Uhtred's (Alexander Dreymon) path is supposed to lead North to Bebbanburg but his attachment to Wessex has made that impossible. Winchester, the capital of Wessex and the home to Saxon kings, is expected to be the capital of the last kingdom, whether it will be just Wessex or a united England. However, Both Alfred and Edward lost it to Dane invasions, and Uhtred helped them get it back.
Despite the priceless sacrifice Uhtred has made for Winchester and Wessex, he hasn't received the only thing he wanted from Alfred, portrayed by The Last Kingdom proves that Winchester was the worst for Uhtred.
Uhtred: The Battle Of Edington
After the battle of Edington, Alfred knew he couldn't rule Wessex and repel other Dane invasions without Uhtred's sword. Alfred had lost Winchester just a few days after being crowned its king, a loss that would have been permanent if he didn't have Uhtred.
Guthrum's army with Young Ragnar's help successfully forced Alfred and his family into the Marshlands and Uhtred had to save the king who was disguised as a priest but still identified by the Danes. Uhtred had a place next to Ragnar in Guthrum's army, but he still gave up everything to help Alfred raise the great Saxon army to defeat Guthrum. After the victory, Alfred still didn't trust Uhtred because he wasn't as good a Christian as he wanted him to be.
Wessex: Uhtred's Debt To The Church
Uhtred's arranged marriage to Mildrith was fun but also tragic all thanks to Alfred. The surprise on Uhtred's face when he saw Mildrith's beauty was just priceless. The beauty was Alfred's trap for Uhtrd, but he didn't know it at the time. With two thousand shillings in debt to pay to the church, Uhtred's new estate actually belonged to the church.
Alfred had the right to forgive Uhtred the debt, but he saw it as a way of keeping him loyal, so he said, "I have my broth, and you have your debt." For a man who had just saved Wessex in the battle of Ashdown, Uhtred deserved way better than a lifetime of debt to the church.
Uhtred: Wareham
Uhtred's reunion with Young Ragnar and Brida was great until Guthrum started killing the Saxon hostages and Uhtred was next. Alfred sending in Uhtred as a hostage was the only hope for the Saxons to win the battle although they were not sure if Uhtred would remain loyal to Wessex. Young Ragnar standing up to Guthrum and defending Uhtred is the twist that saved the day.
However, after being saved by his Dane brother, Uhtred still sided with the Saxons and gave the signal to inform Alfred on the arrival of Ubba's forces. Uhtred also pulled off the perfect stunt to kill Ubba and weaken the Danes saving Wessex in the process although young Odda stole the credit for that.
Wessex: Punishment For Eadred's Death
Alfred had a chance to request Uhtred's service for Wessex on equal after saving him from the slavers because he had saved Wessex before but he wouldn't. Alfred chose to blackmail Uhtred over the death of Abbot Eadred by threatening to keep Ragnar and Brida in prison if he didn't swear his sword to Wessex once more.
Killing Eadred was wrong, but it was not bad because Eadred was a corrupt priest who wasn't a friend of the crown anyway. By forcing Uhtred into a lifetime of service to Wessex, Alfred denied him the chance to advance his dream of retaking Bebbanburg. His oath to Alfred also damaged his relationship with Ragnar and Brida forever.
Uhtred: Saving Lady Aethelflaed
Wessex was out of options on whether to pay a ransom or to let the Danes have their way with princess Aethelflaed played by Millie Brady. Erik also had the perfect plan for destroying Wessex if Alfred had paid the ransom as he was planning. With Odda leading a mutiny and Alfred overwhelmed with emotion, Uhtred was the only man that could save Wessex.
Uhtred managed to pull off the perfect rescue by causing a rift between the two brothers and leading Sigefrid and his army into a Saxon ambush that led to his death. Thanks to Uhtred, Wessex solved two major problems that day.
Wessex: Brother Godwine's Death
Aethelwold (Harry McEntire) was one of the most dangerous people in Wessex with his lies, causing trouble wherever he went. When he bribed Godwine to make Uhtred angry, he may have poisoned him too because the poor priest just collapsed to his death when Uhtred slapped him. It was obvious Uhtred was provoked and didn't intend to kill him, but Alfred threw reason through the window and decided to place a kill order on Uhtred.
While Uhred still saved Alfred's family even while outlawed, the kill order made it impossible for him to be accepted back in Wessex. Alfred also used that chance to take away Uhtred's children turning them against their father, a place Uhtred has found impossible to come out of.
Uhtred: The Battle Of Tettenhall
When Edward became king, everyone hoped he would be friendlier to Uhtred than his father was, but he wasn't. Edward also lost sight of his father's vision and wasn't willing to come to Aethelflaed's aid when Cnut invaded Mercia.
Uhtred came to the rescue once again when he used Cnut's children as leverage to bring the Vikings to Tettenhall where the Saxons had a better chance of beating him. Uhtred also used the opportunity avenger Ragnar, but he never got credit for his efforts as Edward chose to brood over Steapa's death rather than appreciate Uhtred's sacrifice.
Wessex: Rescinding Alfred's Pardon
When he was about to die, Alfred finally realized his mistake and granted Uhtred a pardon because he knew that Wessex couldn't survive without his sword. Uhtred also knew what was important and decided to stay until Edward was sworn as king, but Wessex didn't want him anymore.
Lady Aelswith and the rest of the Wessex Ealdom only saw Uhtred as a soulless Dane that couldn't be trusted. Aelswith renounced Alfred's pardon and put Uhtred in prison, preventing him from saving Thyra, the only living relative he had of his Dane family.
Uhtred: Negotiating With Sigtrygr
Sigtrygr is one of the smartest Dane Earls in the show so far and will probably make the long-awaited king of the Danes in the proceeding seasons of The Last Kingdom. With Brida's help, Sigtrygr managed to take over Winchester just like Guthrum, except he wouldn't get out to battle the Saxon army.
If Edward had left Mercia alone and took better care of Wessex, he wouldn't have lost it to Sigtrygr. Uhtred came in to save the king from his own mistakes, offering himself as a hostage in exchange for Edward's two sons. Uhtred's daughter Stiorra also made the final chip in the bargain for the Saxons to finally retake Wessex.
Wessex: Edward's Refusal To Help Uhtred Take Babbenburg
When Uhtred first swore his loyalty to Alfred, he was promised that Wessex would help him retake Babbenburg when the time finally came. However, the time never seems to come as battle after battle forces the lord of Babbenburg to stay in Wessex.
When Uhtred asked for men to help him retake his home from his weakened Uncle Aelfric, he more than deserved it, but Edward was too pompous to see that. Edward's selfishness forced Uhtred to go North on his own which nearly cost him his life and that of his son. Father Beocca (Ian Hart) who had been the advisor and friend to Alfred died in the process.