'The Last Kingdom' Review: 'Downton Abbey' Producer's New Drama Is Part 'Outlander,' Part 'Vikings'

Half the battle in presenting exceptional historical fiction on television — that is, without a feature film-sized budget each episode — is authenticity. Recent superb examples in the genre “Downton Abbey,” “Wolf Hall” and “Vikings” now welcome “The Last Kingdom” to their ranks.

Based on the first book in Bernard Cornwell’s “The Saxon Stories” novels, “The Last Kingdom” seems BBC America’s response to History’s “Vikings” success. It’s the English perspective on the Early Middle Ages invasions and is brought to television by a team including Emmy-winning “Downton Abbey” executive producers Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant of Carnival Films, the company behind the Julian Fellowes-written and created international phenomenon.

Alexander Dreymon, whom audiences may remember as mother-troubled Luke in “American Horror Story: Coven,” stars as the second son of Uhtred (Matthew Macfadyen), a ninth century ruler of the kingdom of Bebbanburg in Northumbria. When his older brother is killed by Viking invaders, the younger boy (Tom Taylor) takes his father’s name and his brother’s place as heir to Bebbanburg, but before he can stake his claim, the young Saxon lord is spirited away by Viking Earl Ragnar (Peter Gantzler), who eventually adopts the courageous child as a son.

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Battle-trained by the Danes, Uhtred grows to possess the swagger of Travis Fimmel‘s Ragnar Lothbrok of “Vikings, ” but also the romantic playfulness of Sam Heughan‘s Jamie Fraser from Starz’ “Outlander.” In all three cases, the characters are embattled young warriors fighting for power in worlds full of adversaries who would keep them from advancement or retrieving their birthright. And in all three cases, the lead actors create charismatic, sword-swinging characters with compelling lives, losses and loves.

Also like those leading men, Dreymon has the benefit of being surrounded by talented costars, including Emily Cox (“The Silent Mountain”) as Brida, David Dawson (“Peaky Blinders”) as King Alfred, Ian Hart (“Boardwalk Empire”) as Beocca and Rune Temte (“Eddie the Eagle”) as Ubba. Macfadyen (“Ripper Street”) and Rutger Hauer (“Blade Runner”) appear in brief, but memorable roles as Uhtred’s father and Viking elder Ravn, respectively, and Taylor gives an inspired performance as young Uhtred.

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Brida, young Uhtred’s best friend, partner-in-crime and lover, was captured during the same battle and taken as a slave to Earl Ragnar and his family. Cox’s spitfire Brida becomes more Dane than Saxon and antagonizes her former countrymen with her assertive behavior and “heathen” beliefs when Uhtred cozies up to King Alfred — as in “the Great” — of Wessex.

Uhtred’s trials intensify when he joins Alfred’s quest to unite the kingdoms into England, creating an epic backdrop for a handsome, stellar cast and expert storytellers to weave television’s latest addictive historical fiction.

“The Last Kingdom” premieres Saturday, Oct. 10 at 10 p.m. ET on BBC America.

