'The Last Kingdom' Episodes Ranked

As a huge battle with the Danes is close, Edward has to make pivotal decisions that will affect the fates of Uhtred, Wessex - and England.

The forces of Edward and Sigtryggr march toward battle as Uhtred races to reveal the truth of Aethelhelm's scheming and avert a ruinous war.

Armies converge in an epic, final showdown that determines the fate of a king's dream for England - and Uhtred's hope for securing his family's future.

Uhtred turns his attention to Aethelflaed's plight. Alfred forces Edward to face his duty. Ragnar's army marches but traitors emerge from within.

Married by Beocca to Gisela, Uhtred joins Ragnar and Alfred's nephew, the reluctant Aethelwold, and others including Hild and Beocca to travel north and defeat Sigefrid and Erik - and ultimately Kjarten, meeting up with Brida on the way. An early victory sends the treacherous brothers into exile and later brings Uhtred's party to visit a contrite Guthred, who now approves the storming of Durham, and release of Ragnar's sister, Thyra. The town is successfully captured and Ragnar faces Kjartan in single combat, a victory for justice, though Thyra does not react as hoped.

Edward offers a role to Stiorra that would restore her to power. Aethelhelm meets with a Saxon enemy. Uhtred has a long-overdue reckoning with Brida.

A deadly betrayal threatens to splinter Ragnar's army. Uhtred forms a cunning battle plan and finds an unexpected ally in young Edward.

Alfred's daughter Aethelflaed is married to the arrogant, scheming Mercian lord Aethelraed, for whom both Uhtred and Aethelwold have nothing but disdain. Aethelraed is also a bullying husband, casting doubt on his wife's fidelity, but he manages to secure influence with the king by persuading him that Uhtred is not to be trusted. After failing to buy off Erik and Sigefrid following their capture of London Aethelraed and Uhtred join forces to lead a liberating army but find the city strangely empty. This is because, unknown to them, the Danish brothers have a more lethal plan of their own.

At the end of his days, Alfred takes Uhtred into his confidence about his plans for Edward's uncertain future, but Aelswith charts a different course.

Rivals secretly advance competing successors upon the death of a Mercian ruler. Brida finds solace in the faith of her prisoner, Father Pyrlig.

Uhtred returns to Alfred, keeping Aethelflaed's secret and allowing the king to believe he can ransom his daughter, setting him at odds with Odda and Aethelwold, who propose a military intervention. To his brother's annoyance Erik falls in love for his captive, and the two plan to escape with Uhtred's help, with Uhtred forced to choose between rescuing Aethelflaed and proving loyal to Alfred.

Aethelflaed and Uhtred ally with the Welsh king Hywel to face Cnut's army of a thousand warriors at the Battle of Tettenhall, hoping that they will be joined by Edward's troops.

As he awaits Aethelflaed's reinforcements, Edward besieges Winchester. Uhtred isn't convinced that conquest is really Sigtryggr's ultimate aim. Stiorra seeks to follow her own path. The wind shifts in Winchester.

King Alfred's health is failing. As time runs out for him to unite the kingdoms of England, his greatest warrior Uhtred must lead Wessex in battle against the fearsome Bloodhair. When Uhtred is cursed by vicious seer Skade, tragedy follows.

Tricked into abandoning their camp for an abortive attack on London the Saxons and Uhtred return to find it a scene of massacre with Thyra, now married to Beocca, among the few survivors and Aethelflaed captured by the Danes and taken to East Anglia as a hostage. Alfred is furious with Aethelred, to Aethelwold's delight, and sends him to negotiate her release . At the suggestion of Odda and Aethelwold, Uhtred accompanies him. However Aethelflaed finds captor Erik far more tender towards her than her brutal husband, who is richly humiliated by the Danes and she lets Uhtred know she has no desire to return to Wessex.

Aethelhelm's subterfuge successfully foments war tensions between Edward and Sigtryggr, but his thugs make a crucial mistake in attacking a pilgrimage.

Edward marches his troops north while Uhtred recruits a small force to infiltrate Bebbanburg. King Constantin arrives to meet his new bride, Aelfwynn.

Bloodhair and Athelwold try to coax Uhtred into their alliance against Alfred. Fearing for her life, Aethelflaed turns to Father Beocca for aid.

Brida and Sigtrggr lead the Danes to Winchester, guided by the traitor Eardwulf. Haesten ambushes Uhtred's party and seizes valuable captives.

Upon learning of Aethelhelm's location, Uhtred proposes an audacious attack to rescue Aelfwynn and restore his birthright - but Edward is cautious.

When Uhtred commits a serious crime Alfred turns events to his advantage but is outraged when Uhtred retaliates with an act of violence. Uhtred must embark on a voyage and Skade's power takes hold - has he passed a place of no return?

Edward makes a kingly decision. Alfred lays plans for his son's future reign. Aethelwold faces a treacherous task. Uhtred and Brida search out a seer.

A message from Uhtred and the machinations of Skade exploit divisions among the Danes. His health failing, Alfred wrestles with Aethelwold's fate.

Uhtred risks returning to Wessex to fulfil his vow to Brida. As the royal wedding approaches, Aethelwold spreads discord from the shadows.

Uhtred reluctantly prepares to take power in Mercia but he has an alternate plan in his mind. Brida joins the Danes in attacking the Welsh.