‘The Last Kingdom’: What Happens to Uhtred’s Friend, Leofric?
In the series The Last Kingdom, the main character, Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon), has a good friend named Leofric (Adrian Bower). However, when the two first meet, they almost fight, but they grow a friendship together. What actually happens to Leofric in the show? We have all the details.
Who is Leofric in ‘The Last Kingdom’?
Leofric is a man loyal to the crown of Wessex and a sworn sword of Odda the Elder (Simon Kunz). He’s loyal and religious, and he nicknames Uhtred “Arseling,” which sticks. When the two first meet, they almost get into a fight, but it’s hard to believe when viewers see how close they get over time.
Leofric is a fierce warrior who’s not afraid to fight when necessary. He’s constantly by Uhtred’s side during battle, and they spend a lot of time together in season 1.
Leofric offers to kill Uhtred
Told to watch Uhtred, they become good friends, even deciding to raid Cornwalum as Danes at one point. But the whole thing leads to problems when Uhtred decides to ally himself with Danes led by a Viking named Skorpa (Jonas Malmsjö) when he’s supposed to fight them for King Peredur (Paul Ritter), a king of the Britons. They fight and kill Peredur and his warriors, deciding they’ll split the silver and treasure, although it doesn’t go down like that when Skorpa takes it all for himself.
Brother Asser (Nicholas Rowe), a man who served Peredur, carries the news of the events to Winchester, accusing Uhtred of burning down a church as well. The punishment for his crimes is death, and they have another witness, Leofric himself, who confesses to the crimes.
Leofric offers to be the one to kill Uhtred, saying, “Because of my own guilt, and for my respect for Uhtred as a warrior, I request that he dies at my sword.”
King Alfred (David Dawson) agrees to the fight to the death, and although it isn’t a fight either of them want, it happens. Leofric tells Uhtred that Odda the Younger (Brian Vernel) had many men waiting to testify against him, which would ensure his death, and that a “warrior’s death is all I can give.” He’s trying to be a good friend to Uhtred in his own way, but it’s a messy situation.
The two friends end up fighting each other, both proving their fighting capabilities, but it’s all cut short when the Danes attack. Uhtred and Leofric, along with Iseult (Charlie Murphy), a shadow queen and sorceress that Uhtred met in Cornwalum, manage to get out of there just in time, meeting up with King Alfred. Uhtred and Leofric assist him with getting back his kingdom.
What happened to Leofric?
After Uhtred and Leofric ensure all the Danes will be together for one fight and one defining battle, the Saxons, led by King Alfred, fight against Guthrum (Thomas W. Gabrielsson) with Young Ragnar (Tobias Santelmann) and Skorpa as well in season 1, episode 8 at Edington (Ethandun).
During the fighting, shield walls are created on both sides, and the Saxons hold their ground. With the shields up against each other, and Leofric and Uhtred at the front, swords and daggers come flying through, killing men. An ax cuts into Leofric’s neck, and he holds his neck as he leaves the front. Uhtred watches it happen, but keeps fighting. Leofric continues holding his neck, but he dies from his wound in the end.
Uhtred and the rest of the warriors gain more ground, and they eventually win the battle despite Skorpa killing Iseult and bringing her head to the battlefield to show Uhtred. Uhtred kills him in the end, but he loses both his friend and his lover during the battle.
Uhtred finds Leofric, putting his sword in his hands. He wants his grave “to be marked as that of an ealdorman,” showing respect for his good friend.
Leofric was Uhtred’s friend, but he doesn’t make it out of the first season. It’s a sad end to such a beloved character.
