Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) acquired many allegiances inThe Last Kingdom.With an identity and reputation that makes him both hero and enemy to the Saxons and Danes alike, Uhtred also ran into his fair share of enemies. Despite the dangers Uhtred frequently found himself in, he became part of one of the purest dynamics within the series, which was founded on nothing more than Uhtred’s own integrity.
Despite the number of enemies at Uhtred’s back inThe Last Kingdom,the man with a reputation among both Saxons and Danes found a few men who became his family. Each of them stem from troubled backgrounds of their own, often meeting Uhtred in unfavorable circumstances. However, Uhtred’s own background and honorable attitude refuses to unfairly judge another. Each of Uhtred’s most trusted men wereintroduced in season 2 ofThe Last Kingdom,allowing them to grow into one another’s company and prove their usefulness to Uhtred himself.
Sihtric
First introduced as a part of Tekil’s band of men sent to ambush Uhtred, Sihtric (Arnas Fedaravičius) was spared. Effectively using his combat skills to earn a conversation with Uhtred, Sihtric reveals himself as the bastard son of Kjartan, the man responsiblefor killing Uhtred’s adoptive family. Disagreeing with his ostracized family’s brutality, Sihtric swears his sword to Uhtred and routinely proves his loyalty to not only Uhtred, but Uhtred’s eventual wife, Gisela (Peri Baumeister).
Of Uhtred’s trio of confidants, Sihtric is the most reserved. Where others are vocally outspoken, Sihtric opts for silence. While his silence may make him a frequent target for jokes passed between the men,his fierceness in battle, quick speed, and loyal actions speak for themselves. Because of his unique skill set and ability to blend in, Sihtric is often tasked with scouting and infiltrating, which makes him one of Uhtred’s most useful allies.
Finan
Unlike Sihtric,the Netflix series reveals little about Finan(Mark Rowley) and his past. In season 2, viewers meet Finan as a slave on Sverri’s boat, where both Uhtred and Halig have also been sold. Throughout the unfair, harsh conditions they are subjected to as slaves, Finan becomes acquainted with Uhtred’s resilient bravery and desire to stand up for what’s right. Together, they hatch several plans for escape, each resulting in severe punishment. Yet, Finan never wavers in his admiration of Uhtred and attempts to stand up for him when death threatens to knock at his door.
Freed from slavery, Finan sticks by Uhtred’s side, aiding him in every battle fought among both Saxons and Danes. As a trusted friend and advisor to Uhtred, Finan often finds himself giving advice that others may shy away from giving Uhtred, but it always comes from the right place. In the final season ofThe Last Kingdom,Finan helps Uhtred take back his ancestral home of Bebbanburg, and later returns in the film,The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die.
Osferth
In the latter half of season 2, viewers are introduced to Osferth (Ewan Mitchell). As Athelwold (Harry McEntire) continues his attempts to discredit King Alfred (David Dawson) and rally others to his cause, Osferth approaches Uhtred and his men with a request to enter his service. As the nephew of Uhtred’s late friend Leofric and Alfred’s bastard son, Uhtred permits Osferth’s entry, though it is not a seamless transition. As a Christian monk,Osferth struggles with the brutality of battleand the lethal instinct needed to become a warrior. However, his innocence provides moments that are equally comedic for Uhtred, Sihtric, and Finan, as well as the audience.
What Osferth may lack in combat skills, he makes up for in other areas. Often used as bait, Osferth manages to have fun with his role, verbally jesting with those Uhtred is soon to overcome. However, Osferth does pick up some fighting skills from Uhtred, Sihtric, and Finan, but prefers to use his energy for bandaging wounds they may acquire in their own battles,and lighthearted verbal exchanges to salvage their moods. As a member of Uhtred’s camp, Osferth grows into a confidence that would have been impossible to experience with life in the monastery.
Over time, Uhtred’s camp expands to take in others like Sihtric, Finan, and Osferth, but the trust between these four men is unrivaled by any other pairing in the series. Often finding one another at their lowest points and reclaiming their identities together the bond shared between each of these four men cannot be replicated, even among themselves.Together, they find friends, enemies, lovers, and wives,butThe Last Kingdomhighlights the comradery between the four men to drive home its theme of found family. First united by their belief in and loyalty to Uhtred, Sihtric, Finan, and Osferth soon become reliant on one another, forming a brotherhood that lasts each one of them until their journeys come to an end.
The Last Kingdomis now streaming on Netflix.
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