Watch The Essex Serpent

The Essex Serpent is a gripping historical drama series set in 1893 that follows London widow Cora Seaborne as she moves to Essex to investigate rumors of a mythical serpent. Still reeling from the abusive marriage she escaped years ago, Cora finds new purpose in the small village of Aldwinter, where tales of the Essex Serpent have gripped the townspeople in fear. She crosses paths with the local vicar, Will Ransome, whose wife Stella grows increasingly ill as the rumor of the serpent spreads. Though they disagree on nearly everything, Cora and Will find themselves inexorably drawn together as they search for the truth behind the myth.

As Cora dives deeper into the mystery of the serpent, the show explores the clash between faith and reason during this fascinating period in history. Medical discoveries were rapidly changing people's understanding of the world, yet superstitions still held strong sway. Cora represents the adventurous scientific mind ready to challenge old orthodoxies, while Will adheres to tradition and scripture. The battle between them mirrors the larger battle between progress and belief raging across society.

At the same time, The Essex Serpent paints a rich portrait of English country life in the late Victorian era. We get a glimpse of the stark differences between the wealthy London elite Cora leaves behind and the simple agrarian lives of the villagers who view her as an odd outsider. The lush natural landscapes around Essex become another character in the story, concealing ancient secrets and superstitions that refuse to loosen their grip on the community.

The show balances its supernatural mystery with plenty of drama and turmoil in the personal lives of its main characters. Cora slowly begins to heal from her past trauma with the help of the kind doctor Luke Garrett, while her adventurous son Frank longs to escape his mother's protective grasp. Will wrestles with his role as a pastor as his faith starts to waver in the face of his wife's deteriorating health. And his intense devotion to Stella causes friction in his growing relationship with Cora.

Helmed by acclaimed director Clio Barnard, The Essex Serpent delivers a haunting, romantic vision of Victorian England for viewers who relish historical fiction. Claire Danes brings intelligence and empathy to the role of Cora, a woman trying to reinvent herself independently of the patriarchal society around her. Tom Hiddleston fills Will with charisma and inner turmoil as he struggles to reconcile his duties as a vicar with his scientific curiosity and attraction to Cora. The capable ensemble cast transports us back to a time of superstition and discovery, myth and reason, and the eternal battle between the head and the heart.

With vivid period details, simmering suspense, and thought-provoking themes, The Essex Serpent is an enthralling glimpse into the past that illuminates the universal human search for meaning in a changing world. Though set over a hundred years ago, its story remains surprisingly relevant today.

The Essex Serpent is a series that ran for 1 seasons (6 episodes) between May 13, 2022 and on Apple TV+