Since the beginning of human record, myths and monsters have been prominent. Although Ancient Greeks developed an intricate pantheon of gods, monsters and deities to explain how the world worked, other societies relied on different demons to articulate what otherwise could not be expressed. While some were taught to fear these gods and creatures, others found comfort in their existence. This was what happened in the British novel-turned-movie The Essex Serpent.
In the year 2016, Sarah Perry produced a book that is still her second publication up to now. It sold more than anticipated—over two hundred thousand copies—and attracted mainstream media attention. In five years it would net almost three hundred sixty thousand sales before being considered a success by the literary market. Last summer Apple ordered for adaptation of a beloved book into a TV series and Keira Knightley was supposed to take on the part of Cora Seaborne who is its main character. It was directed by Clio Barnard (The Arbor, The Selfish Giant) who also serves as executive producer. Its screenplay was by Anna Symon.
Keira Knightley eventually withdrew from this venture which led to Claire Danes (Romeo + Juliet, Homeland) taking up the lead role in her place. Tom Hiddleston (Thor, Midnight in Paris) plays Will Ransome – a pastor from Essex County opposite her. In him she sees something familiar making them stark contrasts or embodiments of two different worlds which collide at times but do not bear any grudges towards each other at all. Frank Dillane, Hayley Squires, Clémence Poésy and Jamael Westman among others form part of its supporting cast.
The Essex Serpent is not solely based on fiction; it has historical roots too because during that time period people became interested in ancient history especially Egyptian history and general paleontology for example Victorian England largely adored relics of past with reptilian fossils discovered in the beginning of that century to become a source of fascination and interest. It’s this interest that drives the protagonist of The Essex Serpent, Cora, to the British seaside in search of a mythical serpent. When women were searching for fossils and trying to put together remnants of an extinct collective memory, Cora represented her epoch.
This acute interest in Cora distinguishes her almost immediately in the opening episodes of the series. Upon her husband’s death, she is condemned to a certain type of existence during Victorian England era. As he walks with her on busy streets of London now widowed woman tells doctor about what fascinates her in nature and historical elements. Stooping next to a grid, she listens to running water below as he looks at her quizzically. Then he asks if she wants to join his medical school class on surgery; Cora gives him strange glances as men dominate through the corridors. The only other woman present turned away from it all with disgust but from where she stood Cora could not take her eyes off the operation taking place there.
Essex serpent follows her in this otherness. Essex on the screen is everything that is not London. Previously sunny, thriving, and full of narrow streets and people, Essex block is almost desolate foggy and sombre at times. It seemed almost supernatural, with its sterner, darker shades making it look like a place where such a creature could possibly be found. Meanwhile (Hiddleston), the local preacher who abhors Cora’s fascination with the serpent claims that it is a result of lack of faith and mental frailty.
This small town looks like it has found the source of its fear: a girl has gone missing. The same rumors that triggered Cora’s religious research into how the snake came about were in fact provoked by ever changing causative power and accountability. In this village no one could have taken such a child away; therefore the only culprit was this monster. This marks the beginning of an ideological division within the series: while most are satisfied with calling it an act of God, Cora believes that logic and science can bring her to find out what exactly happened.
This makes her even more different as she becomes someone who will be viewed with suspicion.Hiddleston’s Will however straddles between devoting his whole self to religious interpretation behind all this and scientific discussions brought by a newcomer to town.In six episodes they have plenty of ground to cover thus exemplifying how mini series often fall short.
The mini-series is slow burn which does not immediately reveal its true intentions but why not give it a try? Many wide shots of English countryside including marshy wetlands though expose something deeper than just hunting for some monster – let alone an exploration into grief, humanity or budding romance between a priestman and Cora.Since setting up shots or how characters start singing while mourning there might be pockets of beauty amidst darkness.
The Serpent moves through Essex as if in surgery; balancing relationships between characters, the mythos of the serpent itself and ending with a surgeon’s seemingly impossible effort to perform an unparalleled treatment – heart operation on a person still alive. There is indeed a love triangle woven into the depths of this story, but the romance tends to drag due to a lack of chemistry between the two leads. Both Hiddleston and Danes are very good actors but something just does not work in this drama they are in together.
Cora played by Danes is a standout role. Even though she has made her name in earlier roles in the hit series Homeland and her first roles on TV My So-Called Life, Danes are electrifying on the screen in The Essex Serpent. It is about a widow who recovers from her husband’s death, gets obsessed with something new and possibly falls for another person. The blame for all wrongs in town at that time may be squarely laid on her but she just holds up her head above and walks away from what other people think.
It is worth noting that this story happens in Victorian England hence it feels good to see a woman breaking free of the rigid society norms if not a double edge sword. Using Cora’s maid an example, there are some underlying issues about class relations display since she is socialist also an embodiment of such themes as socialism, feminism which underscored Courbet’s works. There is yet another sub-plot involving Indians that have come to this new country seeking medical help. However despite suffering grief and having personal problems Cora typifies a certain kind of privilege common to books and films about this period. As much as she can discard the Victorian ideal way of women who were expected to confine themselves within their households, however, she can only do so because she has money.
The other major challenge facing the series is simply trying to cram too much into six episodes at once. As Cora goes back home with Brandy he reveals his political affiliations-she being a communist-another episode where class relations issues are raised through two characters (Bauer 67). At the same time, Dr.Luke Garrett-Francis believes he will be able to come up with a method that preserves life while operating on heart valves without losing patients; however he stumbles upon something even greater than himself in discovering love.The whole thing amounts to numerous metaphors or hints conveyed throughout the writing and sometimes leaving the story hanging as it grapples with connecting them.
Not everyone will enjoy this tale. It creates gloomy emotional feel that interrogates that point where religion and science intersects. In contrast to a show like Bridgerton, which romanticizes Regency-era England notorious for its strict rules on dressing, society and etiquette, The Essex Serpent is more gothic than old Victorian novels. It’s not supposed to be funny or sweet: there are no public displays of affection or romance.In other words, some may find this lack flavored dining uninteresting but perhaps fans of the miniseries would appreciate such intimate portraits of life in an outback town like this one.
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