The Serpent

_The Serpent_ is as much a tale of a failed Miniseries as it is of a serial killer. The show is an unfinished product. This is in part because the story itself is so spread out and outlandish that any attempt to do it justice would be difficult. That being said, there are multiple directorial/writing choices that didn't work. For one thing, the constant flashbacks without a clear point of return (i.e. three months prior --> present) make the show difficult to follow. In particular, the flashbacks in the last couple of episodes makes you wonder why they didn't give you that information earlier. In addition, the actors just aren't believable--the Knippenberg's are far too goody-too shoes, Sobhraj's victims are portrayed as totally dumb and Sobhraj himself is a bit stilted. I generally really like Tahar Rahim's work, but this show simply doesn't cut it.

Based on a true story, the show's premise instantly piqued my interest. The fact that the events portrayed actually took place adds an extra layer of fascination and intrigue. The performances were convincing, bringing the characters to life and making their struggles and emotions feel genuine. Despite these positives, there was one aspect that I felt could have been improved upon: the non-linear narrative. While the storytelling technique aimed to create suspense and mystery, it occasionally led to confusion. The constant shifts in time made it difficult to keep track of the events and the character development. Overall, _The Serpent_ is a good series, however, a smoother chronological progression could have made it even better. Nonetheless, I would still recommend this show to anyone who enjoys a thrilling crime drama based on real events.