#TLK every episode

[emilyhufflepufftlk]

THE LAST KINGDOM | 5.05

[aelswiths]

AELSWITH (ripping my heart out and destroying me 😭😭) IN 1x07

[synintheraven]

My baby 🥺

[transfinan]

Try and tell me this boy isn't wearing lipgloss

[mask-of-prime]

TLG: As You Move Forward

So I went a few months thinking about how I'd forgotten to include Makini to my past depictions of Kion's Guard as adults (1, 2), so I decided to celebrate the 4th anniversary (albeit 2 days late :p) of the Journey of Memories episode by finally showing off the adult design I have for her!

Because I'm still salty about TLG's last-minute decision in making Makini the Mjuzi of the Night Pride instead of Kiara's bestie like Season 2 hyped her up to be, I made a compromise by headcanoning that she frequently journeys back-and-forth between the Pridelands and the Tree of Life, especially when she's called over by each land for a ceremony of some kind.

Design Process:

To avoid making her look too much like a clone of her mother Fikiri, I figured that Makini would develop her dad Kitendo's features as she grew older (I think she's about 20-something in this image). It's kind of a thing for TLG to erroneously depict animals without their distinct sexual dimorphism (see: Mbuni the ostrich), but this time, I felt like embracing Makini's unusual bright colors for a female mandrill and make her look a little androgynous. I feel like it would fit her role as a Mjuzi for some reason lol

I figured the Bakora Staff she received at the Tree of Life would be her last new one as she's since learned to keep better track of it. I like to think that it symbolizes not only growth and learning, but it coming from the Tree of Life symbolizing that her true place is there.

In all that time she's owned it, being the crafty artist she is, she's put years of customization and souvenirs from her back-and-forth Pridelands/Tree of Life adventures into her decorating her staff, selecting just about every pretty flower and naturally-occurring bead she saw. I mainly sought out the idea of people bedazzling their canes for reference, she seems like the type to do that, making just about anything she owns pretty lol

Drawing Process:

ngl I got to work on this very much like that episode where Makini procrastinated on getting started on her portrait of Simba's family. I just, like... really struggled with the composition until I was hit with sudden inspiration to just go wherever my hand took me.

I grabbed a thumbnail sketch of my adult Makini design that I was the most happy with and rendered it digitally and was happy that it got me somewhere... then I ran into the background that I didn't put any thought into.

Because of the cropping and composition I already had going on with Makini's standalone model, it was very hard to come up with something she could be surrounded by, until I decided to insert some headcanons about a certain new TLG-related short Disney released. Basically: I headcanon Makini made those Circle of Life paintings that Kion shows to those younger cubs as I think the style they used in those paintings looks WAY different from Rafiki's (I mean the whole video looks different from the whole TLK art style). You can't tell me those purple pigments and cutesy flowers aren't something Makini would draw everywhere lol

Sources of Inspiration:

Sadly not pictured due to the angle and cropping is the headcanon that she paints her nails all the time, and she's always trying different color combos basically every week lol. I adopted that headcanon from iceflowerglow, who depicts Makini with painted nails in their comic "Shining Above Your Head". Other artists I drew inspiration from were Vtoony's "TLG: Kion's Guard" and tango_fizz.le's "Where'd all the time go?" when it came to designing her fully-developed mane.

[errruvande]

I love how people under that interview with Ewan and Phia are all like "is destiny is all from that TLK show?" not realizing that it's THE line from TLK lmao

The line we hear in each and every episode

I love that

[justasightseer]

We're finally at the end of the countdown! Thank you all so much for engaging with my posts, this has been so much fun to do and I've loved every minute of it!

I think I've pretty much posted every piece of media I have of TLK (there are a few screenshots but they're probably contained in some of the gorgeous GIFs that are made by you very talented folk) but seeing as Seven Kings comes out TOMORROW, it's probably time to draw this to a close.

For the last day, I had to bring back the iconic scene of Sigtryggr being PEAK husband material 💜. Eys's acting really made this scene, it gave me chills tbh. Also can't forget that this episode was directed by Alexander Dreymon, an absolutely gorgeous directorial debut!

Special mention to Finan being super stressed but what else is new on this show lmaoo.

[queenofcarrion]

I watched season 2 episode 1 finally and my thoughts on harald x freydis season 1 are:

My all time fave eternal beloveds are (tlk) Stiorra and Sigtryggr but they don’t get much opportunity to share humor and they’re story is 😭. The way Harald x Freydis are so honest, playful and different to every other romance is appealing to me.

