Miniseries · Apple TV
The Essex Serpent
Love is the greatest mystery.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Claire Danes
Cora Seaborne
6 eps
Tom Hiddleston
Will Ransome
6 eps
Frank Dillane
Dr Luke Garrett
6 eps
Clémence Poésy
Stella Ransome
6 eps
Hayley Squires
Martha
6 eps
Gareth Berliner
Thomas Taylor
1 eps
Darragh Cowley
Young Man
1 eps
Lily-Rose Aslandogdu
Naomi Banks
5 eps
Gerard Kearns
Henry Banks
6 eps
Michael Jibson
Matthew Evansford
6 eps
Caspar Griffiths
Frankie Seaborne
6 eps
Nitin Ganatra
Charles Ambrose
3 eps
Dixie Egerickx
Jo Ransome
6 eps
Ryan Reffell
John Ransome
6 eps
Michelle Asante
Maureen Fry
2 eps
Robin Berry
Jonah
5 eps
Rebecca Ineson
Gracie Banks
1 eps
Cal MacAninch
Michael Seaborne
1 eps
Paul Antony-Barber
Rollings
1 eps
Benjamin Connolly
Medical Student
1 eps
Tommy French
Samuel
4 eps
Henry Davis
Doctor Morton
3 eps
John MacCormick
Doctor Caldwell
3 eps
Jules Chan
Doctor Lim
2 eps
Zoë Scott
Cora's Maid
3 eps
Christopher Fairbanks
Cracknell
2 eps
Stevie Abrahms
Sali
3 eps
Yaamin Chowdhury
Nev
3 eps
David Streames
Landlord
4 eps
Neil Harget
Pub Man
3 eps
Jenny Bolt
Harbour Woman
3 eps
Law Ballard
Aldwinter Woman
3 eps
Maddy Collins
Girl
1 eps
Kai Boorman
Boy
1 eps
Joe Roast
Cheeky Boy
1 eps
Nicholas Goh
Doctor Zhao
1 eps
Matt Brewer
Fisherman One
4 eps
Steve North
Fisherman Two
3 eps
Jamael Westman
George Spencer
5 eps
Richard Southgate
Violinist
1 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How The Essex Serpent actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
The Essex Serpent reads strongest on Serialized, Character Depth and Bingeability.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
The story
What it's about
London widow Cora Seaborne moves to Essex to investigate reports of a mythical serpent. She forms a surprising bond of science and skepticism with the local vicar—but when tragedy strikes, locals accuse her of attracting the creature.
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S01E01
The Blackwater
London widow Cora Seaborne relocates to Essex to learn the truth about a rumored “sea dragon.” When a local girl goes missing, fears escalate.
- Directed by Clio Barnard
- Written by Juliette Towhidi, Clio Barnard
S01E02
Matters of the Heart
Cora moves to Aldwinter, but the grieving villagers don't welcome her. Naomi struggles with her guilt about what happened to Gracie.
- Directed by Clio Barnard
- Written by Anna Symon
S01E03
Falling
After fishermen claim they were attacked by the serpent, Cora becomes more determined to understand what's in the water.
- Directed by Clio Barnard
- Written by Jess Brittain
S01E06
Surfacing
Luke processes the incident. Cora has a realization. Will struggles with Stella's illness.
- Directed by Clio Barnard
- Written by Anna Symon
S01E05
I Break Things
Cora tries to put things behind her, but a chance encounter makes that complicated. Stella gets some bad news.
- Directed by Clio Barnard
- Written by Elinor Cook
S01E04
Everything Is Blue
Luke throws a birthday party for Cora. During an eventful night, Cora and Will get closer—and Luke notices Stella is hiding something.
- Directed by Clio Barnard
- Written by Hania Elkington
Recently aired
Latest Episodes
S01E04
Everything Is Blue
- Directed by Clio Barnard
- Written by Hania Elkington
S01E01
The Blackwater
- Directed by Clio Barnard
- Written by Juliette Towhidi, Clio Barnard
S01E02
Matters of the Heart
- Directed by Clio Barnard
- Written by Anna Symon
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
Iain Canning
Executive producer
Emile Sherman
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Patrick Walters
Executive producer
Hakan Kousetta
Executive producer
Clio Barnard
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Jamie Laurenson
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Anna Symon
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Hania Elkington
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Juliette Towhidi
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Elinor Cook
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Jess Brittain
Writer
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Iain CanningExecutive Producer
- Emile ShermanExecutive Producer
- Patrick WaltersExecutive Producer
- Hakan KousettaExecutive Producer
- Andrea CornwellProducer
- Clio BarnardExecutive Producer
Writing
- Hania ElkingtonWriter
- Juliette TowhidiWriter
- Elinor CookWriter
- Clio BarnardWriter
- Jess BrittainWriter
- Anna SymonWriter
Direction
- Clio BarnardDirector
Cinematography
- David RaedekerDirector of Photography
Music
- Dustin O'HalloranOriginal Music Composer
- Herdís StefánsdóttirOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- Apple TVStreaming
- Apple TV Amazon ChannelStreaming
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Where to go from here
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Never stop watching
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