A Devastating Battle
The sixth episode of The Last Kingdom’s fifth season begins with Stiorra and Sigtryggr marching on Edward and his army, intending to attack from the high hills. Edward meanwhile, is aware of what the Danes are planning and intends to sacrifice around 300 men to circle around and take out their vanguard. ..
Aethelhelm has proposed a risky plan to win the war by sacrificing his men. Uhtred and Finan try to stop him, but they are unsuccessful. If this plan is carried out, it could be disastrous for the men, but it may also turn the tide of the war in their favour. ..
Aelfwynn and Aelswith hear that war is coming, and they both decide to keep their granddaughter safe. Aelfwynn says she’s been a terrible mother to her, while Aelswith says she’s determined to protect her.
Uhtred arrives just in time to let Edward know what Aethelhelm has done with his men. He brings up the queen’s death too and demands that Osferth’s death be avenged. With this, Edward turns his attention to the villainous Aethelhelm and stopping him no matter what. ..
The Danes have not yet received this message, and they continue to march on Edward and the others. Rognvaldr suggests a perilous crossing across a frozen lake to reach them faster. He’s found a passage too, and the Danes are in agreement to get the jump on Aethelhelm’s camp by crossing late at night.
Uhtred races to the camp to try and prevent bloodshed, but he arrives too late as the soldiers cross the lake. The ensuing chaos leads to many deaths. Uhtred tells Stiorra about Aethelhelm’s scheming, and she watches helplessly from afar. ..
In the heat of battle, Uhtred heads in and dodging the soldiers, tries to find Aethelhelm who has cowardly shielded himself in the middle of a shield wall. Aethelstan is here fighting though and he more than proves himself to be a competent fighter in the wake of battle. Given Uhtred didn’t want to take him out raiding, he more than proves himself here and gains respect from the soldiers.
Edward, the leader of the Anglo-Saxons, charges into Aethelhelm’s camp to take on the Danes head-on. It’s absolute carnage as fog blankets the camp from the fires that have been started. Aethelhelm predictably runs away while Uhtred tries to find Sigtryggr to tell him what’s happening. ..
As the sun rises, the soldiers creep across the lake. Those who retreat and run back find themselves falling into the water as the ice cracks.
Eventually, when Edward and Sigtryggr come face to face, Uhtred speaks up and manages to stop this bloodshed. Uhtred speaks up on behalf of Stiorra and manages to spare her life, given she had no part of this fighting.
Sigtryggr’s fate is less certain. Uhtred believes Edward should strike up a partnership with him. After all, both working together could unite all the clans and reclaim the shattered peace that’s been broken for so long. ..
Edward agrees to renounce their god and be baptized, but his terms include renouncing their brother and being killed by Uhtred’s blade. Rognvaldr immediately caves, but his brother is not so easily swayed. Unfortunately that seals his fate. Sigtryggr is sentenced to death – and death by Uhtred’s blade too no less. As he plunges his sword into his gut, Sigtryggr is killed.
Brida makes her choice on the road and despite trusting Pyrlig this far, she changes her mind and stabs him in the stomach, taking off alone. As she flees into the wilderness, the devastating battle has one positive outcome – Aethelstan is looked at as more of a leader now than he was before. Unfortunately, it comes at the cost of Stiorra’s faith in her father. ..
As the episode closes, Aethelhelm turns his attention toward the King of Scotia, Constantin. He intends to strike up an allegiance with him going forward. He also intends to bring Aelfwynn into this too, for reasons unknown at this point. Up in Scotia though, Whitgar of Bebbanburg swears his loyalty to Constantin too. ..
The Episode Review
The Last Kingdom is back with a devastating battle that plunges both sides into conflict and with ugly consequences for both the Danes and the Saxons. With Edward forced to take a difficult stance on what’s happened, Sigtryggr is unfortunately killed.
Not only is Stiorra’s father back, but she seems to be unhappy with Uhtred for what happened to them. However, this episode marks a turning point as the conflict turns further afield. Aethelhelm does his utmost to get his grandson on the throne and thwart Edward no matter what. The thing is, the more he pushes, the more likely it is that England will stand united against his threat.
The ending of the latest episode leaves the door open for more great episodes to come. The show has been very well done so far, with excellent production design, costumes, and a gripping musical score. ..