Fall TV Preview: 126 New and Returning Shows Premiere Dates

“The Awesomes” (Hulu) Tuesday, Sept. 8
Hulu
“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS) Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 11:35 p.m.
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“The League” (FXX) Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 10 p.m.
FXX
“You’re the Worst” (FXX) Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 10:30 p.m.
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“Longmire” (Netflix) Thursday, Sept. 10
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“Z Nation” (Syfy) Friday, Sept. 11 at 10 p.m.
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“Continuum” (Syfy) Friday, Sept. 11 at 11 p.m.
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“Project Greenlight” (HBO) Sunday, Sept. 13 at 10 p.m.
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“Doll & Em” (HBO) Sunday, Sept. 13 at 10:40 p.m.
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“Dancing With the Stars” (ABC) Monday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m.
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“The Mindy Project” (Hulu) Tuesday, Sept. 15
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“Best Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris” (NBC) Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 10 p.m.
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“The Bastard Executioner” (FX) Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 10 p.m.
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“South Park” (Comedy Central) Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 10 p.m.
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“Moonbeam City” (Comedy Central) Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 10:30 p.m.
Comedy Central
“Doctor Who” (BBC America) Saturday, Sept. 19
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“The Voice” (NBC) Monday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m.
NBC
“Gotham” (Fox) Monday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m.
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“The Big Bang Theory” (CBS) Monday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m.
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“Life in Pieces” (CBS) Monday, Sept. 21 at 8:30 p.m.
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“Minority Report” (Fox) Monday, Sept. 21 at 9 p.m.
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“Scorpion” (CBS) Monday, Sept. 21 at 9 p.m.
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“NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS) Monday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m.
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“Castle” (ABC) Monday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m.
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“Blindspot” (NBC) Monday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m.
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“Scream Queens” (Fox) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m.
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“NCIS” (CBS) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m.
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“The Muppets” (ABC) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m.
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“Fresh off the Boat” (ABC) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8:30 p.m.
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“NCIS: New Orleans” (CBS) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 9 p.m.
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“Limitless” (CBS) Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 10 p.m.
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“Survivor” (CBS) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.
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“Rosewood” (Fox) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.
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“The Mysteries of Laura” (NBC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.
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“The Middle” (ABC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.
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“The Goldbergs” (ABC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 8:30 p.m.
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“Empire” (Fox) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9 p.m.
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“Law & Order: SVU” (NBC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9 p.m.
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“Modern Family” (ABC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9 p.m.
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“black-ish” (ABC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9:30 p.m.
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“Nashville” (ABC) Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 10 p.m.
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“Heroes Reborn” (NBC) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m.
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“Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m.
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“Scandal” (ABC) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 9 p.m.
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“The Player” (NBC) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 10 p.m.
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“How to Get Away With Murder” (ABC) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 10 p.m.
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“Last Man Standing” (ABC) Friday, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m.
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“The Amazing Race” (CBS) Friday, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m.
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“Hawaii Five-0” (CBS) Friday, Sept. 25 at 9 p.m.
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“Shark Tank” (ABC) Friday, Sept. 25 at 9 p.m.
“Blue Bloods” (CBS) Friday, Sept. 25 at 10 p.m.
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“Bob’s Burgers” (Fox) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m.
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“The Simpsons” (Fox) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.
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“Once Upon a Time” (ABC) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.
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“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” Finale (CBS) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.
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“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 8:30 p.m.
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“Family Guy” (Fox) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m.
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“Blood & Oil” (ABC) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m.
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“The Last Man on Earth” (Fox) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 9:30 p.m.
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“Quantico” (ABC) Sunday, Sept. 27 at 10 p.m.
ABC
“The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central) Monday, Sept. 28 at 11 p.m.
Comedy Central
“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (ABC) Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m.
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“Grandfathered” (Fox) Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m.
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“The Grinder” (Fox) Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 8:30 p.m.
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“Beyond the Tank” (ABC) Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 10 p.m.
ABC
“Criminal Minds” (CBS) Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 9 p.m.
CBS
“Code Black” (CBS) Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 10 p.m.
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“Chicago PD” (NBC) Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 10 p.m.
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“Bones” (Fox) Thursday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m.
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“The Blacklist” (NBC) Thursday, Oct. 1 at 9 p.m.
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“Sleepy Hollow” (Fox) Thursday, Oct. 1 at 9 p.m.
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“Benders” (IFC) Thursday, Oct. 1 at 10 p.m.
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“Dr. Ken” (ABC) Friday, Oct. 2 at 8:30 p.m.
ABC
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC) Saturday, Oct. 3 at 11:30 p.m.
NBC
“Madam Secretary” (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m.
CBS
“The Leftovers” (HBO) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 9 p.m.
HBO
“Homeland” (Showtime) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 9 p.m.
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“The Good Wife” (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 9 p.m.
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“CSI: Cyber” (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 10 p.m.
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“The Affair” (Showtime) Sunday, Oct. 4 at 10 p.m.
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“The Flash” (CW) Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m.
CW
“iZombie” (CW) Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 9 p.m.
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“Finding Carter” (MTV) Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 10 p.m.
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"Casual" (Hulu) Wednesday, Oct. 7
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“Arrow” (CW) Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m.
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“Supernatural” (CW) Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 9 p.m.
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“American Horror Story: Hotel” (FX) Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 10 p.m.
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“The Vampire Diaries” (CW) Thursday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m.
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“The Originals” (CW) Thursday, Oct. 8 at 9 p.m.
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“Haven” (Syfy) Thursday, Oct. 8 at 10 p.m.
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“Funny or Die’s Billy on the Street” (truTV) Thursday, Oct. 8 at 10:30 p.m.
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“Red Oaks” (Amazon) Friday, Oct. 9
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“Reign” (CW) Friday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m.
CW
“Undateable” (NBC) Friday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m.
NBC
“The Last Kingdom” (BBC America) Saturday, Oct. 10 at 10 p.m.
BBC America
“The Walking Dead” (AMC) Sunday, Oct. 11 at 9 p.m.
AMC
“The Talking Dead” (AMC) Sunday, Oct. 11 at 10:30 p.m.
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“Crazy Ex-Girlfrind” (CW) Monday, Oct. 12 at 8 p.m.
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“Jane the Virgin” (CW) Monday, Oct. 12 at 9 p.m.
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“Fargo” (FX) Monday, Oct. 12 at 10 p.m.
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“Manhattan” (WGN) Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 9 p.m.
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“Chicago Fire” (NBC) Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 10 p.m.
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“Kingdom” (DirecTV) Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 9 p.m.
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“Nathan for You” (Comedy Central) Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10 p.m.
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“The Knick” (Cinemax) Friday, Oct. 16
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“Truth Be Told” (NBC) Friday, Oct. 16 at 8:30 p.m.
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“Satisfaction” (USA) Friday, Oct. 16 at 10 p.m.
USA
“Please Like Me” (Pivot) Friday, Oct. 16 at 10 p.m.
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“RocketJump: The Show” (Hulu) Wednesday, Oct. 21
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“Hemlock Grove” (Netflix) Friday, Oct. 23
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“Da Vinci’s Demons” (Starz) Saturday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m.
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“Supergirl” (CBS) Monday, Oct. 26 at 8:30 p.m.
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“Wicked City” (ABC) Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 10 p.m.
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“Grimm” (NBC) Friday, Oct. 30 at 10 p.m.
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“Ash vs. Evil Dead” (Starz) Saturday, Oct. 31 at 9 p.m.
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“Major Crimes” (TNT) Monday, Nov. 2 at 9 p.m.
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“Legends” (TNT) Monday, Nov. 2 at 10 p.m.
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“Angel From Hell” (CBS) Thursday, Nov. 5 at 9:30 p.m.
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“Mom” (CBS) Thursday, Nov. 5 at 9 p.m.
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“Elementary” (CBS) Thursday, Nov. 5 at 10 p.m.
CBS
“Master of None” (Netflix) Friday, Nov. 6
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“MasterChef Junior” (Fox) Friday, Nov. 6 at 8 p.m.
Fox
“Flesh and Bone” (Starz) Sunday, Nov. 8
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“Chicago Med” (NBC) Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 10 p.m.
NBC
“Donny!” (USA) Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 10:30 p.m.
USA
“Into the Badlands” (AMC) Sunday, Nov. 15 at 10 p.m.
AMC
“The Man in the High Castle” (Amazon) Friday, Nov. 20
Amazon