The Essex Serpent (2022)

King finds the series enthralling, beautifully human, and rich in ideas, despite a slow start. He particularly praises the palpable chemistry between Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston, captured in Clio Barnard’s sensual direction.

The review finds the series a humane, engaging balance of folk horror and romance, though some elements feel labored. It praises Claire Danes’s performance and the moody, atmospheric visual design.

Baker finds the adaptation engrossing and unsettling, and says it does justice to the novel. She particularly praises Tom Hiddleston’s performance and the series’ sustained suspense around the serpent.

The critic finds the series ultimately worthwhile despite frustrating shifts in tone and focus. She praises its striking landscapes and the compelling performances of Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston.

Greene finds the series lush but limited, with its ideas often left underexplored. He praises the rich sense of place and time, while faulting the story for remaining too much on the surface.

Carr presents the adaptation as an unusually distinctive period drama. The available page text offers no specific praise beyond that characterization.

Framke finds the adaptation rich and nuanced, though it sometimes slips into ill-fitting melodrama. She praises its eerie, textured visuals and production design, while faulting the romance for eclipsing other promising storylines.

Mangan finds the adaptation cold and sluggish, with its central romance undermined by Tom Hiddleston’s miscasting. She praises Claire Danes as magnificent and says the women’s performances and Clio Barnard’s atmospheric direction stand out.

Carly Lane praises the series as an atmospheric Gothic romance that delivers on its performances and emotional journeys. She singles out Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston’s yearning performances and the foggy Essex marshes, while noting that Cora can feel idealized.

The critic finds the series a captivating, spellbinding Gothic romance, though its deliberate pace may not suit everyone. She praises its eerie, beautifully filmed atmosphere and the score’s swelling contribution to the drama.

The critic finds the adaptation rich and well paced, capturing the novel’s pensive Gothic spirit. They praise the cast and the filmmaking’s tactile sensitivity.

The review finds the adaptation atmospheric, transporting, and unusually modern in feel, despite occasional flattening of the novel’s dialogue and characters. It especially praises Frank Dillane and Hayley Squires for injecting slyness and contemporary energy into the earnest drama.