To Kingdom Come: A Guide to Netflix’s ‘Kingdom’ and ‘The Last Kingdom’

Let me lay out a scenario. You’re stuck inside and scrolling through Netflix in search of something to help you forget that you’re stuck inside and scrolling through Netflix, and the algorithm gives you a choice:

You’ve got warriors with swords strapped to their backs. You’ve got the word “kingdom.” Promising so far! But which should you watch? Both have released new seasons since you started self-isolating. Both are classified as violent period pieces, and both are rated TV-MA for, among other attributes, language and gore. Both are shot and produced outside the United States. Both have been dubbed the “perfect” show to binge after finishing Game of Thrones. This isn’t helping you pick. So you seek the wisdom of crowds, but both boast 90-plus percent critic scores and 95-plus percent audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes. Maybe IMDb user ratings will set the two apart? Nope! Both 8.4.

Can you see yourself facing this extremely specific scenario? Have you heard of both shows—even if it was only a paragraph ago—and wondered which you’d prefer? Are you currently crying, “My kingdom for a Kingdom guide?”

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