A Gothic romance built on the tension between faith and science
In short: In the coastal shadows of Essex, a widow's pursuit of a mythical serpent ignites a clash between local superstition and scientific skepticism. This British Gothic romance explores how tragedy can turn a community against an outsider, weaving a tale of atmospheric dread and intellectual curiosity.
Sarah Perry's book inspired The Essex Serpent, a British Gothic romance period drama miniseries that debuted on Apple TV+ during 13 May 2022. Anna Symon penned the script, while Clio Barnard directed the production featuring Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston. The plot depicts Londoner Cora Seaborne, a widow, exploring tales of a legendary serpent and developing a scientific yet sceptical connection with the local parson. Residents blame her for drawing the beast toward them. Apple TV+ commissioned See-Saw Films to produce the show directly for series.
Keira Knightley initially planned to lead as Cora and serve as executive producer in August 2020, but she departed for 'family reasons' by October 2020. Claire Danes took over the Cora role in February 2021, with Tom Hiddleston joining shortly after. During April, the main ensemble expanded to include Jamael Westman, Clémence Poésy, Hayley Squires, and Frank Dillane.
Production started in February 2021, moving from an initial late November 2020 target. Locations featured Alresford, Maldon, Brightlingsea, North Fambridge, and various London sites like Bloomsbury's Gordon Square. The shoot finished during the week of 27 June 2021.
A 76% approval rating and a 7.1/10 average from 45 critics were noted on Rotten Tomatoes. Metacritic showed a weighted score of 69/100 from 19 reviewers. Jane Petrie received a BAFTA TV Craft award for Best Costume Design, while the show earned two Royal Television Society Craft & Design nominations: one for Production Management and one for Design — Titles.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Essex Serpent (TV series)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-the-essex-serpent-tv-series.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Languages · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
