king” did frustrate fans, that’s not what made them hate him the most. As the years went on, viewers witnessed him become more calculating and blood-thirsty. Not only did he attempt to manipulate several Lords and betray Alfred by creating civil unrest, but he also got Thyra killed and murdered Ragnar to win Cnut’s loyalty. Their deaths cemented his place as one of the most hated characters on the show.

9 Lady Ælswith

Ælswith might be trying to redeem herself after she attempted to reunite Edward with his son, but that does not mean that the fans forgive her after everything she’s done. From the very beginning, Ælswith had committed some of the worst deeds on The Last Kingdom, including patronizing the servants in the castle and attempting to have Uhtred.

What made her even more unlikable was the fact that she also mistreated her children by putting the kingdom above their happiness. It was bad enough that she forced Æthelflæd into an unhappy and abusive marriage, but she also broke her son’s heart by separating him from his first wife and children. It really devastated viewers to see her ignore Æthelflæd and Edward’s suffering just because she was too stubborn to let go of the old political system.

8 King Alfred

There’s no doubt that Alfred was a great king, as he had the love of the people and a lot of loyal followers. He was even great at solving political issues due to his strong orating skills. However, that doesn’t mean he didn’t have any flaws.

Although they might have made peace with each other before he died in season 3, one thing fans always hated about Alfred was how he forced Uhtred to swear fealty to him for years. Despite Uhtred wanting to reunite with his friends and live a happy life with his family back in Bebbanburg, one of the worst things Alfred did on The Last Kingdom was deny him this because the kingdom’s needs came first. It just infuriated fans that he wouldn’t let him go.

7 Brida

Many fans are extremely disappointed to see that writers are setting up Brida as an antagonist in the upcoming season, considering how much they had loved her in the beginning. After learning of Brida’s backstory and watching her overcome so many tragedies, a lot of viewers wanted her to get a happy ending.

Sadly, this doesn’t look like it will happen anymore, as season 4 saw her decline into someone Uhtred can barely recognize. Not only had she become more violent and bloodthirsty (even killing several innocent people), but she is also consumed by vengeance and a desire to kill Uhtred. It really upsets fans to see how quickly she fell into darkness and no one loves or respects her as much.

6 Lady Æthelflæd

While she didn’t have a major role to play in the show at first, fans have thoroughly enjoyed watching Æthelflæd’s rise to power. As one of the most empowering characters on the show, Æthelflæd has all the makings to be a great ruler as her kind and compassionate nature has won the hearts of many people.

However, this doesn’t mean she hasn’t got any flaws. On a couple of occasions, she has annoyed fans by undermining her brother and Uhtred by making several impulsive decisions to further her own political goals. Hopefully, by the time season 5 comes, Æthelflæd will have learned from these mistakes and become an even better ruler.

5 Edward

While he’s still got a long way to go before he becomes a strong leader (like his father), fans have faith that Edward will prove himself a worthy king. From what the viewers have seen from his rule in seasons 3 and 4, Edward appears to be a very compassionate and considerate person.

He is also one of the few characters who actually listens to his sister and Uhtred’s opinions because he knows they have a lot more experience than his other advisors. It’ll be interesting to see if this sort of loyalty will continue going forward because it’s his best quality.

4 Finan

He might not have been in the show from the very beginning, but it didn’t take long before Finan managed to accrue a large fanbase. Known best for his sarcastic and witty comments, Finan was a refreshing character as he provided a lot of comic relief and humor to some of the plots.

However, the thing that drew fans to Finan the most was the fact that he was often misjudged. He might appear to be a scary and intimidating warrior, but deep down, everyone knows he has the biggest heart. Not only is he one of the first people to volunteer for military excursions, but Finan has also proved to be quite kind and considerate too, helping to comfort the wounded or dying after a long battle. Everyone deserves to have a Finan in their corner.

3 Young Earl Ragnar

He might have been killed off halfway through season 3, but this doesn’t mean that he isn’t sorely missed by fans. As the brother of Uhtred and Thyra, Ragnar was one of the bravest and most selfless characters on the show, often putting other people’s needs ahead of his own.

Not only did Ragnar save Uhtred’s life several times on The Last Kingdom, but he almost lost the loyalty of his men as a result of this (since they were on opposite sides). It really broke the fans’ hearts to see him murdered in cold blood since many hoped that he would get a happy ending after years of making sacrifices.

2 Uhtred

Although Uhtred might not have been a fan-favorite character in the beginning due to his reckless and impulsive behavior, it didn’t take long for fans to change their minds about him.

When it comes to Uhtred, many people are so drawn to the Dane Slayer because he is the most relatable character. He may have his flaws and is prone to making mistakes, but he doesn’t allow them to define him. Instead, Uhtred tries to learn from these experiences and uses them to help him become a better person. Considering his arrogant and bratty nature at the beginning, it has certainly been refreshing to see him become a lot calmer and more open-minded as the years have gone on.

1 Beocca

After he was killed off at the beginning of season 4, fans were devastated that Beocca would no longer be part of the series. Known to be the voice of reason and Uhtred’s moral compass, Beocca was a priest that always had everyone’s best intentions in mind.

He would always back Uhtred up when Alfred and his advisors would question his motives and would try his best to keep the Dane Slayer on the right path. Beocca also never tried to manipulate anyone for his own gain and would gladly offer a helping hand to anyone he thought was suffering because he hated seeing people in pain. He was practically the epitome of all that was good in the world.

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