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      Limited Series – The Serpent

      2021 Crime Drama List
      69% 35 Reviews Tomatometer 67% 100+ Ratings Audience Score In the 1970s, killer Charles Sobhraj preys on travelers exploring the South Asia's "hippie trail." Read More Read Less Watch on Netflix Stream Now

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      The Serpent — Limited Series

      Netflix

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      The Serpent — Limited Series

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      Critics Consensus

      Tahar Rahim's unnerving performance brings reptilian menace to The Serpent, but this uneven slice of true crime is too byzantine in structure and too pat about its central villain's motivations to really get under the skin.

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      Critics Reviews

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      Saloni Gajjar AV Club It's these narratives, as well as a couple of overdue high-octane cat-and-mouse chases in later episodes with Nadine at the center, that render meaning to a crime drama show like The Serpent, which otherwise plays out as more wooden than it should be. Rated: B- Apr 9, 2021 Full Review Steve Greene indieWire The show takes advantage of the opportunity to reframe some of those key moments from a different character's viewpoint, something that would be odd or forced in a more straightforward telling. Rated: B+ Apr 9, 2021 Full Review Richard Roeper Chicago Sun-Times ...a fascinating, exotic, lurid period-piece true-crime story about a suave, identity-switching serial killer who makes Tom Ripley seem like an amateur. Rated: 3/4 Apr 3, 2021 Full Review Álvaro Onieva Fotogramas Though the story The Serpent tells is very seductive, the non-linear structure works against it. [Full review in Spanish] Aug 8, 2023 Full Review Q.V. Hough Vague Visages The Serpent fashions itself as a serial killer epic, but feels more like an uninspired Jacques Audiard knockoff that shows little interest in deconstructing the psychology of its subject. Feb 18, 2022 Full Review James Delingpole The Spectator A bit like with The Queen's Gambit, all the period detail was so perfectly done, so redolent of a lost (and mostly, barring the odd serial killer, more glamorous and desirable) era that it almost didn't matter what the plot was doing. Jul 19, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (86) audience reviews
      Cuppajava M The narrative is stereotypical, fashioned like a James Bond movie, excels in visuals and drama but with a poor narrative, a story based on real facts but still feels too otherworldly and lacks conviction and plot, which otherwise could have turned out to be a classic. A good opportunity lost. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/24/23 Full Review Jenaro V Las series basadas en historias reales suelen tener un mayor interés que las demás y en esta, aunque el desarrollo es correcto, hicieron todo tan dramático con el personaje de Knippenberg que tapaba todo el buen ritmo que podía llevar el capitulo, es por esta misma razón que la serie en ningún momento te engancha, si bien el personaje principal es el de Alain/Charles, el darle tanto protagonismo al holandés te aburría. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/16/23 Full Review Gareth v A solid limited series that does go for an episode or 2 too long. Some of the acting isn't great and it does take away from a captivating story being told but it's still entertaining enough. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/24/23 Full Review E. D WOW, I wasn't aware of Charles "the Serpent" Sobhraj, until when I watched this series on Netflix. By then without internet and modern technology like now, criminals as Charles could get away so easily and freely by jumping from country to country in South Asia and beyond, committing crimes on unexpected hippie travelers. This incredible true story will keep you glued to your TV. I watched it twice! It is well written with unexpected twists revealed in each episode. It is a great thriller-drama to watch. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/26/23 Full Review michael f We were completely unaware of the actual events behind The Serpent, meaning we tuned it almost by chance. While I am not sure 'Awesome!' is appropriate, this limited series is certainly four star worthy. It is a creepy reminder of how different things used to be and how cunning individuals could take advantage of those systems. Knowing that these murders actually happened had us on the edge of our seats. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Aussie S I became interested in Charles Sobhraj in the early 80's. I read a book written by Richard Neville about Sobhraj. So when I saw this come up in my Netflix recommendations I had to watch it. The first 3 or 4 episodes are tense and dramatic. The acting is superb from all. The way it is told in constant flashbacks is sometimes a bit confusing, but you get used to them after the first episode. The actor playing Sobhraj is more handsome than Sobhraj. Not sure how much his looks helped him in reality, but certainly in this show it appears to be a factor in his victims liking him. Sobhraj by all accounts was a charming man but he was really was a monster. He's just been released from jail in Nepal still protesting his innocence, and still a narcissist. This is worth watching, and because of the flashbacks it's a bit easier to follow if you binge it or watch it all over a weekend, rather than an episode here and there. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/31/22 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

