The Essex Serpent is Apple TV+ new gothic period drama revolving around a widow, a village vicar, and a mythical serpent. Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston will lead the highly anticipated limited series.
Photo Courtesy of Apple TV+
The Essex Serpent is a Gothic Folk Tale
Homeland actress and Emmy-award winner Claire Danes will play the curious widow, Cora Seaborne. The story will revolve around her life after being widowed by her abusive husband. Shortly after her husband died, Cora leaves London society and embarked on a journey in the countryside with her son, Francis. As an outsider vacationing in Essex, Cora’s interest was piqued upon hearing a rumour of a mythical sea serpent slowly waking up from deep slumber. The townfolks of Essex believed that a ruin caused by an earthquake awakened the beast. After tragedy strikes, the locals accuse Cora of attracting the creature.
Photo Courtesy of Apple TV+
As the anxiety of the townspeople worsens, the voice of the village vicar became less prominent. Will Ransome is a skeptic who did not believe in the sea serpent’s existence. Because of this, he clashes with Carol who is too eager to unearth the mystery of the Essex Serpent. Will’s faith and Cora’s persistent effort to track the sea serpent became instrumental to their growing affection for one another. Viewers will be pleased to see Hiddleston yet again, utter a heart-wrenching confession. If you enjoyed his dark yet alluring performance in Crimson Peak (also a gothic tale), then you will enjoy The Essex Serpent just the same.
The Essex Serpent is a gothic folk tale based on the 2016 novel of the same name written by British author, Sarah Perry.
Photo Courtesy of Apple TV+
The Cast of The Essex Serpent
Other than Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston, the cast of The Essex Serpent consist of Frank Dillane (The Girlfriend Experience), Clémence Poésy (Tenet), and Hayley Squires (True Things).
Watch The Essex Serpent Official Trailer
The official trailer shows the eerie town of Essex where a slow rise of collective panic ensues as the locals cite a beast for the town’s tragedy. The trailer also shows the tension between Cora and Will, prompting an enemy-to-lovers trope, which will surely be enjoyed by many.
How to Watch The Essex Serpent
You can watch the six episodes of The Essex Serpent on Friday, May 13th, 2022 on Apple TV.
BAFTA awards nominee Clio Barnard directed all six episodes, while Anna Symon (also a BAFTA nominee) wrote the show. The two of them served as executive producers along with Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, Iain Canning, Emily Sherman, and Patrick Walters. See-Saw Films produced the show for Apple TV+.
Published by HOLR Magazine.