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This limited eight-part series is a co-production between BBC One and Netflix chronicling the crimes of real-life French serial killer Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim), who murdered young tourists between 1975 and 2000. Sobhraj, a man of Vietnamese and Indian descent, drugged and robbed young travelers in Thailand and elsewhere, stealing victims identities, passports, and traveler s checks, and used the money to buy stolen gems at a discount to sell at a profit in Europe. With the help of his Québécois girlfriend, Marie-Andrée Leclerc (Jenna Coleman), and Indian henchman Ajay Chowdhury (Amesh Edireweera), they seemed untouchable . until a relentless Dutch junior diplomat, Herman Knippenberg (Billy Howle), began investigating the disappearance of two Dutch tourists. (eight 58-min. episodes)
The Serpent takes its time to build intrigue Its split-level storytelling structure is frustrating, but the eight-episode limited-series is an effective slow-burn peek into Sobhraj’s shenanigans Priyanka Roy | | Published 17.04.21, 12:05 AM
Once you are able to get past its initial slow-burn pace and its frustrating byzantine narrative structure,
The Serpent is a largely intriguing and often unnerving look at the life and legend of Charles Sobhraj. ‘Legend’ is, perhaps, a misnomer for a man as notorious as Sobhraj, but Google tells me that ‘legendary’ is one of the many synonyms for ‘notorious’. How else does one describe a man who murdered without breaking into a sweat, but also mesmerised with his innate charm? An eight-episode limited-series wat
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Nonika Singh
Who exactly was Charles Sobhraj the ultimate ladies’ man, the conniving conman or the vilest serial murderer? If the question continues to intrigue you, there is no reason why the BBC/Netflix series, The Serpent, won’t. However, the series does not gloss over the crimes of this hardened criminal. Sure, the actor Tahar Rahim playing half-Indian, half-Vietnamese, Charles Sobhraj is a handsome man and looks every bit enigmatic too. His sweetheart Marie-Andrée Leclerc aka Monique (Jenna Coleman) matches his glamour all the way. Beneath their charm offensive lie sinister designs.
The series does not let his obvious (and venomous) charm take away from his pitiless acts. The fact that in his heyday he was a smart cookie who hoodwinked not just his victims, but also the police is factored in. But above all he was a killer who had no compunction in robbing/murdering gullible men and women, mostly hippies.
A still from ‘The Serpent’ on Netflix
The limited series produced jointly by BBC One and Netflix, tells the story of Charles Sobhraj, who preyed on western tourists on the hippie trail in the 70s
Watching
The Serpent is to relive the trusting times of travel in the ‘70s. The limited series produced jointly by BBC One and Netflix, tells the story of Charles Sobhraj (Tahar Rahim), who preyed on western tourists on the hippie trail in the 70s. He was called the Serpent for his slippery, slithery ways.
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Nadine and Remi Gires
Nadine (Mathilde Warnier) and Remi Gires (Grégoire Isvarine) were the French neighbours of Charles and Marie in Thailand.
At the time, Sobhraj was posing as a gem dealer and Leclerc as his wife Monique.
In the series, it is revealed Nadine would introduce Alain to potential clients, some of whom would end up as his victims.
Nadine was unaware of Alain s murderous streak, until Dominique Renelleau (Fabien Frankel), a Frenchman Alain was holding captive in his apartment was able to tell her his suspicions.
As seen in the series, Nadine and her husband Remi assisted Herman Knippenberg and Angela with their investigation into Sobhraj.