My Advice: Start With The Last Kingdom, Then Watch Valhalla

If you‘re trying to decide between the excellent historical dramas The Last Kingdom and Vikings: Valhalla, I recommend watching The Last Kingdom first.

As an avid fan of medieval history and Viking lore, I‘ve thoroughly enjoyed both shows. But The Last Kingdom stands out to me as the better starting point for a few key reasons:

• It provides helpful historical context and worldbuilding before moving on to Valhalla‘s 11th century setting.

• The more focused plot and slower pacing eases you into the complex politics of the era.

• Phenomenal character development and acting draw you into the storytelling.

Once you‘ve finished The Last Kingdom, Vikings: Valhalla makes for a perfect follow-up with its faster pace and greater spectacle. You‘ll have the background needed to appreciate the new characters and later generation timeline.

Now let‘s take a deeper, more detailed look at how these two outstanding historical dramas compare. Dig into all the key factors, from story and acting to historical accuracy and action scenes. I‘ll share plenty of insights from my own expertise along the way!

Overview and Background of the Shows

First, here‘s a quick primer on what each show is about and where they came from:

The Last Kingdom – Adapted from Bernard Cornwell‘s bestselling novels, this show chronicles the Danish invasions of England in the 9th century from the perspective of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon nobleman who was orphaned and raised by Vikings. It provides a riveting view into the origins of England as a united kingdom.

Vikings: Valhalla – Made as a spin-off to the popular History Channel series Vikings, Valhalla tackles the adventures of famous Vikings like Leif Eriksson and Harald Hardrada in the early 11th century. It‘s full of dramatic expeditions across the seas and internal political strife.

Notable Differences Between the Shows

The Last Kingdom	Vikings: Valhalla
Saxon perspective	Viking perspective
9th century setting	11th century setting
Gritty, grounded tone	Epic, cinematic tone
Strong focus on politics	Focus on daring voyages
Protagonist is fictional Uhtred	Ensemble cast of actual historic figures
Fairly accurate to history	More creative license with history and legends

These differences in perspective, tone, and era help give each show its own flair while exploring the Viking age. But they share excellent production values in bringing this era to life.

Directing and Cinematography Styles

Both shows are produced with quite high budgets, ensuring excellent production values across the board. From stunning locales to intricate costume design, the visuals immerse you in medieval England and Scandinavia.

The Last Kingdom stands out for:

• Beautiful shots of the English countryside and coastlines. The idyllic terrain contrasts sharply with bloody battles.
• Gritty, visceral battle scenes filmed up close to capture the chaos of shield wall combat.
• Dark, grimy hues with muted earth tones fitting the grubby 9th century setting.
• Authentic textures and fabrics in the costume design based on materials available in the Dark Ages.

Vikings: Valhalla excels at:

• Sweeping drone shots and CGI enhancements giving it a grand, epic scope.
• Sprawling scenes of Viking longships navigating harsh arctic seas.
• Bright, lush colors that make the exotic locations really pop on screen.
• Elaborate Viking costumes with intricate leatherwork and decorative metals that highlight their ornate craftsmanship.

Both shows are fantastic in their own right. But Valhalla intentionally embraces a more stylized, flashy aesthetic compared to Kingdom‘s muted realism.

Cast and Characters: Who Plays Who?

The casts of both shows are packed with outstanding acting talents who inhabit their 9th-11th century characters brilliantly. Let‘s take a look at some of the core characters and performers:

The Last Kingdom‘s Main Cast

• Uhtred – Alexander Dreymon is exceptional as the conflicted Saxon heir torn between English and Danish loyalties. His fiery charisma makes every scene pop.
• Alfred – David Dawson masters the role of the pious but cunning King Alfred. He compellingly depicts Alfred‘s grand vision for a unified England.
• Aethelflaed – Millie Brady plays Alfred‘s bold, independent daughter. Her complex bond with Uhtred evolves into romance over time.
• Brida – Emily Cox is a force of nature as Brida. Her hatred of Saxons contrasts powerfully with Uhtred‘s inner conflict.

Vikings: Valhalla‘s Lead Actors

• Leif Erikson – Sam Corlett captures Leif‘s daring bravery and natural leadership abilities as he takes Vikings westward.
• Freydis Eriksdotter – Frida Gustavsson excels as the fierce, rebellious daughter of Erik the Red. She‘s a key player in the Vinland expedition.
• Harald Sigurdsson – Leo Suter oozes calculated ambition as the future king Harald Hardrada. His quest for power drives the plot.
• Emma of Normandy – Laura Berlin plays the pragmatic Queen Emma, navigating dynastic politics.

Both ensembles boast top-notch acting prowess in portraying the storied figures. But Kingdom has an advantage with Alexander Dreymon‘s award-worthy turn as Uhtred grounding the narrative.

Story and Settings: England vs Vikings‘ Expeditions

The core stories unfold in different regions due to the 100 year gap between the shows‘ timelines:

The Last Kingdom‘s Settings

• Primary setting is 9th century England, with Wessex and Northumbria playing pivotal roles.
• Politicking and clashing loyalties between Saxon kingdoms and invading Danes drive the plot.
• Uhtred‘s travels provide a sense of scope across swathes of England‘s diverse kingdoms.

