The Essex Serpent

TV review by Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media
The Essex Serpent: Cora and Will stand close together in gray Victorian clothing; they look defiant and possibly frightened

Common Sense says

age 14+

Gothic romance has domestic violence, medical imagery.

Apple TV+ Drama 2022
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  • The Essex Serpent: Will and Cora are standing with their faces close together, apparently about to kiss
  • The Essex Serpent: Will stands in front of a crowd of men dressed in gray; they all appear distressed
  • The Essex Serpent: Will and Cora, in evening wear, dance while looking into each other's eyes

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Essex Serpent is a series about a widow who visits Essex, England. She's on the trail of a mythical sea serpent and becomes ensnared in an emotional affair with the local vicar. Violence includes flashbacks to a woman being abused by her husband; we see him choking her. Dead bodies, including a bloated drowned corpse, are seen; we also see open-heart surgery with blood, an open chest cavity, and a beating heart. Sexual content includes characters kissing passionately in bed in a scene that ends in violence. A married man flirts subtly with a woman who's not his wife; they decide together not to risk an affair while he's married. Language is infrequent: "damn," "hell." Scenes take place in pubs, but no one acts drunk. There's some diversity in side characters, some of whom are people of color; the challenges of their lives are portrayed sympathetically.

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What's the Story?

Freed from a restricted, cloistered life by the death of her husband, Cora Seaborne (Claire Danes) is fascinated when she reads a newspaper account about a sighting of a mythical creature, THE ESSEX SERPENT. Her background as a naturalist adding to her intrigue, Cora leaves London for Essex, where she strikes up a friendship with the local vicar, Will Ransome (Tom Hiddleston). As Will and Cora grow closer, events in Essex conspire to cast suspicion on Cora, who locals accuse of awakening the serpent and bringing a series of misfortunes on the town and its people. The series is based on the book of the same name by Sarah Perry.

Is It Any Good?

Chilly and atmospheric, this elegant Gothic romance is intriguing with its forbidden passions and hints of the supernatural, for viewers who don't mind a slow burn. With its blowing fog and gray skies, the harshness of the 19th century setting in Essex, England is practically palpable, which makes it all the more pleasant to snuggle in somewhere comfortable and let this singular and odd tale weave its spell. The brightest thing on-screen at any time is Cora's hair; everything else, from clothing to buildings to trees and water, is in shades of gray and black, suitable for the somber mood.

Cora believes the mythical serpent in Essex is some type of leftover dinosaur, but The Essex Serpent isn't really centered around a supernatural creature. Instead, the real conflict here is societal: Cora chafes under the restrictions faced by a woman in her times, and she and Will are each discomfited by their attraction to each other when he's married to someone else. The townspeople of Essex can see there's something unusual, perhaps unsavory, that arose after Cora arrived, they're just not sure what exactly she's awakened. Patient viewers caught up in The Essex Serpent's unhurried storytelling won't mind waiting for the answer.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why period mysteries are an enduring staple of television drama. Think about some similarly themed period murder mysteries such as The Alienist. How is The Essex Serpent alike? How is it different?

  • Period dramas have to find ways to convey to the viewer where and when they're set. How does this drama tell the viewer where you are in space and time? Would you know without the opening titles? How?

  • If you've read the book this series is based on, how does it compare? What's the same? What was changed? Many people say "the book is always better." Is it true in this case?

TV Details

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