‘The Last Kingdom’: How Uhtred Really Redeems Himself With Ragnar
Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) is stuck between the world of the Saxons and the Danes from the moment he is just a child. As a young boy named Osbert, he quickly becomes the heir to his father’s lands in Bebbanburg when his older brother is killed by Danes. His father is also killed and Uhtred is captured and forced to live as a slave. Eventually, he gets close to the Viking family and they adopt him into the fold as their own. There are spoilers ahead for season 3 of The Last Kingdom.
An unbreakable bond
Uhtred’s adoptive brother, Ragnar the Younger (Tobias Santelmann), becomes close to him over time. Years later, their father, Ragnar (Peter Gantzler), is killed along with most of their family by their enemies and a rumor is spread that it was Uhtred who kills them. Ragnar returns from making his fortune to confront Uhtred, who he knew in his heart would never have killed his family.
The two have run-ins with each other off and on before Ragnar meets his end in the worst way. Aethelwold (Harry McEntire) stabs Ragnar when he is sleeping and not suspecting a thing. He dies without a sword in his hand, cursing him to live away from the fun of Valhalla.
When Uhtred hears of his brother’s death, eventually he and Brida (Emily Cox) figure out a way to get Ragnar’s soul to Valhalla since he didn’t die fighting. Uhtred decides he must do this to save his brother, at least for his own peace of mind and that of Brida’s.
Uhtred saves Ragnar’s soul
Uhtred gets his sister Thyra’s (Julia Bache-Wiig) blood and puts it on a sword. He knows if he kills the person with it that killed Ragnar, he’ll save Ragnar’s soul and he can then ascend to Valhalla. Brida finds a way to get a message to Uhtred about who killed Ragnar and Uhtred goes looking for Aethelwold. Uhtred tracks him down during a battle and kills him with the blade, releasing Ragnar to Valhalla.
Uhtred is redeemed
With this one simple act, Uhtred solidifies himself as a Dane in the eyes of his brother in Valhalla. Uhtred wasn’t going to let Ragnar be condemned to a fate worse than death. He saves him and he can now move on with his life.
As someone who constantly struggles between two worlds, Uhtred seems slightly at peace after doing this for his brother. He can now focus on what his future holds. Uhtred is clearly tied to his roots with both the Saxons that he was born to and the Danes that he grows to know and love.
Uhtred could have turned his back on the situation, but what kind of brother would that make him? He makes the right choice and helps Brida figure out how to save Ragnar and ascend to Valhalla. He redeems himself with Ragnar and with Brida, who has seen him struggle for many years. Uhtred proves himself a loyal sibling who will stop at nothing to do the right thing for his older brother in season 3 of The Last Kingdom.
