From my blog...

Category Archives: Review

THE LAST KINGDOM 2, Episode 4

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Patricia

WE ARE HERE TO DO ALFRED’S BIDDING The title I’ve given this episode distills, I think, the moving force – not only in this episode, but in the entire series. Uhtred is the hero of the story, but the larger background … Read More →

Posted in Review, The Last Kingdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Last Kingdom, Episode 8: The Battle of Edington

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Patricia

878 A.D. In the seventh week after Easter King Alfred rode to Ecbryht’s Stone…All those of Somerset came to meet him, and those of Wiltshire and Hampshire…they were glad of his coming. ..He went from that camp…to Edington, and there … Read More →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, History, Review, The Last Kingdom, UK, Vikings | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Last Kingdom, Episode Five: Uhtred vs Ubba

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Patricia

Alternate Title: UHTRED vs UBBA, ODDA 1, ODDA2, ALFRED, LEOFRIC, MILDRITH, OSWALD…oh heck. UHTRED vs EVERYBODY Episode 5 begins with shipwreck and concludes with a very different kind of wreck. In between, our hero Uhtred covers a lot of ground … Read More →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, Books, Review, The Last Kingdom, UK, Vikings | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Last Kingdom, Episode 3: The New King of Wessex

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Patricia

Despite the fact that the main character of Bernard Cornwell’s books is our hero Uhtred, it is Alfred who is the focal character of this episode. Everything and everyone revolves around him, and actor David Dawson does a spectacular job … Read More →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, History, Review, The Last Kingdom, UK, Vikings | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Review: The Ceremony of Innocence, a play written in 1968 by Ronald Ribman

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Patricia

It is Christmas Eve in the year 1013. The king of England, Ethelred, has retired to a cell in a monastery on the Isle of Wight. He is mournful, despairing, and self-exiled from his court and kingdom due to remorse … Read More →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, Art, History, Research, Review, Theatre, UK, Vikings | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Vikings 3, Episode X: THE DEAD

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Patricia

I cannot possibly write a review of this episode without including spoilers. So, if you do not want to know how Season 3 of The Vikings ends, please leave the room now. Are they gone? Right. In this episode King … Read More →

Posted in History, History Vikings Review, Review, Vikings | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Vikings 3, Episode IX: BREAKING POINT

Posted on April 19, 2015 by Patricia

A king is for glory, not for long life. Old Viking saying. The final image of the previous episode, ‘TO THE GATE’, is of a badly injured Ragnar vowing to conquer Paris. In this episode, the first image is, again, … Read More →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, History, History Vikings Review, Review, Vikings | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vikings 3, Episode VIII: TO THE GATE

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Patricia

“Paris,” Ragnar confides in a soliloquy to Athelstan near the end of this episode, “is everything you told me it would be.” As he promised, Ragnar has taken his fleet — and us — to Paris. More precisely, as this … Read More →

Posted in History, History Vikings Review, Review, Vikings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Vikings 3, Episode VII: PARIS

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Patricia

In this week’s episode of the Vikings we have two story lines running side by side. In Frankia, Ragnar’s fleet arrives outside Paris. In England, King Ecbert introduces us to the word Bretwalda, and sends his son Æthelwulf to negotiate … Read More →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, History, History Vikings Review, Review, Vikings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Vikings 3, Episode VI: BORN AGAIN

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Patricia

This week, an open letter to series writer, Michael Hirst. WARNING: SPOILERS! Dear Mr. Hirst, I have a bone to pick with you. Don’t worry, I am not going to call you out for going all George R. R. Martin … Read More →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, History, History Vikings Review, Review, UK, Vikings | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments