Eager Game of Thrones fans who cannot patiently wait for the upcoming spin-off, A Knight of Seven Kingdoms, to premiere in January 2026, consider the next best alternative, endorsed by George R. R. Martin himself.
From 2015 to 2022, the British historical drama The Last Kingdom, based on Bernard Cornwell's book series The Saxon Stories, drastically improved from Season 1 to Season 5 and did what eluded Game of Thrones: sticking the landing in the series finale.
From Martin's lips to God's ears, Game of Thrones' followers who cannot get enough historically rooted medieval barbarity will be richly rewarded by watching The Last Kingdom, currently available on Netflix.
What is 'The Last Kingdom' About?
Uhtred pulls a sword from his back in The Last Kingdom
BBC/Netflix
Based on Bernard Cornwell's acclaimed novel series The Saxon Stories, The Last Kingdom premiered on the BBC in 2015 but moved to Netflix for Season 3 in 2018. Spanning from 872 to 920 AD, the historical epic charts the Danish Viking invasion of England and the final stand made by King Alfred (David Dawson), ruler of the last kingdom. With the Vikings threatening to overtake England, the conflict rests upon Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon), the estranged son of an English noble who is captured by the Danes and raised as one of their own.
As the war escalates and ravages the land and its people, Uhtred must decide what is worth fighting for: his blood relatives or his adopted family of barbarous marauders. Game of Thrones fans will be struck by the unremitting action sequences, epic set pieces, and top-tier performances that only improve over time. Unlike the controversial and massively disappointing GoT series finale that had fans up in arms, The Last Kingdom's final episode is its most well-received, earning by far the highest IMDb rating of the entire series with a 9.6.
George R.R. Martin's Ringing Endorsement for 'The Last Kingdom,' Explained
Uhtred aims a bloody sword in The Last Kingdom
BBC/Netflix
It's one thing for a writer to recommend The Last Kingdom, but it's quite another for the venerated author of Game of Thrones to do so. Yet, on more than one occasion, George R. R. Martin has expressed his supportive fandom of The Last Kingdom. Following Season 2 in 2017, Martin posted on Facebook:
"The second season of THE LAST KINGDOM, based on Bernard Cornwell's Saxon series, was just as good as the first. The show could benefit from a bigger budget, honestly, but for all the Uhtred fans out there (and I count myself as one), this is a pretty faithful adaptation of the books, I hope there will be a season three."
Following Season 3, Martin posted to his website:
"The show has a great look to it, all mud and blood and dark age squalor. The writing and acting are both first-rate. So are the action scenes, though the battles could use a bigger budget. The characters are vivid and memorable and…importantly, to my mind…very true to the novels and the time, not 21st century people dressed up in chain mail and boiled leather. I am already jonesing for season four."
Following Season 4 in 2020, Martin heaped more praise on The Last Kingdom, adding (via Reddit):
"I recommend The Last Kingdom. The new season just went up, and Parris and I gulped it down in two days. No, it's not fantasy, there is a notable lack of dragons and magic…but there are lots of battles and betrayals and swordplay, all that stuff. And Uhtred is a warrior who could give the best of Westeros and Middle Earth a fight. A good show, and we will miss it…"
The Last Kingdom ran for 5 seasons and 46 episodes.
