The Serpent Mini Series (2021) Review

Here we go, the first new review for 2021 and it is for the new BBC show The Serpent and here is my review for it. The premise of the show documents the life of a serial killer who took advantage of the Asian hippie society for his own needs. 

Main Character

Tahar Rahim plays the main character here and he does a really good job here. His performance is really enigmatic and charismatic, you understand why these people are drawn to him and attracted to his lifestyle as he is a charming man with that aura about him. But he also nails the intensity too, when he has to switch you believe he can and that he is a truly dangerous man that is unbalanced and as you learn more about him he becomes a more interesting character. 

Supporting Characters

Jenna Coleman plays his partner in the show and she is fantastic, she is a person that we really see the show through and she is a character that really struggles. You can see how infatuated she is with Rahim's character that she is willing to give the extra mile for him but you can't really tell how on board she is and her character develops very well as the show progresses. Billy Howle plays the guy on the hunt for The Serpent and he does a great job, you see how invested he gets in this manhunt and how it affects him in many different ways and I thought Howle managed to show that really well and he deserves plenty of credit for that. Elle Bamber and Tim McInnerny who I last saw in The Trial of Christine Keeler are much better here, Bamber plays Howle's wife and that have an interesting relationship and she is way more then just your simple wife of a heroic character. McInnerny adds plenty of fire to the show and intensity and I thought him and Howle had really good chemistry and there different personalities really worked together well. 

Story   

The story is interesting, how much of it is exactly true is to be argued but the show makes it interesting and creates this aura around this guy and keeps you interested in how this guy and his whole circle operate and his mindset to his way of life. But this show has a big issue with its storytelling, it decides to tell the story through different timelines and it just gets really confusing, characters come in and out of the story and it doesn't become clear when things are happening and where they fit into the timeline of the show. 

Script

The script is fine, it has some pretty intense moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat as the characters are put in scenarios that put them in peril. But there isn't anything particularly special going on here, the actors rise above an average script and there was more that could have been done here. 

Style 

The show is very stylish and thinks it is very cool and for the most part it is and it shows Thailand and the other countries in an interesting way. But the one thing I have to say is that this show does seem to glamorise this real life serial killer and the life he had which is a strange choice when this guy is still alive and I think there are just a couple too many episodes but that is just me. 

Overall 

Overall, this is a good series that does what it intended to do pretty well. It doesn't rise to the highest level but is a good start to 2021 and if you like shows with these ideas then give this show a watch. 

Rating - 7/10