The Last Kingdom With Mary & Blake: A Podcast For The Last Kingdom

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die. We discuss why the film doesn't miss a beat as it relates to feeling like the show, why there is some major plot yoga in order to create an arc for Uhtred, and why Mary apparently doesn't know this difference between facts and FAQs...

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.10. We discuss subverting expectations, why the battle for Bebbanburg was perfectly constructed, and why we Finan might have a competitor for Mary's heart...

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.09. We discuss the difficulty of turning characters into likable figures, why we're willing to look past some writerly convenience for the sake of emotionality, and why Mary was once told she looked like an M&M...

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.08. We discuss the "big breath in", why Aethelhelm is right (from a certain point of view), and why Finan is totally a Gilmore Girls fan...

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.07. We discuss the visual language of the final shot, why Edward has been a grey character all season, and why Mary is having a major existential crisis...

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.06. We discuss why this episode feels like it's moving chess pieces instead of having characters make real choices, why we don't care ONE OUNCE about Aelfwynn, and why Sylvester Stallone is getting divorced because of his dog.  Trust me, you don't want to miss the last 15 minutes of this episode...

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.05. We discuss horror working better when you don't see it, the Brida headfake, and why Haesten might be the first person to ever follow "The Secret"

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.04. We discuss the moral gray area for our characters, contrasting the affect of death on faith, and why Combos are the crown jewel of road trips.

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.03 We discuss manufacturing plot to continue the story, if Uhtred is being a good dad, and why Vebeke is definitely not on the track team

Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Episode 5.02 We discuss discuss the horror element found in Alexander Dreymon's directing, why we can whistle past the logic graveyard for Aethelflaed's choice, and why Brida's creepy kid needs to get a toy.

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Season 5 Pemiere - Episode 5.01 We discuss the value of building out the emotional connection of your story world, if Brida is redeemable, and why Finan and Sigtryggyr would totally have a secret handshake...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episodes 4.09 + 4.10. We discuss the narrative cohesion of this season, why Sigtryggyr was a delightful subversion of expectations, and why father Pyrlig is your 98 year old grandmother at Thanksgiving...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episodes 4.07 + 4.08. We discuss the contradicting narrative pressures making a unique and welcome environment for the show, how the cell scene drips with gorgeous symbolism, and why Sigtryggyr is Kevin McCallister and Bill Weasley combined...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episodes 4.05 + 4.06. We discuss the need for ironic characterization, terrific sound design and cinematography, and why Eadith is trying her best to recreate White Fang...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 4.04. We discuss passing the baton to a newer cast of characters, why television is best when it lives in the moral grey area, and why Mary has basically employed a witch to sage our house...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 4.03. We discuss "ending fatigue", finally feeling something for Aethelflaed and Uhtred, and why Father Pyrlig is Taco Bell...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 4.02. We discuss exposition disguised as dramatic irony, why Uhtred doesn't feel like he's got a real plan, and why poor Ecgwynn is like Edith from Downton Abbey...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Season 4 premiere, episode 4.01. We discuss the differences between showrunners, character equity, and why Brida is basically Susan Surandon in Step Mom.

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Season 3 finale, episode 3.10. We discuss the overall arc of the season, why Stephen Butchard may have chosen to leave the show, and why Aelswith needs to take up Sourdough bread baking...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 3.09. We discuss why this might be the episode of The Last Kingdom yet, if the show did the Thyra conflict correctly, and why we're taking our shirts off and making bad decisions together....

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 3.08. We discuss the widening texture of theme, if Aelswith is a likeable character, and why Skade finally gets the world famous "Outstanding" honor...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 3.07. We discuss the the use of rhyming visual cues, staying in Uhtred's POV to ensure narrative cohesion, and why Finan would definitely take his method acting VERY seriously...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 3.06. We discuss the narrative lynchpin of mysticism, why Uhtred seems to have finally matured, and why Blake's new Edward voice will become a permanent staple of this podcast going forward...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 3.05. We discuss cliffhangers and narrative, we add a new Mary & Blake commandment, and why Haesten just needs a Popeye's...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 3.04. We discuss the value of blowing up your plot for the sake of story, how the bookends frame the emotional stakes of this episode, and we discuss our Thanksgiving Day food power rankings...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 3.03. We discuss the artful composition in the direction of each shot, the importance of choice and how that should drive narrative, and why Mary's in a horrible mood...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Season episode 3.02. We discuss Uhtred's guilt over his choices, the show finally getting weird with it, and if Ragnar would be a fan of Korean BBQ...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Season 3 premiere -- episode 3.01. We discuss the formulaic premiere, why the show needs to get weird with it, and why Finnan has to be a bad kisser.

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Season 2 finale -- episode 2.08. We discuss tying the shows plot to the narrative strength of emotion, if Odda was a traitor, and why Aethelflaed's life was changed when Green Day's "Dookie" came out.

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 2.07. We discuss the the exquisite use of choice and stakes, the sign of great dialogue between Alfred and Odda, and why Erik and Aethelflaed are going to sell Pina Colodas in Hawaii...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 2.06. We discuss the important use of contrasts in the narrative, why every single line in a story must have purpose, and why Gisela is totally the Pippa...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 2.05. We discuss the benefit and burden of having a three year time jump, Erik and Sigfried's long con, and why this episode is the TV equivalent of Seafood Chowder...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 2.04. We discuss why this feels like a season finale, why the narrative must take a time jump, and why Ragnar probably needed to take a 20 second time out...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 2.03. We discuss the importance of vulnerability and translating vulnerability, being a turning point in storytelling, and why Uhtred is the "New Emily"....

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 2.02. We discuss the excellent use of contrasting theme, burning through plot but staying focused on character, and why there must be so much scoliosis in that walking army.

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Season 2 premiere-- episode 2.01. We discuss the odd editing choices for the premiere, Roger from Outlander, and why Uhtred likes anything if it has a pulse.

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom Season 1 finale -- episode 1.08. We discuss the thematic resolution of season 1, the merits of having only one writer for an entire season, and why Alfred is no Mel Gibson...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 1.07. We discuss the clear direction of action, rising tension in faith vs. religion, and why Aelswith is a cheap imitation of Tuffnut from How To Train Your Dragon...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 1.06. We discuss the intentional inclusion of sorcery, specific use visual language of story transition, and why Mildrith should go to Maine and be a Blueberry Farmer.

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 1.05. We discuss the superb direction, mirroring justice scenes, and Mary unexpectedly drops 4 "Destined To Be" Theories Of The Week...

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 1.04. We discuss why Young Odda is going to be a major problem, trusting the audience, and why Mildreth definitely bakes the best Blueberry muffins in all of Wessex..

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 1.03. We discuss the purposeful step back in pace, deciding if Uhtred is heroic or just selfish, and why King Alfred desperately wants to be Jonathan Taylor Thomas

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom episode 1.02. We discuss the frantic pace of 1.02, why Brida is an incredible character already, and why THAT stick is going to do a lot more damage than you'd think.

The Last Kingdom Hosts Mary & Blake chat about The Last Kingdom series premiere, episode 1.01. We discuss the impactful use of bookends, serving as a near perfect first episode of a series, and why Sven is the absolute worst...