I think Harald falls fast for Freydis, and for the Greenlanders as his mates, because their lack of reverence for him, and their honesty appeals to him. I know he tells Canute it’s Leif’s courage that draws him to him but I think it’s more than that.

Harald wears his heart on his sleeve so I think he loves that honesty of Freydis calling bullshit on his I’m a prince “… great grandson of Harold Finehair” etc bullshit.

She is a Greenlander and an outsider, so even the low key formalities of Norway are not her style. She knows a rich entitled kid when she sees one, but to Harald’s credit he just falls harder for her the more she mocks him (is that healthy? I don’t know, lol)

Extra: I love Freydis. She just shows up, bangs a prince, joins Haakon’s warriors, cuts off her enemy’s head, saves her dude, no fucks given.

Freydis is fucking badass. I think having her show up and save Harald at the end of season 1 was so cool and reminded me of Lagertha and I loved that. Thank you tv world for giving us strong female warrior leads.

“You’re no longer a hunter, you’re a warrior.”

Yeah, and…?

Love it.

But then Harald tells the Greenlanders’ story and makes her cry and I’m like 🥹🥰😍 yay for love. I love watching her fall for him.

Anyway, those are my thoughts for anyone who is interested xo

Ps. I did not expect to like this spin off at all. I thought my Vikings days were over, but man has this sucked me in.

Pps. I am also still grieving hard for Stiorra x Sigtryggr. Srsly man. I need to stop with the falling in love with these fake dudes.

[pizacat72]

what are your thoughts on tlk1, tlk2 and tlg? how much do you like each of them?

ooh good question!!! lemme see here. putting this under a keep reading bc it long

TLK is definitely far and away the best out of all of em. God the visuals!!! Each shot is a definite masterpiece. Each scene vitally important to the film as a whole. The best scenes in the movie imo are Mufasa and Simba roughhousing and Mufasa's ghost speaking to Simba. Each emotional beat in those scenes just hits me in the feels every fucking time. Oh, and the music. It's simply impossible to discuss TLK without the music! Each song number is catchy and fun. The Circle of Life sets my soul on fire every fucking time. I Just Can't Wait to Be King and Hakuna Matata are my fucking anthems. Can You Feel the Love Tonight is sweet and romantic, with the funny bits with Timon and Pumbaa being the cherry on top. Even tho Be Prepared is my least favorite song in the movie, that doesn't mean it's a bad song. It's only my least favorite bc I don't resonate with it as much but it's still one hell of a banger. Also this movie arguably has the most recognizable leitmotifs ever. Mufasa's leitmotif is grand, majestic, and tragic when he dies. Simba's leitmotif is hope filled, inspiring, and awesome, especially at the end of the movie. The musical score is amazing. We Are All Connected, Kings of the Past, and The Rightful King are easily my top 3 movie score pieces of all time. I just. There's so much to unpack and I just aaaaaaaa it's my very favorite movie of all time!!!

While TLK2 obviously isn't at quite the same level, it's still a worthy sequel in its own right. The animation is still pretty good, the characters are fairly solid and the music is still mostly catchy as hell (that said, Upendi is definitely the cheesiest song in the whole movie and I definitely could do without it). I think Adult Simba's characterization is the strongest without a doubt here. Matthew Broderick's enraged shout of "Exile!" gets me every time. He's still wrestling with being like his father. Oh and Kiara is arguably my favorite TLK female character of all time and is probably my second favorite TLK character next to Cub Simba. Her compassion and wisdom really draw parallels with that of her grandfather and I headcanon that she sort of felt his presence guiding her as she fell in love with Kovu. Oh, He Lives in You and We Are One are my favorite songs of the movie. There's a spirituality to them that I really can't ignore (i'm a bit reluctant to go into my spiritual beliefs on tumblr bc of religious trauma and also i think i'll probably get lambasted haha).

