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Following the journey of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, The Last Kingdom stands as one of the most popular historical drama television series. Based on The Saxon Stories novels, the war fiction explored the protagonist as he sought to reclaim his ancestral lands.
Set sometime between the 9th and 10th centuries, the series focused on the Viking invasions of England. Moreover, its themes of loyalty, identity, and the clash between cultures became crucial, and attracted a large viewership.
After five seasons and 46 episodes, The Last Kingdom ended its celebrated run. Around the same time, however, other shows sharing its genre, such as Game of Thrones and Vikings, had also established a prominent audience base.
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As such, there exist a few other choices for the show’s viewers to hop into following its conclusion.
Vikings, The Tudors, and 8 other shows that will give you the same feel as The Last Kingdom
Complex, layered characters portrayed by the likes of Alexander Dreymon, Eliza Butterworth, and Emily Cox formed the backbone of The Last Kingdom. Furthermore, a gripping narrative with unpredictable twists, satisfying character arcs, historical realism, and strong source material put the show in the prime spotlight.
For fans of the show who await to binge a similar production, here are 10 recommendations to choose from. Balanced with fans’ rankings and watchability, the following list should easily set familiar vibes. In no particular order, they are:
- Vikings
- Rome
- Outlander
- The Tudors
- Game of Thrones
- Barbarians
- The Witcher
- Marco Polo
- Shōgun
- Peaky Blinders
1) Vikings (Netflix)
Vikings revolved around a farmer, Ragnar Lothbrok. Interestingly, by its end, he became a legendary Norse hero famed for his raids on England and France. Set centuries before modern times, the plot saw the protagonist becoming a Viking chieftain and eventually a king.
In six seasons, Vikings aired 89 episodes that also featured the lives and exploits of his sons, Bjorn Ironside, Ivar the Boneless, and Ubbe.
In many ways, it would serve as a historical prequel to The Last Kingdom’s fictional storyline. Thereafter, intense battle scenes and adventurous voyages bring the two shows even closer.
2) Rome (HBO max)
Running for only two seasons and a total of 22 episodes, Rome boasts a 96% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The story followed two Roman soldiers, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, who found themselves stuck together during key historical events.
The backdrop centered around the rise, fall, and subsequent assassination of Julius Ceasar. Moreover, it also explored the relationship of Ceasar with Cleopatra as well as the power struggle between Octavian and Mark Antony, which resulted in the foundation of the Roman empire.
The epic storytelling, compelling characters, and realistic depiction of life’s complexity and brutality during those times would sit well with fans of The Last Kingdom.
3) Outlander (Starz, Netflix)
Outlander is appreciated for its historical accuracy, and combination of drama, adventure, fantasy, and battle. Thus, the show should make a fruitful impact on the audience coming from The Last Kingdom, as they both share these common traits.
The plot began with a World War II nurse, Claire Randall, being mysteriously transported back in time from 1945 to 1743's Scotland. Soon, she fell in love with a Highland warrior named Jamie Fraser and navigated the society then.
Spanning seven seasons, the show followed the couple’s struggles during major revolutions and political instabilities, including the Revolutionary War in colonial America.
4) The Tudors (Prime Video, fubo, Paramount+)
The Tudors, like The Last Kingdom, featured a large cast ensemble, including the likes of Henry Cavill. Additionally, its blend of history, action, and drama would engage viewers in the storyline and should keep them hooked for the entirety of its four seasons.
The historical fiction took place in 16th-century England during the reign of King Henry VIII, a setting, again, similar to The Last Kingdom.
Chronicling the life and reign of the monarch, the narrative highlighted his political and personal struggles, such as his efforts to secure a male heir.
Themes of ambition, betrayal, power struggles, and treachery added further tension and intrigue to the already captivating plot.
5) Game of Thrones (HBO max)
One of the most expensive shows in television history, Game of Thrones, also brought to life an expansive storyline.
Adapting George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, the eight-season series brought brutal twists and complete uncertainty in a viewer’s expected prediction of the plot.
The saga revolved around the quest for the Iron Throne and complete control of the seven kingdoms of the fictional continent of Westeros. Throughout the narrative, ploys and armies rose and fell, as fan-favorite characters met unpredictable ends.
Complete with dragons, magic, zombie-like creatures, grueling warfare, cunning tactics, and high standards of production, it would be a perfect transition for fans of The Last Kingdom.
6) Barbarians (Netflix)
The Last Kingdom and Barbarians both fit into the historical drama genre. However, while the former explored the Vikings' age, the latter took place during the Roman Empire’s occupation of Germany.
Furthermore, the two shows also dive into conflict with the natives and feature well-developed characters with personal and political tensions.
Carrying 12 episodes spread across two seasons, Barbarians followed the life of Arminius, a Roman officer. The character’s dilemma of serving his own oppressors highlighted the stakes.
Soon enough, the protagonist took center stage, leading a rebellion against the invading forces with epic scenes and battle ambush dominating the footage.
7) The Witcher (Netflix)
A medieval setting in a world named “The Continent” formed the backdrop for The Witcher. The second entry on this list to feature Henry Cavill, this series had him as the lead character of Geralt of Rivia for three seasons.
A solitary monster hunter, the character often found himself in the hands of destiny. Magic and fantasy adventure entered his life with characters like Yennefer and Ciri. The storyline, which will soon return with a fourth season, saw the characters bound by fate ahead of the impending threats like Vilgefortz of Roggeveen and Voleth Meir.
Based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels, The Witcher takes up after The Last Kingdom in production quality, layered characters, and politics.
8) Marco Polo (Netflix, Roku)
Airing its first episode in 2014, Marco Polo ran for two seasons and a total of 20 episodes. The story followed Venetian explorer Marco Polo in the court of the then-ruler of the Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Khan, in the 13th-century Mongol Empire.
As soon as the European visitor arrived, he became a pawn in the political and military strategies of the empire.
Additionally, the series’ portrayal of internal and external power struggles and confrontations with rival armies would come in close similarity to scenes depicted in The Last Kingdom.
9) Shōgun (hulu)
A near-accurate historical representation of the events that took place in Japan, Shōgun fictionalized the events leading to the establishment of the Tokugawa Shōgunate.
Blackthorne, an English sailor who shipwrecked in the East Asian country, found himself rescued from the brink of death, only to be pushed right into the boiling pot of the empire’s affairs.
A master tactician, Lord Toranaga, employed the former to lay the grounds for a plot full of cunning moves, unexpected outcomes, and one of the sharpest political twists.
The historical setting, with one season of the above-outlined intricate narrative, should be appealing to any viewer of The Last Kingdom.
10) Peaky Blinders (Netflix)
Despite sharing high-quality sets, costumes, and cinematography with The Last Kingdom, Peaky Blinders is set almost a millennium after the former.
Featuring a rich depiction of post-war Britain, the Netflix series dove into exploring the exploits of a crime gang in Birmingham.
Centered on Cillian Murphy’s Thomas Shelby, the plot had him as an ambitious and ruthless leader of the group named Peaky Blinders. However, underlying themes also included loyalty, betrayal, war, and encounters with law enforcement.
In its six seasons and 36 episodes, the Shelby family’s affairs became one of the topmost streamed shows on Netflix. Furthermore, it is all set to return as a movie.
Following the conclusion of The Last Kingdom and its sub-plots in the feature movie, Seven Kings Must Die, fans have searched for more of the sorts. The above list should contain enough content to keep them occupied until a new update on the series comes forward.
