Brida’s Swan Song
The Last Kingdom Season 5 Episode 7 begins with Stiorra mourning the death of Sigtryggr. It hangs heavy over her, as his sword is placed symbolically on his chest and he’s prepped for his final journey into the afterlife. ..
Word of Brida stabbing Pyrlig reaches camp, interrupting the funeral rite. In fact, he stumbles in bloodied and exhausted, warning Uhtred that Brida means to punish him and won’t rest until that happens. Uhtred is enraged and decides to try and end this, gathering his men and preparing to go after her. ..
Uhtred visits Edward first and the king is concerned about Stiorra. Given her recent loss, Edward can tell that there could be more dissent in the ranks and this could lead to a rebellion against him. The only way to resolve this is for Stiorra to swear her loyalty to Edward. ..
If Stiorra agrees to become the new leader of the Danes, she would be given a new purpose to lead them all under Edward’s banner. It’s an honor, and something Uhtred realizes would help unite the lands against the ominous threats posed by both Brida and Aethelhelm. If Stiorra agrees, she would be able to lead the Danes in a more effective way against their enemies.
Down in Macclesfield, trouble is brewing as Aethelhelm’s men close in on Aelfwynn. Unfortunately, they walk right into their trap. They’re taken away, kept alive but hidden from view as Aethelhelm intends to use her as a bargaining chip. ..
Aethelhelm shows up in Scotia as Edward’s advisor and does so without a gift. He sows the seeds of war, claiming that Edward has turned his attention northward, and that Edward is the one who had the queen murdered to justify him conquering the danes.
Aethelhelm wants to team up with his grandson, Edward, and take out Edward. This would allow him to ascend to the throne and promise to keep him in check and not overstep his boundaries.
Constantin deliberates for a while before deciding to accept the marriage offer from Aethelhelm. He is intrigued by the idea of marrying Aelfwynn and gaining half of this land, and he knows that she would be a valuable asset to his kingdom. He decides that the benefits of such a union are too great to pass up, and he agrees to marry her.
Eadgifu leaves Cent to return home to her pregnant husband. Edward justifies his wide-death so the pair can get married.
Benedict and Aelfweard are married, but when Aelfweard sees them together, he’s immediately disillusioned and turns away, believing he too is to be replaced soon. As Benedict leaves, he chases after Aelfweard who asks him for passage across to Aethelhelm. He brings up the debt he owes as blackmail and it seems he has no choice.
Meanwhile, Stiorra decides against pledging loyalty to Edward. In front of everyone, she turns away at the last and decides to be free. Even if it’s freedom to see the executioner’s blade. Edward is furious and banishes Stiorra. He also decides too play Rognvaldr in charge of the Danes instead, something that Uhtred warns against given he could rebel. This falls on deaf ears, as Uhtred realizes that his daughter’s decision could well come back to haunt them.
After leaving the meeting with his advisors, King Uhtred of Bebbanburg sets out on horseback to meet with his wife, Brida. Uhtred knows that this meeting is a trap, but he has no choice but to go. When Brida does not show up as expected, Uhtred assumes that she is already in Loidis and rides there quickly. ..
The fight between Brida and Uhtred eventually gets underway but the whole affair is tinged with bittersweet regret and memories from season’s past. We’ve seen these two square off before, and this fight – and the excellent accompanying musical score and shots from the past – do such a great job capturing the magnitude of emotion that both characters are carrying at this time.
Uhtred refuses to kill Brida though, even though he bests her in battle. Uhtred does manage to talk her around and urges Brida to cling to hope and see that as a path to salvation. As Brida stands up and seems to come toward the light… an arrow pierces straight through her heart. It’s Stiorra, She grits her teeth and calls over to Uhtred, telling him she’s done what he could not.
As Brida’s blood oozes out of her mouth and wound, she collapses on the ground, letting out her last breath and uttering the word “Ragnar.”
The Episode Review
The finale of “Game of Thrones” was powerful and captured the essence of the show and its characters perfectly. The emotional weight both characters had been carrying was palpable, and you could feel it with every sword swing and shout to the heavens. ..
With Brida gone, the attention turns to Aethelhelm and the threat he poses. This cunning man is turning Scotia against Edward and it appears that the threat of Scotland and Aethelhelm’s scheming, lurching them closer to war, is going to grip the final act of this show, which is growing from strength to strength.
This chapter is full of emotional weight, sacrifice and consequence for the final episodes ahead.
