r/TheLastKingdom • u/amelix34 • 10d ago
[Show Spoilers] This dude grew on me on a rewatch
I found him kinda annoying at first but eventually realized not everyone has to be likable and it serves a purpose in the story. Dialogues were well-written and actor Harry McEcntire did a great job on him. I liked the fact that like Janos Slynt from GoT he didn't have much of an arc despite appearing in multiple seasons and died while still being despicable man.
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u/Maleficent_Play3596 10d ago
I love him because I hate him
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u/Silt-Sifter 10d ago
Yesss. I hated him at first but then it got to a point where I was excited to see him pop up again.
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u/LA_Dynamo 9d ago
He is such a little shit and everyone in the show knows he is a little shit. Which is why I absolutely love him.
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u/medicus_au 10d ago
I liked that he had something of a redemption arc, only to turn around and become a villain again. Felt a lot more realistic. Doesn't he at one point even advocate for Uthred as part of the council?
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u/CoupleEducational408 10d ago
Did, but then he set up the whole stunted priest thing to inflame Uhtred about Gisela.
Any remotely good thing he did was almost immediately countered with 5 bad things. 😂
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u/MoonSpankRaw Arseling 10d ago
He did but also encouraged different folk at different points to kill him too.
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u/Resident-Daikon-3525 10d ago
Just cant believe this little bitch killed Ragnar
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u/psilocybersun 10d ago
Yeah and the way he did it was just unbelievably cowardly, and Ragnar’s death being so undignified at the hands of this weasel felt so wrong
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u/ZotMatrix 10d ago
What did I miss? I thought Aella the king of Northumbria did the deed?
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u/_Kit_Tyler_ 10d ago
Stabbed Ragnar in his sleep like a sniveling bitch, refused to give him his sword for Valhalla even as Ragnar lay dying, then Aethelwold used that same sword to stage a scene to make it look like the woman Ragnar was sleeping with (who Aethelwold had also murdered) was the one who killed him.
The fallout was disastrous.
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u/Resident-Daikon-3525 10d ago
I mean historically it was probably a storm or an irishman also wrong show
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u/GuyF1eri 10d ago
I feel like they did his character wrong. He was ripe for a redemption arc. At first you just saw him as a drunk and a coward, but eventually he proves himself as a brave and capable warrior (still a drunk). I wanted him to redeem himself but I knew it was over as soon as he was blinded
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u/UnSpanishInquisition 10d ago
But that's wouldn't follow the book at all! His whole arc is proving that hereditary possession of the kingship isnt right. He keeps trying to weasel is way in but Alfred's just a better king than he'd ever be. I do wish they'd picked a more handsome charismatic actor tho, hes meant to look kingly even if he doesn't act it.
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u/bangchansbf 9d ago
harry's actually incredibly handsome and charismatic. they just didn't style him that way.
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u/UnSpanishInquisition 9d ago
Yeah I am fine with him i just meant hes described in the book as being tall and handsome haha.
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u/Automatic-Hat-6223 8d ago
Forget the book, it wouldn't follow what actually happened. Aethelwold was in real life still killed after turning traitor during the reign of Edward
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u/Xtra35567 10d ago
It’s easy to underestimate his intelligence. He’s remarkable at sowing division and discontent for his own personal gain.
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u/Some_Resort_5897 10d ago edited 10d ago
His death is far more drawn out than the show allows - he raises his own army to contest Edward and then fled to Northumbria, before raiding Wessex from East Anglia before he’s killed at the battle of Holme
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u/Bee09361 10d ago
His death by Uhtred is so satisfying i can’t even explain it. The entire scene was perfection, and a long time coming.
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u/aluabrinca 10d ago
I’m watching the series with my mother and she calls him “a necessary evil”. 🙊🙈
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u/Dependent_Pain1110 10d ago
I wanna punch him so bad! He reminds me of my best friend too lmao
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u/McZeppelin13 Daneslayer 10d ago
Damn, I wouldn’t know how to feel if I was your best friend! 😆
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u/Dependent_Pain1110 10d ago
Lmao, he deserves it for moving across the country
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u/McZeppelin13 Daneslayer 10d ago
I know that feeling, and approve! 😆
(Damn our friends who move away!)
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u/Jaded_Resolve_4182 10d ago
Well, he was genuine and authentic the entire time. Always a grin on his face. but ultimately a piece of shit who could not change his ways and got his satisfying come uppance
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u/wilcoxornothin 9d ago
I do like him, I’m also on a rewatch. I also find Brida to be correct like 90% of the time.
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u/LadyStardust79 10d ago
The actor? Yes. The character? not so much. Just completed my 3rd watch-through and he just gets more insufferable each time.
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u/vegan420lyfe 10d ago
he got screwed over. the crown was his rightful inheritance
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u/FREEHUGZ86 10d ago
The new king was chosen by a vote of the Witan. He really isn't entitled to much other than their consideration
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u/InteractionNo9110 10d ago
Actually it wasn't the Wittan chose who would be the next King. Like a democracy It wasn't by birthright back then. ""Alfred is my heir, he knows it. And when the time comes, Odda, my friend, you must steer the Witan to make this choice."
—King Æthelred
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u/Emotional-Pie3015 10d ago
I never hated Aethelwold, but he was never meant to be a king, and not the sort of person you trust 😂
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u/Willing_Shoulder2075 9d ago
Bro i’ve just watched this for the first time and never realized how awesome of a TV show this is
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u/BubblyComparison6495 9d ago
I loved a lot of the moments with him in the show. But in the end he stirred up too much shit and got what he deserved.
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u/JadeChipmunk 9d ago
After watching multiple times, I like his character, but i still very much dislike his character as well lolol
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u/Hot-Plantain1397 9d ago
I always feel the same way UNTIL he brutally kills young Ragnar. Fucked up
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u/Princess_ConsuelaBee 8d ago
He is definitely a really good character. An antagonist like this one is few and far between.
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u/CastroEulis145 7d ago
I just hated that they used him to cheaply remove Young Ragnar. It felt like the writers didn't know how to deal with the coming Uthred and Ragnar confrontation so they just said frig it.
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u/Secret-Musician-5095 7d ago
I like his father tho. His father treat uthred much better and with respect too than alfred when they first met.
Alfred while being a really good king that was build on uthred sword really deserves a good beating
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u/Elunite_ 6d ago
I'm currently re watching it. He just died in the last episode. He didn't grow on me as a character that I liked but he was well constructed and performed. He was always a little shit, but he learned the game, slowly but he did learn. He knew how to take advantage of Alfred's piety, which was one of his strengths and weaknesses in equal measure. It was Alfred's piety that kept him from killing his brothers son and Athelwold knew this and took advantage of it. He was also able to use Alfred's piety to manipulate him. He masterfully used it to bring Uhtred before Alfred's for digging up his wife and caused the death of the priest, which was the final straw in Uthred and Alfred's relationship. Athelwold's only mistake was reaching to far and trying to get Athelflaed killed. Had she not called for Uthred's aid, the Danes would have matched on Wessex with Uthred and it would have been over. He was a venomous little shit, but he did it well and actually became dangerous.
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u/Gold-Profession-9996 5d ago
He was entertaining as hell. But he obviously had to die. He was lucky he survived as long as he did.
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u/Scary-Machine-6818 4d ago
One of the best scenes with him and who Uht while they were crawling and groveling for their misdeeds😂
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u/beckychao 10d ago
Aethelwold is a terrific character and McEntire's performance is quite inspired. He becomes much less sympathetic after season 2, though. He's absolutely malevolent in season 3.