A subreddit for "The Last Kingdom," the BBC/Netflix television show set in medieval England. The show is an adaption of Bernard Cornwell’s best-selling series of historical novels known as "The Saxon Stories." Content from both the books and the TV series are welcome!
[No Spoilers]
Can we all show a little love for our hairy, loveable, heathen antagonist-you-just-have-to-adore? He is definitely a survivor. How many times has this adorable douchebag avoided death? He knows when to hold em' and knows when to fold em', thats for damned sure. I havent read the novels, but the show writing for the character is really unique and unpredictable. He's the Everyman Viking. Hedges his bets for survival and always has a way out, and is DEF creepy, but he seems always to be 3 steps ahead.
There arent many badguys I find myself rooting for, but Haesten, in all his heathen, self-centered brilliance is one of them!
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Idk why but haesten becoming a successful trader is so funny, what a career he had
The part about what his ancestors came to England to do in Ep9 was so true, felt proud of him
He could always see the big picture
His response to how he wanted to die was rich and old next to his fat wife, wasn’t it?
In the end, his village is prosperous, with plenty of fat women (his words) and he’s definitely old for the times.
He keeps Uhtred’s plan a secret, even in the face of the worst odds and outcome he’s ever been faced with, and pays the price of admission into Valhalla.
Unlike many of his more famous Norse brethren, Haesten lived for a long time and prospered.He didn't need to help Uhtred - he did it because after everything I think they like each other. And in the last twist of all, he died trying to help Uhtred when he didn't have to. Always fun to have in a scene. Always working an angle. Haesten the cunning will be missed!
Spoiler-tag there, buddy, lol.
Is it not working? I added spoilers right after posting the reply.
It is working for me.
I like to think he helped Uthred not because he likes him (he does not) but because Uthred's mission was to save the daughter of his old friend who he's still loyal to, even through death. And because the thought of this old friend reminded him the gates of Valhalla, wich called for him and that's why he was welcoming his death.
I've gotta admit that Haesten was one of my favorite characters, and Jeppe Beck Laursen's acting made the character.
He was the ultimate pragmatist.
I found that every time he did anything I would just say to myself “Classic Haesten”. Guy was a survivor and a genius in his own right with the talent he had to weasel in and out of wherever and with whoever he wanted. Just a great character
One thing I’m surprised Uhtred never said to Haesten was, i saved your life, you are bound to me.
Which is weird cuz he did in the books
May he enjoy Valhalla finally 🙂👍
The actor has been pretty active in this sub before, hopefully he sees this! Did a phenomenal job in season 5.
What’s his user name
In my opinion, he was the second best character after Uthred
"Aethelflaed, Aethelflaed, Aethelflaed...how many times....do I have to say that stupid name?"
Lol every time
Yes! He’s one of my favorite characters! Loyal asf even tho he likes to pretend he’s not
He wasn’t really loyal to anyone apart from the brothers Erik and Siegfried
skol or skal!
Skoal Mint.
I was just asking the other night, what are some other fictional characters reminiscent of Haesten? That adorable, bottom feeding semi-antagonist?
Professor Snape. Can't help but like him.
Ok for me, Snape is likable but not quite as roguish and evil?
I THINK this is the TV trope that describes him, but having trouble finding the other examples I crave! 😂 https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LovableTraitor
Dr. Chilton in Hannibal is like this
Fascinating 🤔
Hes my favorite bad guy! I was so sad when he was killed.. was hoping for a redemption arc that didn't end in his death
Yeaaah can't get behind him cause of all the times he talks about how no woman who's ever been with him ever wanted to be and at most they just adjust after a year.
Plus the constant betrayal. I like uhtred n the main three cause despite living very Dane we never see or even hear a suggestion of them SAing women.
The Viking Age was full of stuff like this, unfortunately. Both from the Danes and the Saxons. It was a very violent time that we really dont have a reference point for when it comes to modern morality. Of course, sexual assault and stuff like that was commonly avenged, but not if you were a thrall in a Viking camp or a servant girl in a saxon kitchen.
Its horrible, for sure. But that's how it was. Women and boys were spoils of war then, for a lot of cultures. In a historical context, Uhtred and his band would have def taken part in stuff like that. The 9th century was a very violent place to be.
*Edit; I may have been a bit too descriptive here, I was trying to honestly answer a question that is perhaps too deep for regular discourse on here. Anthropologist by trade. Sorry if I sounded obtuse or insensitive, it was not my intent.
Okay well in a fictional show I'm gunna stand behind the characters who chose not to take part rather than the one who boasts about doing so.
Absolutely. Its implied in the show that other folks do it as well though, but in a much darker sense. Uhtred's adoptive family, for example. Its subtle, but the suggestion is there. Viking Age morality was very gray.
I didn't say I backed uhtreds adoptive or biological family. I said I don't back haesten cause he outright admits to raping and holding women for years and fathering many children by them.
I don't even back Alfred cause of his "whelping of pups" in servant girls.
People are allowed to dislike your fave character. Especially when he doesn't do anything redeeming until the final episode. He's spineless until the last seconds of his life. Prior to that he was willing to stab anyone in the back for his own gain even if it fucked him also. See taking skade regardless of knowing it messed up an entire army's plan. Just cause he wanted to hump her in hopes of power. I could list his other numerous betrayals but I think that one sums it up pretty easy. I think people mistake liking the actor for liking the character. Cause the character has no redeeming traits until the very final episode. Similar to people having a fandom boner for aelswith she was reprehensible until recently but has been a fan favourite cause people like the actress
If you view the show through modern moral standards, how can you even stand it? There is slavery, violence, murder, robbery, racism/xenophobia, misogyny, and so on. TLK actually does a good job of not making SA so prevalent, compared to other similar shows (thinking especially about the gratuitous nudity and rape scenes in GoT). It seems pretty arbitrary to dismiss an episodic character for a throwaway line that was probably meant for world building and context.
Uhtred specifically said that Haesten died with honor so he went to Valhalla.
yeah...i commented this in between the time haesten died and uhtred mentioned that lol. i really thought the only way was to have sword in hand
Technically he was grabbing onto that sword that was impaled through him.
https://youtu.be/H8W6owLgZW0
posted 7 months ago.
good 1 on 1 where jbl explains how Haeston character evolved through the years.
Awesome, thanks!
I love the character and the actor. I did notice however upon rewatching several times that his mouth movements, sucking his teeth etc. are borrowed from Travis fimmel from Vikings. Not a bad thing though because I found it worked better for Haesten then it did for Ragnar.