Uhtred’s conflicted loyalties have been the basis of the story throughout The Last Kingdom with his love for both the Danes and the Saxons creating allies and enemies on both sides. Taken by the Danes at a young age, the first books and seasons of the series show the strength of Uhtred’s loyalties to what he considers his family, the Danes. When Uhtred begins his quest to reclaim Bebbanburg, however, he finds his loyalties challenged as he builds bonds and discovers allies and friends among the Saxons as well.

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By the time Uhtred reclaims Bebbanburg in The Last Kingdom season 5, he has suffered many losses, his pain felt keenly no matter the label of Dane or Saxon. In the series finale’s last moments, Uhtred is seen reflecting on those he has lost, allowing the viewer a moment of closure as well, as he re his childhood friend, turned lover, turned enemy Brida, the Saxon King Alfred, Uhtred’s wife Gisela, his great love, Aethelflaed, and many others that were so important to his journey. One face that is missing from the montage, however, is that of Uhtred’s close friend and fellow warrior, Osferth.

A key character in Uhtred’s journey and the history chronicled in The Last Kingdom, Osferth is not only one of Uhtred’s closest friends, but also King Alfred’s illegitimate son. He petitions to Uhtred and fight alongside him in season 2 and is soon thereafter nicknamed, “Baby Monk,” and, though he is not a skilled warrior and Uhtred initially only agrees to his company to embarrass Alfred, Osferth soon proves himself a courageous warrior and loyal friend. This is why, by The Last Kingdom season 5, after four seasons of companionship, Osferth’s death during the raid at Rumcofa devastates Uhtred in episode five, yet, Osferth is notably absent in the montage five episodes later.

One could argue this is because Uhtred was not present for Osferth’s death, as the scenes included in the montage were all experiences Uhtred had first-hand. However, there were other deaths that Uhtred was not present for, but were still given proper homage in season 5 finale. For instance, Uhtred did not witness the murder of his lover Iseult in season 1, but her death is marked in the montage by Skorpa bringing Uhtred her head. Likewise, Uhtred was absent for the death of his infant son by Mildrith but is seen in the montage digging up the child’s grave and cradling the boy’s body in his arms. No such weight is given to Osferth, however, whose tragic ing is marked with only a fleeting clip of Finan and Uhtred embracing in grief, a scene that requires not only a thorough knowledge of the season but is over far too quickly. Given that Osferth was one of Uhtred’s closest and most loyal friends, as well as being the fallen King Alfred’s son, his omission in The Last Kingdom’s ending montage is all the more surprising.