‘The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die’: Netflix Movie Ending Explained

— Spoilers for ‘The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die’ —

‘Seven Kings Must Die’, the film that follows the television series ‘The Last Kingdom’ which lasted five seasons, takes up the story of Uhtred, the warrior who was born a Saxon and raised a Dane after his family was killed.

After 46 episodes spanning from 866 to around 918 in which Uhtred was banished, beaten, attacked, and also responsible for more than a handful of deaths while trying to avenge his father, the series came to a close with our hero finally recognized as the leader of Northumbriacaught between King Edward and his forces to the south and the Scottish king to the north.

Everything seemed lovely (that is to say) with Uhtred installed as the new Lord of Bebbanburg and his young son Osbert coming to live with him, but things in Saxon Britain never stay quiet for long.

The Netflix movie continues the story of ‘The Last Kingdom’ and begins with the death of king edward, an event that causes his widow Eadifgu and her youngest son Edmund to flee to Northumbria for help. Ingrith, the seer wife of Uhtred’s friend Finian, also doesn’t do much to brighten the air by revealing a prophecy he has had in a dream: “Seven kings must die, and the woman you love.” But Uhtred ignores her. After all, at that moment he neither has a wife nor is he a king, so it doesn’t matter to him. But of course, the prophecy is the title of the film, so we began to suspect at that moment that things were coming.

Meanwhile, Edward’s eldest sons Aethelstan and Aelfweard vie for the throne, and Uhtred volunteers to broker a meeting between the two that doesn’t go too well: Aelfweard steps forward to kneel before his brother, and Aethelstan responds to the offering by stabbing him to death and assuming the throne.. Typical family fights.

On the other hand, the now King of Mercia, Wessex and East Anglia (guided/manipulated by her lover, Lord Ingilmundr) Aethelstan disposes of anyone who gets in his wayhangs old friends, captures Edmund and Osbert, sends Eadifgu to a convent, and banishes Uhtred to the Shetland Islands. What Aethelstan doesn’t know is that Ingilmundr is secretly working on Anlaf’s behalf.a Norse leader who has assembled chieftains and kings, including those of Orkney, Shetland, and Scotland, with the goal of defeating Aethelstan on the field of battle.

But before it comes to that, Osbert and Edmund make it to safety, Uhtred finds his beloved sword lost in battle, he and Aethelstan settle their differences, and Finian’s wife and the residents of Bebbanburg are killed by Anlaf’s men, an act that fulfills the ‘and the woman you love’ part of the prophecy for poor old Finian.

Now yes, All is set for the Battle of Brunanburgh in AD 937, where Uhtred, his friends, Aethelstan and his men join forces against Anlaf and his allies.. Do “seven kings” die on the battlefield, and more importantly, is Uhtred one of them?

‘Seven Kings Must Die’ Ending Explained: Does Uhtred Die?

Anlaf and Aethelstan’s followers meet on the battlefield. When Uhtred surprises his enemies, bringing more forces on horseback, part of the Scots flee, and Ingilmundr and Aethelstan finally come to blows. But the cavalry come to Aethelstan’s aid and Ingilmundr is captured. And zasca. He sword in the neck. Goodbye Ingilmundr.Will always remember you.

As the five kings fighting Aethelstan flee the field realizing the battle is lost, it is revealed that their sons have been slain, meaning there are no heirs to carry on the line of succession. That means that five kings, or rather possible kings, have died, and if you include the death of King Edward at the beginning, that makes six dead monarchs. Will Uhtred be the seventh?

No, or at least not yet. Pals Sihtric and Finian find a Uhtred badly wounded and bloody, near death on the battlefieldand prepare to take him back to Bebbanburg in Northumbria.

When they arrive, Uhtred is well enough to pledge his own Northumbria to Aethelstan, thus forming England. He has one condition: that Aethelstan not marry or have heirs, so that his half-brother Edmund inherits the throne when he dies. (Inside: Uhtred knows of Arthelstan’s homosexual inclinations, so this condition could also be a covert favor to the king).

Looking terribly pale and weak, Uhtred hears cheers and joy in the distance, and he walks to the end of the hall and opens the door. The rest see nothing, but he finds himself before a firelit room filled with many people from his past.all laughing and drinking and welcoming him to the next life.

The seventh king is dead.