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      Episodes

      Episode 1 Aired Jan 1, 2021 Episode 1 In 1975, Dutch diplomat Herman Knippenberg investigates the disappearance of two backpackers who were last seen alive at the Bangkok apartment of gem dealer Charles Sobhraj. Details Episode 2 Aired Jan 3, 2021 Episode 2 Marie-Andrée Leclerc leaves her life behind for the love of Charles Sobhraj but discovers the chilling cost; in spite of obstruction, Herman Knippenberg vows to investigate the murders of the Dutch couple at great risk to his career. Details Episode 3 Aired Jan 10, 2021 Episode 3 Adventure brings young Frenchman Dominique Renelleau to Kanit House where he finds himself trapped in Charles Sobhraj's lair; as he listens to testimony, Herman Knippenberg realizes the scale of Charles's crimes. Details Episode 4 Aired Jan 1, 2021 Episode 4 Charles tightens his grip as Marie-Andrée plays along and Ajay Chowdhury takes a trip; Nadine Gires goes undercover. Details Episode 5 Aired Jan 1, 2021 Episode 5 Nadine must keep the poisonous crew in the nest on the brink of a big raid, but Charles has a backup plan. Details Episode 6 Aired Jan 1, 2021 Episode 6 Charles makes bold moves while a still-obsessed Herman tries to forget; Marie-Andrée and Ajay fight over their future -- by the mastermind's side. Details Episode 7 Aired Jan 1, 2021 Episode 7 Charles and Marie-Andrée arrive in Paris with glittering plans; meanwhile, Herman makes a dangerous gamble in his investigation which finally brings a breakthrough. Details Episode 8 Aired Jan 1, 2021 Episode 8 The net begins to close around Charles and Marie-Andrée in India, but the final chapter of Herman's pursuit of Charles stretches long into the future. Details

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (35) Critics Reviews
      Saloni Gajjar AV Club It's these narratives, as well as a couple of overdue high-octane cat-and-mouse chases in later episodes with Nadine at the center, that render meaning to a crime drama show like The Serpent, which otherwise plays out as more wooden than it should be. Rated: B- Apr 9, 2021 Full Review Steve Greene indieWire The show takes advantage of the opportunity to reframe some of those key moments from a different character's viewpoint, something that would be odd or forced in a more straightforward telling. Rated: B+ Apr 9, 2021 Full Review Richard Roeper Chicago Sun-Times ...a fascinating, exotic, lurid period-piece true-crime story about a suave, identity-switching serial killer who makes Tom Ripley seem like an amateur. Rated: 3/4 Apr 3, 2021 Full Review Álvaro Onieva Fotogramas Though the story The Serpent tells is very seductive, the non-linear structure works against it. [Full review in Spanish] Aug 8, 2023 Full Review Q.V. Hough Vague Visages The Serpent fashions itself as a serial killer epic, but feels more like an uninspired Jacques Audiard knockoff that shows little interest in deconstructing the psychology of its subject. Feb 18, 2022 Full Review James Delingpole The Spectator A bit like with The Queen's Gambit, all the period detail was so perfectly done, so redolent of a lost (and mostly, barring the odd serial killer, more glamorous and desirable) era that it almost didn't matter what the plot was doing. Jul 19, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

      Season Info

      Director
      Tom Shankland
      Screenwriter
      Richard Warlow
      Network
      BBC
      Rating
      TV-MA
      Genre
      Crime, Drama
      Original Language
      English (United Kingdom)
      Release Date
      Jan 1, 2021
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