TV shows are releasing in abundance this year (2022), it seems, with Heartstopper recently releasing on Netflix, and The Staircase set to come out very soon. However, Apple TV+ has something exciting up its sleeve... 

The trailer for The Essex Serpent has just been revealed by Apply TV+, and stars Emmy Award nominee Tom Hiddleston (Loki), and Emmy and SAG Award winner Claire Danes (Homeland) as the leading duo. 

The series is based on Sarah Perry’s bestselling novel of the same name, and is set to premiere on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes early next month (May, 2022). 

Danes and Hiddleston in The Essex Serpent / Picture Credit: Apple TV+
Danes and Hiddleston in The Essex Serpent / Picture Credit: Apple TV+

The Essex Serpent, as well as Danes and Hiddleston, also stars Frank Dillane (Fear The Walking Dead), Clémence Poésy (Tenet) and Hayley Squires (I, Daniel Blake). 

The upcoming series follows a widow from London, Cora Seaborne (Danes), who moves to Essex in order to investigate claims of a mythical serpent. 

While there, Cora forms an unexpected friendship of both science and scepticism with the local pastor, Will (Hiddleston). However, when tragedy hits, the locals accuse Cora of attracting the very beast she is there to investigate. 

The Essex Serpent is directed by BAFTA Award nominee Clio Barnard and written by BAFTA Award nominee Anna Symon. Barnard and Symon also serve as executive producers alongside Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Patrick Walters. 

Tom Hiddleston as pastor Will / Picture Credit: Apple TV+
Tom Hiddleston as pastor Will / Picture Credit: Apple TV+

The trailer for The Essex Serpent showcases Hiddleston and Danes as an odd pairing, but one that may be able to dig up the truth, and perhaps reveal things best kept hidden. 

Cora is accused of bringing the terrifying serpent to the surface, and appears to be heralded and becomes fearful of those around her – can Will protect her, and does he want to? 

A community that needs to come together seem to be pushed apart by beliefs and anger, and Will may be the only one who can save them from themselves. 

The Essex Serpent will debut on Apple TV+ on May 13th, 2022 with the first two episodes, and will release every Friday until June 10th, 2022. 

I usually don’t enjoy series such as this one (period dramas, that is), but The Essex Serpent has really caught my attention. 

I love Hiddleston, of course, but the plot of a serpent potentially hiding in the depths, a religious community broken by folklore, and what seems to be a love triangle between Cora, Will and his wife, is something that I cannot wait to see. 

Written by Melissa, who you can follow on Twitter @melissajournal

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