The Essex Serpent is one of many recent book-to-tv adaptations to hit a streaming service. The Apple TV+ original series joins a slate of others including Defending Jacob and The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, proving that literature is still an excellent source for entertaining television. Based on the award-winning 2016 novel by Sarah Perry, the series, which premiered on May 13, completes its limited run today with a soft landing that is both mediocre and satisfying. Mild spoilers ahead.
Claire Danes stars as Cora Seaborne, a widow from London with a strong interest in science and the natural world, specifically paleontology. With her abusive husband now dead, she is free to pursue her passions and live the life she wants. After reading about a mysterious serpent sighting in Essex, Cora packs up her son, Frankie (Caspar Griffiths), and assistant, Martha (Hayley Squires), to go and investigate this mythical creature. Her decision meets some opposition from new friend Dr. Luke Garrett (Frank Dillane) who thinks her obsession may be rooted in grief.
After arriving in Essex, Cora crosses paths with a man attempting to free a sheep from the mud. Their exchange is brief but not particularly pleasant. She later meets the man again after a mutual friend enlists him to help her and learns he is Will Ransome (Tom Hiddleston), the vicar of the small village of Aldwinter where the serpent was last sighted. During dinner with Will, his wife Stella (Clémence Poésy), and their children, Cora and Will cordially debate faith over science until word comes that a young girl is missing. When the girl’s body is found, the village becomes unsettled believing that the serpent is real and that Cora is the reason why it’s here.
The Essex Serpent, directed by Clio Barnard, as a series is steady paced giving you enough in each episode to make you want to see what happens next. Where it falls a bit short is in the writing. The opening scene of the pilot episode sets the tone for a different type of story than the one ultimately played out. It’s dark and full of suspense and mystery, introducing questions that I waited for the series to answer. While the remainder of the series is still enjoyable, it never quite reaches back to the level of intrigue as the opening sequence.
The overall theme is not easily defined as it seems to vary as the series progresses. Is this a mystery? A love story? Is it a series that explores religion vs science vs superstition and folklore? While I suppose all could be true, all are not conclusive. All the noise surrounding the serpent barely plays a part in later episodes. Because of this, the finale is lackluster in providing a resolution to the unsettling fear and mass hysteria of the people in Aldwinter.
Despite this, Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston deliver solid performances as Cora and Will. Their on-screen chemistry is mostly believable, particularly as they dance in episode 4. But there were some moments in the development of their relationship that lacked a romantic element and therefore came across as a bit awkward, like their first kiss. The best moments between them were the conversations. They were full of mutual respect, understanding, and honesty. (And let’s be real, I could listen to Tom Hiddleston talk all day.)
The real treat of the series was Clémence Poésy as Stella Ransome. Clémence was superb in displaying the mixed emotions of a woman reconciling her husband’s growing affection for another with the realization that her time is short, and he will need someone after she’s gone. There were a couple of scenes where I cried as I watched Stella react to Will reacting to Cora. Her scenes with Caspar were also very sweet. Also noteworthy was Frank Dillane. Although Dr. Luke Garrett teetered between being likable and detestable, Frank’s delivery of the character was well done. He was charming and smug, endearing, and arrogant. As supporting actors, both Clémence and Frank were very memorable in their roles adding a bit more depth to the story.
Even with the beauty of the landscape and costume design, The Essex Serpent declines in subtlety toward the end. Seeing that serpents are widely viewed as creatures of deception, I guess this is fitting that the story ends up not being about the mythical beast at all. The serpent seems to just be the catalyst in bringing the characters together and has no real impact on the story outside of that. Couple that with the reveal of the actual creature terrifying the waters of Aldwinter and you’re left with disappointment in that aspect of the series.
However, things do end well overall. All the subplots are handled nicely as we watch the supporting characters’ arcs close. And, as is expected, our main protagonists do come together in a way that leaves a smile on your face. Although there were some moments that didn’t connect with me as a viewer, and I was hoodwinked by a non-existent serpent, the series held my attention with beautiful scenery and great acting led by Danes and Hiddleston, complemented by a great supporting cast. My overall sentiments about The Essex Serpent are best expressed in the words of Cora Seaborne herself, “I am torn, and I am mended.”
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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