Right now you can watch The Last Kingdom in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix — and it moves faster than most of the genre's competition. Every one of its 5 seasons holds up. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Alexander Dreymon is the obvious draw, but the supporting cast gives the action its context. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Last Kingdom is worth clearing space for. The set pieces are impressive, but it is the story underneath them that gives The Last Kingdom its staying power. A show of heroic deeds and epic battles with a thematic depth that embraces politics, religion, warfare, courage, love, loyalty and our universal search for identity. Combining real historical figures and events with fictional characters, it is the story of how a people combined their strength under one of the most iconic kings of history in order to reclaim their land for themselves and build a place they call home. Alexander Dreymon and Eliza Butterworth lead a cast that gives the action real stakes. It ran for 5 seasons (2015–2022), and the writing holds up across every one of them. The action sequences are expensive-looking without drawing attention to their own budget — they serve the story rather than interrupting it. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

Action fans who want craft and story alongside the spectacle will find exactly that in The Last Kingdom. Fans of Vikings will recognise the sensibility here immediately. A contained run means every episode is doing real work. Alexander Dreymon anchors the chaos with real screen presence. Every set piece here is doing more than one job at once.

The Last Kingdom wrapped up in 2022, created by Stephen Butchard — and 5 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.