London widow Cora Seaborne relocates to Essex to learn the truth about a rumored "sea dragon". When a local girl goes missing, fears escalate.London widow Cora Seaborne relocates to Essex to learn the truth about a rumored "sea dragon". When a local girl goes missing, fears escalate.London widow Cora Seaborne relocates to Essex to learn the truth about a rumored "sea dragon". When a local girl goes missing, fears escalate.
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Cal MacAninch
- Michael Seaborne
- (as Cal Macaninch)
Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsWhen Dr. Garrett performs open-heart surgery, he injects adrenaline in an attempt to revive the patient from cardiac arrest. Adrenaline would not have been available to Dr. Garrett or any other progressive surgeon in 1893. Adrenaline was isolated and identified until 1895, and was not available commercially until 1901.
Featured review
Strange but well done
The Essex Serpent is the latest offering from Apple TV+, starring Claire Danes (Homeland) and Tom Hiddleston (Loki). Set in Victorian Britain, this period drama, based upon the Sarah Perry penned novel, revolves around recently widowed Cora Seaborne as she hunts for a mythical sea monster in the foggy marshlands of Essex, England. This enticing premise is introduced in "The Blackwater," an intriguing premiere that helps set the tone for this six-part series and teases many mysterious still to come. Our historical setting is captured in a beautiful, otherworldly establishing shot as the camera towers over the misty marshes below. A girl repents her sinful ways in the muddy waters, whilst her sister Naomi watches on from the safety of the shore. Ripples in the water and the girl's ghastly screams indicate a monster beneath the surface, rushing towards its next victim. Feeding into the fears of the era, the locals believe a flying serpent, possibly an analogy of the devil, has taken one of their own and is haunting the marshlands. Quickly the coastline becomes a circus of hearsay and rumors, with tourists flocking to witness the creature in person.
Contrasting with the rural home county landscape of Essex is the hustle and bustle of London, again presented with some striking location choices, which helps immerse the viewer further into this Victorian setting. Cora, played by Claire Danes, sits at her husband's deathbed, with servant and confidant Martha (Hayley Squires) by her side. Mr. Seaborne refuses to be operated upon and swiftly dies. Wife Cora doesn't shed a single tear and no one in the household seems particularly moved by his passing, which is all addressed later in the episode. Beautifully shot and considerately made, this adaptation may be slowly paced, yet it hints at lots of drama to follow. The gothic and occult tendencies add an extra originality to proceedings, as this feels like the type of show that hasn't really been represented much before.
Contrasting with the rural home county landscape of Essex is the hustle and bustle of London, again presented with some striking location choices, which helps immerse the viewer further into this Victorian setting. Cora, played by Claire Danes, sits at her husband's deathbed, with servant and confidant Martha (Hayley Squires) by her side. Mr. Seaborne refuses to be operated upon and swiftly dies. Wife Cora doesn't shed a single tear and no one in the household seems particularly moved by his passing, which is all addressed later in the episode. Beautifully shot and considerately made, this adaptation may be slowly paced, yet it hints at lots of drama to follow. The gothic and occult tendencies add an extra originality to proceedings, as this feels like the type of show that hasn't really been represented much before.
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- moviesfilmsreviewsinc
- Jun 10, 2022
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- Runtime50 minutes
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