The Serpent

Engrossing as it builds to moments of Hitchcockian suspense, the eight-part The Serpent shifts sometimes too dizzying back and forth through time as it dramatizes Sobhrah's merciless crimes. Still, you'll root for those who trying to pin him down. [12 - 25 Apr, p.11]

[Tahar Rahim] brings a breathtaking subtlety to the part of Sobhraj. ... It takes time, admittedly, until the full details of the master plan Sobhraj followed sink in.

Serpentine (I see what you did there) storyline concerns aside, “The Serpent” is an effectively unsettling, fictionalized telling of the incredible and horrific series of kidnappings and murders orchestrated by one Charles Sobhraj, played to suave and oily perfection by Tahar Rahim.

Rahim’s is a great, if slow-building, performance, perfectly persuasive in a role riven with secrets and lies. Edireweera and Coleman also locate human frailties in the despicable people they play. The pace of “The Serpent” quickens in its later episodes, whiplashing the audience with well-conceived character revelations, plot reversals and tightening international manhunt mechanics.

In the broad strokes "The Serpent" resembles any number of true-crime tales, but by meeting those criteria, this limited series still manages to get under your skin.

The Serpent is certainly a slow burn, and it’s jumpy timeline will take some getting used to. But the lead performance by Rahim, and fine supporting performances by Coleman, Howle and Bamber help us stay engaged with the story.

Despite strong performances, though, the series takes an important story and loses it in unnecessarily complex time-jumping storytelling.