Summary
The Last Kingdomexciting story of life in Anglo-Saxon England gives the show a very specific focus and flavor, yet despite its particular setting, the series has a surprising spiritual connection to a seemingly unrelated earlier TV series.Based on Bernard Cornwell’s popular novels,The Last Kingdomdepicts key events from a crucial period in English history mostly through the perspective of one man. This approach, coupled with its narrative concerns, characters, and broader style make the show incredibly similar to another work of historical fiction – albeit one centered on a different period.
Running for five seasons and a feature-length movie, first on the BBC and then subsequently on Netflix,The Last Kingdomblended sensational fictional stories with real details from English history. Based onthe figure of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, the show chronicles many real people, ranging fromAlfred the Great, to Aethelstan, Cnut, Aethelflaed, and many more. While their stories broadly stayed true to history, they were also interwoven with more factually questionable details. This attitude to storytelling is seen throughout historical fiction, yet one show, in particular, has the clearest thematic links toThe Last Kingdom.
Sharpe Is The Perfect Follow-Up To The Last Kingdom
The Show Is Its Natural Successor
Despite being set in a completely different era, featuring none of the same characters, and telling a totally different story,the 31-year-old British TV seriesSharpeis the ultimate spiritual sequel toThe Last Kingdom. Ordinarily, official follow-ups would require an explicit connection to a chronological predecessor in order to be worthy of comparison. InSharpe’s case, however, the show benefits both from undeniably narrative and thematic connections, but also a shared source that informs the way in which their similar stories are told.
Six seasons ofSharpeare available to stream on BritBox.
Just likeThe Last Kingdom,Sharpeis based on a series of novels by British author Bernard Cornwell. WhereasThe Saxon Stories, which provide the basis forThe Last Kingdomseries, are set in the early Medieval period,Sharpetakes place over a millennium later during the Napoleonic Wars. UnlikeThe Last Kingdom, which concerns the business of kings, warlords, and those shaping the future destiny of an entire country,Sharpeis more concerned with seismic events seen through the eyes of one relatively insignificant soldier. And yet, despite this, the two novel series – and therefore the TV shows – are almost identical in style and substance.
The Last Kingdom Already Has The Perfect Prequel Series
The Last Kingdom won critical acclaim for its unflinching portrayal of Anglo-Saxon England. However, another show perfectly sets up the story.
Sharpe And The Last Kingdom Are Incredibly Similar
Thematically, They Fit Hand In Hand
Although there are over 1,000 years between the two stories,SharpeandThe Last Kingdomhave much more in common than just their author. Both shows chronicle key events from their respective periods, fictionalizing certain elements to fit the narrative, but also providing a fairly comprehensive account of the most important moments from their particular timeframe. WhereasThe Last Kingdomreveals key detailsabout Alfred’s struggles against the Danes, with major battles like Edington playing a pivotal role,Sharpefollows many of the major events in the Napoleonic Wars – beginning in Spain and going all the way up to Waterloo.
There is also a particular quality to the morality of both series, with flawed but ultimately good protagonists butting heads with enemies who are often more astute at playing the political game.
Each show expertly combines the facts around events like this with fictional characters and details that giveSharpeandThe Last Kingdoma gritty and realistic atmosphere.The two shows revel in behind-the-scenes scheming and backstabbing, with the most reprehensible figures often the most conniving and cunning. There is also a particular quality to the morality of both series, with flawed but ultimately good protagonists butting heads with enemies who are often more astute at playing the political game.
Many characters inThe Last Kingdomalso have theirSharpecounterparts. Alfred, for example, is very similar to the figure of Wellington, whose complex relationship as Sharpe’s benefactor causes him just as much exasperation asAlfred does Uhtred. Uhtred’s compatriots like Finan and Father Pyrlig are analogous to the likes of Patrick Harper and Major Hogan inSharpe– providing able support to the main protagonist. The shows even have a similar villain,with the Danes and the French both threatening England’s existence. In essence, both series are a successful reflection of Bernard Cornwell’s signature style.
Sharpe And Uhtred Are Identical Leads
The Main Characters Shape The Series' Stories
Nowhere is the connection betweenThe Last KingdomandSharpemore acute than with the series' two main characters. Although they hail from different social stratas, withUhtred born to inherit Bebbanburgand Richard Sharpe raised in poverty, the two men have an almost identical outlook and approach to life. Both are deeply flawed with a strong sense of honor. Both are passionate and headstrong – with this attitude getting them both in trouble. The pair are also more than capable of disobeying orders and have a maverick energy that serves them well in battle, if poorly politically.
The pair also have equally unfortunate love lives, with a succession of relationships inevitably ending tragically – often through their own mistakes.
Sharpe and Uhtred’s similarities are also evident from their relationships. Both men cultivate extremely loyal followings, with Sharpe’s Chosen Men following him into battle with just the same determination as Uhtred’s warriors. The pair also have equally unfortunate love lives, with a succession of relationships inevitably ending tragically – often through their own mistakes. Even their most prominent partners are incredibly similar, withSharpe’s Teresa andThe Last Kingdom’s Aethelflaed almost identical in personality and lifestyle. These links are more than superficial. They makeSharpeandThe Last Kingdomnatural companion pieces.
Sharpe and The Last Kingdom’s Differences Compliment Each Other Perfectly
It’s Not A Straightforward Link Between The Two
While any comparison betweenSharpeandThe Last Kingdomreveals some clear connections, it’s also obvious that there are some important differences. Aside from the major narrative differences in terms of setting and period,there are some crucial structural contrasts. For instance, whereasThe Last Kingdomcondenses 10 novels into five multi-episode series,Sharpeis arguably a more faithful literary adaptation, adapting each Bernard Cornwell novel over a single, feature-length episode. This creates a very different feel to the series, with each installment almost feeling like a movie.
However, rather than detracting fromThe Last KingdomandSharpe’s synergy, these differences actually make them even better as a pair. Rather than repeating Sharpe’s tried and tested formula,The Last Kingdom’s approach makes each individual story feel part of a much wider, overarching narrative. Conversely,Sharpe’s gradual evolution over distinct significant plotlines makes the main character’s adventures seem all the more momentous. These subtle differences in length and atmosphere mean it’s possible to swap betweenThe Last KingdomandSharpe, enjoying broadly similar stories, without ever getting bored.
