Die Schlange von Essex

I'm a sucker for anything mystical in the Victorian times so I'm enjoying this so far. I don't expect there to be a mind boggling unraveling in the end but I'm always excited when religion and sci-fi come together and looking forward to seeing how the mystery is going to unfold. It's alright so far, I don't think it's found it's footing yet, Tom hiddleston is probably what's going to attract most viewers to this but if you're not a fan of period dramas and all this might not be to your taste. It's set in a gloomy, muddy Essex town but the acting and dialogue add some vibrance to it so it's not gothic really. I'm curious to see whether the show's gonna end with a rational explanation as Cora suggests there is, or if it'll go down a mystical route and all the superstitious town folks' fears will be realized. It feels a bit monotonous Tom Hiddleston looks like he's capable of tackling challenging roles and showing his talent, this isn't that though. I'm not sure if 6 episodes will be enough to turn this into an amazing show, but on the other hand it's better than unnecessarily dragging a story and adding bits to make it a 10 or 12 episode miniseries. As asked in the show, the best way I could describe this is "Do you think there's something strange going on here?"

Episode 3: I've been enjoying this so far, more so because of the conflict between the religious folk and those looking for a scientific explanation. I like how it doesn't seem to be taking the conventional route, which is why I was surprised and in the slightest way possible disappointed as well at the ending of episode three. They didn't need to add the love interest and the whole 'I don't need to apologize to a man situation'. I mean you can see it coming all the way but I thought they'd stray away from the cheap shot of going down the infidelity route between Cora and Will; especially with Stella staring at them across the field through the window. The forbidden love story just seems like the easy(maybe even lazy) route for the writers, especially since the whole priest thing was already done in fleabag. I still think it'll end up being a decent show but the extra points I gave it for originally feel a little misplaced. I was intrigued by the series because I'm a sucker for gloomy, strange or dark shows so from that perspective I'm still enjoying the mystery of it; trying to figure out if it's God, Jo and her friends "witchcraft", or if it's just some animal and the people's paranoia of the unexplained is just fueling their fears. Anyway, on a silly sidenote, Tom hiddleston has a type here.

"The Essex Serpent" begins with great promise, but unfortunately fails to maintain its initial momentum. The series successfully establishes a suspenseful and intriguing atmosphere in the first few episodes, drawing in viewers with its eerie and mysterious storyline. However, as the plot progresses, the show loses its way, and the middle section drags on with little payoff.

The final few episodes of the series are particularly disappointing, as the story descends into a predictable and formulaic soap opera. Any tension and intrigue that were built up in the early episodes are lost, and the ending feels unsatisfying and generic.

Despite these flaws, "The Essex Serpent" does have its strengths. The show boasts an impressive cast, led by the talented and versatile actress, Claire Danes. The production design is also noteworthy, with the show beautifully capturing the atmospheric setting of rural England.

Ultimately, while "The Essex Serpent" has its moments of brilliance, its lackluster middle section and predictable ending prevent it from reaching its full potential.

Sssssssslithers along at a snail's pace, and after 3 episodes I'm not sure -- nor is the show itself -- sure of what it wants to be. I think (?) it could function as a standalone suspense/ supernatural "Penny Dreadful"-ish movie. Only because there doesn't seem to be enough material for each episode as is.

Not all of the Essex has such an harsh landscape but the area where this story is located is very realistic. Surprisingly it isn't the Serpent which takes centre stage of this drama but rather the beautiful description of the main characters. Played all by big actors, it is their rather modern exchange of dialogue which is the star of this story. Period dramas can be very similar but one of the most entertaining character of this unpredictable short series is the doctor/innovative sergeant Luke. There are moments when his dialogue resonates in such a current way that you doubt if you are really watching a period drama. And again it will be all down to the characters to spin the audience away from the rather heavy setting. So don't be put off by gloomy landscapes and heavy period interiors. It is the story delivered by the characters the real star of this mini series.

Started off well with a smooth flow of anticipative suspense and possibilities. Then it quickly regressed to absurdity where logical actions cease to exist. Not referring to idiotic superstitions nor content of plot. It had promise but 3 key events clearly exposed either lazy or imbecilic writing. It's incomprehensible that the key characters are unaware of all the signals of sexual tensions amongst the group. It's outrageous to even conceive the urgency to fornicate in wide open public view when one had just departed, and inches away, from a possible serious witch hunt crisis. Lastly, it's just nonsensical to earnestly reveal one's most protected vulnerability in a crime encounter when the perpetrator could have had been simply satisfied with his original demand instead of the victim's futile dramatics of defense resulting in the unnecessary. The series ended with an emotional feeling summation of what I would term, rubbish illogic.