Seven Kings Must Die? His Fate Explained

Following the release of "The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die," RadioTimes.com interviewed both Uhtred actor Alexander Dreymon and screenwriter Martha Hillier about Uhtred's final moments. "I'm actually very happy with the way that it ends because there's that ambiguity," Dreymon said. "It's such a big thing for him to have that choice. To be able to decide: 'Do I stay with the people that I love here or do I stay with the people that I love there?' And ultimately, it's all going to be okay."

Dreymon, then, is arguing that the significance of the ending lies not in whether or not Uhtred lives, but the fact he's granted the agency to determine his own fate. Similarly, Hillier suggested that even the show's creators never decided upon an official ending to Uhtred's story, deciding, rather, if they believe that he lived or died on an individual basis.

That said, just prior to Uhtred's final moment on-screen, he promises the kingdom of Northumbria to King Aethelstan, finalizing the prophecy that seven kings must die for Aethelstan to become the king of all of England. Taking this prophecy literally, then, would require Uhtred's death. So, while his fate is ultimately up to individual viewers' interpretation, Uhtred's death has a logical basis, while his survival might conflict with the prophecy referenced in the film's title.