Summary
The 2023 Netflix movieSeven Kings Must Dieattempted to endThe Last Kingdom’s story on a suitably epic note, yet while many characters received satisfying send-offs, I can’t help but feel that one major player still needs their own series. Although she didn’t become prominent until later inThe Last Kingdom’s five-season run, Uhtred’s daughter Stiorra was a significant presence in the story. Not only did she enhance Uhtred’s narrative journey, but she stood out in her own right as a strong female character with plenty to contribute. And yet, despite her status, Stiorra was swept aside when it came to the movie.
Although she was still very much on the scene atthe end ofThe Last Kingdom, Stiorra did not feature at all inSeven Kings Must Die. Given thatThe Last Kingdommovie had an incredibly stacked castof characters, simultaneously incorporating figures from the show and introducing several new faces, it’s perhaps understandable that the movie made cuts where it could. However, for me, Stiorra feels like a glaring omission. Not only has her season 5 arc been left incomplete, butthe show missed the chance to adapt her heartbreaking storylinefrom the original Bernard Cornwell novels – something a Stiorra spin-off could yet rectify.
Stiorra Would Be Great For A Last Kingdom Spinoff
She Was One Of The Show’s Most Compelling Characters
As one of the younger generation ofLast Kingdomcharacters, Stiorra is ideally placed to lead a spinoff series. Season 5 already proved that she is more than capable of shouldering a dramatic storyline, with her and Sigtryggyr’s conflict with Edward forming a cornerstone of the show’s narrative, butshe is the perfect character to continue Uhtred’s legacy. The pair’s strong personalities often clashed, partly because of how similar father and daughter actually are, and she is in many ways Uhtred’s natural successor after hisSeven Kings Must Diedeath.
However, perhaps the most compelling argument for a return in aLast Kingdomspinoff is that Stiorra’s story is still ongoing.After Sigtryggyr’s heartbreaking death in season 5, Stiorra seemed destined to strike out on her own and forge her own path, potentially becoming a major player in English politics. And yet, she was entirely absent from the movie’s story, raising the obvious question of what happened to her onceThe Last Kingdomended. I, for one, would love to learn how her father and husband’s fates shaped her future and how she might carry Uhtred’s mantle into Aethelstan’s reign.
What Happened To England After Uhtred’s The Last Kingdom Death (Did Alfred’s Dream Survive?)
The Last Kingdom finishes with the Battle of Brunanburgh and Aethelstan’s ascension as King of England. This was just the start of England’s story.
What Happened To Stiorra?
The Books Provide A Template For A Spinoff
The issue ofwhat happened to Stiorra afterSeven Kings Must DieandThe Last Kingdomis made more complicated by the adaptation’s deviation from the source material. Although the show spins a compelling narrative (and arguably made Stiorra an even more central presence than in the novels) there were several changes to her original story. For one thing,the show never shows Stiorra and Sigtryggyr’s children dying of plague– a harrowing episode inThe Saxon Storiesthat has a profound effect on her character. However, the biggest Stiorra change concerns her death.
In the books, Stiorra actually died before her husband – a moment that has seismic emotional implications for Sigtryggyr and Uhtred. Unlike in the show,the literary version of Stiorra is left to defend Eoforwic alone against Sigtryggyr’s uncle, the villainous Skoll. Although both Uhtred and Sigtryggyr race back to Eoforwic to save her, they are too late. It is a profound moment that, as a reader, particularly resonated with me, as it is yet another example of the brutality ofThe Last Kingdom’s world and is a particularly traumatic episode for Uhtred.
It Would End Up Being Very Different
Given that her novel and television series fates are very different, there is clearly scope for a Stiorra spin-off series to explore the conflict between her and Skoll. I’d love to see a show that both explores her life post-Uhtred and Sigtryggyr, yet ends in the same tragic way – answering ongoing questions left byThe Last KingdomandSeven Kings Must Diewhile honoring her narrative arc from the original novels. It’s easy to imagine, for instance, howa one-season spinoff could see Stiorra continuing Uhtred’s legacy(perhaps defending Eoforwic on behalf of Aethelstan) before dying in the same way as she does on the page.
One alternative could be to set Stiorra’s story betweenThe Last Kingdomseason 5 andSeven Kings Must Die, in which case Uhtred himself could still appear.
Of course, such a spinoff would be unavoidably different from Stiorra’s original story. In the novels,her death is most notable for the way in which it affects Uhtred– something that would fundamentally change if a Stiorra spinoff was set afterSeven Kings Must Die. One alternative could be to set Stiorra’s story betweenThe Last Kingdomseason 5 andSeven Kings Must Die, in which case Uhtred himself could still appear. This would potentially allow for Stiorra’s death to be just as impactful as it was in the books (and retrospectively explain her absence in the movie).
Considering the approachSeven Kings Must Dieultimately took, it makes sense that Stiorra was ignored in favor of other characters. However, now that audiences know where Uhtred’s story ends, there’s a great opportunity to revisit other aspects ofThe Last Kingdomthat haven’t yet been adequately explained. Even if it means revisiting old storylines, I think a proper resolution is the least that Stiorra deserves.