TLG is a mixed bag for me. The chemistry between the characters in the first two seasons was pretty solid. The music is excellent as always, Zuka Zama being my favorite. The antagonists were pretty awesome too, especially Reirei. God, I love her. I also really appreciate that this show doesn't forget about its side characters and most of them make at least two appearences in the show, which I do appreciate. I also liked the little parallel shot references to TLK (in a youtube video seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s0EYqMIR58&t=13s). However, Simba's characterization here really bugged me. Especially in the Savannah Summit episode where he basically tells Kion that he ruined it. He feels more like Kion's boss than his father. While I am able to headcanon that as him throwing himself into his royal duties to protect his family, I do wish he had at least a slight bit of chill. I also was bugged about Kiara wanting to be queen, which kind of skewed her desire to not be queen in TLK2 but honestly, I kind of chalk that up to writers forgetting her previous characterization briefly. Oh and ZURI. I fucking hate Zuri. Whose fucking idea was it to give a lion cub eyeshadow? She's irritating, unbearable, and simply unlikeable. I used to hate Tiifu but The Underground Adventure redeemed her in my eyes so she's cool with me now. Also, not a huge fan of Kion talking to Mufasa so easily. I just think it kind of ruins the whole mystique and majesty about the Lions of the Past. Season 3 was also pretty rough but I think I've complained about TLG too much already so I'll stop for now.

(gonna make a separate post about TLK 1.5 bc that movie is probably the best TLK sequel imo but yeah haha)

[snowblack-charcoalwhite]

For the character ask game: Osferth + 22, Finan + 12, Sihtric + 10, Uhtred + 25 ⚔️❤️‍🔥 Love hearing your opinions on TLK, they are always so well thought-out 😊

Thank you for the ask! It made me realize that I actually miss the boys already, and not just them:)

22. If you're a fic reader, what's something you like in fics when it comes to ths character? Something you don't like? - for Osferth

*slowly realizing that I actually haven`t read a single TLK fanfic🙈* However, I think I can say what I would and wouldn`t like about baby monk`s characterization.

Firstly, oversexualization is a no for me. The temptation is understandable (well, he`s played by Ewan, and there is a pretty much formed trope of the shyest one of the group turning out to be a sex giant) but it`s definitely not something I`d like to see turned into a trend.

Secondly, I`d like Osferth to be respected as a character (as in not to be treated like a piece of furniture). While techically he could seem to be 100% replaceable, it doesn`t feel that way from an emotional point of view. For his friends Osferth is an oasis of gentleness and calmness in the troubled and tumultuous world; a great reminder that even a man with a sword in hand could still be pure and warm; a reminder that they don`t have to kill the kindness inside them to survive. Not to mention that loyalty is a remarkable quality for a human being, and Osferth had enough of it for a few men.

12. What's a headcanon you have for this character? - for Finan

Finan is a great storyteller! He`s created a million tales in his head, and a great many of them have his friends as protagonists. Sometimes the tales are about Uhtred, Sihtric and Osferth as themselves, sometimes he turns them into animals or some magical creatures. The endings to quite a few of his stories may change depending on his mood; but either way boredom is not something his children should feel threatened by:)

10. Could you be best friends with this character? - for Sihtric

I`m not sure about the "best" part, but friends - I think yes! I like his caring and protective nature, combined with fierceness and a quick mind - and I hope he could appreciate my seriousness, especially if we are talking about older Sihtric. Young one could probably find me lame😂 (too indecisive or cautious for his liking, probably). Although I had a school friend who used to nag me a lot about overthinking things, and we still got along just fine:)

25. What was your first impression of this character? How about now? - for Uhtred

Damn, you definitely knew who to assign this question to, didn`t you?:) Uhtred's character development in the show was freakin` exemplary. In early episodes (first five or so) he was royally pissing me off, in an "I want to hit him over the head with something heavy" and "What a dumbass" kind of way. His recklessness and impulsiveness were driving me up the wall. But even then I had a feeling that it was how it was supposed to be, so I tried to contain my irritation and not judge him too harshly. And did it pay off! By the end I was totally ready to join Uhtred on pretty much any quest he could choose to take on - and not because I started to see him as a some kind of ideal, flawless man. It was the way one could see and feel every loss, every gain, every person that touched him leaving a mark in his soul, teaching him a lesson, driving him forward, for better or for worse.

[deandoesthingstome]

@mayloma - This may be the oddest birthday celebration ever.

A) It's me giving, not receiving and B) It's not about HC.

But you made a comment and I have free time, so I'm going to try to gather up a few TLK posts and recs for you.

I'm not sure if you are looking for canon, AU's, fix-it, etc, or who your main blorbos are. If it's not apparent from anything you've seen on my dash, Finan has my heart with Sihtric in close second place. I never read the books, so all my knowledge comes from the show.

Because I'm not very active in TLK anymore, I don't really know who is still here, writing, etc. You know how it goes when fandom flames dwindle on one or the other side...

Under the cut to save those who aren't here for it.

Finan

You've already seen me rec where our pieces fall in place, (not that I'll pass up an opportunity to rec it again), but I'll also draw your attention to this sweet little number by @anotherwinchesterfangirl showing Finan falling for Ingrith: watch her take me by surprise Liz isn't around Tumblr much anymore at all, and her tastes skew away from TLK more often than not, but it's a nice little treat.

