The Essex Serpent - Apple tv - Clare Danes and Tom Hiddleston

[IwantToRetire]

I think this was first shown a few years ago, but as a recent subscriber to Apple I have only just watched it.

The story line seemed a bit of a mish mash of other tv "historical " dramas but is based on what was / is a popular book.

Set in the late victorian era it follows a woman recently widowed and given the chance to lead her own life and interests. And what society thinks about her doing that. But also looks at superstitions and religion, new scientific discoveries, and a number of tangled love stories.

I quite enjoyed it, but wasn't really sure it worked. Some lovely pre Raphelite (?) costumes, and interesting landscapes.

I thought Clare Daines english accent was really good, but many of her facial expressions just reminded me of Homeland. And Tom Hiddleston looked a wreck.

Has anyone else watched it and if so what did you think?

https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/the-blackwater/umc.cmc.3tavf9fraoym7gr9hl7inh8fp

I enjoyed it as something a little different. I enjoyed the bleakness of the landscape and how that captured the spooky atmosphere. I agree TH didn’t look great but he was a very tortured soul and living so basically and dealing with all the deaths and madness was probably quite draining 😆. The child in me wanted to see an actual monster 🥴

The child in me wanted to see an actual monster 🥴

Yes I was sort of hoping for some sort of apparition, as it seemed difficult to belief that a stranged whale would be mistaken for a serpent!

Even given religious doom and gloom and local superstitions.

But I suppose that was partly what it was meant to be about. Or something!

I quite liked it. I like Claire D, and I thought both the humour and the spooky misty marsh-scapes were well done. Tom H looked convincingly knackered

The book is much better though IMO. Not much actually really happens, and in a book that's fine because you can go into people's inner lives and the atmosphere in a different way than on telly. It's about two oddballs finding their way with each other and it is utterly fabulous, clever, touching, quirky – wonderful. Give it a go.