Grade: 5/5
Genre: Crime/Drama
Seasons: 1
Ages: 18+
The Serpent is a pulsating 8 episode series based on a true story surrounding the premediated murders of young tourists by serial killer Charles Sobhraj in the 1970s. Sobhraj (played brilliantly Tahar Rahim) enlists his girlfriend Marie-Andree Leclerc (Jenna Coleman) and ally Ajay Chowdhury (Amesh Edireweera) to carry out his demonic plan. He would lure galivanting backpackers in South East Asia into his social orbit, posing as a debonair French gem dealer based out of Bangkok, gaining their trust, drugging them, taking their cash, belongings and travel documents before killing them off.
Sobhraj is a sociopath who finds pleasure and justification in the crimes he is committing and believes he will never get caught but one junior Dutch embassy official gets on his tail after investigation the murder of two tourists from The Netherlands in Bangkok and doesn’t let up. The show masterfully juggles the flashbacks and the flash-forwards where one is left pining for the two timelines to intersect to find out what happens. Acting by Tahar Rahim surely deserves recognition during next year’s awards season. Compelling viewing and a must watch thriller shot in exotic locations around the world.
