The Essex Serpent (TV series)

Last updated

The Essex Serpent
Genre Period drama
Based on The Essex Serpent
by Sarah Perry [1]
Developed byAnna Symon
Directed by Clio Barnard
Starring
Composers
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
Producer
  • Andrea Cornwell
CinematographyDavid Raedeker
EditorLucia Zucchetti
Running time47-50 minutes
Production company See-Saw Films
Original release
Network Apple TV+
ReleaseMay 13 (2022-05-13) –
June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)

The Essex Serpent is a British gothic romance period drama miniseries based on the novel of the same name by Sarah Perry. The series was written by Anna Symon, directed by Clio Barnard, and starred Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston in the lead roles. [2] It premiered on Apple TV+ on 13 May 2022. [3]

Contents

Premise

The Essex Serpent follows London widow Cora Seaborne (Claire Danes) who moves to Essex to investigate reports of a mythical serpent. She forms a surprising bond of science and scepticism with the local parson (Tom Hiddleston). When tragedy strikes, locals accuse her of attracting the creature.

Cast and characters

Episodes

  1. ↑ Perry, Sarah (20 May 2022). "'When Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston were cast I was in shock': Sarah Perry on The Essex Serpent". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  2. ↑ Allen, Nick. "The Essex Serpent movie review (2022) | Roger Ebert". rogerebert.com. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  3. ↑ Oddo, Marco Vito (16 March 2022). "'The Essex Serpent': Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston Look for Love and a Legendary Monster in First Images". Collider.
  4. 1 2 White, Peter; Kanter, Jake (24 August 2020). "Keira Knightley To Star In & Exec Produce Adaptation Of Period Drama 'The Essex Serpent' For Apple TV+". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  5. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (12 October 2020). "Keira Knightley Quits Apple TV Plus Show 'The Essex Serpent' for Family Reasons". Variety . Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  6. ↑ Otterson, Joe (10 February 2021). "Claire Danes Cast in Lead Role of Apple Series 'Essex Serpent' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  7. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (16 March 2021). "Tom Hiddleston Joins Claire Danes In 'The Essex Serpent' Apple Series – First Look Photo". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  8. ↑ Petski, Denise (7 April 2021). "Frank Dillane, Hayley Squires, Clémence Poésy, Jamael Westman Join 'The Essex Serpent' Apple Series". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  9. 1 2 Steves, Ashley (23 February 2021). "U.K. What's Filming: 'The Essex Serpent' + 'Slow Horses'". Backstage . Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  10. ↑ Daniels, Nia (16 February 2021). "Claire Danes begins filming The Essex Serpent in the UK". Kemps Film and TV Production Services Handbook . Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  11. ↑ King, Mel (18 March 2021). "Film crews spotted filming new TV series in Essex park". EssexLive. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  12. ↑ Poésy, Clémence [@c_poesy_] (25 June 2021). "Last day ... 4 months as Stella... What a journey with such a wonderful wonderful group of people!" . Retrieved 29 June 2021– via Instagram.
  13. ↑ "The Essex Serpent: Limited Series (2022): Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "The Essex Serpent". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "RTS Craft & Design Awards 2022". Royal Television Society. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"The Blackwater" Clio Barnard Anna Symon, Clio Barnard, Juliette TowhidiMay 13, 2022 (2022-05-13)
In Essex, a young woman wades into marshy water asking for forgiveness. She tells her young sister Naomi, watching from the shore, that she was tempted by the serpent. Frightened, Naomi runs away to the sound of Gracie's screams. In London, Dr Luke Garrett attends the opulent house of Michael Seaborne, who dismisses lifesaving surgery. Michael's wife Cora is comforted by their maid, Martha. Michael dies, and Cora informs their young son Frankie, who is unsure whether his mother is sad because she isn't crying. After the funeral, Cora sees a newspaper article about sightings of the Serpent and travels to Essex with Martha and Frankie to investigate. On arrival, she helps a man rescue a trapped sheep; he thanks her but tells her to go home as there is no Serpent. When invited to the vicarage for dinner, Cora discovers the man is local vicar Will Ransome — he apologises for his rudeness, but they continue to debate. Cora and Frankie get on particularly well with Will's wife Stella. In church, Cora has flashbacks to her husband's abusive violence and Will's sermon is interrupted so the congregation can search for Gracie in the marshes. Cora discovers Naomi cradling her sister's body.
2"Matters of the Heart"Clio BarnardAnna SymonMay 13, 2022 (2022-05-13)
Mourners pay their respects to Gracie's family, but rumours spread that she was taken because of her sins. The villagers put up defences against the Serpent. Cora decides to stay and rents a cottage; Martha returns to London to collect their belongings. She shares the train journey with Luke and his colleague George Spencer as she discusses her socialist views. Luke performs a pioneering heart operation on Nev, a young immigrant. Martha explains that he is too poor to be able to recuperate properly and takes Spencer to visit Nev and sister Sali at home. After seeing the deprived conditions of the slum, Spencer agrees to help Martha try to persuade local MP Sir Charles Ambrose to help. Cora and Frankie meet Mr. Cracknell, who is shunned by the village because he doesn’t attend church. Frankie bonds with Stella, and Cora hints to Will about the abusive nature of her marriage. Cora attempts to explain fossils and evolution to the local schoolchildren, but when the Serpent is mentioned, they become hysterical. Naomi has a seizure. The children verbally turn on her and then begin fainting, one by one. Will's daughter Jo runs home but is unable to speak.
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