Vikings: Valhalla‘s Backdrops

• Ranges from Scandinavia to Iceland, Greenland, and beyond due to Viking voyages.
• Dramatic setpieces include Iceland‘s volcanic terrain and frigid Arctic seas.
• Christianization is a major theme as pagan Norse identity erodes, heightening tensions.

Kingdom focuses heavily on the interpersonal dynamics stemming from England‘s fractured kingdoms in the 9th century. Valhalla covers more territory to account for the seafaring Vikings who constantly seek new horizons.

Action and Effects: Gritty Combat vs All Out Spectacle

When it comes to action, Kingdom keeps it gritty and visceral while Valhalla embraces bombast and flair:

The Last Kingdom‘s Battles

• Excellent shield wall scenes with claustrophobic camerawork placing you in the fray.
• Brutally realistic violence showing spears gouging throats and swords chopping off limbs.
• Single combat scenes highlight individual prowess, with Uhtred cutting through enemies in badass style.

Vikings: Valhalla‘s Large-Scale Warfare

• Huge, sweeping set piece battles like the sacking of English monasteries.
• Slow motion and dramatic camera moves accentuate the bloody, stylistic combat.
• Massive naval battles between Viking longships with dragon figureheads. Outstanding VFX and pyro work.
• Baldr‘s funeral scene has truly epic scale and grandeur.

Valhalla embraces spectacle and bombast, while Kingdom provides more personal, gritty, grounded action. Both work very well for their respective stories.

Historical Authenticity: Fact vs Fiction

When adapting history for television, accuracy often gets compromised for dramatic flair. But both shows take reasonable efforts to capture the essence of the era.

The Last Kingdom sticks closely to:

• The broad sequence of real events and figures like Alfred, Guthrum, Ubba, and Aethelflaed.
• Key battles and conflicts like the Great Heathen Army‘s invasion.
• The complex balance of power between Saxon kingdoms and encroaching Danes.
• Authentic weapons, armor, and costumes befitting the 9th century.

Vikings: Valhalla takes more creative license with:

• Time compression to have Ragnar‘s sons present in the 11th century.
• Invented narratives like Harald‘s prophecy and the North Sea Empire.
• Modernized gender dynamics imposed on figures like Freydis.
• Mythic elements added like the sacred arrow belief.

Kingdom adapts Cornwell‘s meticulously researched fiction. Valhalla crafts its own legends around actual historic figures for added drama and intrigue.

Pacing and Storytelling Approaches

The core narrative styles and storytelling pacing of each show differ quite a bit:

The Last Kingdom‘s Approach

• Strong focus on Uhtred‘s journey over many years. The timeframe spans decades.
• Major time jumps allow it to slowly build up the formation of England under Alfred‘s descendants.
• Very character-driven drama focused on developing complex relationships and shifting loyalties over time.

Vikings: Valhalla‘s Style

• Action-packed from the start and burns through major events every episode.
• Entire character arcs unfold over the course of just one season.
• Jumps between numerous simultaneous storylines spanning across Iceland, Scandinavia, and England.
• More emphasis on bombastic, loosely connected spectacles.

Kingdom is a slow burn while Valhalla thrives on non-stop momentum. Both work very effectively for the stories they‘re telling.

Mature Content: Sex, Violence and Historical Accuracy

These shows depict harsh medieval eras, so graphic content comes with the territory. Here‘s how they compare:

The Last Kingdom Contains

• Visceral battle violence, though not overly gory. Shield walls and sword fights feel grounded.
• Moderate sexual content, largely implied through cutaways.
• The grittiness fits the dark ages setting with slavery and societal brutality.

Vikings: Valhalla Ratchets it Up With

• Copious spurting blood and dismembered limbs to accentuate violence.
• Full-frontal nudity and vivid sex scenes, leaving little to the imagination.
• Human sacrifices and torture rituals associated with Norse paganism.

Both take historical accuracy seriously. Valhalla leans into the sensationalized "sex, drugs, and violence" perception of Vikings more than Kingdom‘s grounded approach. But it fits Valhalla‘s tone.

Why The Last Kingdom is Worth Watching First

To summarize why I recommend starting with The Last Kingdom:

• It provides crucial historical context leading up to Valhalla‘s 11th century setting.
• The slower buildup and focused narrative eases you into the elaborate world.
• Phenomenal character development and acting, led by Uhtred‘s engaging arc.
• Grittier action and muted style grounds you in medieval England before Valhalla‘s flair.

The Last Kingdom is simply a smarter starting point as it lays the foundation and draws you in with stellar storytelling. Valhalla remains an excellent follow-up with its legendary figures and over-the-top spectacle.

So in closing, I strongly encourage watching The Last Kingdom first, followed by Vikings: Valhalla. That order provides the best balance of riveting history, vivid action and compelling characters as you immerse yourself in medieval Viking sagas. You‘ll come away thrilled, entertained and eager for more! Let me know if you have any other questions.