Need more Finan, but maybe with Eadith this time? @superprincesspea has Winchester's Finest (that he is), @emilyhufflepufftlk has all you had to do was stay, and Jade_Masquerade on AO3 has the alter is my hips (anyone recognize that phrase? yeah, it's so good).

Finan and Reader? @lady-writes20 has We Are Bound, @i-jus-wanna-writehappy has Handful.

Finan and OC? @lauwrite1225 gave us stuck between our heartbeats (Tumblr link to AO3) and @magravenwrites has A Good Place To Start, while @persephones-journey jumped him forward in time with As The Gods Make It.

Sihtric

Sihtic more to your liking? @solinarimoon fed that need for me with Liquid Courage and her Wildflowers Series

Back to Both I Guess?

I can't leave out this LOVE I left for some of the TLK crew last year.

And, last, but certainly not least, is @itbmojojoejo. Mojo is a little bit of a double threat because she is a GIF creator (and re-capturing ALL of Finan's scenes one episode at a time and I drown in drool a little bit every time she posts over on @mojosdumpingground) AND she has created this amazing and wonderful Mafia!AU with an OC in a bit of a love triangle with Finan and Sihtric and I'm really really really hoping the muse is waking up to help her finish this series: Crimes of Passion. I need to know who she ends up with!!!

Okay, like I said: Happy Birthday to me.

[emilyhufflepufftlk]

THE LAST KINGDOM | 5.06

[aelswiths]

Aelswith (looking hot as fuck) in 4x01

For @jeynepoole and @kingslionheart

[ewanmitchellcrumbs]

Do you think we'll ever see Ewan in something where he's like the main character. I know we had/have TLK and HOTD but something more than a few minutes?

He's in every single episode of season two of House of the Dragon, so definite main character for that! I don't expect we'll see his career really start to "take off" until Aemond snuffs it, as filming for HotD is quite intensive and doesn't leave a lot of time for larger projects.

[coulsonlives]

Today I learned that Disney's Lion King did not, in fact, rip off Kimba the White Lion.

If you go on youtube, you'll see a lot of videos comparing Kimba to Lion King, and generally claiming that Kimba ripped off Lion King. And they show a bunch of footage from Kimba. But the footage of Kimba that they use? It's from the 1997 Kimba movie.

See where I'm going with this?

Yeah..

The Lion King was released in 1994! That's three whole years before Kimba was released. Three whole years before all that 'similar footage' came out.

The Lion King couldn't rip off a movie that came out 3 years after it. On top of it, there's been a lot of attention-grabbing misinformation on twitter and stuff, with zero corroborating sources. I guess just to ride the 'Disney Sucks' train because they know it gets views?

And any other comparison footage from Kimba is just coincidental, super, super misrepresented.. Or its relevance in the overall show is blown out of proportion. Kimba has thousands of minutes of video footage from its properties, they have tons of scenes where different characters use their surroundings, do certain things, etc which kinda makes it nearly impossible for The Lion King to even show animals doing things without sometime, somewhere, being compared to something that happened in Kimba.

That scene where 'Kimba shoves a villain off a cliff' is taken from multiple different Kimba releases, and cut together to look like a remake of TLK's ending. That's why the villain lion changes colour in some of the shots lol.

Even the comparisons between the characters are dumb. The birds are nothing alike, and the hyenas in Kimba are just stereotypical villains with no personality. The villain lion dude pops up in like <10 episodes out of dozens and dozens of episodes and is just designed that way because villain tropes.

Tezuka productions, as a reply to peoples' claims that Disney ripped em off, has even come out to say 'they understand if you set a movie in Africa, there's a limited number of animal types (like birds hyenas etc) you can use'.

Literally, every single claim about The Lion King copying Kimba is manipulated to make a fake point.

So.. Y'all, we have been hardcore tricked!

This is the most damning first six minutes of a youtube video I've ever seen, the rest of the video is great too.

[errruvande]

Still in the whole 5 seasons of TLK the moment I always end up crying like a wounded little girl while watching is Ragnar killing Kjartan

It's so powerful yet miserable, it's pure pain and insanity, Ragnar losing his mind cause "killing him was not enough and can never be"

Them both with Uhtred almost crying, cause Thyra hates them for giving up on her, when they didn't know she was alive for the most of the time

This episode turns me into a miserable pathetic ghoul every time I watch it