Period dramas have long been a beloved genre of film and television, consistently indulging audiences in enthralling plots while fulfilling our deepest desires of escapism through lavish costumes and satisfying (yet sometimes frustrating) romances that keep you hooked. Costume dramas don’t seem to be going out of style any time soon, with the popularity of shows like “Bridgerton,” “The Gilded Age,” and “Outlander” serving as proof. The latest work to tackle the historical drama is director Clio Barnard’s (“The Arbor,” “Ali & Ava”) sweeping gothic “The Essex Serpent,” an intense albeit sometimes scattered limited series that blends the genre with hints of thriller, mystery, and, of course, romance.
Based on Sarah Perry’s Victorian era-set 2016 novel of the same name, the six-part series stars Claire Danes as Cora Seaborne, a recently widowed woman who married young and is finally able to explore her passion for nature and paleontology after her cruel husband dies of throat cancer. Reveling in her newfound freedom, she becomes captivated by the possibility of the existence of a prehistoric serpent after hearing of a mysterious sea creature spotted lurking in the Aldwinter estuary in a small village in Essex. Thus, she, her son, Frankie (Caspar Griffiths), and her close companion Martha (Hayley Squires) leave the confines of London and relocate to Essex in the hopes of discovering more about the serpent that has an entire town paranoid. There, she finds herself forming an unlikely bond with the village vicar, William Ransome (Tom Hiddleston), who is adamant that the serpent is nothing but a dangerous myth.
Through these two protagonists and their verbal sparring that eventually leads to a deep romantic attraction for one another, “The Essex Serpent” explores the complicated struggle between science, faith, and superstition and the effect that it can have on vulnerable people. While Cora views the serpent’s possible existence as a rare opportunity to explore science with a hands-on approach, Will is increasingly disturbed by the fear that has been instilled in his parishioners, who continue to believe that the serpent is a manifestation of the devil after a child winds up dead, and views it as a gross deviation of faith.
On paper, the show’s subject seems interesting enough that it should make for a gripping book-to-screen adaptation, but what starts off promising begins to lose its steam halfway, becoming something that is, to put it bluntly, quite boring to watch. “The Essex Serpent” is at its most interesting when focusing on Cora’s fascination with the serpent and her time spent in Essex, but fails when shifting to various plot lines that are not given enough attention and therefore lack the emotional depth that makes us want to care about what is happening. It’s not to say that Barnard’s first television effort, written by Anna Symon, is a total let down, because there are many good moments and the world that she crafts is mesmerizing, but it falls short of matching Perry’s vivid prose.
If you were to subtract the sea serpent element, what you would be left with is a gothic period piece with a familiar format that centers on personal and societal struggles, sprinkled with some romantic longing and religious guilt. There are times when the serpent or any narrative related to it goes without mention in favor of focusing on Cora, her romantic entanglement with Will, her subsequent return to her unexciting life in London and Will’s continued battle with his feelings for Cora in the midst of a family crisis. The first episodes, in which the mystery of the serpent is first being discovered across town, are underscored by an unsettling tone, and fans of the novel will be pleased to know that the series is brimming with lush landscapes and stunning visuals capturing the natural world and marshlands on the Essex coast.
In her first role since “Homeland” wrapped up its final season two years ago, Danes transports to a different time period, dons a convincing English accent, and unsurprisingly gives an excellent performance as Cora, a compelling character who isn’t afraid to explore the unknown and take part in intellectual debate. Hiddleston, fresh off the first season of “Loki” and destined to be the next Hot Priest with this role, is equally great as a man of faith who must comfort his parishioners without giving in to their superstition, reminding us of his versatility as an actor when not busy with Marvel projects. Clémence Poésy is the true highlight of the series, with her role as Will’s devoted wife, Stella, starting out as a character in the background who becomes further developed and culminates in an emotional arc in the final episodes. Hayley Squires gives a memorable turn as Martha, a fervent Socialist who is dedicated to housing policy reform that the show briefly focuses on, despite not being as fully fleshed out as other characters. Rounding out the cast is Frank Dillane as Luke, an ambitious yet arrogant surgeon who develops strong feelings for Cora, and Jamael Westman as Dr. George Spencer, Luke’s wealthy right hand man pining for Martha’s affection.
“The Essex Serpent” concludes on a highly predictable note that you can see coming from miles away, which, despite being satisfying, doesn’t make it necessarily better. Apple TV+ has slowly but surely been building a solid collection of television, gathering some of the best working actors and filmmakers to create their fruitful offerings. While “The Essex Serpent” isn’t perfect, it manages to adequately capture the brooding tone of its source material and showcases a talented ensemble that makes it fully worth watching. [B]