Apple TV is sure proving to be worth its salt (and that subscription fee) by bringing out one hit after another. Its latest series, The Essex Serpent, is a gothic period drama with sprinkles of romance that may have a chance of getting added to the cannot-miss-this list.
I have another detail that will get you sold—Tom Hiddleston is in it! So, what is it all about?
The Essex Serpent is based on Sarah Perry’s 2016 novel of the same name. Set in the Victoria era, it follows Cora Seaborne, a recent widow, who is determined to uncover the truth about a mythical sea creature spotted in Essex.
Claire Danes plays Cora, who was once trapped in an abusive marriage. After the death of her husband, she aspires to live life on her own and follow her passion for amateur paleontology.
In this vein, when she reads about the Essex serpent, she is determined to prove that it could be a dinosaur-like animal that survived extinction. The villagers whose superstitious hearts are set in stone are not ready to believe it could be anything other than the Devil’s doing.
I bet you have a few more questions about this new show, so let’s cover all the bases.
What time period is the show set in?
The Essex Serpent is set in 1893, the Victorian era. Don’t beat yourself up if you didn’t get it right, since there’s no real mention of what year it is set in. Even the attire may not give away the time period unless, of course, you’re a fashion history enthusiast.
Where is it set?
The Essex Serpent is majorly set in Aldwinter, a town in Essex, England, where rumors about a mysterious sea creature have erupted.
As we see in Ep 1, the story begins in London where Cora used to live in high society with her family. But after his death, she feels no obligation to continue living in that stunted world. Upon reading about a mysterious sea creature, she moves to Aldwinter to investigate what’s afoot.
Is it a true story?
Only as true as the Loch Ness monster and Big Foot! Tales of mythical creatures and monsters have been told since time immemorial. This one is no different.
The Essex Serpent is not a true story. It is based on a book by the same name by Sarah Perry, who was inspired by her trip to Henham, Essex, where she heard local tales about a monster spotted in 1669.
Stories about such creatures are fascinating in any era, but Perry had her reasons for setting this story during the Victoria era. It was the time when women were starting to be considered more “modern” while simultaneously, there were leaps and bounds happening in the fields of science and technology that challenged the stronghold of superstition and religious faith.
In this boiling pot, The Essex Serpent has found a place to talk about women’s freedom, scientific progress, change, and even how humans deal with their fears—both rational and irrational.
About The Essex Serpent
The Essex Serpent is an Apple TV+ original series that follows recently-windowed Cora Seaborne who moves from London to Essex upon hearing rumors of a mythical sea creature.
Determined to investigate the truth, she befriends the local pastor but ends up getting up blamed for attracting the creature.
The cast is made up of Claire Danes, Tom Hiddleston, Frank Dillane, and Hayley Squires among others.
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