Cora Seaborne (Claire Danes) has just become a widow. Her life had been ruled by her husband and marriage life, restraining her from her true passions and desires. As soon as she “gets free”, she decides to go to Essex to investigate a mysterious creature, accompanied by her friend and maid Martha (Hayley Squires) and her son, Frankie (Caspar Griffiths).
Before continue reading this Essex Serpent Review, be aware there will be some spoilers. Read at your own risk.
The Essex Serpent: Synopsis
Based on the best seller novel of Sarah Perry, it follows London widow Cora Seaborne, who moves to Essex to investigate reports of a mythical serpent. She forms a bond of science and skepticism with the pastor, but when tragedy strikes, locals accuse her of attracting the creature.
Plot and characters
If you are into mythology and tales, this is the perfect show for you. This series is based on a true legend of Essex.
When Cora travels to Essex to investigate about the serpent, she finds a village full of hardcore Christian people. They are resilient to science or anything that doesn’t fall within the standards of the Bible. This will make her investigation task difficult, since she is a woman too.
When she meets William Ransome (Tom Hiddleston), the Pastor of the village, she finds herself in an interesting situation. William is a true believer, but he also listens to Cora’s knowledge and tries to help her. This will help create an unique bond between them, which is obvious to the people around them, especially Martha.
We are slowly introduced to other characters who will play an important role in the plot: Luke (Frank Dillane), the English doctor who visits Cora to help her; Mister Cracknell (Christopher Fairbank), the black sheep of the village; and Matthew (Michael Jibson), the teacher of the village. All of them represent the perfect confrontation between science and religion.
The Essex Serpent Review
The whole show has been a roller coaster. I find it amazing how quickly and amazingly they introduced the context and base of the characters. Just in the first episode, we understand exactly what happened and what the main point of the show is.
The way the plot evolves, how every story line is presented, is brilliant. They show the difference between London, an industrial city evolving, and Essex, a small and conservative village, great.
I need to point out that the photography, the music and the script are so beautiful! My favorite scene is the dancing scene Cora and Will had in the 4th episode. The music, the photography, and how it’s executed are hypnotizing. They did an amazing job adapting the book and presenting us the story.
But what I love the most, without a doubt, is how they picture the discourse of religion versus science. Sometimes, it gets on your nerves, but it reflects perfectly how society was at the time and the differences between Cora and the rest of the people.
The last two episodes were full of hardcore feelings and plot twists. The finale was definitely bittersweet, but perfect, in my opinion. Luke being forced to stop operating was drastic, but the perfect way to humble him. Cora and Will spending time apart due to Stella’s passing is also a perfect way to portray their healing. It shows that sometimes, even if you love someone, you need to spend time alone to heal and become your best self. I personally think the finale had the perfect closure, but I still have some questions…How does Cora and Will’s story develop in their religious village? Does Martha manage to create a social bill? According to the fans who read the book, there’s still so much to see…
I truly hope they will make another season! Have you watched it? What are your opinions on it? Remember, you can find it on Apple TV+.
Follow us on Social Media
Hello! I’m Paula, a Spanish deaf girl who absolutely enjoys and loves watching movies and shows, as well as traveling, reading and writing. I grew up reading adventure books and writing fictional stories, and continued watching cartoons, movies and shows. I soon found myself enjoying that SO much that it became my special place and a way to escape from reality and problems, while it helped me to learn a lot and grow. My friends call me Dori and/or minion, but it's only my distinctive aspects that make me unforgettable. Don’t believe me? Well, consider yourself challenged to prove me wrong.
