The serpent

[the80sweregreat]

Anyone going to watch this?
I've never heard of this person before.

Absolutely. She was clearly a highly intelligent woman in her own right.
This was the first time I'd seen Jenna Coleman in anything (not a Dr Who fan), and I don't rate her.

Angela because a career UN executive and presumably had great language skills. Their relationship broke down because of the strain of the investigation. She continued to live overseas but USA

Became obviously

Angela was much more involved in the investigations than was shown in the series. She is not happy with the way she has been represented
www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/diplomats-wife-who-inspired-the-23252712

I've also read that the French couple were far less involved than was portrayed.

Yes but she was at the UN that’s a very different type of overseas to moving round embassies in the Far East every 3 years. I also read she did more of the investigations. Good for her. I liked Nadine too.

Yes I can understand her unhappiness at her portrayal. But a story has to have a hero. She seemed awesome to me

I have one episode left that I'm planning to watch tonight. Absolutely heartbreaking wonder how many victims there really were? Scary to think that this kind of thing still goes on today and not many lessons have been learnt over the years.

She was a young woman taken in by his charm and manipulated and worn down by him. He made people (her/dominique/ajay) believe they needed him.Having been in an abusive relationship I can see how she got sucked in and was too far in before she realised, she wasted her whole life on him

They were only together for about a year before they were captured! And she was a 30 year old medical secretary when they met, not some daft young girl. She seemed to be both excited and alarmed by his crimes but clearly didn't want to go back to boring old Quebec.

Absolutely. She definitely shares a large part of the blame.

Found it a very hard watch. To be honest I am very wimpy when it comes to horror in general and only watched as on the BBC so assumed wouldn't be as scary.

Loved this.. always wanted to know more about this guy as i had heard a lot about him, his escapes from person etc..

Angela (Ellie Bamber) was Mandy Rice-Davies in The Trial of Christine Keller. Agree that Tahar Rahim is great - excellent in The Looming Tower!

That’s where I recognise her from!
I’m only on episode 3, it’s been ages since I’ve been so invested and cried a bit when Domonique was reunited with his parents.

AixenProvence what is the Looming Tower?

Bacon, it's an excellent series about the FBI in the years preceding 9/11 - The Serpent plays a young FBI agent. I can't remember if it was on netflix or amazon prime or even mainstream - I watched a while ago - but it's really worth seeking out. Jeff Daniels is in it as well - plays John O'Neill, who was one of the counter terrorism chiefs. Really good (in fact I'm tempted to rewatch now I think of it!)

AixenProvence that series sounds good, I will look it up.

That was brutal when Charles punched Nadine in the stomach. And another heart in my mouth moment when Nadine found Ajay in the apartment.

It's dragging a bit though now isn't it? So Nadine, having been rescued from Alain then goes to investigate a light in his apartment on her own?

Looming Tower is good, yes. It's on Prime. You get to see a lot of John O Neil's arse....

What character did Alain/Charles play, @aixenprovence?

He plays Ali Soufan - the other 'main' part', the young FBI agent. Have to admit I didn't recognise him - he looks very different in this! I had to have it pointed out to me - though once you know, it's clear iyswim.

Ali Soufan! It's ages since I've seen Looming Tower so I'd never have made the link. Thanks.

dh went on the hippy trail and was in thailand 2 years after this event.
dd went travelling in thailand the year before last, i am so glad she has done it before i watched this and not after!

I thought it was very good, at times the suspense was unbearable! Hard to believe you could just glue another photo onto a passport at that time. Thankfully though travellers are surely much safer these days thanks to modern technology.

@ageingdisgracefully

Yes, does feel like it's dragging a bit. There's still another 3 episodes to go. I think it probably could have been condensed down into 6 episodes rather than 8.

But having said that, I still find this really haunting and addictive viewing. For me maybe because it highlights what a different world it was back then and parents wouldn't hear from their children travelling for months at a time.

I think it probably could have been condensed down into 6 episodes rather than 8.

Totally agree! It's very slow and padded out. I don't actually think the attempts to create more suspense are working really. I find it very repetitive and laboured; needed some editing. Still watching it as I like the locations, 70's vibe, acting etc

I also find the lead character a bit unconvincing. Surely the stony faced menace would only get him so far, you'd need a bit of persuasive charm!

Yes what was nadine doing?! Also why go back and live there anyway, where you know multiple people have been murdered. I’d never go back again!
Also Alain us susposedly this amazing charismatic man that draws people to him and inspires devotion every where he goes , but I gotta say I can’t see it, he has zero charisma as far as I am concerned, I can’t imagine falling under his spell at all